Waterproof Charters is the deep sea fishing operation we would book first out of Daytona Beach, running offshore and Gulf Stream trips from Sea Love Marina, within a mile of Ponce Inlet. Captain Tim Garrett has more than 40 years on this water and has run one of the original charter boats out of Ponce Inlet for over 30 years, fishing a 40 foot boat built for offshore trolling and bottom fishing. For an angler who wants a real offshore day off Daytona, with a captain who has fished these grounds since before most of the fleet existed, this is the call.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 8.5 Waterproof is the top of the Daytona Beach ranking and the one private boat we would book with confidence. It earns the place on three things: a captain with four decades of local knowledge and a deep, almost faultless review record, a dedicated offshore boat with the range for a 12 hour Gulf Stream run, and a posted rate card from a half day to a full offshore day. The only real trade is the one every private boat carries: you book the whole boat, so the cost works out best with a full group of six. For seats by the person, the Sea Spirit head boat is far cheaper. Among the other private boats, On The Hook Charters and Rare Breed Charters are strong alternatives. See the full Daytona Beach field.
The boat
The Waterproof is a 40 foot custom boat powered by a 650 horsepower diesel, set up for offshore trolling and bottom fishing rather than the flats. The size is the point: it has the range and the ride to make the long run to the Gulf Stream, which is well offshore here, and the deck and gear for a full day of trolling or dropping baits on the wrecks and ledges. It carries up to 6 anglers as a six pack, so the deck stays uncrowded compared with a head boat. The honest note is the booking model, not the boat: a private boat is the priciest way to fish unless you fill the deck with your own group.
The fishing and what you target
Off Daytona the fishing splits between the bottom and the bluewater, and Waterproof works both. The troll and the nearer offshore produce king mackerel, mahi mahi, cobia, barracuda, and the odd sailfish, while the wrecks and ledges hold amberjack, grouper, and snapper. The 10 and 12 hour runs reach the Gulf Stream for wahoo, blackfin tuna, and bigger mahi mahi. Gag grouper is open in summer and black sea bass through much of the year, which is the Atlantic pattern, different from the Gulf. Red snapper is the prize everyone asks about, but the 2026 Atlantic season has been paused by a federal court order, so set expectations by what is actually open when you book.
Trips and prices
Waterproof posts its rates in full, which counts in its favor. A 4 hour offshore trip is $850, a 6 hour $1,200, an 8 hour $1,600, a 10 hour Gulf Stream run $1,950, and a 12 hour $2,250, each whole boat for up to 6 anglers, with a 4 hour shark trip at $850. The dedicated red snapper Gulf Stream trips run $2,150 and $2,450 when that season is open. A 3 percent card fee applies and a tip is customary. Split across a full group the offshore day is fair for a private boat; for two anglers it is far more than a head boat seat. Our cost guide and the party boat versus private charter guide work through that math.
The crew
The crew is the reason Waterproof sits at the top. Across a deep set of reviews, the steady themes are a captain who knows exactly where to fish and a deckhand, Cody, who works hard and teaches without making first timers feel out of place. Reviewers call Captain Tim the best in the business and the operation the best in Ponce Inlet hands down, and the sentiment is both deep and consistent over years, which is what a 40 year, owner run charter earns. Because it is owner run, the captain you read about is the one running your trip.
Booking and what to know
Book direct through the site or by phone, or through the FishingBooker listing, and book ahead for summer and for the Gulf Stream runs, since one boat and one captain fill fast. Confirm the trip length and the target so the plan matches the season, especially with red snapper currently closed. Bring food, drinks, sunscreen, and a cooler; ask what gear and bait are covered when you book, and note the 3 percent card fee.
How we scored it
Waterproof scores 8.5, the only top of the port grade in Daytona Beach, on the strength of its captain, its offshore range, and a deep, consistent track record, with the private whole boat price the one factor that keeps value from matching the rest. Captain and crew, our heaviest weighted factor, is also its best. See how we scored this boat for the rubric, and the Daytona Beach ranking for the field.