My husband and I had an amazing time fishing with Captain Derek on our 4-hour charter! We caught plenty of fish and even brought home some great fillets. It was such a fun and unique way to experience the Everglades—we highly recommend it.

Captain Derek was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire trip easy and enjoyable. He knew exactly where to go and was great about helping us every step of the way.

We’ll definitely be back and hope to book a full-day trip next time!

If you’re looking for the ultimate day on the water, you absolutely have to book a trip with Reel Deal Fishing. Our guide, Derek, was nothing short of fantastic from start to finish. His boat is truly top-of-the-line and kept in pristine condition, and it was clear right away that safety is his number one priority. Derek’s knowledge of the water is incredible; he navigated us straight to the best spots and shared expert fishing tips that made a huge difference in our success. We ended up catching a ton of fish, which we got to take home for an amazing fresh-caught dinner! What really set this trip apart, though, was Derek’s hospitality. He is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and kind, making us feel more like friends he was showing around his favorite local haunts rather than just clients. He is a world-class host who genuinely cares about your experience; you could tell he was having just as much fun as we were simply by seeing us have a great time. We cannot recommend booking with him enough! It was the highlight of our trip and a true “reel deal” experience!

Derek came in clutch as our previous booking had to make a cancellation and a such we were looking for a last minute replacement. Derek took the time to talk to us on the phone to get a feel for what we were looking for on the water, and went above and beyond. We ended up getting slammed with fish of all sorts of species and even caught a shark! Derek was also very friendly and we chatted it up the whole time. An easy 10/10 recommendation for anyone looking for a great day out on the water!

Captain Derek put me on fish quickly!

We caught numerous Sea Trout, Jacks, Mangrove Snappers, and Lemon Sharks.  Unfortunately, I lost a couple of snooks and snappers, but that’s on me, as he knows where the fish are located!

He is a knowledgeable, accommodating and friendly guide.  His boat is new (12/5/25), and his fishing gear/bait was right sized for our trip. 

Most importantly, he’s a good communicator- tell him what you want to fish for, and he’ll set you up for a great day!

Fun morning!

Derek was a great guide. I was early to the meeting spot and he was there waiting!! I normally bring my own equipment but upon inspection Derek’s equipment was excellent so I just left mine in the car. We caught several species of fish at most of the stops we made throughout the day.