Captain

James Merkel

Holmes Beach, United States

Angler's choice

25+ reviews

Raised on Longboat Key and on the waters of the Suncoast, Captain Jamie has run charters for more than three decades, all over the globe. With a deep and rich history in offshore, inshore, and flats fishing, Captain Jamie is often recognized for his appearances on the ESPN networks and The World Fishing Network, as well as hundreds of radio and print appearances, from local papers to the Wall Street Journal. A true man of service on the water, Captain Jamie studied Biological Oceanography in college and is a graduate of Disney University, mastering the customer service and safety standards that have become synonymous with such a great tradition. Also recognized as a premier SCUBA Instructor, Instructor Trainer, and Course Director since the early 90's, having certified more than a thousand divers and Dive Instructors, Captain Jamie is a master of safe in-water operations for all ages and all environments. His joyful and confident approach to all charters are a benchmark for customer service and ensure that every charter ends with success.

Charter

Bone Island Adventures

Holmes Beach

Instant Confirmation

Trips from

US $625

Rating

4.9

46 reviews

4.9

Boat & Equipment

4.9

Captain & Crew

4.8

Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (55)

What anglers say

98%

Recommend this charter

98%

Caught fish

All reviews (46)

Showing 1 – 5 of 46 reviews

Brian Murphy
Pennsylvania, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Great day with Bone Island Fishing
4 Hour Trip on June 17, 2026 • 6 adults
Had an awesome trip with Captain Jamie at Bone Island Fishing Charters. He was great — super friendly and accommodating the whole time. We had 6 people in our group and all felt comfortable on the 30’ center console, plenty of room for everyone. We got a great bonus right off the bat with a pod of dolphins, then Jamie put us on fish quickly. Ended up catching a nice variety: sea trout, ladyfish, jack crevalle, snook, and even some catfish. Non-stop action and a really fun day on the water. Highly recommend Captain Jamie if you’re looking for a laid-back, productive charter. We’ll definitely be booking with him again next time we’re in town.
Joseph Hughes
Repeat angler
West Virginia, US
Member since 2026
2 trips
5.0
Verified
Fish Caught!
4 Hour Trip on June 3, 2026 • 6 adults • 2 children
We wanted to make sure we had some fish we could eat after the trip! Capt Jamie put us on some speckled trout due to the high winds and then we moved over to some more game fish. Bait was very hard to find and everyone was having that problem, but we were able to get bait. We caught Speckled Trout, Snook, Redfish, catfish (boo), Bluefish, and Permit(Awesome fight)!! I recommend Capt Jamie for your charter and would go again next trip! He knows what you can and can't do in certain weather conditions!
Reported catch:
Tia Esson
Florida, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
NEW
An Exceptional Experience
6 Hour Trip on September 12, 2026 • 6 adults
Captain James was communicative from the time I made my payment until dropoff. He took pictures, gave me updates, made it an extremely fun experience for my son’s 17th birthday. I will absolutely book with him very soon in the near future. 10/10
Courtney C
Georgia, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
What a great day!!!
4 Hour Trip on July 9, 2026 • 4 adults • 1 child
Captain Jamie made our experience the highlight of our trip to Anna Maria. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable, he was the coolest Captain. We fished, we played at the sand bar, he cleaned our trout, he showed us the area and most importantly, we laughed and made fantastic memories. We will definitely book with him again!
Reported catch:
Amanda Matthews
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Awesome Fishing trip
4 Hour Trip on June 10, 2026 • 6 adults • 2 children
Captain James was awesome! He was very knowledgeable about fishing. He was funny and the kids loved him as well. We caught lots of fish and saw dolphins. We went at 8am and the ocean and sky was just so beautiful- it was nice just to enjoy the moment and take it all in. Thank you Captain James for an experience my Family will never forget!!!
Reported catch: