Thomas DiMatteo is a lifelong Floridan with a passion for exploring and educating about Florida's natural wildlife and fisheries. After growing up on and spending most of his time exploring south Florida's many waterways and natural areas Thomas found himself at home in the Florida Keys where he specialized in Fly and light tackle flats and backcountry fishing for permit, bonefish, tarpon, snook, redfish, and other elusive species.
After becoming a husband and a father in 2016, Thomas relocated back up the east coast to where he currently resides in Sebastian, Fl. Over the past 8+ years Thomas has become a prolific light tackle fishing guide on the loxahatchee river in Jupiter, Fl where he guides clients down one of Florida’s only Federally protected, wild and scenic rivers, in search of common, fat and sword-spine snook, as well as tarpon, black bass and other euryhaline species.
Thomas is most comfortable paddling down a river or polling the flats and now spends a majority of his days chasing snook and redfish in the Indian river lagoon.
When he is not on the water you can find him with his daughter Lilah at the ice cream shop in downtown Vero or enjoying the waves at Sebastian beach.
Overnight trips on the loxahatchee river start out in the fresh/brackish section at the headwaters of the loxahatchee river. Trips leaving out of the famous Riverbend / Battle Field park will experience one of Florida’s truly unique gems as they paddle through a lush green canopy covered river. Manatees, otters, gators, and herons are just a few of the rivers everyday inhabitants, along with countless aquatic plant and other animals species. The river is home to four different subspecies of snook (common, fat, tarpon-snook and swordspine) and all four can found throughout the headwaters. Juvenile tarpon, largemouth bass and even the bigmouth sleeper goby are commonly caught on this stretch of river. The river flows at a slow and steady pace throughout the wet season. Launching from Riverbend Park and “going with the flow” towards Jonathan Dickinson you will encounter two official portage areas with benches and kayak ramps, perfect for eating lunch, or taking a swim to cool off. Once passed the second damn you have almost made it to the famous “trapper Nelsons interpretive site.” Here you can explore old Florida and get an idea of what living out here was once like. Trapper Nelsons marks the half way point between Riverbend and Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Camp is established ahead of time and waiting for you at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Here you will be treated to an open fire meal and get the required rest for the next days adventure, sight casting to large snook in the Jupiter Lagoon backwaters. Thanks to popular social media personalities the Jupiter Lagoon has become a world renowned destination for its large snook, up to and over 40 inches in length! The tannic waters that pervade the snaking mangrove canals and estuaries of the Jupiter lagoon and lower loxahatchee river forks provide the perfect environment for rearing monster snook. Guides poll or troll along docks and mangrove shore lines, or stake up along transitional points and coves, in search of sight casting opportunities on these large, extremely smart and sometimes spooky fish.
Loxahatchee River, Jupiter Fl.
$1,100.00
7+ miles of meandering, flowing river. This incredibly unique, federally protected, wild and scenic river starts out fresh in Jupiter Florida and flows NE towards Jonathon Dickinson state park and the Jupiter lagoon. Scenic paddle trips, and light spin or fly fishing trips available. Target species included, snook ( fat snook, common, tarpon, and Swordspine) juvenile tarpon, Largemouth bass, as well as many other species.
Loxahatchee River.
$600.00
Experience the thrill of fly fishing in the abundant waters of the Indian River Lagoon with our expert guide, Captain Thomas DiMatteo. With years of hands-on experience under his belt from the Florida Keys to mosquito Lagoon, Captain Tom will ensure an unforgettable and successful fly fishing charter, catering to anglers of all skill levels but specializing in advanced and technical fly fishing.
Indian River Lagoon, FL
$400.00