Fernandina Beach Half-Day Inshore Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Expert light tackle and fly fishing guided toursExplore Amelia Island and Timucuan Preserve watersSmall group charter accommodates up to two guests
Step aboard with Amelia On Fly for a top-rated 4-hour fishing adventure that puts you right where Northeast Florida's best inshore action happens. This isn't your typical tourist trap – you're getting paired with a guide who lives and breathes these waters, specializing in light tackle and fly fishing techniques that make every cast count. Whether you're chasing tailing redfish in skinny water or working structure for big trout, this charter delivers the kind of fishing that keeps anglers talking long after they've headed home.
Your half-day starts with a meet-up in Fernandina Beach, where you'll load up for prime fishing zones around Amelia Island and beyond. The beauty of this charter lies in the variety – one moment you might be sight-fishing the flats of the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, the next you're drifting oyster bars where redfish and black drum stack up during moving water. Your guide knows when to run the St. Mary's River for stripers and when the marshes of Okefenokee Swamp are firing with hungry trout. With just two anglers max, you get personalized attention and plenty of rod time. Plus, lunch is covered, so you can focus on what matters – putting fish in the boat.
This operation runs on finesse, not brute force. You'll be working with spinning gear in the 2500-3000 size range spooled with 15-20 pound braid, perfect for the structure-heavy environment and spooky inshore species. Fly anglers get the full treatment with 8-weight setups and a selection of proven patterns – think clouser minnows, spoon flies, and crab patterns that match the local forage. The guide reads water like a book, positioning you for clean shots at cruising fish or working you through productive drifts where the bottom drops off into deeper holes. Expect to throw topwater when conditions are right, work soft plastics around structure, and maybe even get into some sight-casting if the tide and weather line up.
Redfish are the bread and butter here, especially during fall and spring when they school up in the marshes and around oyster bars. These copper-colored fighters average 20-28 inches and pull hard in shallow water, making every hookup feel like a heavyweight bout. Black drum show up year-round but really shine during cooler months, often mixing with the reds in deeper holes – don't be surprised if you hook into a 30+ inch bruiser that tests your drag. Sea trout love the grass flats and drop-offs, particularly during summer evenings when they move shallow to feed. Striped bass make their presence known during winter months, especially in the St. Mary's River system where they stack up in deeper bends and current breaks. Crevalle jack add the wildcard element – these yellow torpedoes show up when you least expect them and fight way above their weight class, often clearing the water multiple times before coming to the net.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they'll school your drag system in a hurry. These bottom-dwellers cruise oyster bars and deeper holes year-round, with the best action happening during winter and early spring. They're sucker feeders, so expect to fish shrimp, crabs, or cut bait near structure. When you hook a big drum, settle in for a bulldogging fight that tests both your patience and equipment.
Striped bass bring a different energy to Northeast Florida waters. These silver-sided missiles run the St. Mary's River system from December through March, following baitfish and staging in current breaks. They hit hard and fast, whether you're throwing spoons, soft plastics, or streamers. The best fishing happens around structure and moving water, especially during low-light periods.
Sea trout are the quintessential inshore species – beautiful, fun to catch, and great on the table. They love grass flats and sandy potholes, especially during warmer months when they feed aggressively on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring and fall provide the most consistent action, though summer evenings can produce some memorable topwater bites.
Redfish are what put this fishery on the map. These bronze-backed bruisers thrive in the maze of creeks, oyster bars, and shallow flats that define Northeast Florida's inshore waters. Prime time runs from September through November when they school heavily, but you'll find quality fish year-round. They eat everything from live shrimp to topwater plugs, and their initial run in shallow water creates some of the most exciting moments in all of fishing.
Crevalle jack earn their nickname "hardtails" through pure fighting ability. These yellow-tinged speed demons travel in schools and attack bait with reckless abandon. Summer brings the most consistent action, especially around structure and bait schools. They're not table fare, but for pure entertainment value, few fish match their aerial displays and sustained runs.
This world-class inshore fishery doesn't stay secret long, and neither do the best fishing dates. With personalized service for just two anglers, quality light tackle and fly gear, and a guide who knows where fish live in every season, this charter represents serious value for anyone wanting to experience Northeast Florida fishing at its finest. The combination of diverse fishing zones, from pristine preserves to productive river systems, means every trip offers something different. Add in the convenience of lunch and the expertise that comes from years of reading these waters, and you've got a recipe for the kind of fishing day that becomes the standard for every trip afterward.
Your fishing platform for this Fernandina Beach adventure is inspired by the legendary Hellsbay Waterman design - built for serious anglers who know shallow water fishing. This nimble craft gets you into those skinny flats and backcountry spots where the fish hide, from Amelia Island's pristine waters to the wild expanses of the Okefenokee Swamp. The wireless trolling motor keeps you ghost-quiet when stalking redfish and trout in knee-deep water, while the fish finder helps locate structure and baitfish. GPS navigation ensures you hit the honey holes, and VHF radio keeps you connected on the water. Whether you're sight-casting with fly tackle or working lures through the mangroves, this boat handles like a dream in the shallows. Perfect for two anglers who want to experience Northeast Florida's incredible inshore fishery with room to cast without crowding each other. Your guide knows every creek, oyster bar, and grass flat from the St. Mary's River down to the Timucuan Preserve.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, typically running 15-30 pounds with some pushing 50+ pounds. These powerful fish love shallow oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths where they crush crabs and shellfish with their massive jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their signature drumming sounds underwater. What makes them special is that raw power when hooked; they'll test your drag and stamina. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with firm, flaky meat. My local tip: use fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig and fish the incoming tide around oyster bars. Keep your drag loose initially - these bruisers will snap you off if you're not ready for their first bulldogging run toward structure.
Caranx HipposCrevalle jacks are pure adrenaline on the end of your line, averaging 3-8 pounds but capable of reaching 20+ pounds. These brassy-green bulldozers roam both shallow flats and deeper waters, often found around structure and baitfish schools. Summer and fall provide the hottest action when they're aggressively feeding. What guests love is their raw power - pound for pound, they're one of the strongest fighters you'll encounter. They hit hard and make blistering runs that'll test your drag. While not great table fare, they're perfect for catch-and-release sport fishing. Watch for diving birds working the surface - that's your cue that jacks are pushing baitfish up from below. My local trick: cast a silver spoon past the feeding school and burn it back as fast as you can reel. The faster the better with these aggressive predators.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our shallow water fishing, running 18-27 inches in the slot with some bruisers pushing 40+ inches. These copper-colored fighters with black spots love ultra-shallow flats, oyster bars, and marsh edges in 1-4 feet of water. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall brings the best action when they're feeding heavily before winter. Guests love their visual nature - you can often see them tailing or cruising the shallows - and their bulldogging fights. They're also excellent table fare when kept in the slot. The bigger "bull" reds are catch-and-release only but provide the fight of a lifetime. Local tip: look for nervous water and mullet getting pushed around on the flats. Cast your gold spoon or live shrimp ahead of cruising fish and let it sink to the bottom before starting a slow retrieve.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are one of our most reliable inshore species, typically running 14-20 inches and 1-3 pounds. These beautiful spotted fish love grass flats, shallow bays, and creek mouths in 2-8 feet of water. They're most active during cooler months and low-light periods like dawn and dusk. What makes them popular with guests is their willingness to bite and their excellent eating quality - mild, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're also great on light tackle, making them ideal for fly fishing. In winter, they school up in deeper holes and channels. My go-to local technique is drifting live shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds. The key is working areas where you see baitfish dimpling the surface - that's where the trout are feeding.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the ultimate inshore gamefish around here, averaging 20-35 pounds but capable of hitting 50+ pounds. These silver-sided fighters with distinctive black stripes love structure - bridge pilings, jetties, and drop-offs where they ambush baitfish. Fall and spring migrations bring the best action when they're feeding heavily on mullet and shad. What guests love most is their aggressive strikes and sustained fights; they'll make multiple runs and test your gear. Plus, they're outstanding table fare with firm, white meat. During our winter months, look for them schooled up in deeper channels around the St. Mary's River. Here's a local trick: when you see diving birds working baitfish, get your topwater plug ready - those stripers are usually right underneath pushing the bait up.
Fernandina Beach