Tarpon Springs
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $600
Captain
Luke Bonner
Tarpon Springs, United States
Angler's choice
10+ reviews
I am Captain Luke and I am a true Florida-born native. I was born right here in north Pinellas county and raised on the waters of Tarpon Springs, Florida. My experience matters most, I have 675+ logged trips and 17+ years guiding in the Tampa Bay area.
I specialize in nearshore reef fishing, shallow water spearfishing and scallop snorkeling day trips. I mainly fish out of a custom built 27' Sailfish center console based off of the classic Seacraft design. It is equipped with twin Yamaha 150 HP outboards and the latest SIMRAD electronics. This vessel drafts 20 inches of water and has a variable step deadrise for a comfortable ride to the fishing grounds. Twin 30 gallon baitwells house enough bait for a full day of action packed fishing. I also have a Carolina Skiff for flats fishing and sandbar trips inside of Tampa Bay.
On my days off I enjoy scouting out new fishing spots, spearfishing while freediving and making upgrades to my boat. I also enjoy creating digital artwork and playing guitar.
Charter
Rating
5.0
14 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (55)
All reviews (14)
Showing 1 – 5 of 14 reviews
Jessica Mihm-bonner5.0BEST CAPTAIN EVER!!!
Full Day Trip – Bait FishingCaptain Luke isn’t just another guide. He’s a true Florida native who’s spent a lifetime learning these waters. Every channel, every sandbar, every hidden honey hole is second nature to him. I've been fishing, diving, and scalloping with Captain Luke for over 8 year and what sets him apart is simple, he truly cares. He shows up early, stays out longer, and puts in the extra effort most people don’t ever see. He doesn’t cut corners, rush trips, or settle for “good enough.” His mission is to make sure every single person on his boat leaves with stories, smiles, and something unforgettable. Whether your crew wants a laid back family day tossing lines, catching fish, and cruising to a sandbar for lunch… or you’re a serious angler chasing action and aiming to stock your fridge with fresh fillets… or you’re ready for a true Florida adventure with scalloping… ( 11 out of 10 recommend to make this a yearly ritual !!! ) ...... Captain Luke ALWAYS delivers!!!!!!!! It’s more than a charter. It’s the kind of experience you will talk about long after the boat is back at the dock. Do yourself a favor… stop searching. BOOK Captain Luke!
Reported catch:
+8Response from CaptainThanks and looking forward to having you back out on the new boat!
George Stalker5.0VerifiedGreat trip, first time in the gulf
3/4 Day Trip – Bait Fishing • 2 adultsThe experience was awesome. My first time fishing the gulf, and captain Luke made it a great experience. I caught my first mangrove snapper, and my daughter caught her first grouper (red). Captain treated us like we had known each other forever,I definitely would recommend his services.
Response from CaptainYou guys were great and i bet those snapper tasted excellent!
Matthew Siano5.0VerifiedBest trip ever!!!
Half Day Trip – Bait Fishing • 5 adults • 1 childBest trip ever, caught a ton of fish! Captain Luke was the best, helpful, attentive, and had us on fish the entire trip. The 4 hrs went by in a flash. Cannot wait to book with him again, he made the experience perfect for what we wanted.
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainI am glad i was able to schedule you guys in last minute. I had a great time too!
Weatherby Carney5.0VerifiedMOST FISH WE EVER CAUGHT!
Half Day Trip – Bait Fishing • 5 adultsWhat an amazing trip, everyone on the boat caught 20 plus fish, the bite was never ending. Captain Luke was such an amazing guy he made the whole trip run so smooth and was very informative. I would recommend him to anyone I know!
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainThanks, i had a lot of fun with your crew 😎
Matthew Timmers5.0VerifiedAmazing experience
Half Day Trip – Bait Fishing • 1 adultAs a avid angler myself Luke put us on fish in all his spots. we had a very calm day as far as weather but that made it the best day to be in the water. Definitely booking more trips with Luke
Reported catch:Response from CaptainI was happy to have you out and looking forward to going again! Super hogfish!
Real catches shared by our community
- Capt. Luke - Reef Fishing & SpearfishingTarpon Springs, FL
- Capt. Luke - Reef Fishing & SpearfishingTarpon Springs, FL
- Capt. Luke - Reef Fishing & SpearfishingTarpon Springs, FL
- Capt. Luke - Reef Fishing & SpearfishingTarpon Springs, FL
- Capt. Luke - Reef Fishing & SpearfishingTarpon Springs, FL
- Capt. Luke - Reef Fishing & SpearfishingTarpon Springs, FL
- Capt. Luke - Reef Fishing & SpearfishingTarpon Springs, FL
- Capt. Luke - Reef Fishing & SpearfishingTarpon Springs, FL
- Capt. Luke - Reef Fishing & SpearfishingTarpon Springs, FL
- Capt. Luke - Reef Fishing & SpearfishingTarpon Springs, FL
What's biting with Capt. Luke - Reef Fishing & Spearfishing in Tarpon Springs
Redfish are getting better on the flats while you can find superb Snook fishing around creeks and rivers. The King Mackerel fall run is in full swing, and slow trolling can get you bags of catch.
Top catches for October
Fishing reports
Tarpon Springs Flounder Bite Nearshore
Aug 11, 2026 • Tarpon Springs
Flounder fishing out of Tarpon Springs has been pretty good over the past few weeks, with fish showing up in good numbers around the rocky-sandy mixed areas and along the edges of structure. We’ve been finding them lying tight to the bottom, with shrimp and small baitfish producing the best bites. There have been plenty of smaller snapper around, but we’ve been seeing some nice keeper-sized flounder mixed in. As the water temperatures start to change and we move toward fall, the flounder bite should continue to get better. They’re always a welcome addition to the cooler and one of my favorite nearshore fish to target because you get four fillets plus they make an excellent meal.
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June Gag Grouper and Mangrove Snapper
Jun 9, 2026 • Tarpon Springs
The beginning of June fishing has been off to a great start. Larger gag grouper and red grouper have moved closer to the barrier keys and into shallower water to take advantage of the annual arrival of pilchard bait schools. This seasonal migration occurs every late spring and typically continues until water temperatures rise later in the summer.
Anglers looking to target these hard-fighting fish have their best opportunity by fishing productive hard-bottom areas with fresh-cut pilchards and large shrimp rigged on a knocker rig. Several quality fish have been landed over the past week, including grouper in the 8-pound range, while a few even larger fish have managed to break anglers off before reaching the boat. The average size has been around 5 pounds. Remember that gag grouper remain catch-and-release only until the season reopens in September.
Large mangrove snapper have also moved onto the shallower reefs and have been feeding well during periods of slack tide. Success often comes down to using plenty of fresh chum and downsizing tackle until bites begin. Mangrove snapper possess excellent eyesight and do much of their feeding during low-light conditions and at night, making them one of the more challenging species to fool consistently.
Despite the challenge, they are a rewarding catch for both anglers and spearfishing divers. The average mangrove snapper has been around 3 pounds, with an exceptionally large 7-pound fish landed this past Saturday. If current conditions continue, the nearshore reef bite should remain productive throughout the month.
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Incredible bite in Tarpon Springs in May
May 22, 2026 • Tarpon Springs
Tarpon Springs fishing has been excellent this May, with warm Gulf water temperatures and strong bait activity creating ideal nearshore conditions. Red grouper fishing has been very productive on hard bottom and ledges in 20-35 feet of water, while gag grouper are showing up in better numbers closer inshore around heavy structure. Live whitebait, shrimp and cut bait have all been producing well, especially during lighter current conditions and calm morning weather windows.
Hogfish action continues to be a standout this spring, with quality fish coming from nearshore hard bottom in 20–40 feet of water using shrimp on light tackle. Mangrove snapper fishing has also remained steady around reefs, rock piles, and artificial structure, with shrimp and small cut whitebait producing solid keeper catches. Overall, my anglers fishing out of Tarpon Springs are seeing strong bottom fishing opportunities and excellent variety heading into early summer.
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Spring hogfish nearshore north Pinellas
Apr 25, 2026 • Tarpon Springs
As of late April 2026, Gulf hogfish fishing is on fire, particularly on nearshore spots in 20–30 feet of water. Anglers in the Tarpon Springs are seeing great success with live or dead shrimp on 1 oz knocker rigs or jig heads. The bite is strong during calm weather, with key activity around hard-bottom edges.
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