Optimus Fishing Charters Customer Reviews

Name: Optimus Fishing Charters
Brand: Optimus Fishing Charters
Rating: 5 (14 reviews)

100% would recommend

5/5

From 14
verified reviews

Jack AI Customer Experience Snapshot

Captain Brian Lemelin consistently delivers exceptional fishing results across Tampa Bay's diverse waters, with customers regularly catching 20+ fish per trip including snook, redfish, sharks, trout, Spanish mackerel, and sheephead. His extensive knowledge of local currents and fishing spots ensures success even in challenging conditions like windy weather or red tide, with many guests achieving their "inshore slam" and taking home enough fish for dinner. Brian provides hands-on instruction from baiting hooks to proper reeling techniques, making novice anglers feel confident while accommodating experienced fishermen. Brian creates memorable family experiences that go far beyond typical fishing charters, playing favorite songs for toddlers, physically helping young children catch and reel in fish, and teaching the art of fishing to three-generation groups. Customers appreciate his patient, energetic personality and willingness to extend trips beyond scheduled time to maximize success. He fillets catches right at the dock, recommends local restaurants for preparation, and often surprises guests with wildlife sightings including dolphins, manatees, and stingrays. Multiple families book repeat trips and consistently recommend Brian to other anglers.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Variety Of Species

Family-Friendly

Knowledgeable

Patient Instruction

Wildlife Sightings

Extended Trips

Dock Filleting

Repeat Customers

Photos from Real Customers

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All Reviews

Ryan Linsrnmann

June 7, 2026

Trip - Tampa Bay Beginner Fishing from Backwaters to Coastal Reefs on June 7, 2026

Brian is absolutely top notch. He works hard to find and put you on fish, and he is dang good at it highly recommend.

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Captain BrianReplied on June 8, 2026

Ryan, Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip.

Lynne Vadelund

March 24, 2026

Trip - Tampa Bay Beginner Fishing from Backwaters to Coastal Reefs on March 24, 2026

Weather was perfect for our family fishing trip with Captain Brian! We were all beginners, and I know I had forgotten more than I remembered. He was very patient and showed us techniques while explaining everything that he did. We all had a great time. And after living in Florida for over 30 years, I finally caught a snook!

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Captain BrianReplied on March 26, 2026

Lynne

Alex Cruz

September 4, 2025

Trip - Tampa Bay’s Extended Run from Backwaters to Coastal Grounds on September 4, 2025

I had an awesome experience fishing with Brian! He was knowledgeable, friendly, and really knew the best spots to find fish. We ended up catching a variety of different species, which made the trip both exciting and memorable. Brian made the whole experience easy and enjoyable, from start to finish. If you’re looking for a fun day on the water with a guide who knows his stuff, I highly recommend booking a trip with him!

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Alexis Dorrell

June 16, 2025

Trip - Tampa Bay’s Extended Run from Backwaters to Coastal Grounds on June 16, 2025

I can not believe how great of a time we had! We booked for Father’s Day & we had our two toddlers with us -which of course makes this charter a whole different experience & captain Bryan made sure our charter was so family inclusive its was such a wonderful time! From playing their favorite songs to him physically catching fish and letting them reel them in the kids had a blast!! Can’t thank you enough Cap!

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Captain BrianReplied on June 16, 2025

Alexis Dorrell, Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip.

Thank you all for spending some time on the water with us. Really enjoyed the trip with your wonderful family.

Mary Wangen

March 14, 2025

Trip - Tampa Bay’s Extended Run from Backwaters to Coastal Grounds on March 14, 2025

Brian and Brian were both amazing fishing guides! They were very knowledgeable and took great care of us during our time with them. Both kids and adults enjoyed this trip. Thank you so much!

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Ken Anderson

February 13, 2025

Trip - Tampa Bay’s Extended Run from Backwaters to Coastal Grounds on February 13, 2025

Awesome time. Best captain on the water

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Daniel Miller

December 28, 2024

Trip - Tampa Bay’s Extended Run from Backwaters to Coastal Grounds on December 28, 2024

Captain Brian was great! Fun and energetic, great with kids and newbie fishermen. Helped us find a good assortment of inshore fish, and a handful of sharks!

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Brian Dockter

November 29, 2024

Trip - Tampa Bay’s Extended Run from Backwaters to Coastal Grounds on November 29, 2024

Great trip! When we are in the Tampa area, I will definitely book again with Optimus fishing!

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Captain BrianReplied on December 2, 2024

Brian, Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip.

Rob Senica

December 31, 2023

Trip - Tampa Bay’s Extended Run from Backwaters to Coastal Grounds on December 31, 2023

Brian is a great captain and fisherman

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Captain BrianReplied on January 3, 2024

Thank you. Had a great time with you and your wonderful family.

Donna Davidson

February 16, 2023

Trip - Tarpon Fishing Boca Grande on February 16, 2023

We had a fantastic day fishing with Brian. He was energetic, helpful, and informative. He was able to accommodate our group ranging in ages from 30 to 79 male & female. He took us to the fish and we all had a great dinner from our catch. His boat was very comfortable. He made sure we all had a super day. Great friendly guide.

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Captain BrianReplied on February 17, 2023

Thank y'all so much. Really enjoyed spending the day with your fantastic family.

Dr. Bruce Watson

January 25, 2023

Trip - Tarpon Fishing Boca Grande on January 25, 2023

Went fishing with Captain Brian on Tue and Wed with my oldest son. We each caught our first Bonnet Head sharks on both days, many trout, snook, and lady fish . My son actually caught a redfish for his indoor slam. Captain Brian, even in some very windy conditions found the currents and put us on many, many fish. We would highly recommend Captain Brian.

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GAYTHON SMITH

September 17, 2022

Trip - Fishing Ruskin Florida (Jun-Oct) on September 17, 2022

Captain Brian and his 1st mate was outstanding!!! We set sail on time, pick up some bait on the way to one of the fishing spots... once we got to the spot it was on and popping... I highly recommend Captain Brian for your fishing excursion.

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Top Tampa Bay Fishing Charter

What Guests Are Saying About Optimus Fishing Charters in Tampa Bay

At Optimus Fishing Charters, our Tampa Bay fishing charter reviews speak volumes about the unforgettable experiences we offer. Guests consistently praise the quality of our guided fishing trips, highlighting everything from our skilled guides to the well-maintained boats and top-notch equipment. Anglers of all experience levels love the variety of fish they catch, including snook, redfish, tarpon, and trout, and many have become repeat customers after experiencing our personalized approach. These customer testimonials showcase not only the exciting catches but also the memorable moments spent on the water, the scenic beauty of Tampa Bay, and the professional yet friendly service that sets us apart.

Trusted by Anglers Across Tampa Bay

Our reviews reflect the dedication and expertise of our guides, who tailor each trip to the interests and skill level of every guest. From first-time anglers to seasoned fishermen, visitors rave about the attention to detail, local fishing knowledge, and the fun, safe experience they enjoy on every outing. Optimus Fishing Charters is proud to have built a loyal community of happy guests who return again and again for inshore fishing adventures, private charters, and trophy catches. See what others are saying and book your Tampa Bay fishing trip today to create your own unforgettable memories!