5.0(1 Reviews)Private 4-Hour Bay Fishing Trip | PM
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour afternoon inshore fishing charter starting at 1:00 PMTarget Speckled Trout and Redfish in Port St. Joe watersAll gear, licenses, and bait included for up to three guests
Looking for a solid afternoon on the water without the commitment of a full day? This 4-hour private charter out of Port St. Joe and Mexico Beach delivers exactly what you're after. Starting at 1:00 PM, you'll have the perfect amount of time to get into some fish while still making it back for dinner. Captain Mason knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll put you on the kind of consistent action that keeps anglers coming back season after season. With all your gear, bait, and licenses covered, you just need to show up ready to fish and maybe bring a cooler with your favorite drinks.
This isn't your typical crowded party boat experience. With just three anglers max, you'll have plenty of room to cast and the captain's full attention on putting you on fish. We're targeting the shallow flats and protected bays around Port St. Joe and Mexico Beach, where the water stays calm and the fish are hungry. The afternoon timing works perfectly here – as the day cools down, the bite often picks up, especially for speckled trout and redfish. You'll be fishing in 2-6 feet of water most of the time, sight fishing when conditions allow and working structure when the fish are holding deeper. The boat's equipped with everything you need, from light tackle setups perfect for these species to a good selection of live and artificial baits that produce in these waters.
In these shallow bay waters, we're primarily using light spinning tackle with 10-15 pound test line. Depending on what the fish are doing, you might be throwing soft plastics like paddle tails and shrimp imitations around grass beds, or working topwater plugs early in the trip when the surface action is hot. Live shrimp under popping corks is always a go-to setup, especially when the trout are scattered. For redfish, we'll often sight cast to tailing fish in the skinny water, or work cut bait around oyster bars and drop-offs. The captain reads the water conditions each day and adjusts tactics accordingly – some days the fish want noise and flash, other days they prefer a subtle presentation. That's the beauty of having an experienced guide who knows how to adapt to what the fish are telling him.
"Amazing day out on the water today! Thank you Captain Mason for a great day! See you again soon!" - Allison
Redfish are the crown jewel of these flats, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters typically run 18-27 inches in these waters, with the occasional bull red pushing 30+ inches. They're most active during moving tides, especially around oyster bars and grass edges. What makes reds so special is their versatility – they'll eat live bait, artificials, and they put up one heck of a fight in shallow water. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, but these fish are catchable year-round in the right conditions.
Sea Trout, or specks as the locals call them, are your bread-and-butter fish here. They school up in good numbers and provide steady action when you find them. Most fish run 14-18 inches, with keeper-sized fish being plentiful. They love grass flats and drop-offs, especially during the warmer months from April through October. Specks are excellent table fare and relatively easy to catch, making them perfect for families or anyone new to saltwater fishing.
Black Drum might not be the prettiest fish in the bay, but they make up for it in size and fight. These bottom-dwellers can range from schoolie-sized fish around 2-3 pounds up to real bruisers pushing 20+ pounds. They're most active in cooler months and love to hang around structure like oyster bars and bridge pilings. Drum have a unique feeding style – they root around the bottom like underwater vacuum cleaners, so when you hook one, you'll know it immediately.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of the bunch. These black-and-white striped fish are notorious bait stealers with their sharp teeth and light bites. They typically run 2-4 pounds in these waters and are most active around structure during the cooler months. Landing a sheepshead requires patience and quick reflexes, but they're among the best eating fish in the Gulf, making them worth the extra effort.
Southern Flounder are the chameleons of the flats – they'll bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting to ambush baitfish. Most flounder here run 14-18 inches, and they're particularly active during the fall migration. They prefer areas with current and soft bottom, often around creek mouths and channel edges. Flounder fishing requires a different approach than the other species – slower presentations and patience are key to success.
This 4-hour afternoon trip hits the sweet spot for most anglers – long enough to get into some good fish, but short enough to fit into any vacation schedule. With only three spots available per trip, these charters fill up quick, especially during peak season. Captain Mason's local knowledge and laid-back approach make this a top-rated choice for anyone wanting to experience the best of Port St. Joe and Mexico Beach fishing. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just getting started, you'll leave with some great memories and hopefully a cooler full of fresh fish. Don't wait – book your spot and get ready for an afternoon you'll be talking about for years to come.
Your afternoon on the water starts aboard this reliable 25' Sea Pro center console, perfectly sized for up to 3 anglers looking to chase Speckled Trout and Redfish around Port St. Joe and Mexico Beach. This fishing machine comes loaded with everything you need - rods, reels, tackle, lures, and live bait are all ready to go. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're sneaking up on those shallow water spots, while the fish finder helps locate where the action is happening. An icebox keeps your drinks cold during the 4-hour afternoon trip, and GPS navigation ensures you hit all the productive fishing grounds. The captain knows these waters inside and out, so whether you're targeting your dinner or just enjoying some time casting lines, this Sea Pro delivers a solid platform for inshore fishing success.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our bay fishing trips, and they'll give you a real workout. These grey-black bruisers typically run 5-30 pounds around here, though we occasionally hook into giants pushing 50+ pounds. They love hanging around oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths where they crush shellfish with their powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear them "drumming" underwater, which is pretty cool. What makes them special is their bulldogging fight and their adaptability to different water conditions. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent eating with firm, white meat. Here's my local trick: use fresh crab for bait and fish it right on the bottom near oyster bars. The crab scent drives them crazy and other bait stealers usually leave it alone.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our inshore trips and for good reason - they're aggressive, fight like bulldogs, and absolutely beautiful fish. These copper-bronze beauties typically run 20-35 inches around here, with that distinctive black spot near their tail. You'll find them in super shallow water, sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface, cruising oyster bars, grass flats, and marsh edges. Fall and spring are peak seasons, but they bite year-round in our area. What makes them special is their power - they'll make screaming runs and test your drag like no other inshore fish. Plus, they're excellent eating when kept in the slot. The sight-fishing opportunities are amazing too. Here's my best advice: look for nervous water or fish "tailing" in the shallows, then cast your bait ahead of them and let it sink naturally. They can't resist it.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are the bread and butter of our bay fishing - reliable, fun to catch, and delicious on the table. These silvery fish with black spots typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds around our grass flats and shallow bay waters. They love feeding over seagrass beds in 2-6 feet of water, especially during moving tides. Spring through fall provides steady action, with early morning and evening being prime time. What guests love most is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificial lures, plus they make fantastic eating with tender, white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're also great fighters that will jump and make runs. My go-to tip: work your lure slowly over the grass flats and listen for their distinctive "popping" sound when feeding on top - that's when you know you're in the right spot.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are hands-down the most challenging fish we target, but that's what makes them so rewarding. These grey fish with black stripes (nicknamed "convict fish") typically run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, though we've landed some beauties over 15 pounds. They live around any structure - docks, bridges, pilings - where they feed on barnacles and crabs with their human-like teeth. Spring through fall offers consistent action, especially around spawning time in early spring. Guests love them because they're tricky to catch, fight hard for their size, and make outstanding table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. They're notorious bait thieves though. Here's the key: get your bait tight to the structure, use a small hook with fresh shrimp or fiddler crab, and when you feel them nibbling, set the hook hard and fast. Hesitate and they're gone.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are one of the most unique fish you'll encounter on our bay trips. These flat, oval-shaped fish have both eyes on their left side and can change color to match the bottom - pretty wild to see in person. They typically run 15-18 inches and around 5 pounds, though we've caught some pushing 20+ pounds. You'll find them buried in sandy or muddy bottoms in shallow bay waters, ambushing shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Fall through early spring offers the best action when they're more active. Guests love the challenge since they're notorious bait thieves and excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. My tip: when you feel that subtle tap-tap, don't set the hook right away. Let them take it and swim off a bit before setting - they like to nibble before committing to the bite.
5.0 out of 5.0Amazing day out on the water today! Thank you Captain Mason for a great day! See you again soon!
Port St. Joe