Bent Charters is a family run deep sea operation in Madeira Beach with 20 years on the water, a four-boat fleet, and a strong review record. Captain Lance Brooks runs it with his wife Heather and sons James and Zack, and the fleet includes a real 40 foot offshore sportfisher for the long bottom trips. The fishing reputation is genuine. It ranks at the foot of the strong tier for one stubborn reason: it will not post a price, which is the one thing every boat above it does.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.0 Bent is a strong choice and the seventh ranked operation in Madeira Beach, a solid family pick for a group that wants a real offshore sportfisher and does not mind calling for a quote. It sits just behind El Capitano’s and below the rest of the private field. Book it for an offshore reef and wreck day on the 40 foot Good News, or a mixed trip on one of the smaller boats. The honest limit is transparency: with no posted price, you cannot compare it on cost before you call, which is why value is its lowest factor. Compare the field on the Madeira Beach ranking.
The boats
Bent runs a four-boat fleet, which is unusual depth for a family operation. The Good News is a 40 foot offshore sportfisher with an air conditioned cabin, a full bathroom, and the range for a serious offshore day, the boat for the long bottom trips. The 32 foot Loco express and the 31 foot Susan T catamaran cover smaller groups and mixed trips, and there is a 30 foot SeaVee as well. The site lists four boats while the homepage refers to three, a small inconsistency, but the fleet genuinely spans from a center console to a cabin sportfisher.
The fishing and what you target
The family fishes the Gulf reefs and wrecks off John’s Pass for red grouper, hogfish, mangrove snapper, and amberjack, with red snapper in season and kingfish on the troll, and runs inshore trips too, though offshore bottom fishing is the stated specialty. Gag grouper is open only a short window in 2026 and amberjack is closed for the season, so red grouper, hogfish, and snapper carry most trips. The captains also target sharks and tarpon in their seasons.
Trips and prices
This is where Bent falls behind the field. It runs half day, three quarter day, and full day trips, with extended trips available, but it does not post a price: the rates page asks you to call, and there is a 3% credit card fee. For context, private charters in Madeira Beach generally run from about $750 for a half day up to $1,400 or more for a full day, but you have to phone Bent for its actual rate, which makes it the hardest boat in the port to compare on cost. The cancellation policy is stated: 25% within 7 days, 100% within 24 hours, and no charge for a captain-called weather cancellation. Our cost guide and the party boat versus private charter guide help you judge the value.
The crew
Bent is genuinely family run: Captain Lance Brooks, his wife and mate Heather, and their sons Captains James and Zack, with over 20 years fishing these waters. The TripAdvisor record runs strongly positive, with reviewers crediting captains who put people on fish, large catches, strong pre-trip communication, and flexibility with weather. The honest marks are a single complaint about a last-minute cancellation and suspected overbooking, and a verifiable review base that is solid rather than the deepest in the port, which keeps track record mid-range.
Booking and what to know
Book by phone or email, since there is no online booking engine, and call for the price, which is not posted. Confirm your date and rate clearly given the one overbooking complaint. There is a 3% credit card fee. Bring food and drinks and a cooler for your fillets. The 40 foot Good News is the boat to ask for if you want a cabin and the range for a long offshore day.
How we scored it
Bent scores 7.0: a genuine family operation with a deep four-boat fleet, a real offshore sportfisher, and a strong review record, marked down on value and service for not posting prices and for booking by phone only. Boat and captain are its strengths; transparency is where it falls behind. See how we scored this boat and compare it with the rest of the Madeira Beach field.