Captain
Si Nelson

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 anecdotes about 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, I'm Captain Si Nelson

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 anecdotes about 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

My Charter Listing

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
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 126 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (137)
Great Captain, Great trip.
Spring Break 2024
Spring Break 2024
+134
Angler rating
114
5
2
1
1
Anglers claimed
Good experience
95%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
94%
Appropriate for children
99%
Satisfied with the boat
98%
Caught fish
95%
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Showing:
5 of 126 reviews
Warren J.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great time!

VERIFIED   NEW  4 HR SPRING BREAK SPECIAL (AM) on April 22, 2024
We woke up to less than ideal weather, low 50ยฐs and cool north winds 15-20mph. We knew these conditions usually slow the fishing...
Warren J. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Warren J. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Robert R.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great Captain, Great trip.

VERIFIED   NEW  4 HR SPRING BREAK SPECIAL (AM) on April 17, 2024
Awesome Captain.ย  Told us stories about the history of the area.ย  Show us details about lots of different fish and how some...
Robert R. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful
Robert R. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

Jay S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing trip in August

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip โ€“ Captain's Choice (AM) on August 2, 2023
Jay S. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful
Jay S. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

Dave W.
Delta, OH
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

5hr trip with Captain Si

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip โ€“ Captain's Choice (AM) on July 22, 2023
We went out for Mingo snapper and the boys had their first bout of sea sickness. Captain Si was more than accommodating with...
Dave W. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful
Dave W. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

Ray H.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing trip in July

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip โ€“ Captain's Choice (AM) on July 21, 2023
Ray H. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Ray H. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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