Captain
Daniel Smith

Member since March 2017 Venice, United States
Background
Captain Daniel has been fishing since he was a kid and he's been fishing in Venice for over 25 years. Armed with years of knowledge, skills, and an excellent offshore sportfishing boat, Captain Daniel is bound to make your fishing dreams come true. He's got a great personality coupled with a good sense of humor and is loved by all new and returning customers.
Techniques
Most of what I do is offshore, but I do enjoy sight fishing, shark fishing and nearshore/inshore fishing as well.

Hey, I'm Captain Daniel Smith

Venice, United States
Background
Captain Daniel has been fishing since he was a kid and he's been fishing in Venice for over 25 years. Armed with years of knowledge, skills, and an excellent offshore sportfishing boat, Captain Daniel is bound to make your fishing dreams come true. He's got a great personality coupled with a good sense of humor and is loved by all new and returning customers.
Techniques
Most of what I do is offshore, but I do enjoy sight fishing, shark fishing and nearshore/inshore fishing as well.
24
Reviews
21
Fishing Reports
Verified

My Charter Listing

Best Catch Fishing Charters

Federally permitted
Excellent
4.7 / 5
(23 reviews)
Venice
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $995

Fishing Reports

WAHOOOOOOโ€ผ๏ธ
WAHOOOOOOโ€ผ๏ธ
May 21, 2025 Venice
Sunday we boated a 60lb 62" Wahoo after catcgihg our limit of Red Grouper and a few big Triggerfish, a couple pompano dolphin, and some nice yellowtail, Mangrove and lane snapper. This is the time of year to see whale sharks, catch wahoo and cobia and blackfin tuna on top of linits of Red Grouper and starting June 1st, Red Snapper. Will also see some big Scamp Grouper and maybe some Black Grouper and lots of porgies and various other snapper too!
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Last few weeks producing limits of Big R
Last few weeks producing limits of Big R
Apr 22, 2025 Venice
We have been catching lots if Big Firetruck Red Grouper uand big Mangrove snapper and lots of Lane and Vermillion Snapper on our 3/4, Full Day and 10 Hour offshore trips. Also catching some big sharks (not on purpose) african pompano, wahoo, kingfish, blackfin tuna and bonita
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Red Snapper Season was a Blast and Amber
Red Snapper Season was a Blast and Amber
Jul 31, 2020 Venice
Limits of Red Snapper caught to 22 lbs to end the season as well as limits of Red Grouper to 16 lbs and big mangrove snapper to 8 lbs in **hidden content** feet. Also caught Gag Grouper to 20 lbs and Scamp Grouper to 7 lbs in **hidden content** feet. Blackfin tuna caught to 24 lbs in 105 feet off the bottom. Cobia caught to 50 lbs off the bottom in 150 feet on a ledge. Chicken dolphin and some bigger Mahi mahi caught to 5 lbs in 140 feet. Jolthead porgies caught to 10 lbs in 150 feet. Amberjack season opened with a bang catching fish to 60 lbs between the bull sharks. 2 bull sharks caught while fishing for the Amberjacks. 1 7 feet and the other 9 feet on the baywronto Wreck in 100 feet of water. Nearshore in 60-90 feet the lane snapper and red Grouper to 12 lbs.
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Whale Sharks and cobia 60 lbs and Red Sn
Whale Sharks and cobia 60 lbs and Red Sn
Jun 15, 2020 Venice
Minn Kota I-pilot with spot lock keeps us right on the spot no anchoring. Catching limits to 30lb red Snapper. Gag grouper to 12 lbs. Scamp Grouper to 7 lbs, Red Grouper to 15 lbs, Jolthead porgues to 10 lbs, red porgies to 4 lbs, Mangrove snapper to 7 lbs, lane snapper to 4 lbs, ++++. blackfin tuna to 20 lbs. king mackerel to 20 lbs and caught a 60lb and 30 lb Cobia on a 1/2 day charter off whale sharks and went swimming with the whale sharks after we caught our limit. Also jumped tarpon to 120 lbs, sailfish to 80 lbs, hammerhead hooke no d maybe 13 feet plus. Barracuda, amberjack and more!!
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March & April COVID 19 fishing.
March & April COVID 19 fishing.
Mar 26, 2020 Venice
Despite the horrendously slow March and much of April 2020, we managed to catch lots of nice fish and didnโ€™t have to go far to do so. We caught a red Grouoer to 21 lbsโ€ผ๏ธ as well as Mangrove snapper to 7 lbs and lane snapper to 21 inches. We caught Blackfin Tuna to almost 30 lbs and king mackerel to 28 lbs. Much of the fish we caught, like the red Grouper were caught in 59-80 feet of water and the tuna no deeper then 110 feet or 30 miles out.
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Huge Red Grouper everywhere!
Huge Red Grouper everywhere!
Mar 4, 2020 Venice
From Cobia, Blackfin Tuna, Barrauda, King Mackerel, to Giant Red Grouper and lots of snapper gallore! We have been catching lots of fish on all our trips! February was incredible for Tuna, Cobia and Limits of nice big Red Grouper and lots of lane and mangrove snapper and porgies and grunts and sea bass. March is looking even better! As spring heats up so will the fishing and i cant imagine it getting even better then it has been but we are looking foreward to it so book your next fishing adventure with Best Catch and Capt. Dan Smith today and you will not be dissappointed!!!!
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.7 / 5
out of 5 stars from 24 reviews
See details
Boat
Excellent
4.6 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.6 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (26)
Great trip
Great trip
Great trip
+23
Angler rating
15
5
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
92%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
83%
Appropriate for children
91%
Satisfied with the boat
96%
Caught fish
86%
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5 of 24 reviews
William B.

The captain canceled

VERIFIED   NEW  May 25, 2025
The charter operator canceled 4 days prior to the trip date. This is an automated posting.
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Brian B.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great trip

VERIFIED   8 Hour Trip on April 14, 2025
Went out on full day trip with my three kids. Capt Dan got us on fish all day.ย  Groupers, snapper, jack, and even a shark!ย ...
Brian B. recommends Best Catch Fishing Charters
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Julia B.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Best Trip!

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip (AM) on February 12, 2025
Had the best time! The captain is great and gets you what youโ€™re wanting! Caught the grouper limit! More like catching than...
Julia B. recommends Best Catch Fishing Charters
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Michael C.
Columbia, SC
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half Dan Trip with Best Catch and Captain Dan

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip (AM) on June 29, 2020
After staying at Myakka River State Park all week with no fishing luck, decided to book last minute before our drive home to...
Michael C. recommends Best Catch Fishing Charters
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John K.
Milton, FL
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Deep sea trip

VERIFIED   Tarpon Beach Sight Fishing on July 24, 2020
Had a great time on this charter.ย  Captain Dan and Jack really went out of their way to make sure our family had a great trip...
John K. recommends Best Catch Fishing Charters
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