Island Life Charters 

We were very fortunate to have our family fish with Captain Shane Thomas during their Winter Break. I had made arrangements, weeks in advance, with Captain Shane, to fish on the best weather days during our eight day stay at Dauphin Island, AL. As luck would have it, those days happened to be on the second and third days of our stay. The young children, their parents, and one adult cousin were the “crew” fishing on the first trip. They caught a variety of fish including red snapper, redfish, vermillion snapper and tilefish. Captain Shane was very professional, accommodating, and patient, especially with the children, who had a wonderful time. The adults fished on the second day. The sea conditions were almost glassy and perfect. We fished near a gas platform about 20 miles from port and an artificial reef 10 miles further out. Our catch was similar to the day before, with the exception of redfish. On both trips, there were plenty of smiles, laughter, and shrieks of excitement! Captain Shane and I, it seems, have a lot in common. I am retired from the USCG, and operated a charter fishing business in Alaska for 35 years. It seems that our reasons for starting our business were almost identical. I was quite impressed with his safety instructions, his ample supply of equipment and bait, his local knowledge, familiarity with fishing regulations, and the extraordinary measures he took to process and preserve our catch. Should we have the opportunity to visit Dauphin Island again, I will certainly try to fish with Captain Shane again, and will recommend him to anyone heading to the area.

We had such an incredible day with Captain Shane! Our family of six (including two kids under 10) went out as total first-time fishers, and he went above and beyond to make it an unforgettable experience. Even though we were fishing out of season, he worked hard to make sure we all caught something to take home, and we did! He was so knowledgeable, patient, and great with the kids. Captain Shane even had snacks and drinks ready for everyone, which was such a thoughtful touch. You can tell he truly loves what he does and wants everyone on board to have a great time. Highly recommend him to anyone looking for a fun fishing adventure!

Our family had an absolutely unforgettable day on the water! From the moment we stepped aboard, Shane made us feel welcome and excited for the day ahead. He kept us on the fish the entire time, and when a storm rolled in, he skillfully navigated around it without missing a beat. What truly made the day special was his incredible personality-friendly, knowledgeable, genuinely passionate about what he does. He took the time to teach us different fishing techniques and explained the underwater terrain, which added a fascinating educational layer to the trip. This wasn't just a fishing excursion - it was the highlight of our vacation! We laughed, learned and made memories we will cherish forever. We enjoyed it so much we are already planning our next trip with Shane. If you are looking for a guide that goes above and beyond he is the guide you are looking for! Thank you Shane for the memories and the best day on the water!

we have been on several boats over the years and this was the best experience yet!! Shane put us on fish quick and kept us on fish all day!!! Very professional and friendly. it was more like fishing with and old friend than with a charter. 10 out of 10

Captain Shane Thomas was great. My two sons and I spent the whole day with him fishing. Captain Thomas was knowledgeable, thoughtful, and great fun to be with and fish on his boat. Although we did not catch as many keepers as we would have liked, we caught a lot of fish. I highly recommend anyone looking for a great fishing outing to hire Captain Thomas.