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Matthew Fann
Captain

Matthew Fann

Wanchese, United States
Federal waters
100+ reviews
I've been an active crew member onboard some very successful charter operations in South Florida, as well as the outer Banks of NC. I was raised in the sport fishing industry from a very young age and have followed my father's footsteps. I originally started as a 'boat wash kid' where I tried to get my foot in the door in the industry. It's a rough neck industry for a young kid but I pushed my way through and eventually became a 2nd mate, first mate and after 15 years as a mate, I set a course for sea school where I would graduate with a 100 ton masters credential. I have been blessed and privileged to learn under some very well known captains who were very demanding and I feel that pressure helped me to become the captain I am today. As a captain and owner I have made honesty my highest aim. That's my personal policy and I stand by it. Now that I've climbed the ladder to the helm of my own boat, I get to teach people from all walks of life about fishing, boating and the marine world! Thanks for reading and let's go fishing!

Charters

Rating

4.8
222 reviews
4.8
Boat & Equipment
4.8
Captain & Crew
4.7
Fishing Experience

What anglers say

88%
Good experience
95%
Friendly captain
92%
Recommend this charter
90%
Appropriate for children
97%
Satisfied with the boat
84%
Caught fish

All reviews (222)

Showing 1 – 5 of 222 reviews
  • Stephanie Ellis
    Stephanie Ellis
    us
    Colorado, US
    Member since 2026
    4.7
    Verified

    Had a great time!

    3 Hour Trip - 2:00 PM • 4 adults

    We had our hearts set on catching some fish to bring back to our rental to cook... and we were not disappointed! Captain Matt was very knowledgeable and professional. This was the first time we tried to fish by trolling. He took the time to educate us on the equipment and the environment. We caught a couple that didn't meet legal length requirements, but we caught so many, it didn't matter that we had to release the two back! I would strongly advise you to listen to him when he says take an Uber! We were glad we did when we saw the parking area and how many of the spots were reserved or permit parking. Highly recommend Captain Matt :)

    Reported catch:
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Response from Captain

    Stephanie and family, thank you, once again for coming out with me and for a great review! I hope you enjoyed your grilled Mahi! till next time, Capt Matt

  • Andrew Bailey
    Andrew Bailey
    Repeat angler
    us
    Washington D.C., US
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Great Freaking Trip

    Mid day 5hr near shore (noon) • 2 adults

    I want to start by saying I left a five star review for Captain Matt last time I fished with him in early June. This trip was no different. He puts you on the fish. Captain Matt listens to what you want and does his best to get it for you. I listen to his recommendations and I take them. This trip we got mahi, kings, Spanish, false albacore, sharks… I can’t remember what else. He cares, he listens and he delivers. Thanks Captain Matt!

    Reported catch:
    King Mackerel (Kingfish)
    Spanish Mackerel
    Response from Captain

    Andrew, as always, thank you! you're a top tier client who has proven to make my job easier. you certainly do heed my advice and it's worked out for both of us. Thanks again for a great trip, review and for your continued loyalty! till next time, Capt Matt

  • Timothy Maul
    Timothy Maul
    us
    Pennsylvania, US
    Member since 2025
    5.0
    Verified

    Captain Matt saves the day

    Mid day 5hr near shore (noon) • 3 adults • 1 child

    After a week of poor weather and surf fishing, we braved the elements with Captain Matt. He had extra rain gear, which was a HUUUUGEEE help. We had a successful day, with 8 Blues reeled in...three more escaped to be caught another day! This made my 10yo son's day. He can't wait to go out on a boat trip again. Captain Matt provided good tunes to keep our soggy spirits up between bites, and was so friendly throughout the trip. Thank you Captain Matt!

    Reported catch:
    Bluefish (Tailor)
    Response from Captain

    Timothy, thank you for a great review and for being adventurous! huge rain and lightning didn't stop you guys one bit! kudos for sticking it out. have a blessed fish dinner and a safe return back home and till next time, Capt Matt

  • Andrew Bailey
    Andrew Bailey
    Repeat angler
    us
    Washington D.C., US
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Great Freaking Captain!

    Mid day 5hr near shore (noon) • 2 adults

    Captain Matt is a great captain. He’s accessible and stayed in touch throughout the booking up to the trip. He’ll help you out anyway he can. He pays attention to what you want and tries his best to get it for you. I knew it was going to be rough, but was in a time crunch. He gave me an out, but I went anyway. He handled the boat exceptionally well and got us some fish. In short, he knows what the hell he’s doing and I trust him. Great captain.

    Reported catch:
    Bluefish (Tailor)
    Spanish Mackerel
    Response from Captain

    Andrew, I'm speechless! thank you for such a compliment! I appreciate what you've said and your patience with the conditions. OBX weather can be tricky at times however made it easy for me. thanks again, Capt Matt

  • Matias Calo
    Matias Calo
    Repeat angler
    ch
    Switzerland
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Unforgetable fishing experience !!!

    3 Hour Trip • 2 adults • 1 child

    Together with my son (11 yr old), we were looking for a great fishing morning by hoping to catch some Mahi's since that was his dream. Then, as soon as the fishing session begun... his dream came true! He caught some Mahi's , a black fin tuna and finally big hammer shark was in one hook. We could managed to feel his power and then we released it, safely and healthy. This was a perfect fishing morning managed by the so experienced Capt Matthew. We really appreciate his support and service by sharing the expertise in a children friendly environment into the ship. I fully recommend it. Thanks Capt Matthew for this unforgetable fishing experience. Matias !

    Reported catch:
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Hammerhead Shark
    Response from Captain

    Matias, outstanding! thank you very much for a fantastic review and for coming out with me! As you know, I great up fishing with my Father and he was my original introduction and Inspiration to become a full time fisherman. You and your son are building a similar bond and I appreciate that! keep him on the water and one day, he'll return the favor to your grandkids. safe travels going back over seas and till next time, Capt Matt

Real catches shared by our community

  • Fish Advisor – Ft. Lauderdale
    Fish Advisor – Ft. LauderdaleFort Lauderdale, FL
    October fishing trip
    Jim B.
    Jim B.
  • Fish Advisor - Wanchese
    Fish Advisor - WancheseWanchese, NC
    Hit the Spanish mackerel hard!
    Ryland E.
    Ryland E.
  • Fish Advisor - Wanchese
    Fish Advisor - WancheseWanchese, NC
    Best trip ever!
    Jacqui C.
    Jacqui C.
  • Fish Advisor - Wanchese
    Fish Advisor - WancheseWanchese, NC
    Great Freaking Trip
    Andrew B.
    Andrew B.
  • Fish Advisor - Wanchese
    Fish Advisor - WancheseWanchese, NC
    Fishing with Matthew
    Frank T.
    Frank T.
  • Fish Advisor - Wanchese
    Fish Advisor - WancheseWanchese, NC
    great trip
    Chris I.
    Chris I.
  • Fish Advisor - Wanchese
    Fish Advisor - WancheseWanchese, NC
    Great Catch
    David T.
    David T.
  • Fish Advisor - Wanchese
    Fish Advisor - WancheseWanchese, NC
    Captain Matt made sure we had a good time
    Derinda P.
    Derinda P.
  • Fish Advisor - Wanchese
    Fish Advisor - WancheseWanchese, NC
    Captain Matt saves the day
    Timothy M.
    Timothy M.
  • Fish Advisor - Wanchese
    Fish Advisor - WancheseWanchese, NC
    had a great time thanks for the trip
    Nate M.
    Nate M.

Our Fishing Locations

What's biting with Fish Advisor - Wanchese in Wanchese

Trout are well and truly back, as are Red Drum inshore. However, when the weather's fine, nothing beats the Tuna action offshore! Head out to the Gulf Stream and get your fill of these monsters!

Top catches for October

Fishing reports

A young angler and an adult proudly display a large King Mackerel while fishing off the coast, showcasing a successful day on the water.

Hot fishing during May!

Apr 27, 2026 • Fort Lauderdale
As April comes to an end, many good things are in place for a great may season. We had a 2+ week blow during the first half of April, pushing the Gulfstream in even closer than normal. Deep blue waters which are pushed in from the deep, have come closer to the coast and with it, lots of bait fish! May is typically one of the best months throughout the entire year. You'll still have a few sails around however you'll have more consistent tuna, mahi ,wahoo and King mackerel. All of the best eating fish are just 1-2 miles off the coast where are waters reach depths of over 200 feet! We are very close so travel times are greatly reduced as compared with other fishing destinations. Live bait fishing is good however trolling will still be one of the best methods due to the advantage of covering ground. You keep what you catch and we have a nearby restaurant that is happy to cook it for you! Let's go!!
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Angler proudly displaying a vibrant Mahi Mahi while fishing offshore, showcasing a sunny day on the water.

Mahi madness!

Mar 22, 2026 • Fort Lauderdale
March has been good to us. The higher winds the came through midway after a late cold front have paid on dividends. The sea conditions were a little higher but still tolerable yet the mahi were showing up in better numbers and sizes. The last few days have shown a strong number of sailfish coming through as many boats are reporting good numbers on half day trips. Kites, live bait trolling or even dead bait trolling have all been productive and at only 2 miles from shore, you get to the fishing grounds quickly. Reminder, we have a local restaurant that will cook fish for you. Anything that is edible can be harvested (legal size requirements do apply) and you can have it cooked for lunch/dinner! Capt. Matt Fann.
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A young angler and an adult proudly displaying their catch of two King Mackerels at the dock, showcasing a successful fishing trip.

Cold fronts have improved the fishing!

Feb 9, 2026 • Fort Lauderdale
In recent weeks, we've set a new record for low temperatures. Those cold fronts are always the driving force behind all fish migration and if we have enough cold, consistently, the fish end up well into the southern tip of fla and beyond! That being said, conditions have shown a good improvement from January, bait fish are more plentiful and the water temps are more ideal to see pelagic fish staying with us for a while. When trying to decide what type of charter to book, think more in terms of time and less about what type of fish can be caught. More time, offers more opportunities to try various methods (IF NEEDED) and or travel. A 5hr trip would be ideal for experienced anglers looking to catch a sailfish, black fin tuna or mahi and a 3hr charter is still the perfect fit for a novice client looking to dip their toe in the water. Many captains like to use kites with live bait however I prefer the use of live ballyhoo. The live ballyhoo is the only live bait that cannot be purchased and must be caught in person however they are a fantastic bait due to their ability to be "slow trolled" in longer distances. Kite fishing is a lot of fun however when the current slows to a crawl it stops then you'll want to be able to cover territory and various depths of water. Here's to a great Feb! Capt Matt Fann "Fish Advisor"!
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Two anglers proudly displaying a large Sailfish aboard a sport fishing boat, enjoying a successful day on the water.

There is a strong sailfish season coming

Dec 1, 2025 • Fort Lauderdale
In the past few weeks, I have come across something that I consider a very good sign. Small sailfish!!! Over the many years I have been a professional fisherman, seasons that start with a run of smaller sized fish, end up being great seasons. Sailfish are a very fast growing fish, just like mahi. They are known for growing around 4ft in length in their first year! In the weeks gone by, I've caught quite a few smaller sized fish that indicate we've had a large spawn of fish. Now with a few cold fronts to push the bait south and a little current, we could see high numbers indeed! Last week, we tried pulling live ballyhoo around which is one of my favorite methods over kite fishing and we managed to raise over 7 sailfish in an hour. Later that day, during our afternoon trip, we raised a few more, only this time it was on dead bait while trolling! Very exciting stuff! If you're planning a fishing trip, follow the cold front patterns and try to book a trip with a minimum of 4hrs, 6 being optimal. See you soon, Capt Matt.
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Two anglers proudly displaying a vibrant Mahi Mahi while fishing on a sunny day in open waters.

Mahi on the move!

Oct 13, 2025 • Fort Lauderdale
Oct is a great time to fish. The weather is cooling off a tad from the summer heat and the fish are starting to move south. My charter is unique in that I fish two locations. Summer months, I'm fishing in the outer banks, NC and back home in fort Lauderdale FL during the winter months. We've had an outstanding summer up north this year and those fish are starting to move south. It's getting cold up north and that's the driving force that moves the fish. The mahi have been around in decent numbers as well as a few nice king mackerel, black fin tuna and a few wahoo. Fort Lauderdale international boat show is set to arrive at the end of the month and with it, large crowds will travel into the area. Sign up to fish with me and let's have a blast!
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A group of anglers proudly posing with their catch of Spanish Mackerel displayed on the dock after a successful fishing trip.

The Spanish mackerel are here!

Jun 11, 2025 • Wanchese
Great mackerel fishing lately with good near shore action just a mile off the obx coast. Spanish mackerel are a migratory species and they are currently pushing through the obx area and will be for a few more months. Trolling is the best method to see higher numbers and that method can offer decent action. Perfect for families! There are also blue fish moving through as well as the occasional bonito. Let's go fishing!
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