Captain
Frank Viola III

Member since March 2021 Crystal River, United States
Background
Every year Captain Frank's family would take a trip to Islamorada in the Florida Keys. He saw his first Tarpon and all he could think about was one day adventuring the ocean as a professional fisherman. After ten years of playing professional baseball, the captain dove into the fishing industry head first. He started shooting photo and video content for some of the industry leaders in 2016 and continued to create content for companies such as Yeti, Hell's Bay Boatworks, and more. After spending years on the water, he decided to become a full-time captain. Sharing the outdoor experience with others is why he decided to make a career of this job and of course, you and he absolutely will catch fish!
Techniques
Captain Frank prefers to fish any way that will get the job done. Sometimes you'll live bait fish, sometimes you'll use artificial. Spinning, conventional, fly, it all depends on the time of year and the target species. His favorite style of fishing is the one that puts a smile on everyone’s face after a successful day!

Hey, I'm Captain Frank Viola III

Crystal River, Verenigde Staten
Background
Every year Captain Frank's family would take a trip to Islamorada in the Florida Keys. He saw his first Tarpon and all he could think about was one day adventuring the ocean as a professional fisherman. After ten years of playing professional baseball, the captain dove into the fishing industry head first. He started shooting photo and video content for some of the industry leaders in 2016 and continued to create content for companies such as Yeti, Hell's Bay Boatworks, and more. After spending years on the water, he decided to become a full-time captain. Sharing the outdoor experience with others is why he decided to make a career of this job and of course, you and he absolutely will catch fish!
Techniques
Captain Frank prefers to fish any way that will get the job done. Sometimes you'll live bait fish, sometimes you'll use artificial. Spinning, conventional, fly, it all depends on the time of year and the target species. His favorite style of fishing is the one that puts a smile on everyone’s face after a successful day!
Anglers Choice
115
Reviews
11
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Our Team
August C.
Captain

My Charter Listings

Turtlehead Charters Crystal River

State licensed
Uitstekend
4.9 / 5
(100 beoordelingen)
Angler's choice
Crystal River
 Directe bevestiging
Trips vanaf US $400

Turtlehead Charters LKN

Uitstekend
5.0 / 5
(15 beoordelingen)
Angler's choice
Mooresville
 Last booking: 22 hours ago
 Directe bevestiging
Trips vanaf US $300

Fishing Reports

Tarpon Season in Crystal River is insane
Tarpon Season in Crystal River is insane
Mei 21, 2025 Crystal River
The tarpon fishing in Crystal River has been nothing short of phenomenal lately. These silver kings are in full migration mode, and their presence is impossible to miss. Around the recent moon phases, feeding activity has peaked, with fish aggressively striking bait in a frenzy of predatory behavior. Outside of feeding windows, the tarpon can be seen engaging in their classic migration โ€œdance,โ€ rolling and daisy-chaining in pods, a spectacle thatโ€™s become a daily occurrence on the water. Anglers have been treated to some of the best action anywhere in the world. Crystal River has truly lived up to its reputation as the premier tarpon destination, not just for numbers but for size. Massive fish, some of the largest found anywhere are patrolling the flats and channels, and theyโ€™re in a cooperative mood. Happy, rolling fish have been more than willing to eat, and experienced guides have been putting clients on multiple shots each day. Clients have been thrilled with the results, jumping countless tarpon and successfully bringing many to hand after thrilling battles. Whether itโ€™s the electric moment of the eat, the aerial acrobatics that follow, or simply watching pods of giant fish in clear water, this season has delivered unforgettable experiences. If there was ever a time to chase tarpon in Crystal River, itโ€™s now, these are the days anglers dream about. I have some dates remaining the last week of June if tarpon are on your bucket list!
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Itโ€™s Spring Time which means its striper
Itโ€™s Spring Time which means its striper
Maa 20, 2025 Crystal River
As soon as the trees and flowers start blooming, lake norman starts heating up. Both literally and philosophically! As water temps rise, bait balls make there way to the top part of the water column in deeper water neer creeks and fingers where the striped bass, spotted bass and hybrid bass go into an absolute feeding frenzy. Iโ€™ve fished all over the world and have guided for a long time and seen some crazy cool bitesโ€ฆ this is one of my favorites. When it turns on youโ€™re into fish consistently for some time! If you have big hybrid bass and striped bass on your bucket list, the end of March to early April is the time to do it!! Then we are onto bedding bass which is another entire post in itself! We hope to see you soon here at Turtlehead Charters!
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Temps are hot, fishing is not!!
Temps are hot, fishing is not!!
Aug 8, 2024 Crystal River
I have to book thr most patient and kind human beings alive. Everyone has fished hard this last month through 90+ degree temps and through a slow bite, been smiling ans happy nonetheless. When water temps get above 90 fish head for thick cover or go deep. We have been on them in 30+ feet of water chasing bait balls with a little success early in the morning or as the sun is going down. Better casters have been able to grab some big spots and largies out if docks and cover. Mid day weven been targeting fish deep on brush piles too. I feel very blessed and appreciative to be booked this time of year and moreso appreciate everyone working hard with me to catcb thr great fish we have through tough conditions. In better news its almost fall, the dropping temps will bring risking action and much better fishing!!
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Fishing Lake Norman is off the charts!!
Fishing Lake Norman is off the charts!!
Maa 17, 2024 Crystal River
To say Iโ€™ve spent every moment of free time on the water figuring this fishery out is a vast understatement! The transition from full time inshore saltwater guide to freshwater bass fisherman has had its ups and downs. Iโ€™m happy to say that the time on the water has paid off and clients have been extremely happy. It takes a lot of work to stay on these fish and how theyre feeding ad the water temos change, especially when we are throwing artificial only! Learning lake Norman has been a blast! Everyone has been easily limiting out and the bite has been outstanding! This month we are targeting big hybrid bass, striped bass and the spotted/largemouth bass have been large and pletniful! We are catching them suspended, deep, shallow, on ledges, humps, docks, brush piles, rocks you name it! The morning bite has been the best with late afternoon being right behind it! If youโ€™re looking for a great place to fish, letโ€™s get out on lake norman together! Iโ€™m loving every moment of this new chapter, bass fishing has stolen a part of my heart and Iโ€™m excited to be here meeting new people and fishing a new fishery!
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The crappie are chewing!!!
The crappie are chewing!!!
Jan 27, 2024 Crystal River
We were bending rods in big crappie all afternoon. From brush piles and docks to bridges, they were hungry and showing it! They did not deny us very often. This may be my favorite fish to target during the winter time! Non stop action and lots of fun to fight on ultra light gear! Shoot me a message if youโ€™re looking for some amazing fishing this time of year!!
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Surf City & TopSail Island Fishing!!!
Surf City & TopSail Island Fishing!!!
Okt 12, 2023 Crystal River
The fishing in NC as the water temp drops continues to fire up! Surf City inshore fishing has been fantastic in the creeks and fingers, TopSail Island has been equally as productive. Not only that but every day we are throwing artificial and fly only and still โ€œlimitingโ€ on fish. There is nothing quite like throwing a soft plastic and getting busted by a slot redfish or 20โ€+ flounder. If you want to catch some incredible inshore action October is the month!
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Customer reviews

Beoordelingsoverzicht
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5.0 / 5
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4.9 / 5
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5.0 / 5
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4.9 / 5
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Algemeen

Great fun, Caught Fish & Learned!

GECONTROLEERD   Half Day Adventure Trip op Oktober 17, 2025
Went out with my son for a nice fishing outing to see what we would catch.. Frank helped keep lines in the water that helped...
Richard R. raadt Turtlehead Charters LKN aan
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Lake Norman, NC fishing expedition success!

GECONTROLEERD   Two Hour Fishing Trip!! (8 AM) op Mei 17, 2025
We couldnโ€™t have had a better experience. Captain Spencer worked with our limited schedule and did a great job steering our...
Emily B. raadt Turtlehead Charters Crystal River aan
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Canโ€™t wait to go again

GECONTROLEERD   2 Hour Quick Adventure Trip op November 26, 2025
My boys and I had an amazing time fishing with Captain Frank.ย  We caught a ton of fish and even some keepers (first time for...
Michael F. raadt Turtlehead Charters LKN aan
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Perfect Trip!

GECONTROLEERD   Sunset Trip!! op April 3, 2025
We had a 2 hour excursion planned and we used every minute catching fish! It was perfect!! Frank put us where the fish were...
Raymond B. raadt Turtlehead Charters Crystal River aan
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Family memories

GECONTROLEERD   Half Day Trip (AM) op Maart 23, 2025
You just canโ€™t ever replace this kind of family time with your children.ย  It is most impressive to me when a captain realizes...
Paul R. raadt Turtlehead Charters Crystal River aan
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