Emerald Ghost Charters home 850.319.7990 Book a Trip
Captain Mike Bauman fishing from the bow of his boat on clear turquoise Gulf water
Navarre Beach · Emerald Coast, Florida

Sneak up on big fish

Private light-tackle inshore and nearshore fishing charters with Captain Mike Bauman. Calm water, top-quality gear and a laid-back guide who knows where the fish live. Great for families and anglers of every skill level.

4.971 Tripadvisor
reviews
  • Navarre Beach
  • Pensacola Beach
  • Destin
  • Okaloosa Island
  • Fort Walton Beach
  • Gulf Breeze
  • Perdido Key
  • Sandestin
  • Grayton Beach
  • Seaside
  • Pensacola
  • Navarre
A smiling family holding a big bull redfish on Captain Mike's boat Family trip · bull redfish
Private charters

Fun the whole family will remember

Whether you're staying in Pensacola, Navarre, Fort Walton, Destin or anywhere in between, Emerald Ghost will take you fishing on the beautiful Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida.

First-timers, kids, seasoned tournament anglers: everyone is welcome aboard. Captain Mike reads the conditions, picks the method that's working (and the one you'd enjoy most) and coaches you right through to the catch.

  • Calm inshore and nearshore water, so no worrying about seasickness
  • Usually fishing within minutes of leaving the dock
  • Light tackle by Shimano and Penn, so every fish is a real fight
  • Licenses, bait, tackle, ice and fish cleaning are all included
Trips & rates

Pick your day on the water

Every fishing charter is private, with up to 3 anglers included.

A young angler holding his first redfish next to Captain Mike
3 hours · great for kids

Quickie Charter

$400 / trip

A shorter inshore trip, perfect for young fisher-kids and anyone who wants a taste of light-tackle fishing.

Request this trip
Captain Mike holding a large redfish with white sand beach behind
4 hours · most popular

Half-Day Charter

$500 / trip

More time to chase redfish, speckled trout and whatever else is biting in the bays, sounds and along the beaches.

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Orange sunset over calm water and docks on the Florida Panhandle
2–3 hours · no fishing needed

Sightseeing Trip

$200 / trip

Private sunset, dolphin, sightseeing or all-in-one excursions on the clear emerald water.

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10% discount for Police, Fire, EMS and Military. Larger groups can be accommodated, so just ask. Full rates, what's included & what to bring →

4.9Tripadvisor rating
71Tripadvisor reviews
12Emerald Coast towns served
4Florida counties fished
Captain Mike with two guests holding a big jack crevalle on the boat Jack crevalle on light tackle
Your guide

Meet Captain Mike

Laid-back and easy-going on the boat, serious about putting you on fish.

Mike learned to fish on Midwest lakes and rivers with his dad, then fell for saltwater after moving to the Emerald Coast. He learned from some of the best captains on the Gulf Coast and has fished the rivers, bays, Intracoastal and Gulf here ever since. He treats every charter like his own family is aboard, and as a licensed paramedic, he never compromises on safety.

Reviews

What anglers say

Despite our wide range of skill levels, Mike had every one of us reeling them in at the first stop. We caught more than our limit in Redfish including several that were too big to keep.
BrianSaint Louis, MO · Tripadvisor
Capt. Mike was an excellent guide and extremely knowledgeable about fishing in the area. He was very friendly, and even converted one of his reels to a left-handed reel for me - which a lot of guides won’t do.
StephanieDenton, TX · Tripadvisor
We had an excellent trip with Captain Mike. He was very knowledgeable and great with my 8 year old! We caught a ton of fish and he cleaned and bagged them and even told us about Scooters which will cook your fish for you!
AngelaTripadvisor
My family of four (boy 10, girl 15) spent a wonderful morning fishing with Captain Mike. Although the wind and water conditions were less than ideal for fishing, Captain Mike put us on some fish.
SethFort Worth, TX · Tripadvisor
Had a fantastic time fishing with Captain Mike. Being in the charter business myself in Tennessee I could see how accommodating captain Mike was on our trip.
BuzzyHixson, TN · Tripadvisor

Read more reviews · See all 71 on Tripadvisor

Ready to make some memories?

Captain Mike is on the water most of the day, so a text or email is the quickest way to book. He'll get back to you as soon as he's back at the dock.

Call Text to book