5.0(3 Reviews)Extended Half Day Morning Inshore Fishing
5.0(3 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour morning inshore fishing adventure starting at 8:00 AMTarget Redfish and Speckled Trout with experienced Captain JamieAccommodates up to four guests with fish cleaning included
When the Florida sun starts painting the sky at 8:00 AM, you'll be pushing off into some of the Gulf Coast's most productive inshore waters with Captain Jamie and Addicted to Scales & Tail Charters. This 6-hour morning trip takes you into Pensacola's legendary shallow water fishing grounds where redfish cruise the grass flats and speckled trout ambush baitfish around oyster bars. With room for up to four anglers, this top-rated charter gives you plenty of elbow room to work the water without feeling crowded. Captain Jamie knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll have you on fish while most folks are still drinking their morning coffee.
You'll start your day aboard a well-maintained ranger boat that rides smooth and stays organized – no cluttered deck or rusty tackle boxes here. Captain Jamie has everything dialed in before you even step on board, from fresh live bait to properly rigged rods matched to the day's conditions. The morning bite in Pensacola's inshore waters is legendary, and there's good reason for that. As the sun climbs higher, baitfish start moving, and that gets the predators fired up. You'll work a mix of grass flats, oyster bars, and deeper cuts where fish move between feeding areas. The captain reads the water conditions, tides, and seasonal patterns to put you on the most active fish. Whether you're sight fishing for tailing reds in skinny water or working topwater plugs over trout holes, every cast has potential.
Inshore fishing around Pensacola means adapting your approach to match what the fish are doing. Captain Jamie sets you up with medium-action spinning rods that handle everything from finesse presentations to pulling bigger fish out of structure. Live bait fishing dominates when the bite gets tough – nothing beats a frisky shrimp or pinfish worked around oyster bars where redfish love to feed. When fish are aggressive, you'll throw artificials like soft plastics, topwater plugs, and spoons that cover water fast and trigger reaction strikes. The shallow draft boat lets you get into places bigger vessels can't reach, putting you on fish that haven't been pressured. You'll learn to read water color, watch for baitfish activity, and spot the subtle signs that separate productive water from empty flats.
"We have been out with Captain Hoover multiple times now and what a blast. The boat is awesome. Everything is ready to go when you show up. If you want to catch fish do yourself a favor and book the night trip with Captain Hoover you won't regret it." - Clinton
"My first inshore fishing trip and I'm hooked! Had a blast catching Red's and speckled trout. My dad's already booking his next trip out with Capt. Jamie. Boat and everything needed was ready and waiting for us." - Jackson
"I recently went on a fishing trip and it was an incredible experience. I hooked into my first tarpon, caught my personal best trout, and managed to fill my limit of keeper fish. The captain provided fresh live bait, which definitely enhanced our chances of catching some great fish. The ranger boat we were on rode smooth, and it was clean and organized . Overall, it was an unforgettable day on the water filled with excitement and success. I highly recommend this fishing trip to anyone looking for a fantastic adventure!" - Nicholas
Redfish are the crown jewel of Pensacola's inshore scene, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers average 20-30 inches around here, with plenty of slot fish that make great table fare. Reds feed aggressively in the morning hours, cruising shallow flats and ambushing prey around oyster bars. They're sight fishing targets when conditions are right – watching a big red inhale your bait in two feet of crystal clear water never gets old. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, but winter can produce some monster fish when you find them staged up in deeper holes.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the bread and butter of morning inshore trips. These fish school up over grass beds and around structure, making them perfect targets for covering water with artificials. A good trout averages 14-18 inches, but Pensacola produces some real doormat specks that push 24 inches or better. They're most active during cooler months when water temperatures drop into the 60s and 70s, though you'll find them year-round if you know where to look. Trout are eager biters that respond well to soft plastics worked slowly along the bottom.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're hard-fighting fish that test your drag system. These bottom-dwelling powerhouses love to root around oyster bars and mud flats, using their pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and shellfish. Drum average 15-25 inches in these waters, with occasional fish pushing 30 inches. They're most active during spring spawning runs and fall feeding periods. When you hook into a quality drum, get ready for a bulldogging fight that keeps your rod bent.
Grey snapper add some variety to the mixed bag, especially around structure and deeper cuts. These feisty fish average 12-16 inches and fight way above their weight class. Snapper are opportunistic feeders that respond well to live bait presented near bottom structure. They're most abundant during warmer months when they move into shallower water to feed. Landing a nice mangrove snapper on light tackle provides plenty of rod-bending action.
Crevalle jack are the wild cards that can show up anywhere and everywhere. These silver torpedoes average 15-25 inches and fight like fish twice their size. Jacks are aggressive predators that often hunt
Captain Jamie's 24-foot Ranger Bay Boat is your ticket to serious inshore action around Pensacola's productive waters. This 2003 Yamaha-powered beast runs on a reliable 225HP engine that'll get you to the fishing grounds fast, then the wireless trolling motor takes over for silent stalking of redfish and speckled trout in the shallows. The boat's rigged with GPS to hit those honey holes and a quality fish finder to locate schools holding tight to structure. Four anglers fit comfortably with plenty of room to work your lines. The live bait well keeps your shrimp and pinfish frisky, while Captain Jamie supplies all the rods, reels, and lures you'll need. Whether you're sight-casting to tailing reds or working grass flats for trout, this setup handles Pensacola's inshore game perfectly. Clean and fillet your catch right on board while soaking up that Florida sunshine on your way back to the dock.
Pogonias CromisThese bruisers are the heavyweights of the drum family, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90. You'll find them crushing oysters and crabs on shallow muddy flats and around oyster beds with those powerful jaws. Spring spawning season is prime time when they school up in brackish waters and estuaries. What guests love is the serious fight they put up - they're built like bulldogs and pull just as hard. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Pro tip: fresh blue crab is your best bet for bait. Weight it down to stay on bottom, and when you feel that steady pull, don't horse them - let that drag work and wear them down.
Caranx HipposCrevalle Jacks are the bullies of our waters, running 3-5 pounds on average but capable of much more. These brassy-green speedsters roam both shallow flats and deeper waters, often following baitfish schools. Look for diving birds - that's your sign they're pushing bait to the surface. Year-round action here, but summer brings the biggest schools. Guests love the raw power and non-stop fight these fish deliver. They're not great table fare, but they're pure adrenaline on the end of your line. Watch for that watermelon smell when schools are feeding nearby. Cast fast-moving lures like spoons or topwater plugs past the school and retrieve aggressively - they love the chase and rarely turn down a moving target.
Lutjanus GriseusAlso called Mangrove Snapper, these guys run 1-3 pounds inshore with their distinctive greyish-red color and dark eye stripe. They're smart, opportunistic feeders that hang around docks, piers, and any structure where they can ambush prey. Best fishing is at night when they're most active, especially around full moons. What makes them special is that white, flaky meat - some of the best eating you'll find. They're cautious biters, so patience pays off. My tip: use live shrimp hooked through the tail, let it sink to the bottom, then lift it just off the structure. Don't jerk when you feel that first tap - let them take it before setting the hook.
Sciaenops OcellatusRed Drum are what put Pensacola on the map for inshore fishing. These copper-colored fighters with their signature black spots run 20-40 inches and love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs show. Look for them on oyster bars, grass flats, and around docks in 1-4 feet of water. They're year-round residents but really turn on during cooler months. What gets people hooked is their bulldogging fight and willingness to eat just about anything. The meat is excellent with a mild, sweet flavor. Here's the deal: when you spot one tailing in shallow water, cast well ahead of where they're moving and work your bait slowly past them. They spook easily in skinny water.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing, running 14-24 inches with those beautiful spotted sides. They love grass flats and shallow waters, especially at night when they move up to feed. Cool weather months see them schooling in deeper channels. What makes them popular is their willingness to hit lures and that tender, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're not the strongest fighters, but they're consistent biters. The key here is not to overcook them since the meat is delicate. Best approach is working topwater plugs and soft plastics over the grass flats during low light. Keep your drag light - their mouths are soft and they'll throw the hook easily.
5.0 out of 5.0We have been out with Captain Hoover multiple times now and what a blast. The boat is awesome. Everything is ready to go when you ...
My first inshore fishing trip and I’m hooked! Had a blast catching Red’s and speckled trout. My dad’s already booking his next tri...
I recently went on a fishing trip and it was an incredible experience. I hooked into my first tarpon, caught my personal best trou...
Pensacola