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

Excellent
4.9 / 5
(231 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 231 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (235)
Captain Si knows where the fish are at!!!
Captain Si knows where the fish are at!!!
Captain Si knows where the fish are at!!!
+232
Angler rating
212
9
3
2
1
Anglers claimed
Good experience
96%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
95%
Appropriate for children
99%
Satisfied with the boat
99%
Caught fish
97%
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Showing:
5 of 231 reviews
Erica T.
EXCLSOR SPRGS, MO
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

First time fishing trip

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip โ€“ Captain's Choice (AM) on September 17, 2022
The kids and I had a great time today ! Si and Dakota were great and the kids were entertained ! Great music on the boat as...
Erica T. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Erica T. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Michael S.
Winnebago, IL
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Captainโ€™s choice

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip โ€“ Captain's Choice (AM) on August 19, 2022
Great time, captain SI is super personal and great at what he does. We caught fish, he held up his end of the deal and gave...
Michael S. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Michael S. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Michael I.
Very good
4.0 / 5
Experience:
Good
3.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Very good
4.0 / 5
Overall

Excellent Captain!

VERIFIED   4 HR FALL SPECIAL (AM) on May 11, 2024
Had a lot of fun, caught lots of fish. Excellent crew. Overall great fishing trip if you donโ€™t mind an older boat.
Michael I. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Michael I. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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Scott O.
Kodak, TN
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Six hour day trip with Capt Si

VERIFIED   6 Hour Trip on October 1, 2022
Great time with Capt Si and Dakota! Caught several and got to keep a lot of what we caught! See yโ€™all next time!!
Scott O. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful
Scott O. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

James M.
Atlanta, Georgia
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

4 hour trip

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip โ€“ Captain's Choice (AM) on September 5, 2022
I had a great time with Capt. Si. He knows his stuff and put us right on the fish for some bottom fishing. Caught a 29โ€ red...
James M. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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James M. recommends Nelson Guide Company
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