“John’s Pass” in Treasure Island / Madeira Beach Florida; is home to the best fishing village and fleet on Florida’s west coast. Located in between St Pete Beach and Clearwater and nestled between Boca Ciega Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, John’s pass has easy access to some of the best fishing Florida has to offer. We have one of the most extensive artificial reef systems anywhere on the Florida coast, as well as, tons of natural hard bottom and ledges. From just a mile out all the way to the Middle Grounds and Elbow 70-100 miles offshore, there is always something biting somewhere here. So whether your looking for a relaxing day on the bay or beach fishing with the kids or a rod bending – drag screaming – offshore trip – we’re your charter!

Charter Types

Locations

Clearwater, Florida
Madeira Beach, Florida
St. Pete Beach, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
Treasure island, Florida

Customer reviews

Renee Dreckman
Renee Dreckman
5/5
Aug 9, 2025
"Yesterday Captain Brandon took us out fishing after a full moon making it a tough day of fishing. Captain did everything he could to make sure we caught as many fish as possible. This was my first time deep sea fishing and I’m hooked! Captain Brandon spent so much time helping and coaching me which made my experience even better. I would highly recommend everyone do this and make sure to use Salty Dog Charters-you will not be disappointed. 5 Stars to Captain Brandon!"
Justin Bouman
Justin Bouman
5/5
Jun 3, 2025
"We had AMAZING time with Brandon at Salty Dog Charter! The 5 star reviews and photos do not do it justice on how knowledgeable and good of a person Brandon really is! We have done 2 fishing trips with him now and by far the best charter we have ever booked through. We are not only headed back to South Dakota with lots of fish and VERY memorable moments on the trip 😀 but also with having made a friend! "The 6/2/2025 trip that shall not be forgotten" 🤣... 100% recommend this to anyone looking to have a fantastic time, catch fish, and make memories"
Mark Pecora
Mark Pecora
5/5
Jun 19, 2025
"My buddy and I fished with Capt Brandon of Salty dog charters yesterday and we were truly impressed by his level of expertise and knowledge of the fishery. On less than ideal weather, we maxxed out big red snapper and red grouper along with a nice mix of mangrove snapper. He has this fishery DIALED IN. But a fishing trip is more than just how many fish caught or how big they were- Capt Brandon was friendly and personable throughout the day. Have to say that it was my best experience with a private charter captain. We will be booking with him again!"
Blake Cresswell
Blake Cresswell
5/5
Aug 7, 2024
"Capt. Brandon gave our family one of the best charter experiences we've ever been on. Each fish we pulled up was an adventure on its own. We maxed out on Red Grouper that day, which shows Brandon is very knowledgeable when it comes to finding our target species. I'd definitely recommend him for anyone looking to go on their first charter trip."
Crystal S
Crystal S
5/5
Nov 4, 2024
"GREAT CHARTER! Fish on fire! Snooks, groupers, sharks, redfish, macks, and whatever else you want to catch, Brandon Vaughn and his handy first mate Joe will put you on top of them! One of the best charters I've ever booked. Unforgettable day. Will definitely be booking with them again! Thank you guys so much for being so cool with a newbie like me."

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FAQs

You may pay for your charter with cash, credit or debit card. At your request, gratuities may be added to your charter via your charge card.

Credit Card fee of 4% will be added to the total balance if paying with a major credit or debit card. Cash is preferred!

We require a $200 deposit at the time of the initial booking. The remainder of the cost due for the charter will be settled back at the dock after your charter is complete and the captain is done filleting your catch! We accept cash, all major credit or debit cards. You will settle up with the captain after the charter has been completed. 

We accept cash, all major credit or debit cards. 

One frequently asked question that comes up is where can I take my fillets for dinner after my trip. Here is a small list of local restaurants who will gladly handle that for you! Check our Facebook post.

Our charter accommodates 1 – 6 persons.

You are able to bring whatever you’d like to eat and drink on board. Alcohol is perfectly acceptable, as long as there is no glass on board that could easily break. We have a Yeti on board that you are able to place your lunch and drinks in. You may also bring a smaller cooler on board if you prefer. We recommend bringing a cooler and keeping it in your car to keep your fish iced down on the way home, we will supply you with ice for that as well. Please do not forget to bring your hats and sunscreen. We recommend that you wear gym shoes on board and recommend you wear a UV protectant shirt. We have all the necessary top notch fishing gear ready to go on board, no fishing licenses are required as you are covered under our company. If you’d like to bring a combo of your own, please keep it to 1 or 2.

Absolutely! Your Captain will inform you of what you may legally keep and it will be your decision to harvest per regulations per species. Please harvest only what you will use and leave the rest for your next trip. We will happily clean and bag your catch back at the dock.

We will brief you of the expected weather conditions for your charter time as soon as practical. You will always have the opportunity to change your charter type from an offshore to inshore based upon the briefing we provide you and your judgment of your party. We will not take you fishing if there is a small craft advisory in effect or if we feel that there is a high probability that weather conditions could deteriorate to an unsafe condition during your scheduled charter. Don’t worry; if we take you out rest assured that the weather conditions are safe for your planned charter on our boat. We want you back again and again!

Please make sure you are taking care of our crew at the end of the trip. Our Crew works for TIPS! 20% gratuity is greatly appreciated. You may pay the tips via the card on file but the crew prefers the tip in cash.

There are no GPS tracking devices allowed on our charters. You may have your cell phone out for taking pictures but they must be in “Airplane Mode” and not actively tracking our position. We have spent countless hours and resources to locate some of the best fishing grounds around and they are for the sole use of Salty Dog Charters to give our clients the best fishing experience possible. Violation of this policy by any member of your crew will result in the Captain returning you immediately to port and charging you the full price for your charter. Thank you for your cooperation in making sure future anglers aboard our charters will have the same great fishing trip as you.

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