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Chris Gerzeny
Captain

Chris Gerzeny

Sarasota, United States
Federal waters
10+ reviews
Sharky's Machine was born in 1985, becoming a well-known name among local anglers in Venice, Florida. My father, a passionate shark fisherman, grew up fishing the iconic Venice Fishing Pier—often called 'Sharky's Pier.' Inspired by his love for the sport, he named his very first boat 'Sharky's Machine,' a name that became synonymous with big-game fishing in our waters. As life unfolded, so did our family—three sons, all raised on the water. As the youngest, I spent my childhood alongside my father and brothers, learning the art of shark fishing and the thrill of the fight. Fishing wasn't just a pastime; it was a way of life, a means of keeping us focused, disciplined, and connected to the ocean. And it worked. Fast forward to today—while my father has retired from big-game fishing, his passion lives on through me, Captain Chris Gerzeny. In 2024, I revived the name that many thought was lost to time, launching Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing LLC—a charter service driven by passion, professionalism, and the pursuit of trophy fish that create lifelong memories. This is more than just a business. It's a legacy. It's about sharing the thrill, the fight, and the unforgettable moments that happen when you hook into a true giant. Whether you're after the catch of a lifetime or just want to experience the excitement of big-game fishing, Sharky's Machine is ready to take you there.

Charter

Rating

5.0
19 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
4.9
Fishing Experience

All reviews (19)

Showing 1 – 5 of 19 reviews
  • Ross Braune
    Ross Braune
    Repeat angler
    us
    Cleburne, TX, US
    •
    Member since 2024
    •
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Really fun trip!

    Half Day Trip – Nearshore • 6 adults • 5 children

    Outstanding fishing trip from start to finish, especially considering it had rained for days straight beforehand! Although the murky and disrupted water we were graced by a full-grown manatee while fishing one of the inlets, which was a refreshing sight to see outside of an aquarium. Captain Chris was knowledgeable, professional, and worked hard to keep us on fish. He was able to get us on red and mangrove snappers along with Snook as well as many catfish. The boat was clean, well-equipped, and everything was organized perfectly. We had a great time, caught fish, and made some great memories. Four teenage young men and myself had plenty of room on the boat. I highly recommend this charter to anyone looking for a fun and successful day on the water. We’ll definitely be back!

    Reported catch:
    Mangrove Snapper
    Gag Grouper
    Response from Captain

    Thank you so so much for the kinda words!! we will see you soon!!

  • Ryan Gossett
    Ryan Gossett
    Member since 2026
    5.0

    Memories Made With the Help of Captain Chris

    Half Day Trip – Inshore

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Had an awesome time out on the water today! Captain Chris was super knowledgeable, professional, and worked hard to keep us on fish all day. We ended up catching several bluefish, a nice snook and even landed a shark, which was definitely the highlight of the trip. The boat was clean, well-maintained, and Captain Chris made sure everyone had a great experience.Not Only was he great professionally, Chris was great fun to talk to. Not only his experience, but also his personality were some of the reasons of what made this trip so memorable! If you’re looking for a fun day of fishing with a crew that knows what they’re doing, I highly recommend booking a trip. We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in town! 🎣🦈🤘🏽

    Reported catch:
    Snook
    Hammerhead Shark
    Response from Captain

    My man!!!! Thank you so so much for booking TWICE! ANNNND the sick review! it was a dang pleasure look forward to next year! 🤘🏽

  • Brandyn Desouza
    Brandyn Desouza
    Member since 2026
    5.0

    Half day trip nearshore with Chris

    Half Day Trip – Nearshore

    This was my first time catching my first fish and I caught a dogfish shark! My second was a redfish and then I caught some cat fishes. This is the guy to go to if you are willing to catch more than 1 fish. His boat was super clean and cool. He noticed if we had issues with rod or line crossing other lines. He was always there to help us and is very outgoing. Very friendly and knows everything about the water he took us too and helped us grab fish with his fishing net. I would definitely recommend Chris and would go fishing with him again.

    Reported catch:
    Hammerhead Shark
    Redfish
    Snook
    Lane Snapper
    Response from Captain

    Thank you very very much!

  • Jason Abernethy
    Jason Abernethy
    Repeat angler
    us
    Pennsylvania, US
    •
    Member since 2020
    •
    4 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Amazing Fishing Experience!

    Half Day Trip – Inshore • 5 adults • 3 children

    What a great day we had! Captain Chris took my family of 5 out fishing and my wife and two daughters have never been out on a fishing charter. The first catch of the day one of my daughters pulled out a nice sized Bonnet shark, she was pumped! From there we pulled out fish after fish all day and into the night! We caught Redfish (which were delicious), Snook, Sea Trout, Catfish, Mangrove Snapper and even had a Tarpon hooked! It was a trip my family will not forget! Thanks for a great time and experience Captain Chris!

    Reported catch:
    Snook
    Tarpon
    Mangrove Snapper
    Redfish
    +1
    Response from Captain

    had a absolute blast!!! thank you so much for the kind words!

  • Eric Brooks
    Eric Brooks
    Member since 2023
    5.0

    4hr morning trip with Capt Chris

    Half Day Trip – Inshore

    Chris runs a first class, professional operation We was on big redfish right away the biggest being 29” We quickly lost count on the number of trout and catfish we caught along with a few bluefish and ladyfish. Chris works hard and knows what he’s doing when it comes to to catching fish. Don’t hesitate to book a trip with him. We will definitely use him again

    Reported catch:
    Snook
    Speckled Trout
    Redfish
    Response from Captain

    heck yeah we had a blast!

Real catches shared by our community

  • Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing
    Sharky's Machine Sport FishingSarasota, FL
    Really fun trip!
    Ross B.
    Ross B.
  • Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing
    Sharky's Machine Sport FishingSarasota, FL
    Amazing Fishing Experience!
    Jason A.
    Jason A.
  • Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing
    Sharky's Machine Sport FishingSarasota, FL
    Great trip BIG FISH
    Nicholas M.
    Nicholas M.
  • Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing
    Sharky's Machine Sport FishingSarasota, FL
    Awesome Family Trip
    Morgan H.
    Morgan H.
  • Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing
    Sharky's Machine Sport FishingSarasota, FL
    Great fishing experience
    Laurin F.
    Laurin F.
  • Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing
    Sharky's Machine Sport FishingSarasota, FL
    great experience
    Dennis R.
    Dennis R.
  • Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing
    Sharky's Machine Sport FishingSarasota, FL
    oh captain my captain!!!!!
    Jeffrey B.
    Jeffrey B.
  • Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing
    Sharky's Machine Sport FishingSarasota, FL
    Minnesota Boyz-Great Day w/Captain Chris
    Ken D.
    Ken D.
  • Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing
    Sharky's Machine Sport FishingSarasota, FL
    Great Trip !
    Michael H.
    Michael H.
  • Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing
    Sharky's Machine Sport FishingSarasota, FL
    March fishing trip
    Chad H.
    Chad H.

What's biting with Sharky's Machine Sport Fishing in Sarasota

The summer winds down slowly and uneventfully... somewhere else! Here, you've got Barracuda, King Mackerel, Tuna, Bluefish, Tarpon, Amberjack, and Sharks, and that's without even getting into the deeper waters way offshore!

Top catches for September

Fishing reports

A proud angler holding a Redfish while enjoying a sunny day on the water.

Insane Inshore Snook and Redfish Bite

Aug 24, 2026 • Sarasota
Inshore bite has been insane lately! Tons of snook and red fish around!
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Solo angler proudly displaying three Redfish on a sunny day while out on the water.

Plenty of Big Redfish Around

Aug 11, 2026 • Sarasota
Tons and tons of big redfish right now!
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Two anglers proudly displaying their catch of Redfish while enjoying a sunny day on the water.

INSHORE IS ON FIRE!

Jul 2, 2026 • Sarasota
Tons of good redfish in big schools!
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Two anglers proudly displaying a large shark on the boat after a successful fishing trip.

BIG SHARKS

Apr 26, 2026 • Sarasota
Bull sharks are here by the thousands. We caught a few. Sent them back hoping they head offshore instead of eating all the tarpon..
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Two anglers proudly displaying a large Tarpon while fishing on a sunny day, showcasing the excitement of a successful catch.

TARPON ARE HERE!!

Apr 26, 2026 • Sarasota
Awesome trip the other day!
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Two young anglers proudly displaying a large fish on a boat, showcasing their successful catch during a fishing trip.

Crazy day!!!! 60lb cobia! On a 4hr insho

Apr 25, 2026 • Sarasota
We slammed the red fish snook and trout first thing in the morning, on the way out headed back to drop everybody off. I spotted a pair of cobia waking on the flat. I asked them if it’s OK if we stay out for a little longer and boom, we made it happen 60 pound cobia to round out the day about 30 pounds and fillets.
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