Captain
Matthew Fann

Member since July 2024 Wanchese, United States
Background
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!
Techniques
I really enjoy trolling as a main method as it's typically known to produce through many conditions. Live bait can at times be very useful but when the current has slowed to a crawl then trolling can increase your odds at action. Wreck fishing is also one of my favorite methods as the depths of water can really test out one's angling abilities and the mystery of what waits below! Winter time in south Florida is sailfish season and kite fishing is a great way to see high numbers.

Hey, I'm Captain Matthew Fann

Wanchese, United States
Background
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!
Techniques
I really enjoy trolling as a main method as it's typically known to produce through many conditions. Live bait can at times be very useful but when the current has slowed to a crawl then trolling can increase your odds at action. Wreck fishing is also one of my favorite methods as the depths of water can really test out one's angling abilities and the mystery of what waits below! Winter time in south Florida is sailfish season and kite fishing is a great way to see high numbers.
Anglers Choice
94
Reviews
25
Fishing Reports
Verified

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Fish Advisor - Wanchese

Excellent
4.7 / 5
(36 reviews)
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Wanchese
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Fish Advisor โ€“ Ft. Lauderdale

Federally permitted
Excellent
4.9 / 5
(58 reviews)
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Fort Lauderdale
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Fishing Reports

What's the deal on live bait?
What's the deal on live bait?
Dec 20, 2024 Fort Lauderdale
Live bait is a daily topic amongst the top crews in the fishing industry. To use it or not. This is not the normal fishing report but an explanation on the subject of using live bait. There are misconceptions amongst the topic of using live bait, most from inexperienced clients. This is to help clear some of the misunderstandings. Do we really need live bait? No! Does it help to have it? Sometimes... Having live bait in the well can offer additional methods towards attracting game fish however it isn't an end all,be all. Many tournaments are geared towards using dead bait only as it forces the crew to hone their skills in bait rigging. That being said, the best rigged dead bait can swim while being trolled, so well in fact, you'd think it was alive! Enter the bait fisherman. There are many bait fish options out there. Many are for sale by commercial bait fisherman who catch certain species of baits during night hours. These baits can save you time rather than trying to catch them yourself. However, that convenience comes at a cost of $100 per dozen of live bait! Many clients will decline the opportunity to purchase bait due to its high cost and that's understandable. It's also not a deal breaker as many fish, SAILFISH included, are caught with dead bait. Often times the client would like to purchase the bait but it isn't available due to weather or bait shortages. Once again, not a dead end! Talk to your Captain when scheduling your charter and ask whether they suggest live bait. It can be ordered in advance as long as weather holds out. How would live bait differ from dead bait? Live bait can be trolled slowly from outriggers or downriggers, flown from kites and even used on deep water wrecks. Dead bait can be used in every way except for kite fishing. Most kite fishing experts use live bait only except when deploying of shark baits (dead bait). The trolling speed would differ greatly as most live baits cannot handle being pulled too fast as they will either spin or simply drown. Dead baits can be pulled at much faster speed and can be combined with skirts or lures etc. I hope this shines a light on the subject. Capt Matt Fann
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Sailfish for Christmas!
Sailfish for Christmas!
Dec 20, 2024 Fort Lauderdale
Late December is known for the Sailfish migration. It is normal to see sailfish all year long but the majority of them will be between Nov--March. Cold weather will stimulate the migration South. Bait fish will also follow that rule of thumb. Temperatures beginning to drop will also be a huge factor in persuading the fish to move south. As these bait schools move south, they find their preferred climates once again and tend to hang around. Enter the gamefish! With Florida has incredibly deep water very close to shore (150ft per mile) and that means a shorter distance to the action! Live bait can be purchased or even caught while on board. Talk with your Captain to cover the best option that suits your needs.
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SAILFISH are here!
SAILFISH are here!
Dec 11, 2024 Fort Lauderdale
Winter time cold fronts are known for pushing sailfish, south. Other fish will also follow along as bait fish move in large numbers. Lately,we have seen such activity and do expect it to continue till around April. If you're looking to schedule the perfect getaway then pick the days following a cold front. This allows the fish to become stimulated and it's more likely to find them while they are moving and hungry rather than stationary. Expect blackfin tuna and mackerel to follow along the same lines as the sailfish, in depths of 100ft or even less. Capt Matt Fann
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Summer mahi!
Summer mahi!
Oct 2, 2024 Fort Lauderdale
The later summer months offer calm seas off the fort Lauderdale coastline and the deep waters offer a quicker access to the Gulfstream then the keys or north Florida. That being said, the mahi-mahi are being found just a few miles out. Sea weed or other floating debris can be a hunting ground for these fish and are what we look for on the surface. Mahi are often caught trolling and live bait is not entirely necessary. Wahoo are also found near these floating objects! The summer time offer the warmest waters and the Gulfstream often flows the hardest. This gives an advantage as many migratory fish will be heading south ahead of the winter push.
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Sound fishing in the bay!
Sound fishing in the bay!
Sep 16, 2024 Wanchese
As the fall weather approaches and the winds remain steady, we've turned our aim towards calmer waters and with that, fishing in the sound. The pamlico sound, Roanoke sound and surrounding area offer much in the way of inside fishing. With a diverse array of species that call this place home or migrate through. The sound remains calmer due to being landlocked and this can be a life saver for people wanting to get out on the water but but have to battle motion sickness. While in the sound, we encounter bluefish, speckled trout and drum, just to name a few. Recent windy weather and an increase of shrimp have other bait fish have provoked action in the way of blue fish and mackerel. These shrimp are basically blown or pushed with the tide and will end up in shallow waters where they have no place to hide. There wait the game fish! We've recently spent a decent amount of time trolling the deeper channels that run for miles through the sound. Mostly, these channels run between 10 and 15 ft deep and that allows us to use small planers with metal spoons or other lures. Spanish mackerel are mostly caught this way. Anchoring can also prove productive if done in the right place. We will usually tuck between islands to get out of the wind where we can anchor up in the deep water with the anchor and drift up to the slope of one of the islands. This is a great way to find fish on the hunt! Join soon and I'll show you what I'm talking about! Capt Matt Fann
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Sound fishing in the bay!
Sound fishing in the bay!
Sep 16, 2024 Wanchese
As the fall weather approaches and the winds remain steady, we've turned our aim towards calmer waters and with that, fishing in the sound. The pamlico sound, Roanoke sound and surrounding area offer much in the way of inside fishing. With a diverse array of species that call this place home or migrate through. The sound remains calmer due to being landlocked and this can be a life saver for people wanting to get out on the water but but have to battle motion sickness. While in the sound, we encounter bluefish, speckled trout and drum, just to name a few. Recent windy weather and an increase of shrimp have other bait fish have provoked action in the way of blue fish and mackerel. These shrimp are basically blown or pushed with the tide and will end up in shallow waters where they have no place to hide. There wait the game fish! We've recently spent a decent amount of time trolling the deeper channels that run for miles through the sound. Mostly, these channels run between 10 and 15 ft deep and that allows us to use small planers with metal spoons or other lures. Spanish mackerel are mostly caught this way. Anchoring can also prove productive if done in the right place. We will usually tuck between islands to get out of the wind where we can anchor up in the deep water with the anchor and drift up to the slope of one of the islands. This is a great way to find fish on the hunt! Join soon and I'll show you what I'm talking about! Capt Matt Fann
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.8 / 5
out of 5 stars from 94 reviews
See details
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (89)
Capt Matt is the man!
July fishing trip
July fishing trip
+86
Angler rating
85
4
4
0
1
Anglers claimed
Good experience
88%
Friendly captain
96%
Recommend this charter
95%
Appropriate for children
87%
Satisfied with the boat
94%
Caught fish
82%
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5 of 94 reviews
Bob J.
Manteo, North Carolina
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

6 Hour Trip with Captain Matt

3/4 Day Inshore Trip (AM) on August 15, 2024
My family was visiting Outer Banks, NC when my son and I booked a last minute trip fishing trip. We ended up doing a 6 hour...
Bob J. recommends Fish Advisor - Wanchese
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Terry A.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great guide

VERIFIED   NEW  Half day near shore on July 16, 2025
We didnโ€™t catch a ton of fish, but our captain worked hard to put us on the ones we did catch and he was a great guy.
Terry A. recommends Fish Advisor - Wanchese
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Michael R.
Excellent
4.3 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Very good
4.0 / 5
Crew
Very good
4.0 / 5
Overall

Super Trip - surprisingly - on sharks

VERIFIED   NEW  Sunset fishing quick trip on July 13, 2025
Great Trip - originally meant to be a slow Family cruise angeling Trip of 2 hours - we ended up with 4 times shark catch while...
Michael R. recommends Fish Advisor - Wanchese
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Keith M.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Even in turbulent waters

VERIFIED   3 hour (PM) on April 25, 2025
With Matthew we were able to catch big fish even though the waves were not being cooperative. If you donโ€™t mind getting a...
Keith M. recommends Fish Advisor โ€“ Ft. Lauderdale
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Doug H.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Awesome fishing and sunset boat ride!

VERIFIED   Sunset fishing quick trip on June 29, 2025
What a great fishing trip for the family. The boat ride alone was worth the trip but the kids (9&10) also caught a few good...
Doug H. recommends Fish Advisor - Wanchese
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