Charters N Paradise is one of the better-rated deep sea fishing options in Fort Myers, a fast, modern center console run by owner-captain Mike Chandler out of Fort Myers Beach. The boat is a 2023 Solace 30, the prices are posted, and the reviews run consistently high for a captain who finds fish and looks after his guests. The one thing that sets it apart from the dedicated sportfishers, and the reason it ranks second rather than first, is that it splits its time between offshore fishing and sightseeing cruises rather than fishing alone.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.8 Charters N Paradise is a strong choice and the second ranked boat in Fort Myers, the pick for a group that wants a clean, comfortable offshore reef trip on a quality boat. It sits just behind Blind Date and ahead of Always Fun, which fields a bigger offshore boat but carries a more uneven record. Book Charters N Paradise for a half or full day on the nearer reefs and wrecks, especially if a mixed group wants the option of a dolphin or island stop. If you want a long offshore or deep-drop run, a dedicated sportfisher is the better tool. Compare the field on the Fort Myers ranking.
The boat
The boat is a 2023 Solace 30 HCS center console with twin 400 horsepower outboards, a cabin, and a head, room for up to 6 guests, and the speed to reach the offshore ground fast. It is the newest and one of the most comfortable hulls in the port, a genuine plus for a family or a mixed group. The honest limit is size and purpose: a 30 foot center console is a fine nearshore-to-offshore boat, but it is smaller than the 40 foot sportfishers for the longest Gulf runs, and it is rigged to do double duty as a cruise boat rather than as a pure fishing platform.
The fishing and what you target
Captain Mike fishes the reefs and wrecks off Fort Myers Beach for the Gulf bottom spread: red grouper year round, mangrove and other snapper, plus cobia, king mackerel, and sharks in their seasons. Reviewers note he will run offshore to put a group on fish, working around conditions like a red tide event. Because the boat is a 30 foot center console, the trips lean toward the nearer reef and wreck ground rather than the long-range deep-drop runs that the bigger boats reach, which is the right match for its size.
Trips and prices
The rates are posted: charters run 4, 6, and 8 hours, from about $600 up to around $1,250 for the boat for up to 6 guests, with bait, tackle, and the license included. That is good value for a modern boat, and the basis is clear before you book. The one thing to clarify is which kind of trip you want, since the same boat and price structure cover fishing and sightseeing. Our cost guide puts those numbers against a full day on a larger offshore boat.
The crew
Captain Mike Chandler has run the southwest Florida coast for around 20 years, and the reviews credit a friendly, flexible captain who gets people catching fish quickly and adapts to conditions. The sentiment across the booking platforms runs strongly positive and consistent, which carries the captain-and-crew and track- record scores. The fair note is that some of that review base is for cruises rather than fishing, since the boat does both, so weigh the fishing reviews specifically when you read them.
Booking and what to know
Book direct with Captain Mike by phone or through the booking listings. Say up front whether you want to fish offshore or take a sightseeing or dolphin cruise, since the boat does both. Bring food, drinks, and a cooler for your fillets. The license is covered and the catch is cleaned. For a serious offshore day, match the trip length to the run, since the better fishing is well out into the Gulf.
How we scored it
Charters N Paradise scores 7.8: a strongly rated owner-captain, a fast modern boat, and posted prices, marked down slightly on boat and trips because it is a smaller, dual-purpose center console rather than a dedicated offshore sportfisher. Captain and crew, value, and track record are its strengths. See how we scored this boat and compare it with the rest of the Fort Myers boats.