Charter Operator
Nelson Guide Company

Member since February 2021 Destin, United States
Background
Captain Si Nelson is in his 22nd year as a professional guide and loves it more and more every day. He is a dual threat, able to run bay charters as well as nearshore Gulf charters. He was born and raised right here on the Emerald Coast so he has a lifetime of experience of fishing the Emerald Coast waters. Over the years he has worked from Matagorda, Texas to Block Island Sound, New York, and everywhere in between giving him an extensive seaborne experience making him uniquely qualified to deliver the perfect experience for just about any crowd. Captain Si is just as at home stalking the flats in the backcountry as he is sounding the depths for offshore monsters, and knows how to keep things light and fun! A perpetual student of the University of West Florida's history program, Captain Si not only puts you on the fish but keeps things interesting with constant information about the local history.
Techniques
I run and gun, using a combination of live bait and artificial lures and fish only in CALM WATER, this way everyone has a good time and no one gets sick. I prefer sight fishing, but will do whatever it takes to get the bite. In the past ~1450 trips, I haven't been skunked once.

Hey, it's Nelson Guide Company

Destin, United States
Background
Captain Si Nelson is in his 22nd year as a professional guide and loves it more and more every day. He is a dual threat, able to run bay charters as well as nearshore Gulf charters. He was born and raised right here on the Emerald Coast so he has a lifetime of experience of fishing the Emerald Coast waters. Over the years he has worked from Matagorda, Texas to Block Island Sound, New York, and everywhere in between giving him an extensive seaborne experience making him uniquely qualified to deliver the perfect experience for just about any crowd. Captain Si is just as at home stalking the flats in the backcountry as he is sounding the depths for offshore monsters, and knows how to keep things light and fun! A perpetual student of the University of West Florida's history program, Captain Si not only puts you on the fish but keeps things interesting with constant information about the local history.
Techniques
I run and gun, using a combination of live bait and artificial lures and fish only in CALM WATER, this way everyone has a good time and no one gets sick. I prefer sight fishing, but will do whatever it takes to get the bite. In the past ~1450 trips, I haven't been skunked once.
Our Team
Si N.
Captain
Wyatt L.
Captain

My Charter Listing

Excellent
4.8 / 5
(309 reviews)
Destin
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $630

Fishing Reports

What's biting in May?
What's biting in May?
May 1, 2023 Destin
Itโ€™s that time of year where everything is just about to pop off, but hasnโ€™t just quite yet. In the bay there are a few trout and reds to be caught, sporadically, but no where is hot cast after castโ€ฆ yet. Bait is hard to come by, but it can be found - for the most part, Iโ€™m still using shrimp. The Spanish Mackerel bite is slowing down a little faster than I expected. The fish I am catching are actually very large. Last week I caught several Spanish in the 4-6lb class. A blast on light tackle! Redfish, especially bulls, are readily eating pinfish around the pass. It seems like the further into the bay you go the slower the bite has become. You can grind it out and catch a few fish on the flats and around the bayous, but nobody is finding fast action right now. The nearshore bite is still alive and well with vermillion and mangrove snappers to be found just about anywhere you look. Porgies and the occasional Flounder pop up now and then, and Iโ€™ve been pleasantly surprised by the occasional Scamp. Just move around until you find the fish. I had the pleasure of doing some offshore fishing this past week and we got into wahoos and tuna. The deep water bottom fishing was lackluster, but we still made a good day of it with some nice big Scamps and Vermilions. Cigar Minnows, Herring, and Hardtails are plentiful right outside the pass right now, and King Mackerels are sporadically working the bait schools and can make for some quick action. Red Snappers and Amberjack, while not in season are always a good time and are usually easy to find this time of year. Get Out There Any Make Something Happen! Captain Si
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.8 / 5
out of 5 stars from 309 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (305)
The Captain took the time to socialize and was a great guy.
The Captain took the time to socialize and was a great guy.
The Captain took the time to socialize and was a great guy.
+302
Angler rating
276
20
5
2
1
Anglers claimed
Good experience
96%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
95%
Appropriate for children
99%
Satisfied with the boat
97%
Caught fish
98%
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Showing:
5 of 309 reviews
Micah L.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Wyatt was dripping with Aura

VERIFIED   3 Hour Trip โ€“ Kids' Trip on June 24, 2026
First off, when you take kids on a boat whoโ€™ve never done serious fishing, you expect some moans and groans. Wyatt was so...
Micah L. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Brian F.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great trip

VERIFIED   4 HRS SPRING BREAK SPECIAL on April 10, 2026
great time on the water!!!! Captain of the boat was awesome and did a great job of putting us on the fish!!!!!! very helpful...
Brian F. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Brian F. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Zack D.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Amazing trip with great captains!

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip โ€“ Captain's Choice - 1:00 PM on July 29, 2026
It was a wonderful trip. Captains Wyatt and Mike made it a super fun trip for the kids. We caught plenty of fish and saw dolphins....
Zack D. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Zack D. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Jackie K.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great Trip!

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip โ€“ Captain's Choice - 1:00 PM on June 3, 2026
Booked this as a surprise for my 15 year old. Had my husband tag along as well as my dad who was visiting from Germany. The...
Jackie K. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Jackie K. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Jake M.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great day

VERIFIED   4 HRS SPRING BREAK SPECIAL on April 16, 2026
Took my young kids, 6 and 11, for their first charter to see how they would do. The captain Wyatt and his mate did amazing....
Jake M. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Jake M. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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