About Scotty J’s Charters
Capt. Rich
Captain Rich is a U.S. Army Vet, a former Paramedic, holds a OUPV Captain’s licensed issued by the USCG, and a Charter Captain Permit issued through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They “Scotty J” is a federally permit vessel which means we can go to the deeper, more productive waters of the Gulf of Mexico Giving his clients a better opportunity to land their trophy fish. He is married with one son (Scotty) who has his own passion for hockey and fishing.
Captain Rich started fishing piers and breakwaters in Southern California at the age of 8. At the age of 14 he joined Sea Explorers which not only taught him seamanship and boat handling skills but afforded him the opportunity to serve as a deckhand on weekly fundraising charters to support the 38ft Chris Craft he was assigned to. This is where he found his passion for the ocean and fishing. The Southern California waters, along with the waters off the coast of Catalina Island, San Clemente Island and Baja Mexico offered a wide and diverse fishery. In the summers, he would work as a small motorboat instructor and would do harbor cruises throughout Newport Beach Harbor. At the age of 16 he started working summers as a paid deckhand on the fishing barges in the harbor of Long Beach, California.
After moving to Clearwater, Florida in 2015, Capt. Rich decided to fulfill his dream of becoming a Charter Boat Captain and run his own boat. Capt. Rich quickly found the fishery in the Gulf of Mexico unique and differed greatly from the waters of Southern California, where he had grown up fishing. The four years prior to opening Scott J’s, Capt. Rich would fish every possible opportunity, in all types of weather. He would also speak with several very successful Captain’s about species, tactics, and equipment every chance he had. He would then go out and apply that knowledge. Even though Scotty J’s could have been opened over two years before it was, Capt. Rich wanted to be sure he had the proper knowledge, boat, and equipment for the wide variety of species and the local waters.
We look Forward to having you join us on the water!
What Our Clients Have To Say:
We had an absolute blast with Captain Rich! The half-day charter ended up being the best day of our entire trip to Florida. Practically first-timers, he was extremely patient with us and had a lot of good tips and tricks up his sleeve. And he is so much fun to talk to – so many great stories about his past and had us laughing all day. You can tell he’s a down-to-earth family-man and truly loves what he does. Captain Rich goes above and beyond to make sure everyone has a great time on his boat and we will definitely be calling him again. Thank you, Captain Rich, for a perfect day on the water!
It was a cold morning, but that didn’t stop us from getting out there and having a great time! Captain Rich was very communicative, and even let us get a late start to avoid a cold, windy morning. His son Scotty was a great addition to the trip, and helped us out with our lines. 10/10 would recommend to a friend or anyone looking to fish with experts while having great conversation. We also were able to bring a cooler of beer, and the Captain was very accommodating to all of our needs. They do all the work for you, it’s amazing! See you next year!
This one is the most enjoyable charters I’ve been on. Not only is Captain Rich one of the most professional captains I’ve ever come across, he’s also very personable. Didn’t feel like 6 hours at all, and we caught plenty of fish. I let a few get off the hook, but he had us on them. Definitely will look him up when we’re ready to head out again, thanks again for a great trip with my Dad in town.
Amazing trip. Courteous and professional, Captain Rich provided us with an experience of a lifetime. Perfect weather for fishing, Captain Rich was punctual and knew exactly where to take us. This was our first trip and are already planning a second, much bigger trip with Scotty J’s Charters, LLC. Without a doubt, the best choice for a fishing charter I could have ever made. Thank you !!!!