Everglades Inshore Fishing - 3 Hour Charters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Threehour guided inshore fishing trips targeting Snook and RedfishMorning and afternoon departures available in iconic Everglades watersSmall group experience with maximum two guests per charter
The Everglades backcountry is where real Florida fishing happens. ARF Charters runs you into some of the most productive inshore waters you'll find anywhere, with morning trips launching at 6:30 AM and afternoon sessions kicking off at 3:00 PM. You get three solid hours to work the flats, mangrove shorelines, and deeper cuts where snook, redfish, and tarpon call home. This isn't your typical tourist fishing trip - we're talking about authentic Everglades fishing in waters that have been producing trophy catches for decades. The scenery comes free, but you're here to bend some rods and put fish in the boat.
Your captain knows these waters like the back of their hand, navigating through winding creeks and shallow grass flats that most people never see. The Everglades inshore experience is all about reading the water - watching for rolling tarpon, spotting redfish tailing in skinny water, and working structure where snook love to ambush bait. Morning trips catch the tail end of the dawn bite when fish are actively feeding after a cool night. Afternoon charters capitalize on the evening feed as temperatures drop and baitfish get active again. The boat stays comfortable with just two anglers max, so you're not fighting for space or waiting your turn to cast. Every trip includes all the tackle and bait you need, plus the local knowledge that makes the difference between a good day and a great one.
Everglades fishing is all about versatility and reading conditions. You'll work with medium to medium-heavy spinning gear that can handle everything from finesse presentations to bigger fish that want to run into structure. Live bait fishing dominates here - pilchards, pinfish, and shrimp fished around mangrove roots, oyster bars, and grass edges where predators hunt. Artificial lures shine too, especially soft plastics bounced along bottom structure and topwater plugs worked over shallow flats during low light periods. The key is staying mobile and adapting to what the fish want on any given day. Your captain calls the shots based on tides, weather, and recent fishing reports, switching between drifting cuts, anchoring on structure, or poling shallow flats depending on conditions. The Everglades rewards patience and persistence - some days the fish come easy, other days you earn every bite.
Snook are the bread and butter of Everglades fishing, and these fish fight like they mean it. They average 20-28 inches in these waters, with bigger specimens pushing 30-plus inches when conditions align. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, though winter can surprise you with quality fish in deeper holes. Snook love structure - mangrove overhangs, dock pilings, and creek mouths where they can ambush passing bait. When you hook one, expect multiple jumps and a determined fight toward the nearest obstruction.
Redfish cruise these flats year-round and provide some of the most visual fishing you'll experience in Florida. These copper-colored bruisers range from schoolie-sized fish around 18-22 inches to bull reds that can push 35 inches and 20-plus pounds. Summer months bring huge schools of smaller reds to shallow grass beds, while fall and winter concentrate bigger fish in deeper cuts and channels. Nothing beats watching a redfish inhale your bait in two feet of crystal-clear water.
Grey Snapper add consistent action to any Everglades trip, especially around rocky structure and deeper mangrove lines. These 12-18 inch fighters are scrappy pound-for-pound and excellent table fare. They bite year-round but really turn on during warmer months when baitfish concentrate around structure. Don't let their size fool you - mangrove snapper know every trick in the book when it comes to diving into cover.
Black Drum provide the muscle when other species get finicky. These bottom-huggers average 15-25 inches but can surprise you with fish pushing 30 inches and serious weight. They love oyster bars, grass flats with sandy potholes, and creek mouths where they root for crabs and shellfish. Fall and winter months typically produce the best drum fishing, though they're catchable year-round for anglers willing to put baits on the bottom.
Tarpon are the wild card that can turn any Everglades trip into a lifetime memory. These silver kings range from juvenile fish around 20-40 pounds to mature adults exceeding 100 pounds and six feet in length. Spring through fall brings consistent tarpon action, with peak months running May through September. When you hook a tarpon, everything else becomes secondary - these fish jump, run, and fight with an intensity that has to be experienced to be believed.
ARF Charters delivers authentic Everglades fishing without the crowds or commercialized feel of bigger operations. The two-angler limit means personalized attention and quality fishing time, while morning and afternoon departure options let you choose what works best for your schedule. Extended trips are available if three hours leaves you wanting more time on productive water. Keep in mind that deposits are non-refundable, so plan accordingly when booking your dates. The Everglades backcountry represents some of Florida's last true wilderness fishing, and every trip offers the chance at multiple species and legitimate trophy fish. Whether you're targeting your first snook or chasing a personal-best redfish, these waters deliver the goods for anglers ready to experience real Florida fishing.
Cast your line from our 2021 C-Hawk bay boat, perfectly rigged for Everglades inshore fishing. This 23-footer runs smooth with a 225HP Honda, getting you to the best fishing spots fast while you stay comfortable. The fish finder helps locate those trophy Snook and Redfish hiding in the backcountry, while GPS keeps us on course through the maze of mangrove channels. Your catch stays fresh in the onboard icebox, and radar ensures safe navigation even when morning fog rolls in. Built for serious anglers, this bay boat handles the shallow waters where big fish feed. Whether you're sight-casting to cruising reds or working structure for snook, you'll have everything needed for productive fishing in Florida's most famous fishery.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bulldozers of our inshore waters - powerful, stubborn fish that'll test your tackle. They typically run 5-20 pounds in our area, though we've seen some real tanks pushing 40-50 pounds. You'll find them cruising shallow flats, oyster beds, and muddy areas where they root around for crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them easier to target. What guests love about drum fishing is the raw power - these fish dig deep and use every ounce of strength to stay on the bottom. They're excellent table fare too, especially the smaller ones under 15 pounds. The bigger fish get tough and aren't as tasty. My go-to tip: use fresh crab for bait and fish it right on the bottom. Black drum have incredible noses and can smell crab from a long way off, so let that scent work for you.
Lutjanus GriseusGrey snappers, or mangrove snappers as we call them locally, are crafty little fighters that keep things interesting. Most run 10-14 inches in our inshore waters, weighing 1-3 pounds, though we see some bigger ones around deeper structure. They hang out near mangrove roots, docks, and any rocky or hard bottom areas where they can ambush prey. These guys are opportunistic feeders, so they're active year-round, but warmer months tend to be more productive. What makes them special is their wariness - they're smart fish that require patience and finesse. Plus, they're fantastic eating with sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. Here's the key: once your bait hits bottom, barely lift it off and stay still. Grey snappers are suspicious of anything that moves too much, so let them come to you rather than trying to entice them.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of Everglades fishing - bronze-colored beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails. Most of our reds run 18-28 inches and fight like they're twice that size. They love super shallow water, often in 1-3 feet around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines. You'll see their backs out of the water as they cruise and feed. Redfish bite year-round, but fall and winter months are especially productive when they school up. What makes them so popular is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights - plus they're outstanding table fare with sweet, firm meat. They're not picky eaters, hitting everything from live shrimp to topwater plugs. My favorite trick is sight-casting to cruising fish with a gold spoon. Cast ahead of where they're going, let it sink, then start a steady retrieve. That flash drives them crazy.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most popular targets here in the Everglades - sleek, golden fish with that distinctive black lateral line running down their sides. Most snook you'll catch run 18-30 inches, though we occasionally hook into some real bruisers. They love hanging around mangroves, creek mouths, and any structure that offers cover. You'll find them in both fresh and saltwater, which makes our brackish Everglades perfect. Spring through fall gives us the best action, especially around dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding. Guests love snook because they put up a serious fight with lightning-fast runs and acrobatic jumps. The meat is excellent too - firm and white. Pro tip: when you're working mangroves, cast your lure right into the roots. Snook sit tight to cover, so don't be shy about getting close.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate bucket-list fish - silver giants that can reach 100-200 pounds and launch themselves completely out of the water when hooked. In the Everglades, we typically see fish ranging from 50-150 pounds rolling in our deeper channels and basin areas. They prefer warmer months from late spring through fall, often moving through our waters during their migrations. What makes tarpon special isn't just their size - it's their aerial show. When you hook one, expect multiple jumps and runs that'll have your drag screaming. Most anglers practice catch-and-release since tarpon aren't great eating due to their bony meat. The real prize is the fight and photos. Here's what I tell first-timers: when that tarpon jumps, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward the water. This gives slack and prevents the fish from throwing the hook during those spectacular leaps.
Everglades