Charter operator

The Connoisseur

Shalimar, United States

Angler's choice

10+ reviews

Fishing has always been more than just a hobby for me but a way of life. growing up on the emerald coast is every fishermans dream and im lucky to call this place home. I caught my first fish when I was 5 years old. From that moment on, I was hooked. Over the years, what started as a weekend pastime turned into a deep passion for the water, the quiet moments, and the thrill of the catch. What drives me in this business is sharing that same passion with others. Whether it's helping someone land their first fish or guiding a seasoned angler to their personal best, there's nothing more rewarding than being part of those moments. I believe fishing is about more than just technique — it's about connection: to nature, to tradition, and to each other. This isn't just a job for me — it's who I am. And I'm proud to bring that passion, experience, and dedication to every trip, every customer, every cast.

Christian B.

Captain

Charter

The Connoisseur

Shalimar

Instant Confirmation

Trips from

US $550

Rating

4.8

20 reviews

4.8

Boat & Equipment

4.8

Captain & Crew

4.8

Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (50)

All reviews (20)

Showing 1 – 5 of 20 reviews

Jonathan Ambrose
Tennessee, US
•
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Fantastic Trip with a Great Captain
4 Hour Trip (AM) on April 21, 2026 • 4 adults
Captain Matt took my family and I out on a great trip into the Gulf! We started out the day catching some small bait fish after seeing a beautiful sunrise on the water. After securing the bait, we went fishing for some Vermillion Snapper. While this is what we were primarily aiming to catch throughout the day, we also caught some Trigger fish and Squirrelfish while fishing for them. When Captain Matt saw some gulls diving and fish jumping, he rigged another rod to use some of the live bait to catch Amberjack. With his help, we were able to bring a couple of these into the boat with one being about a 30-pounder and the other having been bit by a shark on the way in (which was certainly a cool experience)! We unfortunately had to throw them back because they were out of season, but they offered a great fight. Captain Matt was very attentive to everyone throughout the day, constantly keeping everyone's hooks baited, pulling fish off the hooks for everyone, and genuinely just making sure everyone was having a good time. He was quick to move to a new spot when the fish weren't biting, and he was ready to listen and adjust his plan to what we all wanted to do. Overall, we caught 42 Vermillion Snapper we could keep, and I'd estimate we probably caught over 60 fish throughout our time on the boat! Matt filleted them all when we got back to shore, and even recommended a restaurant (Brotula's) that would cook the fish for us! We ended up with around 6.5 pounds of fillets and it felt immensely satisfying that the 5 of us who went out to fish were able to feed our full party of 10 with no issues. It was a fantastic experience, and I'll definitely be passing on Matt's information to anyone I know looking to do some fishing here in Destin!
Reported catch:
Response from Charter operator
April 23, 2026
jonathan, i appreciate you taking time out of your day to make this wonderful review. i had the best time with you and your crew and was stoked to guys had plenty of fish for dinner for you and the whole family. look forward to getting you guys on the water again in the future. sincerely, captain matt.
Kristin Majka
Repeat angler
Florida, US
•
Member since 2018
•
3 trips
5.0
Verified
Great fishing trip!
4 Hour Trip (AM) on June 22, 2026 • 5 adults • 1 child
Captian Matt was amazing! Weather started out bad, but he kept us out and put us on some fish! We trolled a bit and caught a Spanish Mackerel, so he decided to do some bottom fishing and put us on a lot of Amberjack, which unfortunately is not in season, but still fun to catch! We also caught some Red Snapper, Red Grouper and Scamp Grouper! We will be chartering with him again in the future, when Amberjack season comes in! Highly recommend!!
Reported catch:
Response from Charter operator
June 22, 2026
thanks for fishing with me.. good crew that held in strong with the rough seas and weather. see you next time!
Chris Weist
Ohio, US
•
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Captisn Matt “Thinks on his Feet “
4 Hour Trip – Inshore (AM) on August 5, 2026 • 5 adults
We originally booked an intercostal trip Captain Matt suggested a short trip out in the Gulf as Trigger season had just opened up , we limited on keeper sized triggers and a great mixed bag of other fish , enough for a few great meals , Aloha Captain Matt.
Response from Charter operator
August 5, 2026
thanks chris, look forward to geting yall out on the water again in the future.
J Daniel Allison
Repeat angler
Georgia, US
•
Member since 2023
•
3 trips
4.7
Verified
3 Hour Inshore with kids
3 Hour Trip – Inshore Kids (AM) on July 9, 2026 • 5 adults • 3 children
Captain Matt kicked off the tour by netting us dozens of baitfish in one quick throw. We then scooted around the bay to a few spots. All in all we had a couple dozen bites and caught several bluefish, Spanish mackerel and a cat among others. In addition, we had seceral very close interactions with a number of dolphins (within a few feet), which the kids were really into.
Reported catch:
Heath Matte
Louisiana, US
•
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
first charter trip
4 Hour Trip (AM) on June 29, 2026 • 6 adults
Absolutely had a blast the captain was very nice and put us on some fish. Caught a few red snappers to keep and caught some amber jacks to experience the fight. I definitely recommend this charter if anyone is wanting to have a great time and catch some fish.
Reported catch:
Response from Charter operator
June 30, 2026
thanks heath! it was a pleasure. look forward to getting yall back out there in the near future.