Charter Operator
Reel Gypsy Fishing

Member since March 2023 Dauphin Island, United States
Background
My father started guiding inshore trips in the early 80s on Calcasieu Lake in Southwest Louisiana. In 1984, my parents started Big Lake Guide Service on Calcasieu Lake. I came along in 1987 and it seems like I’ve been in a boat ever since. As a child my parents employed up to 12 captains. As scary as it sounds, you could say I was raised by fishing guides, literally and figuratively. They were all like my older brothers. My parents somehow cultivated an environment of competition and respect on their dock. Competition amongst each other and respect for the customer, themselves, and the fish. They all strove to be the best on the dock every morning. The best fisherman, the best with customers, and the best conservationist. These lessons have stuck with me and I’ll carry them until I’m long gone.
Techniques
I believe my favorite style of fishing is with a soft plastic jig, in water depths over 6ft, with perfect current, for speckled trout. Something about the thought process makes it special. Making the cast slightly up current, throwing slack in your line so your bait can fall naturally, then getting your bait to the correct depth and gently twitching it along through the drift being careful not to have the plastic lure do anything unnatural. The thump of a speckled trout makes me grin every time. Knowing that I just put something fake in his environment, presented it in a way that made him think it was real, and MADE him eat it, is something I’ll never be able to give up.

Hey, we're Reel Gypsy Fishing

Dauphin Island, United States
Background
My father started guiding inshore trips in the early 80s on Calcasieu Lake in Southwest Louisiana. In 1984, my parents started Big Lake Guide Service on Calcasieu Lake. I came along in 1987 and it seems like I’ve been in a boat ever since. As a child my parents employed up to 12 captains. As scary as it sounds, you could say I was raised by fishing guides, literally and figuratively. They were all like my older brothers. My parents somehow cultivated an environment of competition and respect on their dock. Competition amongst each other and respect for the customer, themselves, and the fish. They all strove to be the best on the dock every morning. The best fisherman, the best with customers, and the best conservationist. These lessons have stuck with me and I’ll carry them until I’m long gone.
Techniques
I believe my favorite style of fishing is with a soft plastic jig, in water depths over 6ft, with perfect current, for speckled trout. Something about the thought process makes it special. Making the cast slightly up current, throwing slack in your line so your bait can fall naturally, then getting your bait to the correct depth and gently twitching it along through the drift being careful not to have the plastic lure do anything unnatural. The thump of a speckled trout makes me grin every time. Knowing that I just put something fake in his environment, presented it in a way that made him think it was real, and MADE him eat it, is something I’ll never be able to give up.
Anglers Choice
Verified
Our Team
Jeff P.
Captain
Nick P.
Captain

My Charter Listings

Excellent
5.0 / 5
(27 reviews)
Angler's choice
Dauphin Island
 2 bookings in the past week.
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $500
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(2 reviews)
Angler's choice
Dauphin Island
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $500

Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
5.0 / 5
out of 5 stars from 29 reviews
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (37)
Great Captain\/Guide
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Great Captain\/Guide
+34
Angler rating
29
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0
0
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Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
100%
Appropriate for children
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
100%
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5 of 29 reviews
Marc T.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Top Notch Guide!

VERIFIED   NEW  4 Hour Trip – Inshore (AM) on May 1, 2025
I have fished with guides all over the world and Nick ranks up there with the best of the best. Great knowledge of the area,...
Marc T. recommends Reel Gypsy Fishing
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Marc T. recommends Reel Gypsy Fishing
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Robert W.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great Captain/Guide

VERIFIED   NEW  6 Hour Trip – Inshore (AM) on May 24, 2025
Captain Nick got us into various fishing environments, maybe took 5 minutes before we caught our first fish. We had a blast!...
Robert W. recommends Reel Gypsy Fishing
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Robert W. recommends Reel Gypsy Fishing
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Jennifer W.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great Fishing

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip – Inshore (AM) on March 18, 2025
Do yourself a favor and book this charter! First charter my husband has ever been on where first spot he was catching fish...
Jennifer W. recommends Reel Gypsy Fishing
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Jennifer W. recommends Reel Gypsy Fishing
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Chris S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fantastic

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip – Inshore (PM) on July 1, 2024
The fishing was awesome, it was me and my 10yr girl let the Nick know I was wanting to focus on her catching fish. Once we...
Chris S. recommends Reel Gypsy Fishing
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful
Chris S. recommends Reel Gypsy Fishing
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

Kevin F.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Limit Catch

VERIFIED   NEW  4 Hour Trip – Inshore (AM) on April 28, 2025
Great day on the fish from first cast.  Finished by being dropped off on the beach in front of our accommodation.
Kevin F. recommends Reel Gypsy Fishing
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Kevin F. recommends Reel Gypsy Fishing
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