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

My Charter Listings

Fish Advisor - Wanchese

Excellent
4.7 / 5
(36 reviews)
Angler's choice
Wanchese
 4 bookings in the past week.
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $300

Fish Advisor โ€“ Ft. Lauderdale

Federally permitted
Excellent
4.9 / 5
(58 reviews)
Angler's choice
Fort Lauderdale
 Last booking: 23 hours ago
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $400

Fishing Reports

The Spanish mackerel are here!
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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Mahi mahi may.......june!
Mahi mahi may.......june!
May 25, 2025 Fort Lauderdale
Good fishing lately! The mahi have come through and are a little bit larger than last month. April was decent with a lot of weed lines moving in but it was a tad choppy for a couple weeks. Now the weather has come into its summer time pattern and it's certainly hot! Afternoons will have a better breeze than most of the morning trips and sometimes that will generate a better fishing condition (no guarantees). What else is being caught? Nice sized kingfish are here as well. I've been catching them trolling with bonito strips, as is the normal routine but live bait certainly works well too. It's just another way to fish. Blackfin tuna are still around and like the mahi, are in better size than the previous month. Let's go catch em!
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Mackerel madness!
Mackerel madness!
May 25, 2025 Wanchese
Spring is over and summer is here, so are the Spanish mackerel! Warmer weather will keep the fish from pushing any further south and that's fine by us. Oregon inlet offers great conditions for mackerel, blue fish, bonito etc. Close range fishing with no need to head far offshore and the best part, we can catch them in the sound as well, a great option when the weather kicks up and the seas are unforgiving. Mackerel are typically caught by trolling small metal spoons on planers. This allows us to fish a little deeper while still fishing other lines on the surface. June will set up for a really nice month of fishing right offshore and there is always a chance at a cobia as well. Let's go!
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Mahi on the move!
Mahi on the move!
Apr 11, 2025 Fort Lauderdale
We're entering into mahi mahi season and it's starting to show decent numbers. We'd like to see bigger fish but we are at least seeing some at all. during summer months, when the seas are calmer, we will venture further offshore in search of floating debris or weed lines. Now finding weed alone isn't a guarantee, in fact it's just one factor. Mahi do not eat seaweed but simply hunt around it, finding small bait fish, minnows, shrimp, crab etc. It is often that we will find seaweed lines that are miles long yet we won't have a single bite. The reason for this is that the weed might have already been hunted on and the fish have moved on or it's a new patch that hasn't been found yet. The recent trips have shown this exact example. I've found fantastic looking weed lines and have trolled up and down without a single bite and then "kapow"!! Fish on! As mentioned earlier, a lot of these fish are young and are simply too small to harvest but we are seeing a few that make the mark and get a free boat ride home in the cooler! The best method for mahi is often by trolling ballyhoo or bonito strips matched up with various skirts. Many captains prefer to use live bait but those only come into play once you've made contact with the fish and they seem to be in abundance. You'll have a live bait to offer up when multiple fish come to the boat. Live bait isn't always necessary though. If you're considering booking based on this report then please consider a few things. The ocean is vast! It's simple massive and mahi are highly migratory fish. They can swim thousands of miles per year and eat as much as they can but sometimes they are nowhere to be found. We spend the majority of our lives in pursuit of the perfect moment but often times we are left to dream of a better trip... Next time!
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Never give up!
Never give up!
Mar 27, 2025 Fort Lauderdale
The last few weeks have been tough. Tough for everyone in fact but there's a light at the end of the tunnel! March is usually a warm month but this year we saw a few additional cold fronts then normal and the skies were light blue and fishing was very challenging at times. The last few days I've been catching decent amount of tuna throughout the day but mostly during afternoon charters. That being said, they can bite all day, sometimes or not at all. Wahoo have made an appearance as well with a few decent fish being caught on the planers while trolling. March is typically the time where amberjack move around the wrecks and are caught dropping live baits on heavy tackle and several lbs of weight just to hit bottom. The current in South Florida can at times be ridiculously strong, so strong in fact that anchored ships seem to be underway due to their wakes! That's right, a wake while being achored. When the current is that strong, it can be hard to fish a ship wreck because you'll have to drop a long way ahead of the wreck and slowly drift back over the spot. Fish can move behind structure just to tuck away from the current. Blue water from the Gulfstream will be much closer at those times and wahoo and tuna will be biting. How about mahi mahi? A few have been caught but nothing to write home about and Sailfish continue to move through in decent numbers but are still not guaranteed. Water temperatures are beginning to warm slightly and spring weather will bring in much better fishing from now through summer!
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Never give up!
Never give up!
Mar 27, 2025 Fort Lauderdale
The last few weeks have been tough. Tough for everyone in fact but there's a light at the end of the tunnel! March is usually a warm month but this year we saw a few additional cold fronts then normal and the skies were light blue and fishing was very challenging at times. The last few days I've been catching decent amount of tuna throughout the day but mostly during afternoon charters. That being said, they can bite all day, sometimes or not at all. Wahoo have made an appearance as well with a few decent fish being caught on the planers while trolling. March is typically the time where amberjack move around the wrecks and are caught dropping live baits on heavy tackle and several lbs of weight just to hit bottom. The current in South Florida can at times be ridiculously strong, so strong in fact that anchored ships seem to be underway due to their wakes! That's right, a wake while being achored. When the current is that strong, it can be hard to fish a ship wreck because you'll have to drop a long way ahead of the wreck and slowly drift back over the spot. Fish can move behind structure just to tuck away from the current. Blue water from the Gulfstream will be much closer at those times and wahoo and tuna will be biting. How about mahi mahi? A few have been caught but nothing to write home about and Sailfish continue to move through in decent numbers but are still not guaranteed. Water temperatures are beginning to warm slightly and spring weather will bring in much better fishing from now through summer!
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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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Showing:
5 of 94 reviews
Ed W.
Very good
3.3 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Good
3.0 / 5
Crew
Good
3.0 / 5
Overall

Not what we expcected

VERIFIED   Mid day 3hr near shore (pm) on July 10, 2025
We thought that we would be more active in the fishing experience. Boat trolls around with a spoon on the line and you wait...
Ed W. does not recommend Fish Advisor - Wanchese
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Mike P.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great trip

VERIFIED   Half Day Inshore Trip (PM) on July 28, 2024
We did a 4hr mid day trip with Matt. He was fantastic and met our expectations. Mostly Ribbon fish in the nearshore areas.
Mike P. recommends Fish Advisor - Wanchese
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Greg R.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great Day

VERIFIED   Full Day Trip - Inshore/Nearshore on July 19, 2024
Matthew was a great guide and teacher. Got us on Ribbon fish, which was something new for all of us. Looking forward to our...
Greg R. recommends Fish Advisor - Wanchese
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Mohammad A.
Bad
1.3 / 5
Experience:
Bad
2.0 / 5
Boat
Poor
1.0 / 5
Crew
Poor
1.0 / 5
Overall

Disappointing Experience with Captain Mathew

VERIFIED   NEW  Half day near shore mid day on July 23, 2025
Unfortunately, we are totally unsatisfied with Captain Mathewโ€™s attitude. At first, he was welcoming and everything seemed...
Mohammad A. does not recommend Fish Advisor - Wanchese
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Chris W.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Family fishing trip OBX

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Inshore Trip (AM) on July 31, 2024
The capt was great. We caught 40 ribbons and had an amazing fish fry that night
Chris W. recommends Fish Advisor - Wanchese
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