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5 Best Bass Fishing Guides in Florida 2023

5 Best Bass Fishing Guides in Florida 2023

Florida is a regular bass fishing paradise, as the Sunshine State is home to plenty of trophy largemouth, smallmouth, striped, and peacock bass. 

Its great variety of excellent bass fishing lakes offers the ultimate angling experience for anyone who fishes these waters. 

If you’re unfamiliar with these bass grounds and don’t know the best hot spots for Florida bass, heading out with a local fishing guide can be an excellent idea. 

And as there are so many bass guides in Florida, I decided to do some research and find some of the very best of them!

I have included the following information to help you find the perfect guide for your bass fishing adventure in Florida:

  • location
  • rates
  • customer reviews
  • targeted species
  • included gear
  • boat specs

So if you are looking for an expert fishing guide in Florida who’ll help you catch your next trophy bass, be sure to keep reading!

PRO TIP: Gotta upgrade your bass fishing gear? Then check out this awesome equipment on Amazon.

It’s very cost-effective, durable, and will catch you plenty of trophy bass!

Captain Erik’s Trophy Bass

Location

Lake Kissimmee and other Orlando lakes

Rates

Starting at $325

Customer Reviews

5.0/5

Targeted Species

Largemouth bass

Included Gear

Rods, reels, tackle, and lures

Boat Specs

20ft Xpress Bass Boat. 115HP Yamaha engine. Maximum cruising speed: 45 knots

Capacity: 4 persons
 

Erik Alman is one of Orlando’s finest and most experienced bass fishing guides.

In his 20ft XPress, you’ll be fishing for trophy largemouths on Lake Kissimmee and various other bass waters in the wider Orlando area.

When reading through the reviews, it quickly becomes apparent that Captain Erik doesn’t hold back in showing his customers the best spots for big bass and providing plenty of tips and tricks throughout the trip.

This guy will show you spots where the local anglers catch their monster bass, giving you the chance to catch the fish of a lifetime!

He’s an amiable and professional guide who’ll do anything to make your Florida bass fishing trip a memorable experience!

He’s also very good at taking pictures of you and your catch, which is an essential aspect of any fishing guide trip.

Who doesn’t want to have a nice souvenir of their Florida trophy bass, right?

So if you want to catch big Kissimmee largemouth bass and need a guide to make it happen, Captain Erik is your guy!

Check out Captain Erik’s Trophy Bass Fishing Charter here!

Makin Big Bass Memories

Location

Conway Chain of Lakes, John's Lake, and St. Joh’s River

Rates

Starting at $350

Customer Reviews

4.9/5

Targeted Species

Largemouth and peacock bass

Included Gear

Rods, reels, tackle, and lures

Boat Specs

20ft Triton bass boat. 200HP Mercury engine. Maximum cruising speed: 60 knots
Capacity: 3 persons
 

Captain Justin Makin is your pro bass guide for Central Florida’s beautiful bass lakes!

This man has been fishing for trophy bass for more than 40 years, making him a fishing expert who is beyond seasoned.

Makin Big Bass Memories offers memorable trips with top-quality gear and tackle and the opportunity to visit all of Central Florida’s finest bass hot spots.

You can target them with a variety of lures and baits using several different fishing techniques.

More often than not, this incredible variety of fishing methods leads to some giant trophy bass.

If you’re planning on fishing for bass in the wider Orlando area, make sure to contact Captain Justin Makin!

You can get more information about Makin Big Bass Memories’ services and rates here.

AJ’s Bass Guide Service

Location

Lake Toho

Rates

Starting at $225

Customer Reviews

5.0/5

Targeted Species

Largemouth bass

Included Gear

Rods, reels, tackle, and lures

Boat Specs

20ft Skeeter bass boat. 225HP Mercury engine. Maximum cruising speed: 70 knots

Capacity: 5 persons
 

Captain AJ of AJ’s Bass Guides fishes Lake Toho year-round and knows the water like the palm of his hand. So if your goal is to catch giant Lake Tohopekaliga largemouth bass, these guys will lead you there!

In fact, this guide prides himself on regularly catching behemoths of more than 10 pounds, and the fishing charter’s fantastic picture gallery is proof of that.

He targets those big Lake Toho bass via various techniques, including trolling, drift fishing, bottom fishing, spinning, and live bait fishing (you’ll have to purchase live shiners before your trip).

Captain AJ also has GPS and state-of-the-art fish finders onboard, making finding those trophy bass much easier.

So if you’re on a trip to Disney World and want a break, why not call Captain AJ and book an unforgettable fishing trip on Lake Toho!?

Find out more about AJ’s Bass Guides and check for available dates right here.

David Paycheck Fishing Charters

Location

Toho, Butler Chain, and Clear Lake

Rates

Starting at $100

Customer Reviews

5.0/5

Targeted Species

Largemouth and peacock bass

Included Gear

Rods, reels, tackle, lures, and live baits

Boat Specs

20ft Ranger bass boat. 200HP Yamaha engine. Maximum cruising speed: 57 knots
Capacity: 3 persons
 

Captain David Pechacek is your number 1 bass fishing guide for waters in the Orlando metro area, like Toho, Butler Chain, and Clear Lake.

David Paycheck Fishing Charters has helped land plenty of trophy bass over the years.

His customers were delighted with their trips, and many have returned to hunt big Toho largemouths with Captain David again.

His primary target species are largemouth bass, but as he covers various other lakes in the Orlando area, you can also fish for peacock bass with this guide.

Captain David Pechacek’s biggest strength is his ability to use many different fishing techniques.

He offers trolling, spinning, live bait fishing, jigging, and UL fishing, thereby significantly increasing your chance of catching fish.

Adaptation and versatility make excellent bass fishing charters, and David Paycheck Fishing Charters masters them both.

Check out Captain David’s rates and available dates here!

Operationtek

Location

Waters of Delray Beach

Rates

Starting at $150

Customer Reviews

5.0/5 (100+ reviews)

Targeted Species

Largemouth, peacock, hybrid striped bass

Included Gear

Rods, reels, tackle, and live baits

Boat Specs

18ft Carolina Skiff. 70HP Suzuki engine. Maximum cruising speed: 35 knots
Capacity: 3 persons
 

If you’re looking for a knowledgeable bass guide in the Delray Beach area, Captain Brian Kmiotek of Operationtek Fishing Charters is the perfect pick!

Brian offers trips for seasoned anglers and total beginners and will ensure you’ll get the best experience possible while you’re out on the water with him.

His 18ft Carolina Skiff can accommodate up to 3 anglers or a family of 2 adults and 2 children.

His guide service is marked as family-friendly, so if you want to take the wife and kids along with you, Operationtek Fishing Charters is a solid choice.

Another great plus of this Flordia bass fishing guide is the variety of target species, as you can fish for largemouth, peacock, and hybrid striped bass with Captain Brian.

The fact that he offers fishing with live bait and provides the baits is another good reason for booking a trip with Operationtek!

Brian is a top guide who deserves every single one of his 5-star reviews!

Check out Operationtek’s customer reviews, rates, and available dates here.

How Much Is a Bass Fishing Guide in Florida?

Rates for bass fishing guide services in Florida vary greatly, so I checked dozens of local bass fishing charters to get an average price range for different types of trips.

Keep in mind that the following are merely average rates. They are meant to give you a general idea of the approximate price of a guided bass fishing trip in Florida.

To get the exact rates, please check every fishing charter’s respective homepage or listings!

What Is the Best Month for Bass Fishing in Florida?

While Florida offers excellent bass fishing all year long, the best time to target them down in the Sunshine State is during their spawning season, between December and April or Maj.

While Florida largemouth bass and striped bass generally spawn during late winter and spring, peacock bass tend to spawn somewhat later, during April and May.

Generally, though, the entire winter and spring season offers plenty of great opportunities to catch trophy specimens of all bass species found in Florida.

Of course, you can also successfully catch them during the summer and fall.

Just remember that they will most likely be found in deeper and colder water this time of year and that hooking up to a truly massive bass tends to be more difficult during the warmer months.

Essential Gear Tips

If you’re looking for solid and reliable bass fishing equipment, these tips might be useful for you.

This gear and tackle is of top quality and sells at a very decent price on Amazon.

Ugly Stik GX2 Casting Rod

An awesome baitcasting rod of the highest quality! This rod is super lightweight, has great sensitivity and phenomenal action. Fits both beginners and seasoned bass pros. Easily the best baitcasting rod for the money!

Abu Garcia Revo X Baitcasting Reel

An affordable high-performance baitcaster reel that’s perfect for bass fishing. Abu Garcia gear basically lasts forever, so you don’t have to worry about buying a new reel anytime soon! Makes for a great bass combo together with the Ugly Stick!

Power Pro Braid

Without a doubt, one of the best braids available today. Zero stretch, great feel, and immense strength make this line the perfect pick for bass in both open and snaggy waters. Put on a 15 to 25lb test, and you’re good to go!

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Featured image courtesy of Dan Spengler