Hot Spots Charters in Pensacola Beach

Location: Pensacola Beach, Florida
Trip Types: Inshore and nearshore fishing; offshore six-passenger charters; group arrangements
Phone: 850-449-5555

Hot Spots Charters is a multi-captain Pensacola Beach operation offering bay-boat trips and larger offshore center-console charters. The company distinguishes its inshore/nearshore products from six-passenger offshore outings, making boat selection as important as choosing the number of hours.

Contact and booking details

Operator	Hot Spots Charters
Area	Pensacola Beach, Florida
Departure / address	Shaggy’s Bar & Grill, Pensacola Beach, unless captain specifies another departure
Phone	850-449-5555
Email	Use the operator’s website or phone; no public email was confirmed in the reviewed pages.
Website / reservations	Visit Hot Spots Charters
Trip options	Inshore and nearshore fishing; offshore six-passenger charters; group arrangements

The team and boats

Captain Chris Phillips' biography says he and Captain Matt McLeod started Hot Spots in the early 2000s. The website introduces several working captains, including Andy Arnold, whose own profile describes both bay and offshore experience.

Inshore/nearshore trips use 22- to 24-foot bay boats with a captain. Offshore six-passenger trips use 31- to 34-foot center consoles, with common six- and eight-hour outings described as travelling roughly 15–30 miles into the Gulf. Larger groups can request additional arrangements; confirm the actual vessel and party limit.

Fishing group with a dockside catch. Photo from Hot Spots Charters.

Trip styles and published rates

The inshore rate page lists a two-hour catch-and-release trip at $450 for four anglers, adding $50 each for a fifth and sixth. Four hours costs $650, five $750 and six $850 for four anglers, with $100 per extra guest up to six.

Those rates apply to the inshore/nearshore menu, not automatically to the separate offshore boats. Ask for the offshore quote directly. Bay trips may target redfish, trout, flounder and sheepshead, while Gulf trips add reef fish, mackerel and other species according to conditions.

Included services and payment

The published rate descriptions include tackle, rods and reels, license coverage, live bait, ice and fish cleaning. Guests bring food and drinks, sun protection and a camera. Coolers and ice are onboard, and the operator suggests leaving another cooler in the vehicle for fish.

Online bookings are charged the full trip cost when reserved; telephone bookings are described as holding a valid card without an immediate charge. The FAQ suggests a 15–20% tip for a captain or deckhand. Confirm current cancellation and payment conditions for your booking method.

Departure planning

The FAQ says departures normally leave from Shaggy's Bar & Grill unless the captain arranges otherwise. Arrive 15–20 minutes early and use the specific dock instructions supplied by your captain.

The crew communicates about weather before the trip. Discuss whether an inshore alternative is acceptable if Gulf conditions deteriorate. Local catch-and-cook meals are an optional follow-on activity and should be arranged and paid for separately with the restaurant.

Details checked September 26, 2026, using the operator’s published information. Rates, boats, meeting points and policies can change; confirm the final trip details directly. Listed species describe possible targets, not a guaranteed catch or an open harvest season.

Sources and photos

Featured photo: Anglers displaying redfish. Photo from Hot Spots Charters.