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.
Anglers Choice
Verified
Our Team
Si N.
Captain
Wyatt L.
Captain

My Charter Listing

Excellent
4.9 / 5
(252 reviews)
Angler's choice
Destin
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $600

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 252 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (247)
10\/10 Trip!
10\/10 Trip!
10\/10 Trip!
+244
Angler rating
230
12
3
2
1
Anglers claimed
Good experience
96%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
95%
Appropriate for children
99%
Satisfied with the boat
98%
Caught fish
97%
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Showing:
5 of 252 reviews
Trent M.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Wyatt put us on fish

VERIFIED   3 Hour Trip โ€“ Kids' Trip on December 23, 2025
caught roughly 60+( conservatively) white trout! honestly canโ€™t ask for anything more, but capt Wyatt was great with kiddos...
Trent M. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Trent M. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Derek S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great trip!

VERIFIED   4 HR WINTER SPECIAL (AM) on March 25, 2025
We had the best fishing trip with, Si, and I canโ€™t recommend him enough! From start to finish, Si made the experience unforgettable....
Derek S. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Aaron A.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Tight Lines and lots of laughs

VERIFIED   4 HR WINTER SPECIAL (PM) on October 21, 2025
My 9yr old and I went with Capt Si on a 4hr afternoon trip, we had a blast , caught lots of fish. ( tiggerfish, red snapper,...
Aaron A. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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1 person finds this review helpful
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Aaron A. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

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

Brooks/Thomas Trip

VERIFIED   4 HR WINTER SPECIAL (PM) on October 17, 2025
It was a great trip catching numberous types of fish. We were able to reach our max limit on the black snapper with many other...
Kevin B. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Kevin B. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Erin P.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Vacation Highlight!

VERIFIED   3 Hour Trip โ€“ Kids' Trip on July 14, 2025
I booked the 3 hour kids trip for my 11 year old daughter, my wife and myself.ย  The goal was to have fun out on the water...
Erin P. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Erin P. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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