Capt. Dave’s Sportfishing Charters

Capt. Dave’s Sportfishing Charters fishes out of Mayport, based at 4870 Ocean Street where the St. Johns River meets the Atlantic on Jacksonville’s north side. Captain Dave Sipler, a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain, has been guiding anglers on these waters since 1996, putting him at roughly three decades working the same tidal creeks, oyster bars and grass flats around the river system. That kind of tenure is unusual; a lot of Jacksonville charter operations have expanded into multi-boat fleets over the years, while this one has stayed a single captain running his own trips.

The charters focus on light-tackle inshore fishing, working the marsh creeks, estuaries and oyster beds rather than running offshore, targeting redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder and black drum. Three trip lengths are offered: a 2-hour Kids Fishing Trip priced at $250 that’s built around introducing younger anglers to the sport, a 4-hour half-day charter for two people at $500, and a 6-hour standard day charter for two at $600. Groups stay small by design, and Sipler works with everyone from first-time casters to experienced anglers, adjusting technique and pace to the people on board rather than running a fixed itinerary regardless of skill level. The site describes the approach as built on safety, patience and local expertise, which tracks with a business that leans on kids’ trips as a core offering rather than an afterthought.

What to know before booking: this is inshore, light-tackle fishing in protected creeks and flats, not a deep-sea trip, so it suits people who want a calmer ride and a shot at redfish and trout over bluewater species. The Mayport location puts the boat close to some of the most productive marsh systems on the First Coast without a long run out to the fishing grounds, which matters for a 2-hour kids’ trip especially, since less time gets burned getting to and from the spot. Nearly 30 years on the same water means Sipler knows where fish are holding through the tide and season changes that would send a less experienced guide searching blind.

The operation keeps its footprint small on purpose: no fleet, no dockside ticket booth, just one captain and a boat built for close-quarters inshore work. That kind of continuity, the same person running trips on the same stretch of river for decades, is increasingly rare among Jacksonville’s charter operators. Book directly at 904-642-9546, by email at jettywolf@gmail.com, or through captdaves.com, and check the Facebook and Instagram pages for recent catch photos before you go.