Meet your captain
Travis Trotter
"I've been fishing my entire life, since I could hold a rod and reel. I love helping others enjoy fishing."
The story
Four things worth knowing
It runs in the family
Travis learned these waters in a family where "captain" is practically a surname — his uncle, Capt. Fred Trotter, has been running Gulf charters for more than 30 years. Ask about the family rivalry over who finds the fish first.
Kids are his favorite crew
Read through his hundred-plus reviews and a pattern jumps out: patience. First-timers, kids, grandparents — Travis rigs the baits, coaches the fights, and celebrates every fish like it's the first one he's ever seen. "He was like going fishing with a buddy's dad," one guest wrote. That's the trip.
He does his own wrenching
The night before a recent trip, a steering clip failed. Travis didn't call a yard — he pulled out the TIG welder, fabbed a stainless fix, and had the boat ready by morning. When your captain maintains his own boat, "mechanical issues" don't cancel your vacation day.
He'd rather you book direct
Booking platforms take up to 30% of every trip. Booking direct means Travis answers your questions himself, you pay the real price, and the money stays with the guy fueling the boat. Simple as that.
"We got a call and the captain suggested going out the night before… man, was he right. We couldn't keep up with the amount of fish we were getting."
Robert H. · verified FishingBooker review, August 2025
In their words
What guests keep saying
All quotes are from verified reviews on FishingBooker (4.6★, 109 reviews) and Guidesly (4.9★).
"Captain was funny, easy to get along with, and any request you have, he would do his best to make it happen."
Steven E. · Alabama · Jul 2025
"Captain Travis made sure we had an amazing trip… absolutely worth every penny and then some."
Jamie T. · May 2025
"Caught a ton of different species… had some really good fights with amberjacks and snapper."
Hayden P. · May 2025
"Although the big fish bite was slow, Captain Trotter still put us on fish and my son had a great time."
David M. · Mar 2026
"Night fishing was awesome."
Richard M. · verified FishingBooker review title
"Captain Travis is one of the best fishermen I've ever fished with… His customer service is top-notch."
John K. · Jun 2025