Prime Backcountry Fishing: 6-Hour Hunt for Four Species
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
6hour inshore charter targeting redfish, snook, and tarponSmall group experience with maximum 3 guests aboardProfessional crew provides guidance in prime Key Largo waters
Ready to spend a full day chasing some of the most sought-after gamefish in the Florida Keys? This 6-hour inshore charter with A2 Fishing Charters puts you right in the heart of Key Largo's legendary shallow water fishery. We're talking crystal-clear flats, mangrove shorelines, and backcountry channels where redfish, snook, tarpon, and tripletail call home. With just three anglers max, you'll get personalized attention from our experienced captain who knows these waters like the back of his hand. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to dial in your technique or someone who's never held a fishing rod, this extended trip gives you plenty of time to get comfortable, learn the ropes, and hopefully land the fish of a lifetime. The extra hours mean we can hit multiple spots, adjust our game plan based on conditions, and really maximize your chances of success on the water.
Your day starts early with a briefing on safety, tackle, and the game plan for the day. We'll be running a shallow-draft flats boat that can get into skinny water where the big fish feed, but also handles the open bay areas comfortably. The beauty of a 6-hour trip is the flexibility – if one spot isn't producing, we've got time to move around and find where the fish are biting. Expect to cover a lot of ground, from the famous flats around Tavernier Creek to the backcountry of Florida Bay. The captain will be watching tides, wind, and water temperature to put you on fish, and with six hours to work with, we can really dial in what's working. You'll learn to read the water, spot fish, and understand how these gamefish behave in their natural habitat. The boat comes equipped with top-quality rods, reels, and tackle, plus a cooler with ice for any keepers you want to take home. Just bring your fishing license, sun protection, snacks, and drinks for the day.
Inshore fishing in Key Largo is all about finesse and adapting to what the fish want on any given day. We'll be using a mix of live bait like pilchards, pinfish, and shrimp, along with artificial lures that have proven themselves in these waters. For tarpon, we might throw large swimbaits or work live crabs under the mangroves. Redfish often can't resist a well-presented shrimp bounced along the bottom, while snook are suckers for a properly worked topwater plug at dawn or dusk. The tackle is medium to medium-heavy spinning gear that can handle these hard-fighting fish but still gives you the sensitivity to feel subtle strikes. Circle hooks are the rule for live bait to ensure good fish survival if we're releasing them. Your captain will teach you proper casting techniques for sight fishing, how to work different lures, and the art of fighting fish in shallow water where one wrong move can mean a lost trophy. We'll also cover reading water conditions, understanding fish behavior, and picking the right bait for the situation.
Snook: These ambush predators are the bread and butter of Key Largo inshore fishing. They love to hang around structure – docks, mangrove overhangs, channel edges – waiting to blast unsuspecting baitfish. Snook are most active during the warmer months from April through October, and they put up an amazing fight with their gill-rattling jumps and powerful runs. What makes them special is their intelligence; they'll study your bait and can be incredibly finicky, making each hookup feel like a real victory. A slot-sized snook between 28-33 inches makes for excellent table fare, while the bigger breeding females are strictly catch and release.
Tarpon: The silver king is hands down the most exciting fish you can hook in these waters. From May through August, juvenile tarpon from 10-80 pounds cruise the backcountry and provide some of the most heart-stopping action you'll ever experience. When a tarpon eats your bait, time seems to slow down – then they explode from the water in a series of spectacular jumps that'll have your adrenaline pumping for hours. They're incredibly strong and can peel off 100 yards of line in seconds. Most anglers consider tarpon the ultimate inshore gamefish, and Key Largo's population of resident fish means you've got a real shot at hooking one.
Redfish: Reds are the workhorses of the flats, and they're almost always willing to eat if you put the bait in the right spot. These copper-colored bruisers are famous for their bulldogging fights and their habit of tailing in shallow water, where you can sight-cast to individual fish. They're around year-round but really turn on during the fall months when they school up for their spawning runs. A typical Key Largo red runs 18-27 inches and provides steady action when other species might be finicky. They're also fantastic eating, with firm white meat that's perfect for the grill.
Tripletail: These oddball fish are like finding hidden treasure on the flats. Tripletail are masters of disguise, floating on their sides near debris, channel markers, or floating grass to mimic a piece of junk. Once you learn to spot them, they're incredibly fun to sight-cast to with live shrimp or small crabs. They fight harder than you'd expect for their size, with a series of powerful runs and head shakes. Tripletail are excellent eating and considered a real trophy by most anglers. They're most common from spring through fall, and finding one always feels like discovering a secret that only local guides know about.
This extended charter gives you the best shot at experiencing everything Key Largo's in
Your floating command center for Key Largo's legendary inshore waters is a sleek 2020 Pathfinder bay boat that's built for serious fishing. This beauty cuts through the shallows with its 250HP Yamaha SHO engine, hitting speeds up to 65 knots to get you to those honey holes fast. The wireless trolling motor keeps things whisper-quiet when you're stalking redfish and snook in skinny water. GPS navigation and fish finder tech help locate the action, while the onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those long battles with tarpon. With a toilet on board and room for three anglers, you'll have everything needed for extended sessions targeting Key Largo's prized gamefish. This isn't just transportation—it's your ticket to prime fishing grounds where monster tarpon roll and redfish cruise the flats.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are perfect for sight-fishing adventures in Key Largo's shallow waters. These copper-colored bruisers average 20-30 inches with distinctive black spots near their tails. Look for them in 1-4 feet of water around grass flats, mangroves, and oyster bars - sometimes so shallow their backs break the surface. They bite year-round but fall and winter offer the most consistent action. Guests love them because they eat aggressively, fight hard with strong runs, and make fantastic table fare with sweet, flaky meat. My go-to method is working topwater plugs or soft plastics over the flats at first light - redfish will absolutely crush a well-placed lure in skinny water.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of the most sought-after inshore species around Key Largo, and for good reason. These sleek fighters typically run 1-3 feet long with that distinctive black lateral line running down their golden sides. You'll find them hugging mangroves, docks, and structure in shallow water - they love ambush spots where they can dart out for prey. Best fishing happens during warmer months when water temps stay above 70°F. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight, plus they're excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Pro tip: cast past the structure and work your bait back to them - snook spook easily if you land right on top of them.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings of Key Largo waters and absolutely legendary for their aerial shows. Most fish we see range 4-6 feet and 80-150 pounds, though giants over 200 exist. They cruise shallow flats, deeper channels, and around bridges in 2-60 feet of water. Prime season runs May through September when they migrate through our area. What draws anglers is pure spectacle - these prehistoric fish can jump 10 feet high and make blistering runs. They're catch-and-release only due to bony meat, but the fight is worth every second. Local trick: when they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip - keeps tension off the line and prevents thrown hooks.
Lobotes SurinamensisTripletail are one of our coolest inshore targets - weird-looking fish that taste amazing and fight harder than you'd expect. They typically run 18-24 inches and 5-15 pounds with a chunky body and three fins that look like tails, hence the name. Find them floating near weed lines, debris, or channel markers in 10-40 feet of water, often lying on their sides mimicking floating trash. They bite best during summer months when water temps are warm. What's fun is they're becoming popular with fly anglers because they're sight-fishable and surprisingly acrobatic. The meat rivals grouper for taste. Key tip: approach quietly and cast well past them - they're easily spooked but will chase down a properly presented bait.
Everglades City, FL, United States