A person holds a large fish while standing on a boat, with deep blue water and cloudy skies in the background.
Who We Are

Book Your Florida Fishing Trip Today

At Fintastic Fishing Charters, we turn Gulf Coast vacations into stories worth telling. Departing from Historic John’s Pass Village in Madeira Beach, our experienced captains and crew specialize in offshore and deep-sea fishing trips that deliver excitement, big fish, and unforgettable time on the water.

Led by Captain Steve Papen, Fintastic Fishing Charters has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted fishing charter companies in the St. Pete, Clearwater, and greater Tampa Bay area. With an expanded fleet and additional offshore captain, we now offer more availability and flexibility than ever — without sacrificing the personalized, customer-first experience our anglers love.

Whether you’re visiting the area on vacation or traveling specifically for world-class fishing, your Gulf adventure starts here.

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Local expertise. Proven results. Zero guesswork.

Why Choose Fintastic Fishing Charters?

When you book with Fintastic Fishing Charters, you’re not just booking a boat — you’re booking confidence.

A person on a boat holds a large fish, with a blue sky and ocean in the background. Fishing gear is visible on the boat.

The Original Grouper Guarantee

On full-day trips during grouper season, if legal grouper isn’t in the box, your trip is free. That’s how confident we are in our fishing.

Two fishermen on a SeaVee boat with fishing rods, enjoying a sunny day on the water.

Highly Experienced Captain & Crew

Captain Steve and our offshore captains are locally respected, safety-focused, and known for putting clients on fish — not just taking them for a ride.

A person holds a large red snapper fish while standing on a dock near a marina, with boats and blue skies in the background.

Prime Offshore Location

We depart from John’s Pass in Madeira Beach, just minutes from the Gulf of Mexico, meaning more fishing time and less travel time.

A gray camouflage boat equipped with a console and a YANMAR logo, gliding through calm waters under a cloudy sky.

Expanded Fleet = More Availability

Our additional offshore vessel allows us to accommodate more families, couples, and groups without overbooking or rushing trips.

Give us a call to book your slot
A person holds a large, shiny fish on a boat, with visible ocean and cloudy sky in the background. Blood is noted on the fish's body.

Our Offshore & Deep Sea Fishing Trips

We specialize in offshore and deep-sea fishing charters targeting some of the Gulf’s most exciting species. Trips are customized based on season, conditions, and your group’s experience level.

Target Species Include:

  • Grouper
  • Snapper (Red, Mangrove, and more)
  • Hogfish
  • Amberjack
  • King Mackerel
  • Wahoo (long-range trips up to 150 miles offshore)

From action-packed half-day trips to serious full-day offshore runs, we’ll help you choose the right charter for your goals — whether that’s filling the cooler or chasing trophy fish.

Call now: (727) 642-3411
The Fintastic Experience

From the moment you step on board, our goal is simple: make your trip fun, successful, and stress-free.

Our crew provides everything you need and makes sure everyone feels comfortable, safe, and involved.

We provide professional-grade rods, reels, and tackle, along with bait, licenses, and expert instruction to make your trip seamless from start to finish. Our clean, well-maintained offshore vessels and friendly crew—who genuinely love what they do—ensure you have an unforgettable experience on the water. All you need to bring is sunscreen, drinks, snacks, and a sense of adventure.

Call now: (727) 642-3411

Professional-grade rods, reels, and tackle

Bait, licenses, and expert instruction

Clean, well-maintained offshore vessels

A friendly crew that loves what they do

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No experience? No problem.

We offer trips for all skill levels, from novices to seasoned anglers

Fintastic Fishing Charters is a top choice for:

A person holds two large fish, showcasing their catch while on a boat against a cloudy ocean backdrop.

Vacationers visiting Madeira Beach, St. Pete Beach & Clearwater

A group of people on a boat assist in reeling in a large fish, surrounded by deep blue ocean and clear skies.

Families and small groups looking for a unique outdoor experience

Two people on a boat proudly hold large fish: a grouper and a snapper, with blue ocean and sky in the background.

Couples wanting something more memorable than the beach

Two individuals proudly hold a large fish on a boat in open water, with a clear blue sky in the background.

Visiting anglers seeking premium offshore fishing in the Gulf

Testimonials From Happy Anglers

Read some of our reviews from past clients.

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  • “We had such an amazing time on our family charter with Capt. Mike. He catered our charter to make sure our kids felt included and were each able to catch fish (ages 4 and 8). We all had a great time. At one point we had dolphins swimming right next to our boat. After our charter Mike filleted the fish and we took them to The Reef as recommended for a delicious lunch. Can't wait to do this again!”

    Brandy Wilson.

  • “Me and the boys just had the most incredible day ever on the water with Captain Steve!! This was our second time fishing with Steve and I'm telling you, I will not use another charter in this area. Today we went grouper fishing (9 anglers and 3 boats total) and from the very start, the whole experience was flawless. Booking was simple (all done with Captain Steve), communication was clear, and by the time we stepped on the dock, everything was ready to go. Captain Steve and his crew made us feel at home right away and kept the trip running smoothly from start to finish.”

    Dennis Doran.

  • “Captain Steve is the man! Hands down the best fishing charter I’ve been on. Clear communication, and made sure we had a great time. You could tell he genuinely wanted to make sure it was worth every penny. All of us caught fish and were able to take plenty of it home. Highly suggested you pick Fintastic in John’s Pass. We did a 4 hr trip out of Pinellas and that was plenty of time. I can only imagine the amount of fish we would’ve caught on a full day. We will be going with Captain Steve every time!”

    Angie DeMers.

  • “We have been looking for a great charter for four years and finally found it with Captain Steve on the Fintastic! We went out on an 8 hour trip in a cooler than normal time and still got our limit of red grouper by 10:30. We then hit multiple other spots and we're not disappointed. What a great day of fishing! We caught every species we were targeting and then some. I also have to say he has a great deckhand John that is more than willing to help or teach.”

    Scott G.

  • “We had a great adventure! Caught hogfish, snapper, and grouper. Lots of fish to reel in and captain Mike was very helpful! Would definitely go out with them again.”

    Blake Woodward.

  • “We had a great day fishing with Captain Mike aboard his 30 foot contender. We are pretty well, experienced fisherman and have chartered a lot, but feel that Mike and this particular outfit is perfect for all experience levels of fisherman. We will definitely be back🐟🎣”

    Nick Moody.

  • “I highly recommend fintastic fishing charters. We had a great time and Captain Steve and John had us on the fish from the first stop. Definitely will be going out with them from now on.”

    David Whittington.

Have a Certain Fish on Your Bucket List? Let’s Customize Your Perfect Trip.

An adult and child proudly display a large pink fish on a boat, with the ocean visible in the background under a sunny sky.
No two anglers are the same —
and neither are our fishing charters.

At Fintastic Fishing Charters, we offer custom offshore fishing trips designed around your goals. Whether you’re chasing a specific species, want to fish farther offshore, or are planning a special outing with family or friends, we’ll build a trip that fits your vision.

Want to target grouper and snapper all day? Dreaming of a long-range Wahoo run up to 150 miles offshore? Looking for a private, laid-back experience for your group?

Our experienced captains will help you choose the right trip length, target species, and offshore strategy based on season, conditions, and your experience level. Just tell us what’s on your bucket list — we’ll take care of the rest.

Call us to plan a custom fishing charter or ask about availability when booking online.

Give us a call today