Captain
John Hoover

Member since November 2022 Key West, United States
Background
Lifelong Floridian raised in central Florida started fishing full-time in the Lower Keys and Key West in 2007.
Techniques
Casting artificals, live bait, fly-fishing, and sight-fishing.

Hey, I'm Captain John Hoover

Key West, United States
Background
Lifelong Floridian raised in central Florida started fishing full-time in the Lower Keys and Key West in 2007.
Techniques
Casting artificals, live bait, fly-fishing, and sight-fishing.
Anglers Choice
173
Reviews
6
Fishing Reports
Verified
Our Team
John H.
Captain

My Charter Listing

Purple Heron Charters

State licensed
Excellent
4.9 / 5
(173 reviews)
Angler's choice
Key West
 2 bookings in the past week.
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $349

Fishing Reports

Flats Fishing For Cobia Remains Strong
Flats Fishing For Cobia Remains Strong
Apr 5, 2025 Key West
Weโ€™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.
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Winter Cold Front Fishing In Key West
Winter Cold Front Fishing In Key West
Jan 11, 2025 Key West
As weโ€™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 80โ€™s to the high 70โ€™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 weโ€™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 youโ€™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
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January Mixed Bag
January Mixed Bag
Jan 9, 2025 Key West
January has been a great month so far. There has been a lot of variety in both the weather and fishing. Typically this time of year can be windy and a little cooler, but there has been a lot of nice days in the mix as well. Wintertime fisheries are in full swing. Lots of Sea Trout have been caught, with most days seeing double digit catches per trip when focused on them. Barracuda are only getting stronger in numbers on the flats as the winter progresses. Plenty of variety while drifting deeper grassflats with species like jacks, snappers, cobia, pompano,ladyfish, bluefish ,mackerel and sharks making appearances. On the nicer weather days weโ€™re seeing plenty of bonefish, permit, and tarpon opportunities. Always a good time to get on the water in Key West but right now especially itโ€™s a great mixed bag on the fishing front. Spinfishing with artificials, live bait, and fly fishing have all been successful. However youโ€™d like to fish can be accommodated. Very grateful to share some fun days on the water with some great folks from all over the world. Looking forward to a strong finish to the month and a fun new year. Hope to hear from you soon and spend some time together on the water. Tight lines !
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Key West Fall Backcountry Fishing
Key West Fall Backcountry Fishing
Nov 9, 2023 Key West
As the weather starts to cool down from the heat of summertime the backcountry starts to come alive with life. This time of year we have major bait migration of Mullet, Ballyhoo, and Pilchards that inundate the backcountry basins and flats. Following these bait schools are a wide variety of gamefish such as : seatrout, jacks, pompano, snapper, ladyfish, sharks etc. We typically drift through these schools casting a variety of artificial lures and catch a real mixed bag. Itโ€™s a lot of fun and a very active fishery. Great option for half day trips that want to just catch fish. While drifting through these schools you can put a shark bait out and hook into one of the big boys following these groups if you really want a workout. With the drop in water temps the Barracudas have returned to the flats in high numbers. They can swim in bursts up to 60mph and itโ€™s awesome to watch them chase down the lure and explode on it. A great fishery option for doing a lot of casting and also having the ability to sight cast to a larger or specific fish. The residential tarpon fishing has still been good but as we get into the cold front season they can be a little more hit-or miss if the weather gets a little chilly. The goes for permit and bonefish. On good weather days though the fishing remains excellent. Fortunately this time of year we have plenty of options to choose from. Cooler air temps and an action based fishery, whatโ€™s not to love about Key West Backcountry fishing in the fall. Tight lines. Capt. John Purple Heron Charters
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Year Round Tarpon Fishing
Year Round Tarpon Fishing
Aug 12, 2023 Key West
Tarpon are one of the more iconic gamefish of the Florida Keys. Their seasonal migration from all along the Eastern seaboard to Key West for spawning typically occurs from March-July when they arrive in huge numbers. These are the larger spawning fish and what is typically known as โ€œtarpon seasonโ€. With that being said we do have opportunities at Tarpon year round here in the backcountry off Key West. A lot of the โ€œsmartโ€ residential fish aka the large ones, have found a home in marinas where they canโ€™t be fished for or there arenโ€™t any predators. Throughout the backcountry are schools and pockets of more fun-sized(5-30lb) fish that are an absolute blast to catch on light tackle or fly fishing. These Tarpon live here year round. They are very receptive to a well placed artificial lure or fly. Every now and again we run into some Snook as well, but they are far less common than the Tarpon. This is a catch and release fishery, we donโ€™t take them in the boat regardless of size. This gentle handling ensures the best possible health upon release for these magnificent gamefish. If youโ€™re interested in giving it a shot feel free to shoot me a message and I can recommend a good time to look for them. A lot of where we fish is tidally based for access so we need certain tides. A half day will work but Iโ€™d recommend a full day if youโ€™d like to try for other species as well and give it a good effort. Tight lines. -Capt. John Purple Heron Charters
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Key West Winter Time On The Flats
Key West Winter Time On The Flats
Dec 15, 2022 Key West
The wind and water temps have been varying frequently lately as is the norm for Winter. We have been utilizing the conditions as well as we can and targeting what's best for what the weather allows. This morning it was a little colder and windier so casting artificial lures for barracuda made the most sense. We caught a half dozen or so smaller individuals and capped it off with 2 nicer sized fish. In the afternoon the wind laid down and the sun came out in full force. With a rising water level we were able to get up onto the flats and sight fish to multiple schools of bonefish with shrimp tipped jigs culminating in some healthy fish being released. There is always something fun to fish for here off Key West and this is a great example of picking and choosing your target based off what conditions dictate. Tight lines.
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 173 reviews
See details
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (101)
First tarpon and bonefish!
First tarpon and bonefish!
First tarpon and bonefish!
+98
Angler rating
164
6
1
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
99%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
98%
Appropriate for children
78%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
92%
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5 of 173 reviews
Kevin R.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

October fishing trip

VERIFIED   Half Day Morning Fishing Trip on October 3, 2023
Kevin R. recommends Purple Heron Charters
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Tom G.
Madison, WI
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with John

VERIFIED   Half Day Morning Fishing Trip on September 24, 2023
Tom G. recommends Purple Heron Charters
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Michael C.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

August fishing trip

VERIFIED   Full Day Trip on August 18, 2023
Michael C. recommends Purple Heron Charters
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Rebecca H.
West Hollywood, CA
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

August fishing trip

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Trip on August 9, 2023
Rebecca H. recommends Purple Heron Charters
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Jacob H.
United States
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

August fishing trip

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Trip on August 2, 2023
Jacob H. recommends Purple Heron Charters
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