Testimonials

Afishionado Guide Services

Wade is a no-nonsense captain that takes care of his customers.

Brian Moroney, Rick Mohler, Nick Dorsch.

My business partner and I love fishing. We’ve done dozens of trips throughout North and Central America. Wade at Afishionado has always been our anchor. We’ve been going at least annually with Wade for nearly a decade. He always puts us on the fish. The first trip, we caught 153 redfish, and additionally snook and trout. We were hooked after that!

Wade is a no-nonsense captain that takes care of his customers. He doesn’t hesitate to share his advice on wind, weather, tides, casting and presentation techniques. We are better fishermen all around after learning from Wade. Many of the people we’ve taken had never fished before. Wade had them comfortable and catching fish quickly. His live well is always super stocked before we meet him. Also, his boat handles rough seas really well and is impeccably maintained.

Over the years, we’ve taken dozens of friends and business contacts with Wade. Not one time have we been disappointed!

Brian Moroney, Winter Garden, FL

#Snook

Other Guides Were Not Confident!

#Snook

The Diedrich family with their first snook.

Great guide, excellent communication leading up to trip. Got our family on to snook in the winter when other guides were not confident, they could do so. Wade was very professional, and our family really enjoyed the charter.

John Diedrich, Alabama

Image of Tampa Bays Nook

We refuse to charter with anyone else!

Tampa Bay Snook

We have chartered a fishing trip with Wade several times now and he never disappoints! He is a fantastic guy and an even better guide; he definitely knows his stuff. He is so helpful and a great teacher so even if you don’t have a lot of fishing experience you will still have a successful day! He will tailor the trip to you and what you want to target. We have always caught a multitude of species, including some we weren’t expecting. He also will clean and fillet your catch for you afterwards so they’re ready to be cooked!

Plus, he is a great conversationalist, we refuse to charter with anyone else!

Annie/Destin, Florida

 

Bull Redfish

Wade was on his game the entire time!

Tampa Bay 40-inch Bull Redfish

My son and I scheduled 3.5 days of fishing with Wade. Our first time fishing with Wade and he was a professional from start to finish. Wade was on time to the dock each morning, if not early and he already caught bait and was ready to put us on the fish. Wade was on his game the entire time from maneuvering the boat for best position, to baiting hooks, chumming water, etcetera as we were fishing hard and taking advantage as best we could of our time on the water. Will definitely be fishing with Wade in the near future.

Thanks for the memories Wade.
John Noyes, Chicago, Illinois
Paul Feedback

My boys and I caught fish all day.

When Captain Wade tells you it’s time to fish “Go”, it means start reeling them in!
My boys and I caught fish all day. The best communication before trip I’ve ever experienced. I even had some time to hook into Snook on a fly rod.
Clean boat, beautiful water, and an experienced captain with over twenty years fishing in the Tampa area.

Tampa Bay Fishing Guide

Wade does everything a great guide should do!

#InshoreSnookFlyFishing

Snook on The Fly.

If you’re fishing in the Tampa Bay area, you simply can’t go wrong booking Wade.

A lot of guides will say they specialize in fly fishing and light tackle. Wade brings the goods. He understands how to position the boat based on the skill of the caster. I’m not an expert fly-flinger but I’m not bad either. Wade watched me, figured out where my comfort zone is, adjusted his positioning and set me up for success all while coaching and tending to a less experienced angler in the boat. How he juggled it all I’m not sure, but it is obvious he has the experience and expertise that makes for a great guide.

Bottom line, Wade does everything a great guide should do: He puts you on fish consistently. He gives you the best opportunity to hook them and he does it every minute you are on his boat. He coaches with a steady, reasonable voice and talks the fish up to the gunwale. He’s easy to get along with.

I’ve fished with guides who take time in the first hour catching bait. Some will add that time to the trip, and some will start the clock when they leave the dock. Wade showed up at the dock both days on time with the live well full, so we didn’t waste time or daylight netting snacks for the predators. When you book a trip for a specified period of time, that’s what you get, no BS and no time wasted. During a total of 12 hours of booked trip, I fished almost 10 of them and caught fish at every spot but one. We didn’t stay there long. Time spent moving from spot to spot to follow the tides are part of the deal and Wade even keeps that to a minimum by planning his routes well. By the end of each day, we had a 10-minute trip from last cast to the dock.

Edward Zaun, Barnegat, New Jersey

Tampa Bay Redfis

Don’t Look Any Further!

Tampa Bay Redfis

Tampa Bay Redfish and Snook Fishing

What a wonderful time my two sons and I had with Wade. His knowledge and aggressive approach to finding the best fishing spots possible, made our excursion with him that much better. Not only did he act as our guide, but he was our teacher. My sons learned more about fishing in the four hours we were on the boat then they had up to that point in their lives! Thank you Wade for helping us create such great memories. We will be back next Spring. For any of you looking to have a great experience, don’t look any further! Wade is your man, and the Afishionado is your ticket to a lifetime of memories!

Mark Paulissian, Chicago, IL

three people with three fish

You can’t pick a better fishing guide!


For anyone thinking about fishing in the Tampa/St Petersburg area, Captain Wade is the man. He’s the real deal. My two sons and I hooked up with Wade and literally from the first cast within 15 minutes of leaving the boat ramp, we were on fish up until the time we left in the afternoon. It was non-stop action.

Top-notch professionalism, first-class is the way Captain Wade fishes! You can’t pick a better fishing guide to give you your money’s worth. I have fished all around Florida and Texas and Afishionado is by far the best guide service we have ever had!

Joe Martin, Bowling Green, KY
August 05, 2017

five people each carrying fish

I have fished with Wade exclusively since 2002.

Bull reds in Tampa Bay.

I have fished with Wade exclusively since 2002, when my two boys were young. Now they’re 22 and 26 and they and their friends charter with Wade.

Dr. Peter Vonu, Plastic Surgery Center  Hampton Roads, VA
July 6, 2016

a man holding a big fish

Thank you again for a great day of fishing.

Dear Wade, I just wanted to thank you again for a great day of fishing on Friday. Both Darryl and Randy had a great time. Your professionalism and hard work certainly sets you apart from the majority of local guides we have been out within the past. I believe Randy even commented a few times on how he couldn’t believe you went and got bait first! Randy was also very pleased that you can, as he says, “Take it as well as give it back.” He obviously loves the back and forth banter. Look forward to getting out on the water again with you.

Wes Snapp, St. Petersburg, FL
June 8, 2014