Hilliard, FL 8 Hour Boat Charter
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Fullday charter targeting Redfish, Black Drum, and FlounderExplore Amelia Island and historic Timucuan Preserve watersAll fishing gear and licenses included for two guests
Nothing beats a full day on the water chasing some of northeast Florida's most sought-after inshore species. This 8-hour charter with Amelia On Fly puts you right in the heart of prime fishing territory around Hilliard, where the waters of Amelia Island, Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, St. Mary's River, and Okefenokee Swamp create perfect habitat for redfish, black drum, flounder, and sea trout. You'll fish with a top-rated guide who knows these waters like the back of their hand, and all your gear and licenses are covered. Just bring yourself and get ready to bend some rods.
Your day starts early, meeting your captain who's been working these waters for years. The boat launch puts you within minutes of some seriously productive fishing grounds where the brackish waters mix with saltwater, creating that sweet spot where fish love to feed. You'll cover a lot of water in 8 hours, hitting different spots depending on tides, weather, and what's biting. The Timucuan Preserve offers protected waters with grass flats perfect for sight fishing, while the St. Mary's River system provides deeper channels and creek mouths where bigger fish hunt. Your guide reads the water constantly, adjusting tactics based on what nature's serving up that day. With just 2 anglers max, you get personalized attention and plenty of room to fish without bumping elbows.
Amelia On Fly specializes in fly fishing, but don't worry if you're new to the long rod - they'll have you casting like a pro in no time. The shallow flats around here are perfect for sight fishing with flies, letting you watch redfish cruise the skinny water before making your presentation. When conditions call for it, they'll also break out conventional tackle for deeper water or when the fish want something different. You'll learn to read the water, spot fish movements, and understand how tides affect where fish position themselves. The gear provided is quality stuff that can handle everything from schoolie reds to bull drum that'll test your drag system. Live bait, artificials, and flies all have their place depending on what the fish are telling you that day.
Redfish are the crown jewel of these waters and what most anglers dream about. These copper-colored fighters average 18-27 inches in the slot, though you might tangle with oversized bulls pushing 40+ inches that'll smoke your drag and test your backing. They're year-round residents but really light up during fall months when they school up in massive numbers. Reds love the grass flats and oyster bars, often tailing in water so shallow their backs stick out. The visual aspect of watching a red eat your fly in 12 inches of water never gets old, and their bulldogging fight makes every hookup memorable.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're absolute bruisers that'll humble any angler. These bottom feeders hang around structure like docks, oyster beds, and creek mouths, using their powerful pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring brings the big spawning females into shallow water, and hooking into a 30-40 pound drum will quickly remind you why your drag exists. They're stubborn fighters that use their broad sides to leverage against you, making even medium-sized fish feel like you're pulling up an anchor.
Southern flounder are the masters of camouflage, lying flat against sandy bottoms waiting to ambush passing baitfish. These flatfish are prized for their table fare and challenging nature - they're picky eaters that require precise presentations. Fall is prime time when they're fattening up for their offshore spawn, making them more aggressive and easier to target. A doormat flounder over 20 inches is considered a real trophy, and their explosive strike followed by head-shaking fight makes them a customer favorite despite their odd appearance.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the bread and butter of inshore fishing here. These spotted beauties are abundant, willing biters that provide consistent action when other species are being finicky. They school up around grass beds and drop-offs, feeding actively on shrimp and small baitfish. While they're not the hardest fighters, their aggressive strikes and decent numbers make them perfect for keeping your rod bent. Cooler months often produce the biggest specimens, with gator trout over 25 inches showing up to surprise anglers targeting smaller fish.
An 8-hour charter gives you the full experience of fishing these diverse waters around Hilliard. You'll hit multiple spots, learn new techniques, and have plenty of opportunities to connect with some world-class inshore species. The intimate 2-person capacity means you get the guide's full attention and can really dial in your skills. All gear and licenses are included, so you just need to show up ready to fish. These waters produce year-round, but each season brings its own opportunities and challenges. Don't wait too long to secure your dates - the best guides book up fast, especially during peak seasons when the fishing really turns on.
Step aboard this Hellsbay Waterman-style flats boat, perfectly rigged for stalking redfish and black drum in Hilliard's shallow waters. This nimble 2-person craft cuts through the marshes around Amelia Island and into the pristine Timucuan Preserve with whisper-quiet precision. The wireless trolling motor lets you slip up on spooky fish without spooking them, while the fish finder pinpoints holding spots along oyster bars and creek mouths. GPS keeps you on productive water, and VHF radio ensures safe communication in remote areas of the St. Mary's River system. Built for serious anglers who want to reach those back-country honey holes where big drum and slot reds feed. Whether you're sight-casting to tailing fish or working structure, this shallow-draft boat gets you into waters bigger vessels can't touch.
Pogonias CromisThese are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, and they'll test your tackle. Black Drums range from 5-30 pounds typically, but the big bulls can hit 50+ pounds. They're bottom-feeders with powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs, so you'll find them around oyster bars, muddy flats, and creek mouths in 2-15 feet of water. Spring is magic time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. Guests love the raw power these fish bring; they're bulldogs that make long, steady runs. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are great table fare with flaky white meat. Pro tip: use fresh blue crab or cut bait on the bottom, and when you feel that steady thump-thump, don't set the hook too hard - just lift and start reeling.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing, famous for their copper-bronze backs and distinctive black spot near the tail. Most fish run 18-28 inches and 3-8 pounds, perfect for our shallow water fishing. They love cruising oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths in just 1-4 feet of water - so shallow their backs sometimes stick out. Fall and spring offer the best action when they school up and feed aggressively. What makes them special is their willingness to eat almost anything and their bulldogging fights in skinny water. They're excellent table fare with mild, sweet meat. Year-round fishing keeps guests happy, but cooler months bring the bigger fish. Here's the deal: when you see one tailing in shallow water, cast your bait 5 feet ahead of where they're heading, not where they are.
Salmo TruttaAlso called Speckled Trout, these spotted beauties are a favorite target in our grass flats and shallow waters. They typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, with their silver sides covered in distinctive dark spots. You'll find them cruising seagrass beds in 2-8 feet of water, especially around creek mouths and drop-offs. They're most active during spring and fall, but we catch them year-round. Summer evenings and early mornings are prime time when they move shallow to feed. Guests enjoy their spirited fights and the fact they're willing biters on both artificial lures and live bait. The meat is delicate and flaky - perfect table fare if you don't overcook it. Local secret: work a soft plastic shrimp slowly through the grass beds, and listen for their feeding splashes at dusk.
Paralichthys LethostigmaThese masters of disguise are flat, oval-shaped fish that lie camouflaged on sandy and muddy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-18 inches, but we see plenty that push 2-3 feet and weigh up to 5 pounds. You'll find them in our shallow bays, estuaries, and creek mouths where they blend perfectly with the bottom. Both eyes sit on their left side, making them easy to spot once you know what to look for. Fall and winter are prime time when they move through our area. Guests love the challenge of sight fishing these sneaky predators - plus they're some of the best eating fish around. Here's a tip: when you spot one, cast your bait about 3 feet in front of their nose and let it settle. They rarely chase, so patience pays off.
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