Captain

Damon Santelli

Key West, United States

Federal waters

500+ reviews

Capt. Damon Santelli runs fishing trips out of the rich Florida Keys. Damon spent a decade working as a commercial fisherman in the Key West. During that time, he learnt a great deal about fishing, using rod and reel to make a living. Having earned a lot of experience and skills, Capt. Damon went on to become a captain of his own charter. He now has a fleet of boats and along with his team takes out numerous customers each year. The decision to leave behind his office career and become a captain proved to be the right one. Capt. Damon is patient and likes taking both novice anglers and seasoned fishermen out on the water. Damon has landed many commercial fishing records, such as 1232 lbs of Yellowtail Snapper. You don't want to miss a trip with him. It's going to be pure action!

Charters

Fish Key West - The Coolcast
Key West
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $1,000
Fish Key West – The Coolwater
Key West
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $1,000
Fish Key West – The Coolwater II
Key West
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $1,000

Rating

4.8

881 reviews

4.8

Boat & Equipment

4.8

Captain & Crew

4.7

Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (645)

What anglers say

92%

Good experience

98%

Friendly captain

94%

Recommend this charter

85%

Appropriate for children

98%

Satisfied with the boat

85%

Caught fish

All reviews (881)

Showing 1 – 5 of 881 reviews

Vanna Carroll
Spartanburg, SC, US
•
Member since 2026
4.3
Verified
Fun Experience
Half Day Trip (AM) on May 23, 2026 • 3 adults
We caught 2 really nice fish; one yellowtail snapper & one red gag. We went out with Forrest and he was very nice and attentive. We caught a ton of fish which was fun, but they were mostly small fish. The coolest fish i saw on the trip was the strawberry grouper (I think) I think there were lots of sharks or barracuda in the area because each time a big fish bit, another fish would rob us. The boat was very nice and overall a great experience, I’m glad we were put on fish and had fun.
Reported catch:
Frank Dito Jr.
New York, US
•
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Great family fishing charter
Half Day Trip (AM) on July 7, 2026 • 5 adults
Wanted to “catch and cook” back at our hotel that night. needed fish for 12 people. captain took a good run out to where the fish were biting. Everyone caught and had plenty for dinner. Great captain and a good smooth riding boat. Great trip!
Keith Luke
Alabama, US
•
Member since 2025
4.7
Verified
Great fishing trip !!!
Half Day Trip (AM) on April 14, 2026 • 5 adults • 1 child
Had a great experience with Captain Ben, he put on some Yellowfin,Porgy,Mutton and Mangrove Snappers. Dinner tonight. The trip was short but with a 7 year old it’s hard to keep their attention for long. Enjoyed the trip. Thanks Porgy Slayer
Christopher Hershey
Texas, US
•
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Fishing with Damon
Half Day Trip (PM) on July 19, 2026 • 2 adults
Peter Zdankiewicz
Repeat angler
Connecticut, US
•
Member since 2026
•
2 trips
5.0
Verified
May fishing trip
3/4 Day Trip on May 9, 2026 • 4 adults

Real catches shared by our community

Fish Key West - The CoolcastKey West, FL
Frank D.2 months ago
Fish Key West - The CoolcastKey West, FL
Vanna C.4 months ago
Fish Key West – The Coolwater IIKey West, FL
Estevan A.1 year ago
Fish Key West - The CoolcastKey West, FL
Christie M.2 years ago
Fish Key West – The Coolwater IIKey West, FL
Hannah T.2 years ago
Fish Key West - The CoolcastKey West, FL
Perry L.2 years ago
Fish Key West – The CoolwaterKey West, FL
Patrick B.2 years ago
Fish Key West – The Coolwater IIKey West, FL
Garland O.2 years ago
Fish Key West - The CoolcastKey West, FL
Doug J.2 years ago
Fish Key West - The CoolcastKey West, FL
Stan S.3 years ago

Our Fishing Locations

What's biting with Fish Key West - The Coolcast in Key West

The weather cools and the crowds thin. This is the best time of year to score a Slam on the flats. The weather can be unpredictable with hurricanes, but the fishing makes it worth while.