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Phil Rugari
Captain

Phil Rugari

Belleair Bluffs, United States
100+ reviews
I grew up in FL fishing both coasts. Lived in many states and have had the opportunity to fish in many great places our country has to offer. Moved back to FL a few years ago and have been fortunate enough to have honed my skills as a salt water angler who is now sponsored by Humminbird and Minn Kota along with many other companies in the industry. Fishing is my #1 passion and I know you will have a great time on my boat. I offer a safe, clean charter and I will put you on FISH!

Charters

Rating

5.0
140 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience

What anglers say

100%
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
97%
Appropriate for children
100%
Satisfied with the boat
99%
Caught fish

All reviews (140)

Showing 1 – 5 of 140 reviews
  • Matt Mikel
    Matt Mikel
    Repeat angler
    us
    Minnesota, US
    Member since 2025
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Awesome day!

    Half Day – Inshore/Nearshore • 6 adults • 3 children

    Captain Phil brought my family and I out which included my 9, 7, and 5 year old boys and man did we have a great time! The bite was constant all morning and we caught atleast 10 different kinds of fish and were able to keep a limit of Mangrove Snapper that Capt. Phil fileted up for us. He was extremely patient and answered all the questions my boys had. I don’t think he had a chance to catch his breath while he was jumping around the boat baiting hooks and taking off fish (and a bird, aka a “demon turkey” according to my boys 😂) for 4 hours straight! When we made it back to the Clearwater area we’ll be booking with Capt. Phil without a doubt!

    Reported catch:
    Mangrove Snapper
    Speckled Trout
  • Tabitha Lummus
    Tabitha Lummus
    us
    Kansas, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified
    NEW

    Highly recommend!

    Half Day – Inshore/Nearshore • 5 adults • 1 child

    We thought the weather was going to interfere with our plans but it turned out to be the perfect day. Captain Phil picked us up and dropped us off right on our dock at the Airbnb! We caught flounder, sea trout, catfish and even a stingray. We even saw a manatee! Captain Phil was very helpful and knowledgeable. We enjoyed our half day of fishing and conversation. We will definitely book with him again!

    Reported catch:
    Speckled Trout
  • Angelo Sakelarios
    Angelo Sakelarios
    Repeat angler
    us
    Massachusetts, US
    Member since 2025
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Great Day with Captain Phil - Suncoast Expeditions

    Half Day – Inshore/Nearshore • 2 adults

    Had an awesome day out with Suncoast Expeditions and Capt. Phil. We hit both the Gulf and the Intracoastal and caught fish at every single stop — Redfish, Sheepshead, Sea Bass, Mangrove Snapper, and Grunts. Capt. Phil was an excellent guide and had everything covered: all the gear, all the bait, taking the fish off the hooks, and keeping all the good eaters for us that met size requirements. Such a fun, easygoing trip. I definitely recommend booking with Capt. Phil and Suncoast Expeditions. Already looking forward to the next one.

    Reported catch:
    Redfish
  • Matt Ferguson
    Matt Ferguson
    us
    Indiana, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Amazing time with Capt. Phil

    Half Day – Inshore/Nearshore • 2 adults

    Our time on the water with Capt. Phil was amazing! Father and son trip with my 13yo for a 4hr morning session. We caught tons of fish of a variety of species and had some great conversation with Capt Phil as well. We came down to FL to catch fish and man did we ever! Would highly recommend, and we will be repeat customers! 🎣

    Reported catch:
    Redfish
    Speckled Trout
  • Michael Saylor
    Michael Saylor
    Repeat angler
    us
    Georgia, US
    Member since 2024
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Rainy and Fun!

    Half Day – Inshore/Nearshore - 1:00 PM • 2 adults

    My son and I had a blast and Capt Phil was great! It rained almost the whole time, and the Capt gave us a heads up on the weather before we left the dock and gave us the option to do it some other time, but my son and I were fine with it. A little rain cant get in the way of fishin’. So yeah, We got soaked and caught a bunch of fish too! Truly, it was a great experience. We will def be going out with Capt Phil again in the Spring!

    Reported catch:
    Speckled Trout
    Jack Crevalle
    Snook
    Mangrove Snapper
    +1

Real catches shared by our community

  • Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater Fishing
    Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater FishingBelleair Bluffs, FL
    Young angler proudly holding a large redfish aboard a fishing boat in coastal waters.
    Fish 1
    Redfish
    Cory W.
    Cory W.
    Captian Phil was the best! He put us on fish quickly! Was very knowledgeable. Made sure my 13 year old was having a blast. Would highly recommened!
  • Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater Fishing
    Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater FishingBelleair Bluffs, FL
    A young angler proudly displaying a large Grouper caught while fishing on a boat.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Red Grouper
    Jonny F.
    Jonny F.
    Every spot we stopped caught fish, engaged captain, helpful and overall best charter we have been on. See you again soon Phil!
  • Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater Fishing
    Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater FishingBelleair Bluffs, FL
    Angler proudly displaying a small shark while fishing on a sunny day in coastal waters.
    Fish 1
    Blacktip Shark
    Tiffany W.
    Tiffany W.
    Chose Captain Phil based on great reviews and proximity. Knowledgeable and fun spirited with multiple fishing spots made for a great 4 hour adventure. Would definitely book with him again!
  • Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater Fishing
    Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater FishingBelleair Bluffs, FL
    Angler proudly displaying two large Speckled Trout while standing on a dock, showcasing a successful fishing trip.
    Ben S.
    Ben S.
    Had a great time, some of the f8sh werent cooperateing but we still caught plenty! Trout, a few Redfish some snapper and a flounder
  • Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater Fishing
    Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater FishingBelleair Bluffs, FL
    A young angler proudly displaying a Redfish while fishing on a boat in a scenic coastal environment.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Redfish
    Matt F.
    Matt F.
    Our time on the water with Capt. Phil was amazing! Father and son trip with my 13yo for a 4hr morning session. We caught tons of fish of a variety of species and had some great conversation with Capt Phil as well. We came down to FL to catch fish and man did we ever! Would highly recommend, and we will be repeat customers! 🎣
  • Suncoast Expeditions – Boca Grande Tarpon
    Suncoast Expeditions – Boca Grande TarponPlacida, FL
    Angler reeling in a large Tarpon while fishing from a boat in clear blue waters.
    Joe B.
    Joe B.
    hreat day on the water with capt Phill 3 hook ups Two landed
  • Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater Fishing
    Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater FishingBelleair Bluffs, FL
    Adult angler proudly holding a large spotted seatrout aboard a fishing boat in coastal waters.
    Fish 1
    Speckled Trout
    Nicholas S.
    Nicholas S.
  • Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater Fishing
    Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater FishingBelleair Bluffs, FL
    Angler proudly displaying a Redfish while fishing in a scenic coastal environment.
    Fish 1
    Redfish
    Brad S.
    Brad S.
    Capt Phil was great worked hard to put us on the red fish. drone reconnaissance included. ended with a boat limit of red fish, smiles, and a great time. we enjoyed Phils company who was into what ever was jmportant to us. thanks again for being so hospitable.
  • Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater Fishing
    Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater FishingBelleair Bluffs, FL
    Young angler proudly holding a large Speckled Trout while fishing on a boat in coastal waters.
    Fish 1
    Flounder
    Tara F.
    Tara F.
    Phil was a great guide for our young family and very knowledgeable. We were able to go out to the deeper waters and catch some fish then closer inland and had nice luck. We took some fish with us that Phil prepped and are excited for our fresh fish supper!
  • Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater Fishing
    Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater FishingBelleair Bluffs, FL
    A young angler proudly holding a large Redfish while fishing on a sunny day.
    Fish 1
    Redfish
    Patrick M.
    Patrick M.
    Super informative and fun for any level of angler, can't recommend enough!

Our Fishing Locations

What's biting with Suncoast Expeditions – Clearwater Fishing in Belleair Bluffs

Top catches for November

Fishing reports

A young angler proudly displaying a Sheepshead fish while fishing on a boat, showcasing a beautiful day on the water.

PLENTY OF FISH!

Jan 6, 2023 • Belleair Bluffs
While there has been some slower fishing with the cold fronts coming through, we are now all the way though them!! So fishing has been picking up really good! Seasonal bonnethead sharks have moved in and sheepshead are starting their yearly show down in our area! Speckled sea trout have been a very good staple inshore while offshore we are finding really nice stocks of tasty grunts (Key West Snapper). So don't delay, book now and lets go get some fish in the boat!!!
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An angler proudly displaying a large Black Drum while fishing on a sunny day, showcasing the excitement of a successful catch.

Cleaned up some Triple Tail and Hogfish

Apr 16, 2020 • Belleair Bluffs
We went out on two different days during the COVID-19 lockdown to scout some spots. Landed a bunch of Triple Tails and a few Hogs scouting spots. Not to mention a bunch of Mangrove snappers and some Kingfish. All caught on the best bait, shrimp. Gotta love it!
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Family group posing aboard a center-console boat with two freshly caught sharks near a coastal inlet.

Sharks for everyone!!!

Mar 9, 2020 • Belleair Bluffs
Winter fishing in Florida is very hit and miss depending on cold fronts and wind conditions. When you can time the weather correctly you can really get on some nice grouper and the trout bite is FIRE! Larger grouper move in closer to shore in the winter time and many people have luck catching keeper gags either from fishing piers like the skyway or on some of the nearshore ledges and reefs. We have caught gags over 32 inches this past winter with consistency. Inshore fishing is good when the wind dies down, rat reds run around the bays and inland waters and larger trout can be found near grassy flats in 3-4ft of water. As white bait becomes scarce shrimp is always available from the bait shops and will get the nod from every fish that swims. Over the past week we are starting to see a slow down in the wind which is giving us some of our fishing spots back that we cant always fish with 30knot winds. One trip this week we caught 7 bonnethead sharks and twice we were tripled up with them. Rat reds were on the menu and large trout were also biting very good. Sheepshead have been hanging around docks, look for docks with good build up of oysters and barnacles - they will hold fish for sure. Any backwater areas you can find as well that are shallow (less than 2ft) will hold larger reds and big snook. One day we spotted more than 6 snook that were 30+. None took the bait but they were there! Either way tight lines and get out on the water!
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