Daniel's Personalized Guide - Lookout Apartment - Homer, Alaska

Joey Broccardo

We booked a halibut and salmon trip with Captain Daniel for me, my sons and father in-law. Hands down the best fishing trip my sons and i have ever gone on. We got on some great salmon and then we limited out on halibut, including a 150 pounder. Between the 4 of us we ended up with 171 pounds of processed fish.
The Optimist and captain Daniel came highly recommended and he did not disappoint.
Thank you for the memories.

Ashley Campion

If you’re simply looking to get on fish and get home, Dan is your guide. The boat was clean and well maintained. Dan also put us on kings right away in the morning and halibut right after we limited on kings.

If you’re looking to have a fun, easy going time, Dan is not your guide. We travel a lot and have had many guides/done solo trips on our own, so I’d say we’re familiar with fishing and how trips work. With that said, the point of fishing in new places is that it’s new and different from what you’ve done before. I’ve never had a guide lack kindness to the degree we experienced yesterday. Much of the time while we were on the boat I found myself wondering what happened to make him so sour?

It was borderline uncomfortable how quick he was to snap at his deck hand, Julie (who was working her butt off) for any tiny thing. It didn’t happen once. It happened constantly throughout the day. She didn’t seem to mind so either she’s used to it or doesn’t care, but it still made our party uncomfortable to witness how he treats his teammate.

He was also so snappy and rude to our party once we started halibut fishing. Any tiny thing from hand placement on a rod to moving a rod (per his instruction) would get you a shouted, rude comment rather than a kind correction. He is definitely an equal opportunity meany, though. He was just as short with my 60 year old parents as he was with me and my husband.

I will say he was kind (ish) to my kids who joined us (ages 5&6) and helpful in getting them involved in fishing, which I’m grateful for. Maybe he’s just better with kids than adults?

Nathan Harbin

Fished with Daniel on the Optimist on a recommendation and had a great time. A buddy and I chartered Daniel for an all-day King Salmon and Halibut combo trip. Everyone limited out on both. Daniel was fired up and worked hard to get the day's strategy dialed-in. Both he and Julie made it a trip to remember. Further, he handled getting the fish to the processor to make it very easy to get our catch packaged and ready to fly home the next morning.

eric lund

I have been fishing with Daniel for a number of years now, and can honestly say that he runs a first class operation. His boat is well maintained, clean, and very comfortable to fish out of. Daniel's knowledge of his fishery is incredible, and he is a fun guy to spend a day in the boat with. Julie, his deckhand, is awesome. She works hard, and has a great way about her. I look forward to fishing with them both again!

captain eddie

This is my third year fishing with Daniel and every year has been outstanding. We always manage to get some halibut and salmon but what sets them apart from others guides is their attention to detail. The boat is always clean, warm and ready to go. You're informed of the plan for the day, what the weather is going to be and what needs to be done when a fish is hooked. His first mate Julie has the rods ready and baited once you reach your destination and reviews what you need to do to land those fish. Like Daniel she's very personable which makes the day about as easy as it gets. I look forward to next Sept/Oct trip.

Cooper

Did we catch fish? Yes. Did Captain Dan provide his service and boat for us? Yes. Did Captain Dan also chase down my father when we were walking back to our car and chew him out for my honest mistake in not tipping him enough money on top of everything? Yes. This is my father and my’s first time doing this and we didn’t know how much to tip or if it was even expected at all. My Father and I worked hard to afford a trip like this and for Captain Dan to treat us that way was just bad business and uncalled for. Captain Dan could have had a conversation with us before we docked and mentioned the sign and tipping expectations to avoid what happened. I enjoyed fishing but I won’t ever fish again with Captain Dan.

Brody O'Sullivan

My experience with Daniel's Guide left much to be desired, primarily due to a combination of factors, starting with the surprisingly diminutive size of his boat. The vessel provided for the excursion felt uncomfortably small, more fitting for a personal outing than a guided adventure. This not only impacted the overall experience but also raised questions about the adequacy of resources within the company.

Equally concerning was Daniel's demeanor throughout our interactions. His quick temper, reminiscent of a storm brewing on the horizon, made communication challenging. Instead of addressing queries with patience and understanding, his responses were often brusque and dismissive. It was evident that customer satisfaction took a back seat to his impatience, leaving a less than favorable impression.

Furthermore, there seemed to be a pervasive focus on financial gain rather than a genuine commitment to providing a quality experience. The interactions left me with the impression that Daniel prioritized profit margins over fostering a positive and memorable encounter for his clients. This money-centric approach detracted from the supposed personalized nature of the guide.

Adding to the disappointment was the subtle air of entitlement that surrounded Daniel. His features and demeanor hinted at a possible upbringing marked by privilege, possibly contributing to a lack of empathy and understanding for customer concerns. This, combined with a seemingly spoiled disposition, created an atmosphere that was far from inviting.

In conclusion, my experience with Daniel's Guide was marred by a small boat, a short temper, a money-centric attitude, and a sense of entitlement. For those seeking a more fulfilling and customer-centric adventure, exploring alternatives might be a prudent choice. Daniel's Guide fell short of expectations, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction and a desire for a more enriching experience elsewhere.

#googlereviews #served

Oepi

The outdoors were beautiful, my fellow passengers were great, and the deck hands were all very helpful, and kind. However, the owner seemed to singe out a single passenger just because he made some amateur mistakes, even going as far as cursing him out publicly. Overall, the fishing was good, but I would not want anyone to have to be berated all the time by the captain.