4-Hour Florida Redfish Charter in St. Augustine
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Halfday inshore charter targeting redfish, sheepshead, and black drumAccommodates two guests with all skill levels welcome aboardExplores prime Florida waters with experienced 310 Charters guides
Looking for a solid half-day fishing trip that'll put some serious fish in the boat? This 4-hour inshore charter with 310 Charters takes you into some of St. Augustine's most productive redfish waters. We're talking about shallow flats, grass beds, and oyster bars where these copper-colored bruisers love to hang out. With space for just 2 anglers, you'll get personalized attention and prime positioning for every cast. Whether you're new to saltwater fishing or you've been chasing reds for years, this trip delivers the goods without eating up your whole day.
Your captain knows these St. Augustine waters like the back of their hand, and they'll put you on fish from the get-go. We're fishing the Matanzas River system, Salt Run, and the countless creeks that wind through the salt marsh. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety - one minute you're sight-casting to tailing redfish in 2 feet of water, the next you're dropping bait near a dock piling for black drum. The boat stays in protected waters, so even when it's breezy offshore, we're still fishing comfortably. You'll cover different spots throughout the trip, from shallow grass flats where reds cruise for crabs to deeper creek bends where the big sheepshead stack up around structure. This isn't a cattle boat operation - with only 2 guests max, everyone gets plenty of rod time and individual coaching.
All your fishing gear comes with the trip, so just show up ready to fish. We're talking quality spinning rods spooled with 15-20 lb test, perfect for these inshore species. Depending on conditions and what's biting, you'll be using everything from live shrimp under popping corks to cut bait on the bottom. When the reds are up shallow and happy, we'll switch to artificial lures - gold spoons, soft plastics, and topwater plugs that'll get your heart pumping when a 25-inch red explodes on it. The captain reads the water and adjusts tactics throughout the trip. High tide means we can get back into the skinny water where big reds patrol alone. Low tide concentrates fish in the deeper creek channels and around oyster bars. Circle hooks are the standard here - better for the fish and way more effective at staying hooked up during those bulldogging redfish runs.
Redfish are the star of the show here in St. Augustine, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters average 20-28 inches and will test your drag system every time. They're year-round residents in these waters, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they school up in big numbers. What makes reds so special is their attitude - they eat aggressively and fight like they're twice their size. Watch for that telltale bronze flash and black spot near the tail when one comes boatside.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of this fishery. These black-and-white striped convict fish have human-like teeth and a knack for stealing bait without getting hooked. But land one of these 3-5 pound slabs and you'll understand why regulars target them specifically. They hang around any kind of structure - docks, bridges, oyster bars - and peak during their spawning run from February through April. Fresh shrimp on a small hook is the ticket, and you need to set the hook at the first tick.
Black drum are the heavyweight division here, with fish over 30 inches common around St. Augustine's deeper channels and bridge pilings. These guys can push 10-15 pounds easily and fight with pure power rather than speed. They're bottom feeders that love blue crab, cut mullet, and fresh shrimp. Spring brings the best black drum action when they move shallow to spawn, but you'll find keeper-sized fish year-round in 8-15 feet of water.
Southern flounder are the ambush predators of these grass flats, lying perfectly camouflaged until an unsuspecting baitfish swims by. These flatfish average 15-18 inches and provide excellent table fare. Fall months from September through November offer peak flounder action as they fatten up before their offshore migration. Work soft plastics slowly along the bottom or drift live finger mullet near creek mouths and channel edges.
Crevalle jack round out the cast of characters and bring serious muscle to the fight. These silver bullets school up in huge numbers and attack bait with reckless abandon. When you hook into a school of jacks, every angler on the boat can be hooked up simultaneously. They're not great eating, but pound-for-pound, few fish fight harder than a crevalle jack in shallow water. Look for them busting bait on the surface or following the shrimp boats.
This top-rated St. Augustine fishing charter fills up fast, especially during prime redfish season from September through May. With only 2 spots available per trip, you're getting a premium inshore experience without the premium price tag. The captain's local knowledge combined with St. Augustine's world-class redfish population makes this a customer favorite for good reason. Whether you're looking to cross redfish off your bucket list or just want a fun half-day on the water, this charter delivers. Book now and get ready to see why St. Augustine's inshore fishery keeps anglers coming back trip after trip.
Your redfish adventure starts aboard a well-equipped motorboat designed for serious inshore fishing around St. Augustine's productive waters. This fishing machine comes loaded with everything you need to locate and land those prized reds – a reliable fish finder to spot schools holding near oyster bars and grass flats, plus GPS navigation to hit the hottest fishing spots along Florida's coast. The wireless trolling motor lets you slip quietly into shallow water where redfish cruise without spooking them, while the onboard ice box keeps your catch fresh in the Florida heat. Built for two anglers, this boat gets you into the backcountry creeks and flats where redfish, sheepshead, and black drum feed. Whether you're casting to tailing reds in skinny water or working structure for sheepshead, this setup puts you in prime position to connect with St. Augustine's best inshore species.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing - copper-colored beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches, but we regularly see bull reds over 30 inches that'll test your tackle. They love shallow water from 1-4 feet deep, cruising grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths where they root around for crabs and shrimp. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes and powerful runs - they'll make your drag sing. Plus they're great table fare when kept in the slot. The secret here in St. Augustine is working the moving water around creek mouths on incoming tides. Use live shrimp under a popping cork or throw gold spoons at tailing fish - when they're feeding shallow, you can sight-cast to them like tarpon.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, and you'll hear them before you see them - they make distinctive drumming sounds that carry underwater. These powerful fish typically run 5-30 pounds but can push 60+ pounds in our waters. Look for them around oyster beds, bridge pilings, and shallow muddy flats where they crush shellfish with their pharyngeal teeth. Spring spawning season from March through May is prime time when they school up in big numbers. What makes them special is their incredible fight - they're bulldogs that test your drag and patience. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Pro tip: use fresh crab or cut mullet on a fish-finder rig, and when you feel that subtle tap-tap-tap, give them a second to turn the bait before setting the hook hard.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of our waters - those black and white stripes make them unmistakable around any structure. They run 1-8 pounds typically, but we see some slabs over 15 pounds around the right spots. These fish live around anything vertical - docks, bridge pilings, reefs, and jetties where they pick off barnacles and crabs with their human-like teeth. Spring months from February through April are peak season when they spawn around inlet mouths and offshore structure. What guests love is the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves with light bites, but once hooked they put up a great scrap. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish we catch. My go-to trick: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, get tight to the structure, and when you feel them pecking, set the hook fast and hard before they steal your bait.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise - these flat, oval-shaped fish bury themselves in sandy and muddy bottoms where they ambush prey. You'll spot them by their distinctive dark blotches and both eyes positioned on their left side. Most run 15-18 inches, but we catch some beauties up to 30+ inches in our shallow bays and estuaries. They're bottom dwellers that love structure - oyster bars, creek mouths, and grass flats are prime spots. Fall and winter months are best when they're fattening up before their offshore spawn. Guests love them because they're fantastic eating with sweet, white meat. Here's a local trick: when drift fishing, use just enough weight to stay on bottom but still feel the subtle bite - they'll mouth the bait before committing, so patience pays off.
Caranx HipposCrevalle Jack are the bullies of our waters - aggressive, hard-fighting fish that'll test your tackle and your arms. These brassy-colored speedsters typically run 3-5 pounds but can push 20+ pounds when we find the big schools. Look for diving birds - that's your signal that jacks are pushing baitfish to the surface in deeper channels and around structure. They're year-round residents, but summer months bring the biggest schools when the bait is thick. What guests love is the non-stop action and powerful fights - they're pure muscle that makes screaming runs. Not the best eating, but they're perfect for catch and release fun. Here's the key: when you see birds working, cast silver spoons or topwater plugs past the school and retrieve fast. Don't cast right into the school or you'll spook them - work the edges and hang on tight.
St Augustine, FL