Hilliard, FL 6 Hour Day Boat Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Six-hour inshore fishing charter explores Amelia Island watersLearn fly fishing and light tackle techniques from expert guidesSmall group experience accommodates maximum two guests
Looking for a top-rated inshore fishing adventure that'll put you on some of Northeast Florida's most sought-after gamefish? This 6-hour charter with Amelia On Fly takes you through some of the most productive waters in the region. You'll fish the pristine flats around Amelia Island, drift through the historic channels of the Timucuan Preserve, work the grass beds along St. Mary's River, and even explore the mysterious backwaters of the Okefenokee Swamp. This isn't your typical run-and-gun charter – it's a hands-on fishing education where you'll master both fly fishing techniques and light tackle presentations while targeting five different species that call these waters home.
Your captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's passionate about teaching proper technique whether you're a complete beginner or looking to sharpen your skills. The boat accommodates just two anglers, so you'll get personalized instruction and plenty of rod time. You'll start early to beat the crowds and make the most of prime feeding times. Depending on tides, weather, and what's biting, your captain will move between different zones – maybe starting on the shallow flats for redfish, then transitioning to deeper channels for trout and flounder. The beauty of this charter is the variety – one minute you're sight fishing in skinny water, the next you're working structure in the river systems. Each spot offers different challenges and techniques, keeping things fresh throughout the day.
This charter specializes in two of the most effective and enjoyable ways to fish these inshore waters. On the fly fishing side, you'll learn proper casting techniques for saltwater situations – dealing with wind, making accurate presentations to cruising fish, and handling the fight on a fly rod. Your guide will show you how to read the water, spot fish, and make those critical shots when reds are tailing or trout are busting bait. The light tackle fishing focuses on finesse – using spinning gear with lighter lines and smaller lures to fool wary fish in clear, shallow water. You'll master techniques like working soft plastics through grass beds, presenting topwater baits during dawn and dusk periods, and feeling the subtle bites that separate good anglers from great ones. All gear is provided, but experienced anglers are welcome to bring their own setups.
Black Drum are the bulldogs of the flats, often found cruising in small schools over oyster bars and mud bottoms. These bruisers can push 20-30 pounds in these waters and will test your drag system when hooked. Spring and fall offer the best action, especially on incoming tides when they move shallow to feed on crabs and shellfish. What makes drum fishing special here is the sight fishing opportunities – you'll actually see these dark shadows moving through the shallows before making your cast.
Summer Flounder, or fluke as many call them, are ambush predators that bury themselves in sandy bottoms near channel edges and grass lines. The St. Mary's River system holds some impressive flatfish, with keepers running 16-22 inches and occasional doormat-sized fish over 5 pounds. These fish are active spring through fall, with summer being prime time. The challenge with flounder is detecting the bite – they inhale baits and often don't run, so you need to stay alert and set the hook on anything that feels different.
Sea Trout are perhaps the most consistent biters in these waters, schooling up over grass flats and around structure year-round. The Timucuan Preserve holds excellent populations of "gator trout" – those trophy-class fish over 20 inches with the big kype jaws. Dawn and dusk topwater action can be world-class here, with trout exploding on surface baits in spectacular fashion. What anglers love about trout fishing is the variety of techniques that work – from popping corks with live shrimp to walking the dog with topwater plugs.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing, and the Amelia Island flats are renowned for their healthy red drum population. These copper-colored bruisers range from slot-sized fish around 20-27 inches up to oversized bulls pushing 40+ inches. Fall brings the best action as reds school up for their spawning runs, but you'll find fish year-round in the marsh creeks and on the flats. Reds are perfect for fly fishing – they're aggressive, fight hard, and often cruise shallow enough to sight cast to.
Crevalle Jack add the power fishing element to your day. These silver bullets show up in massive schools, especially during summer months, and will absolutely smoke your drag when hooked. Jacks aren't pretty, but they're pure muscle and adrenaline. When you find a school feeding on the surface, it's some of the most exciting fishing you'll experience – cast anything that moves and hang on tight.
This customer favorite charter offers something special – genuine instruction combined with excellent fishing in some of Florida's most beautiful and productive waters. You're not just buying a fishing trip; you're investing in skills and knowledge that'll make you a better angler for years to come. The 6-hour format gives you time to really learn techniques and work different areas without feeling rushed. With only two anglers per trip, you'll get the personalized attention that makes the difference between a good day and a great day on the water. Don't wait on this one – the best guides book up fast, especially during peak seasons. Secure your dates now and get ready for a day of fishing that'll have you planning your return trip before you even get back to the dock.
Step aboard our custom Hellsbay Waterman-style flats boat, built for serious anglers who want to get into the skinny water where the fish are hiding. This shallow-draft skiff cuts through the marshes and creeks around Amelia Island like it was made for it. The wireless trolling motor keeps things dead quiet when you're stalking redfish in ankle-deep water, while our fish finder helps locate those deeper holes where the trout stack up. GPS keeps us on the productive spots, and the VHF radio ensures we stay connected. Perfect for two anglers who want to learn proper fly fishing techniques and light tackle tactics. Whether we're working the grass flats of the Timucuan Preserve or drifting the current breaks along St. Mary's River, this boat gets you close to the action without spooking the fish.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bruisers of our local waters, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. These gray-black fish love hanging around oyster beds and shallow muddy flats where they crush shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - makes them much easier to target. You'll hear them "drumming" underwater, which is pretty wild. They're strong fighters but not flashy jumpers. Smaller ones under 15 pounds make good eating with flaky white meat, but the big ones get tough. For fly fishing, weighted flies like Merkin crabs work great since they feed on bottom. Local tip: when you see them tailing in super shallow water, approach quietly and drop your fly right in front of their nose.
Caranx HipposCrevalle jacks are the ocean's bullies - aggressive, powerful fish that average 3-5 pounds but can hit 60. These brassy-green speedsters travel in schools and create absolute chaos when they're feeding. Look for diving birds - that's your dead giveaway that jacks are pushing baitfish to the surface. They love deeper grass flats, reefs, and structure but will come shallow to hunt. Warmer months bring the best action when bait is plentiful. Guests get addicted to their raw power and relentless runs - they fight way above their weight class. They're not great eating, so most folks release them. Fast retrieves with silver spoons, topwater plugs, or streamers work best. These fish want a chase, not an easy meal. Local tip: when you find a school, work fast - they'll disappear as quickly as they showed up, so make every cast count.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing around these marsh creeks and flats. These copper-colored beauties average 20-30 inches and are famous for that distinctive black spot near their tail. They cruise super shallow water - sometimes with their backs showing - hunting crabs and shrimp around oyster bars and grass edges. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring are peak times. What makes reds special is their powerful runs and stubborn fight in shallow water. Plus they're great eating when kept in the slot. They'll eat just about anything - topwater plugs, soft plastics, live shrimp, or flies. For fly fishing, weedless patterns like Kwan flies work perfect in the skinny water. Local secret: look for "nervous water" - those subtle ripples reds make when they're feeding just under the surface.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are beautiful silvery fish covered in distinctive black spots. They typically run 1-5 pounds and love our grass flats and shallow bays around Amelia Island. These fish are most active during cooler months when water temps drop, and they'll school up in deeper channels during winter. What guests love about trout is their willingness to hit topwater lures at dawn and dusk - the strikes can be explosive. They're also excellent table fare with delicate, flaky white meat. On fly, they'll take shrimp patterns, small streamers, and poppers. The key is finding them over grass beds in 2-6 feet of water. Local tip: if you're not catching trout, slow way down. They often follow a lure several times before committing, so a stop-and-go retrieve works magic.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are the ultimate ambush predators, lying flat on sandy bottoms waiting for prey to swim by. These "doormat" flatfish typically run 15-20 inches but can hit 26 pounds. What makes them fun is their ability to change colors like chameleons - they blend perfectly with whatever bottom they're on. Fall months from September through November are best when they're actively feeding before moving offshore. They fight smart rather than hard, using their flat profile to plane against the current. The meat is excellent - white, flaky, and mild. Both eyes sit on their left side, so they bite sideways which feels weird at first. Local trick: use a slow retrieve with your bait right on bottom. Circle hooks work best since they bite from the side.
Fernandina Beach