GotOne Charters is the strongest private boat in Madeira Beach, an owner-run operation out of John’s Pass that pairs a commercial-grade captain with posted prices and a clean record. Captain Brian Simmons came up rod-and-reel fishing grouper and snapper commercially, and that bottom-fishing pedigree shows in the reviews. The boat is a fast 31 foot Cape Horn, the prices are on the website, and the trips run the Gulf reefs for the full bottom spread. It ranks first among the private boats, with the modest size of the boat the only real limit.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.7 GotOne is a strong choice and the second ranked operation in Madeira Beach, the top private pick for a small group that wants its own boat and captain. It sits behind the Hubbard’s Marina party fleet, which is cheaper and runs longer trips, and ahead of Salty Confusion. Book it for a grouper and snapper day with a captain who fishes the bottom for a living. The honest limit is size: at 31 feet it carries four or five anglers, not six, and it is a center console rather than a cabin boat for the longest runs. Compare the field on the Madeira Beach ranking.
The boat
The boat is a 31 foot Cape Horn center console with twin 250 horsepower Yamaha four-stroke outboards, a deep-V hull that cruises over 35 miles per hour, a T-top, a large fish box, and radar and satellite weather. It is a fast, capable offshore boat for the John’s Pass reefs and a comfortable ride for a small group. The honest mark is size and shelter: it is smaller than the sportfishers in the port, with no cabin, so it suits four or five anglers on a half or three quarter day better than a packed full-day crowd.
The fishing and what you target
Captain Simmons fishes the Gulf bottom 10 to 15 miles off John’s Pass and beyond for red and gag grouper, hogfish, mangrove snapper, and amberjack on the reefs and wrecks, and slow-trolls live bait for kingfish and Spanish mackerel. Red snapper is a seasonal trip in summer. Gag grouper is open only a short window in 2026 and amberjack is closed for the season, so red grouper and snapper carry most trips. The commercial bottom background is the draw here: this is a captain who knows the numbers.
Trips and prices
GotOne posts its rates, which counts in its favor. The whole-boat prices are $875 for a 4 hour half day, $1,250 for a 6 hour three quarter day, and $1,775 for a full day, with a shark trip at $1,275 and a seasonal red snapper trip at $1,925. Rods, bait, tackle, ice, the license, and fillet-and-bag service are included, a 15 to 20% gratuity is customary, and a $100 deposit holds the date. The site is honest that prices can move with the cost of fuel. Our cost guide sets those numbers against a walk-on seat.
The crew
Captain Brian Simmons owns and runs the boat, is Coast Guard certified, and came up commercially fishing grouper and snapper, which is the kind of background that puts a boat on fish. The reviews run strongly positive on clear pre-trip communication, a captain who is good with kids and beginners, and consistent catches. The honest note is depth of the verifiable record: the praise is real and the rating is high, but the directly confirmable review count is modest next to the busiest boats in the port, so track record is scored on a good rather than a huge sample.
Booking and what to know
Book online or by phone with a $100 deposit. Bring food and drinks and a cooler for your fillets, since it is an open boat. The license is covered and the catch is cleaned and bagged. Budget the gratuity on top, and ask about the red snapper trip in summer, since it is seasonal and the dates move.
How we scored it
GotOne scores 7.7: a commercial-grade owner-captain, posted prices, and a clean record on a fast offshore boat, marked down on boat and trips only because it is a smaller center console carrying four or five anglers rather than a big sportfisher. Captain and crew and value are its strengths. See how we scored this boat and compare it with the rest of the Madeira Beach boats.