Capt. Joe Mazzarella was born into a family with a long line of fishermen and has lived on Florida's east coast all his life. When Joe was 4 years old, his Dad and Grandad introduced him to fishing and he knew at an early age that he'd be a professional fisherman when he grew up. Joe's first big catch came at the age of 12 when he caught a 50-lb giant grouper. (Photo at left.)

His love of fishing just grew and grew. That's when he began his deepwater fishing career. Soon he was fishing not only locally, but also in the Florida Keys and The Bahamas.   When Joe was 14, he started working in the commercial fishing industry and on a charter boat, where he eagerly learned all the seagoing and fishing secrets known to the great fishermen who taught him all he knows today.  He started his own commercial fishing business at 18.  Now he's captain of a 32-foot Donzi open fisherman powered by twin 2005 250hp Suzuki engines. He's fully licensed and insured for both local and offshore fishing.

If you want to use your own boat, Joe's the perfect guy to be your captain and fishing guide. He has certifications in safety, first aid and people skills. Read all about what customers and business contacts think of him on the References page.

Capt. Joe knows all the best fishing spots for kingfish, dolphin, wahoo, spanish mackerel, bluefish, deepwater snapper, sailfish, swordfish, tuna, and shark. His know-how has paid off in handsome tournament prizes. He also knows where the lobsters hide. Visit the Fish Photos page to see pictures of some happy customers and great fish!

After you've caught the fish, Joe will clean and dress it for you at the dock. And then, if you're in the mood, you can have your catch prepared for you by Joe's wife, Nancy, a professional chef with 17 years experience preparing exotic meals on the yachts of the rich and famous.

If you're undecided about when to charter, see the fishing calendar to find out when your favorite fish is plentiful.