Captain’s Services offered for a variety of activities

We at Five O’clock Charlie Boat tours and Charters Inc offer a variety of different services. This is our eleventh year in business and we have seen charter captains come and go. As Manatee county residents we are often on the water everyday whether it be on our boat, or on a friend’s boat.

Over the past eleven years Five O’clock Charlie Boat tours has offered and still offer many different boat excursions. The most popular of these trips by far has been fishing the local waters for whatever is biting. This trip includes a slice of south Florida life and a memorable outdoor experience. We strive to cater trips to each of our client skill levels and comfort.

Five O’clock Charlie Boat tours second most popular trip that clients book is the two hour marine wildlife tour. This is a two hour trip that circumnavigates Snead Island. This is a narrated trip that provides local history of the area as well as marine wildlife and bird life spotting. We see dolphins on most trips, manatees on some and lots of birds on all the trips. When I moved here eleven years ago I learned what I know from a local biologist that currently teaches at one of the Manatee County Schools. From a locals perspective I instill in my visitors the outdoor beauty that this area has to offer. I talk about the changes to the area that I have seen as a resident for the past 11 years and before that a visitor to the area since 1985.

Five O’clock Charlie boat tours third most popular trip are my Egmont Key Tours. Egmont Key is a barrier island that sits at the entrance to Tampa Bay. It was named after and English explorer. It served as a military fort during the Spanish American and Civil Wars. Historically it was and internment camp after the third Seminole war and a portion of the “Trail of Tears”. There is an abundance of history, marine animal, and gulf birds to see out there. We often observe sea turtles and on the Island itself we see gopher tortoises that live on the island. Once again I describe to my guests the changes to Egmont Key that I have seen over the past eleven years and since my visits to the area in the 1980s, 1990s and so on.

Captain John has been a licensed 50 ton master mariner since 2002. He provides experience that not many others can match. In his former career he ran a rescue patrol boat on the Pacific Ocean. This experience has provided him with knowledge to pass on to new boaters that wish to learn safe vessel operation. He provides Captain’s services to clients in this area as well as instructional charters for new boat owners.

The charter business has been tough over the past couple of years as a result of numerous new companies starting businesses in the area. We have survived “Red Tide”, Covid, and hurricanes. Many of our clients are return customers who patronize our business once if not twice a year. These clients have kept us in business during this competitive market. We hope to keep providing “Favorite Memories” for years to come. Thanks again to those clients that keep us going.