5/5
From 34verified reviews
Jack AI Customer Experience Snapshot
Fred Gowdy consistently delivers exceptional fishing results across both saltwater and freshwater environments. Customers report catching over 25 snook in a single hour, landing 4-pound peacock bass, and bringing home keeper redfish, snapper, and sheepshead. Fred's expertise shines in his ability to find productive spots when conditions get tough - whether dealing with red tide, cold fronts, or windy weather. He teaches valuable techniques like sight fishing for peacock bass and proper hook-setting methods, while providing top-quality gear and fresh live bait. Fred creates memorable family experiences that keep customers coming back trip after trip. Parents consistently praise his patience with children, helping young anglers land impressive catches like 24-inch snook and 8-pound black drums. His friendly personality and engaging conversation make the day enjoyable even when fish aren't biting, and he goes the extra mile by recommending local restaurants to cook your catch. Customers regularly book repeat trips and enthusiastically refer friends and family to Fred's charters.
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Ted Bragg
May 5, 2025Fun day with Fred and my son Jack. Snook, snapper and some other local fish. Manatees were a bonus.
Tom Crichton
May 3, 2025I normally am a Gulf fishing person. A friend recommended Fred to go out freshwater fishing for Peacock Bass. I contacted Fred Gowdy charters. I had a fantastic day. We boated probably 20 fish. Even got a 4 lb Peacock!!! Fred is great to fish with!! Knowledgeable and fun to be with. I will be referring other friends to him.
Tony Sabol
April 21, 2025Wonderful day of Peacock Bass fishing with Fred! He knows where and how to find them! A lesson in how to site fish for them and get them to attack. Everything you need and the advice to just reel and not set the hook!
Ronald Schmidt
February 19, 2025Mark Abadir
December 9, 2024Fred took my family out to Hickory Island to fish and explore, then took us into the river for more fishing. He helped my kid land a 24" snook, which was incredibly exciting! Very fun day, great tour guide, really good guy to talk to. Next time we vacation in Florida, we will call Fred again.
Jared D
November 19, 2024Booked a 4 hour trip with Fred. He is amazing! Put us right on the fish! Over 25 snook in the first hour. We caught huge red fish too! Three of us fishing, at one time, and he kept our poles baited and in water. He knows the spots, for sure. Highly recommended!! Thank you Fred!
Kenny Parham
November 4, 2024Went peacock fishing, had an absolute blast! Caught lots of fish. Fred is extremely knowledgeable about the areas fished. Looking for a great charter captain, look no further!
Richard Justice
October 7, 2024Called last minute and scheduled a trip for my family. CPT Fred Gowdy was extremely accommodating as well as the fish. Kids had a blast as well as my wife and I. I would highly recommend CPT Fred and his services. We will be calling him again the next time we are in the area for sure!
Mark Danielecki
July 15, 2024Our fishing trip was fantastic! Captain Fred had so much energy! If the fish weren't biting, we would move to the next spot, he never ran out of spots. We caught fish at almost all of them, we would move when the catfish started biting. We highly recommend Fred Gowdy Charters!
Howard Z.
April 24, 2024Our group consisted of two adults and a nine-year-old, all novices at fishing. Jeff was exceptional with our sometimes-fussy child. He displayed a wealth of knowledge and navigated us to multiple fishing locations. Despite the fish being initially unresponsive, Jeff persisted and ultimately discovered a spot where we managed to catch several sizable fish to bring home.
Nicholas M.
March 20, 2024Fred was an outstanding boat captain, showing exceptional friendliness towards me, my eight-year-old son, and my uncle. He took us to multiple locations where he anticipated we would find fish. My son even caught an impressive eight-pound black drum, a moment of great pride for him. I highly recommend Fred; he was fantastic!
Fishing in Bonita Springs Pristine Paradise
About Fred Gowdy Charters' Business Reviews
At Fred Gowdy Charters, we understand that your time on the water is precious. That's why we go above and beyond to provide top-notch service from start to finish. From helping you choose the right trip for your needs, to providing expert guidance and top-of-the-line equipment, our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to making sure every moment of your excursion is enjoyable and memorable.
Fred Gowdy Charters Customer Reviews are provided by our guests. We focus on providing our Bonita Springs Fishing Charter guests the very best experience. Our Fishing reviews are from trips in Gulf of Mexico, Estero Bay, Bonita Beach, Big Hickory Island, Ft. Myers, Sanibel Island.
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