Top Rated Half Day Fishing with Captain Timothy Glover
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Halfday inshore fishing trips targeting redfish and troutCaptain Timothy provides gear, bait, and fishing licensesPrivate charters accommodate up to four guests maximum
Captain Timothy Glover knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious fish in the productive flats and channels around Crawfordville. This isn't your typical crowded charter boat situation – you're getting a private inshore fishing adventure that focuses on quality over quantity. Whether you're bringing the family for their first real fishing experience or you're a seasoned angler looking to dial in your technique on Florida's Gulf Coast, this trip delivers exactly what you're after. The waters around St. Marks River, Panacea, Econfina, and Apalachee Bay hold some of the most consistent fishing in the Big Bend region, and Captain Timothy has spent years learning every productive grass flat, oyster bar, and drop-off that holds fish.
Your day starts at 6527 Coastal Hwy in Crawfordville, where you'll meet Captain Timothy and get the lowdown on conditions and game plan. The boat is set up specifically for inshore fishing – shallow draft, quiet trolling motor, and positioned just right for sight fishing and working structure. You've got two solid options: a 4-hour morning trip that takes advantage of the cooler water and active feeding periods, or an afternoon session when the fish are relating to different structure as the day heats up. If you're really serious about putting a mixed bag together, the 6-hour trip gives you time to work multiple areas and adjust tactics as conditions change. Everything's included – water and sports drinks to keep you hydrated, ice for your catch, quality fishing gear that's maintained and ready to go, fresh live bait, and your fishing license is handled. The boat accommodates up to 4 anglers comfortably, so you can bring the crew without feeling cramped.
Captain Timothy runs a variety of techniques depending on what the fish are telling him. In the shallows, you'll be sight fishing with live bait under popping corks, watching for tailing redfish and cruising trout in the grass. When the bite calls for it, you'll switch to bottom fishing around structure with cut bait for black drum and sea bass. The gear is sized right for these species – medium action rods with spinning reels that can handle the fight without being overkill. Live shrimp, pinfish, and cut bait make up the arsenal, and Captain Timothy knows when to use what based on tide, temperature, and fish behavior. The areas you'll fish range from grass flats in 2-4 feet of water to deeper channels and oyster bars where the bigger drum like to hang. Polarized sunglasses are a must for sight fishing, and Captain Timothy will coach you through spotting fish and making the right presentations. The boat's equipped with a trolling motor for stealthy approaches and a shallow draft that gets you into places the bigger boats can't reach.
Redfish are the bread and butter around here, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers love the shallow grass flats and oyster bars throughout Apalachee Bay and the surrounding waters. You'll find them tailing in water so shallow their backs are showing, especially during the warmer months. Redfish hit hard and make long runs that'll test your drag, and the slot-sized fish between 18-27 inches make for excellent table fare. Fall and spring are prime time when schools of reds move through the area, but you can find them year-round if you know where to look. What makes them special here is the variety of ways you can catch them – sight fishing with live bait, blind casting to structure, or even topwater action when conditions are right.
Sea trout are another local favorite that keeps anglers coming back. These spotted beauties relate to grass flats and drop-offs, and they're aggressive feeders when conditions line up. The best trout fishing happens during cooler months when they school up in deeper holes, but you can find them scattered across the flats during warmer periods. They're excellent light-tackle fish that jump and make spirited runs, and the bigger "gator trout" over 20 inches are legitimate trophy fish. Live shrimp under a popping cork is deadly effective, and trout have excellent eyesight so clear water sight fishing can be productive.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're absolute powerhouses that'll give you a workout. These bottom-dwellers love oyster bars and hard structure where they can root around for crabs and shellfish. The bigger drum can push 20-30 pounds and they fight like freight trains, using their broad sides to pull hard in the current. They're most active during cooler months and around moving tides when they're feeding aggressively. Cut bait fished on the bottom near structure is the go-to technique, and you'll know when one picks up your bait – the rod tip will start bouncing with that characteristic drum tap-tap-tap.
Black sea bass round out the mix and they're scrappy little fighters that hit hard and dive straight for cover. These fish love rocky bottom and structure, and while they're not huge, they're aggressive and excellent eating. Sea bass fishing is often fast-action with multiple hookups, and they're perfect for keeping kids and beginners engaged. They'll hit live bait, cut bait, and small jigs, and you'll often find them mixed in with other species around the same structure.
This is exactly the kind of fishing trip that creates lasting memories – personal attention from an experienced local captain, productive waters that consistently hold fish, and the flexibility to adjust tactics based on what's working. Whether you're introducing someone to saltwater fishing or looking to put together a quality mixed bag, Captain Timothy's setup delivers results. The private charter format means you're not competing with other anglers for the captain's attention, and the included gear and licensing remove any hassle from your planning. Book your half-day adventure and experience why the inshore waters around Craw
Captain Tim's 22-foot Kenner tunnel-hull boat is built for serious inshore fishing in Florida's shallow waters. The 150hp Yamaha 4-stroke engine gets you to the best fishing spots in Apalachee Bay and St. Marks River quietly and efficiently. This stable platform handles chop well while giving you room to fight redfish, trout, and flounder without feeling cramped. The tunnel-hull design lets us access skinny water where big fish hide. Onboard fish finder helps locate structure and baitfish, while GPS keeps us on productive spots. VHF radio ensures safe communication. Perfect setup for up to 4 anglers who want to get into fish without the long boat ride. The wide beam provides casting room and stability when you're battling that bull red in shallow grass flats.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, typically running 10-30 pounds but capable of much more. These powerful fish love shallow mudflats, oyster beds, and creek mouths where they crush shellfish with those massive jaws. Spring is your best shot when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their famous drumming sounds underwater. What guests love is the pure power - these fish will test your drag and your patience. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent eating, but the big ones are better released. They're incredibly adaptable, moving from super shallow water to depths of 100 feet. Pro tip: fresh blue crab is king for bait, and fish it dead on bottom with enough weight to stay put in the current.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are chunky fighters from the grouper family, usually running 1-4 pounds around our nearshore structure. You'll find them hanging around rocky bottom, old pilings, and shell beds in 20-60 feet of water. Spring through summer is prime time when they move shallow to spawn. What makes them fun is they hit hard and fight all the way to the boat - plus they're excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. They've got this cool trick where they start as females and turn into males as they grow. My local tip: use a double-drop rig with cut squid or shrimp, and fish it right on bottom near any hard structure. These fish don't mess around - when they bite, set the hook quick.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our shallow water game, running anywhere from 18-30 inches on average. These copper-colored beauties with the distinctive black spots love super shallow flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines - sometimes in water so thin their backs show. They're year-round targets here, but fall and winter bring the best action when they school up. What makes them special is their willingness to eat almost anything and fight like bulldogs. That red coloration and spotted tail make for great photos too. They're solid eating when kept within slot limits. The key to success is staying quiet and making long casts - these fish spook easily in skinny water. My local secret: work a gold spoon slowly over grass flats on incoming tide.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them, are beautiful fish that typically run 14-20 inches in our grass flats and shallow bays. They love areas with good grass cover in 2-8 feet of water, especially around drop-offs and points. Cool weather months are best - they school up tight and feed aggressively. What makes them special is their willingness to hit topwater lures at dawn and dusk, creating some memorable surface strikes. They're also top-notch table fare with delicate, flaky white meat. During winter, they gather in deeper holes and channels where the water stays warmer. Here's my go-to trick: work a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds. Let it sit still for a few seconds between pops - that's usually when they nail it.
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