Key West
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $349
Captain
John Hoover
Key West, United States
100+ reviews
Lifelong Floridian raised in central Florida started fishing full-time in the Lower Keys and Key West in 2007.
John H.
Captain
Charter
Rating
4.9
215 reviews
4.9
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
4.9
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (145)
What anglers say
99%
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
99%
Recommend this charter
79%
Appropriate for children
100%
Satisfied with the boat
92%
Caught fish
All reviews (215)
Showing 1 – 5 of 215 reviews
Jonathan Yowell5.0VerifiedOn the Fish. best Grand Slam Oppertunity
3/4 Day Trip • 1 adultWhen asked if a Grand Slam was an oppertunity on a 3/4 day, I expected 100 questions about me, what I got was a yes and what we did is hook up a good tarpon, land a huge bonefish and ended the day following 3 permit wakes, all in near 90 deg water, all in near record heat. The flat, near windless oppertunity that I was given opened up a rare magical target window leaving this surf fisherman to understand I need to be far more practiced at my short game. Next year, I only will be considering ONE flats guide John Hoover!
Reported catch:
Garth YachRepeat angler5.0VerifiedAmazing
Full Day Marquesas Keys Trip • 1 adultJohn made the experience truly one to remember, was extremely knowledgeable, experienced and patient with a very novice salt water fisherman. He was able to get us on the fish and knew exactly where to find them. He tried so hard for me to achieve the slam but I clearly need to work on my skills as he gave me so many opportunities but I just couldn't land them in the boat for true success. An amazing adventure with a very well rounded experienced captain.
Reported catch:
Regan Phillips5.0VerifiedJohn was great! He's so knowledgeable and very patient, kept us moving and never bored. We caught a lot!
Afternoon Half Day Trip • 2 adults • 1 childJohn was great! He's so knowledgeable and very patient, kept us moving around and we never got bored. We caught a lot of different species in a short amount of time & he explained each one in detail, he obviously knows the flats are very well. We even had a shark on the line at one time. It was beautiful, calm & very peaceful, the perfect place for someone who gets seasick but still wants to fish in the ocean.
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainRegan thank you so much for the positive review and for fishing with me. That was a super fun morning and im grateful yall chose to spend it with me. Thank you again and hope to fish again when you come back to Key West.
Keith Mccray5.0VerifiedGreat Key West Trip
Half Day Fishing Trip • 2 adultsmy wife and i ended catching multiple species and our target fish over the course of the trip and were even able to bring fish back to have cooked st a local restaurant. Captain John was extremely knowledgeable of his home waters and put us on fish quickly. All we had to do was “romance” them. It was my wife’s first time on a solo charter like this and she had a great time. I highly recommend Captain John.
Reported catch:
Hunter Rivera5.0VerifiedNEWTRIP OF A LIFETIME!!!
Full Day Trip • 2 adultsFirst things first, Saltwater flyfishing is the most humbling thing youll do, John puts you on the fish its whether you can make the shot happen. Got a chance at Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit. I couldnt have asked for a better guide.
Reported catch:
Real catches shared by our community
- Purple Heron ChartersKey West, FL
- Purple Heron ChartersKey West, FL
- Purple Heron ChartersKey West, FL
- Purple Heron ChartersKey West, FL
- Purple Heron ChartersKey West, FL
- Purple Heron ChartersKey West, FL
- Purple Heron ChartersKey West, FL
- Purple Heron ChartersKey West, FL
- Purple Heron ChartersKey West, FL
- Purple Heron ChartersKey West, FL
What's biting with Purple Heron Charters in Key West
Late fall sees the reefs come alive. Large numbers of baitfish attract delicacies such as Yellowtail Snappers, Groupers, and Mutton Snappers, which then arrive in boats and on the dinner table.
Top catches for October
Fishing reports
Great Shark Fishing After Dark
Jun 30, 2026 • Key West
We left the dock around 8pm and were able to hit the baitfish traps and get out to the fishing grounds in time to enjoy the last bit of sunset on the water. The sharks were around the boat shortly but it took a little bit of time for the sharks to start actually taking the baits. Once they did everyone got a chance to fight and reel one in. A super fun option for pulling on some big fish while avoiding the crowds and heat.
Show more
Wintertime Barracuda Fishing Is Heating
Dec 3, 2025 • Key West
With the annual coldfronts starting to show back up that means the larger sized Barracuda are starting to appear on the flats again. It’s a fun and active fishery for either sight fishing or fan casting, whichever you prefer. Light tackle spinning gear or fly fishing both work well and it’s a blast. This fishery will remain strong through the springtime and is one of my favorite fisheries of the year.
Show more
Key West Tarpon Fishing in August
Aug 18, 2025 • Key West
Tarpon fishing in Key West in August can be great. While the peak tarpon migration generally occurs from March to July, many resident tarpon remain in the area throughout the Summer and Fall. These fish range from 5 to 50 pounds. They can be found in backcountry channels, near mangroves and nearshore flats both Atlantic and gulf side. The calm, warm waters of August provide ideal conditions for both fly fishing and artificial lures, especially during early morning or late evening when the heat is less intense and the fish are more active. But they can be caught all day long. This time of year generally sees less pressured fishing, as the spring and summer visitor crowds begin to thin out. Night fishing is also always a great option . August offers a unique opportunity to target resident tarpon in Key West and the Lower Keys.
Show more
Double Slams By 11am
Jun 1, 2025 • Key West
Had the absolute pleasure of fishing with longterm angler John from out west. We started the day off early around 5:30 AM catching a smaller Tarpon on artificial and then a larger one on live bait. We then moved on to Permit fishing and caught two in quick succession on jigs. After catching those two Permit to go along with the two Tarpon we decided to look for Bonefish. We found an active flat and caught one out of two different schools and had a double slam by 11 AM. The weather lined up perfectly, the angler made great casts, and the fish decided to cooperate. All in all a perfect morning in Key West. I always recommend a full day trip for targeting sport fish like Bonefish, Permit, or Tarpon.
Show more
Flats Fishing For Cobia Remains Strong
Apr 5, 2025 • Key West
We’ve been having a great year sightfishing for Cobia on the flats. This fish was seen and cast to in less than 4 ft of water with a bucktail jig. This angler did a great job picking his fish, making the cast,and getting him in on 10lb test. Fish was released healthily.
Show more
Winter Cold Front Fishing In Key West
Jan 11, 2025 • Key West
As we’ve just gotten our first cold front of the season which happened just this week, it signals the change from Fall to Winter fishing. The water temperatures will drop from the high 80’s to the high 70’s. Baitfish of all kinds(ballyhoo,mullet, and pilchards especially) will move into the backcountry in large schools. The migratory birds will also make a more prominent showing . Barracuda and bonefish are the most common targets on the shallow flats. A variety of sea trout, jacks, pompano, ladyfish, snappers, and sharks make up just some of the species that can be caught in the basins and channels consistently as well. Here at Purple Heron Charters we’ve been doing a little bit of it all the last week and having a blast. Utilizing spinning gear, live bait, lures, or fly fishing. Whatever you’d like to fish with I can accommodate . Always a great time to fish in Key West but this time of year offers a lot of variety and options, all while enjoying much nicer weather than the rest of the country. Tight lines.
-Capt. John
Purple Heron Charters
Show more