5.0(1 Reviews)Full Day Inshore Fishing Charter in St Augustine
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day inshore charter targets redfish, flounder, and tarponAll fishing gear and tackle provided by experienced guidesSmall group experience with maximum two guests per trip
St. Augustine's inshore waters are some of the most productive fishing grounds on Florida's east coast, and this full-day charter puts you right in the heart of the action. You'll spend your day targeting redfish, flounder, tarpon, snook, and sheepshead in the maze of creeks, flats, and channels that make this area a fishing paradise. Captain Mike provides all the gear you'll need – quality rods, reels, tackle, and lures – so you can focus on what matters most: putting fish in the boat. Just pack your favorite snacks and drinks, and get ready for a day of solid fishing in some of the most scenic waters Florida has to offer.
This isn't your typical party boat experience – with just two anglers max, you're getting personalized attention and prime fishing time. The day starts early when you meet Captain Mike at the dock, where he'll brief you on the game plan based on current conditions, tides, and what's been biting lately. St. Augustine's inshore waters offer incredible variety, from shallow grass flats where redfish cruise in skinny water to deeper channels where snook ambush baitfish. You'll work different spots throughout the day, adjusting techniques and locations as conditions change. The beauty of a full-day charter is having time to really dial in the bite – if one spot isn't producing, you've got plenty of daylight to find where the fish are holding. Captain Mike knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's not just looking to get you a few fish – he wants to put you on quality catches that'll make for great stories back home.
Inshore fishing in St. Augustine means adapting to what the fish want on any given day. You'll likely start with live bait – shrimp, pilchards, or finger mullet – working them around structure like oyster bars, dock pilings, and mangrove shorelines where game fish love to hunt. When the bite calls for it, you'll switch to artificial lures: soft plastics bounced along the bottom for flounder, topwater plugs that drive redfish crazy in shallow water, and suspending baits that trigger aggressive strikes from snook. The gear is perfectly matched to the fishing – medium-action spinning rods that can handle everything from schoolie reds to bull redfish, with drag systems smooth enough to manage long tarpon runs. Captain Mike will coach you through different presentations, whether you're sight-fishing to tailing reds on the flats or working a jig head through a deep creek bend. The tackle box is stocked with proven local favorites, but don't be surprised if conditions call for some creative rigging to match what the fish are feeding on.
"Mike is a great guy. Made the effort to get us on fish on a cold day. Super company and looked after the two of us all day. Also provided first class recommendations for food and things to do. A top man." - Joel
Southern Flounder are the ultimate ambush predators, lying buried in sandy bottoms waiting to inhale anything that swims by. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, and finding them requires reading the water for subtle depressions, current breaks, and structure changes. Fall and winter months are prime time for doormat flounder in St. Augustine, with fish pushing 20+ inches common around creek mouths and deeper channels. They hit hard and fight with surprising strength for a flatfish, making powerful runs toward structure. What makes flounder fishing addictive is the technique – you're essentially hunting ghosts, bouncing baits along the bottom until that telltale thump tells you a fish just crushed your offering.
Snook are the kings of structure fishing, holding tight to mangroves, docks, and bridge pilings where they can ambush passing baitfish. These silver-sided bruisers are notorious for their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights, often launching themselves clear out of the water when hooked. Spring through fall offers the best snook action in St. Augustine's inshore waters, with fish ranging from schoolie "rats" to trophy snook pushing 30+ inches. They're incredibly line-shy and structure-oriented, meaning precise presentations are crucial. When a big snook eats your bait near a dock piling, you're in for a battle of leverage – they'll try to wrap you up or dive under structure, making every hookup a chess match between angler and fish.
Tarpon are pure adrenaline on a fishing rod, and St. Augustine's waters host both juvenile tarpon year-round and massive adults during summer months. These "silver kings" are famous for their aerial displays when hooked, often jumping repeatedly in spectacular fashion that'll get your heart racing. Juvenile tarpon in the 20-50 pound range are common in the creeks and channels, while the big fish – some over 100 pounds – show up in late spring and summer. What makes tarpon special isn't just their size and fight, but their prehistoric presence; these fish have been around for millions of years, and hooking one connects you to something truly ancient. Fair warning: tarpon fishing is addictive, and once you experience that first silver explosion, you'll understand why anglers travel the world chasing these magnificent fish.
Sheepshead might not win beauty contests, but they're among the smartest and most challenging fish you'll encounter inshore. These black-and-white striped convicts have human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs off structure, making them incredibly bait-shy and technique-sensitive. Winter months bring the best sheepshead fishing to St. Augustine, when big "convicts" stack up around bridges, docks, and rock piles. They're notorious bait thieves, often stripping hooks clean without the angler feeling a thing. Landing a nice sheepshead requires patience, sensitivity, and quick reflexes – when you feel that subtle tick, you better set the
Your fishing adventure begins aboard a well-equipped motorboat designed for serious inshore action around St. Augustine's productive waters. This compact vessel handles two anglers comfortably while packing all the tech you need to find and catch fish. The wireless trolling motor lets you slip quietly into shallow flats where redfish and snook hang out, while the GPS keeps you on the hottest spots and safely back to port. The fish finder shows exactly what's swimming below, and VHF radio keeps you connected for safety and fish reports. Perfect for targeting everything from feisty sheepshead around the docks to trophy tarpon in the deeper channels. The boat's size means you'll get personalized attention and can hit those tight spots where bigger boats can't go – exactly where St. Augustine's best fish like to hide.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our bread and butter fish with that copper-red color and signature black spot near the tail. They typically run 20-30 inches in the shallows, but the big bulls offshore can hit 40+ inches and 50 pounds. You'll find them in 1-4 feet of water around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Fall and spring offer the best action when they school up. What makes them great? They fight hard, eat almost anything, and the smaller "slot" fish are fantastic on the table. They're also fun to sight fish since they cruise the shallows. Here's my go-to technique: look for nervous baitfish or redfish tailing in skinny water, then cast a gold spoon or live shrimp just ahead of them. Keep it quiet and let the bait work naturally.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their black and white stripes, but what really gets people talking are their human-like teeth. Most run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, perfect for the cooler. They hang around any structure - docks, bridges, jetties - feeding on barnacles and crabs. Winter and early spring are peak season when they spawn around structures. Guests love them because they're notorious bait thieves and put up a solid fight for their size, plus they're some of the best eating fish around with sweet, white meat. They're picky feeders though. My advice: use small hooks with live shrimp or fiddler crabs, get your bait right against the pilings, and set the hook hard the moment you feel them nibbling. They'll steal your bait clean if you hesitate.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are real fighters with that distinctive black lateral line and golden color. Most run 1-2 feet, but the big ones can hit 4 feet. You'll find them around mangroves, docks, and structure in both salt and brackish water - they love cover. Spring through fall are best, especially around the new and full moons when they spawn from May to September. What guests love most is their explosive strikes and aerial shows when hooked. They're also excellent eating with firm, white meat. These fish are temperature sensitive, so cold fronts can shut them down quickly. Here's the trick: work your lures close to structure where they hide. Soft plastics and topwater plugs work great, but keep your drag loose - they'll make powerful runs right back to cover and try to cut you off.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise - these flat fish bury themselves in sand and mud bottoms, waiting to ambush prey. You'll typically catch them ranging 15-18 inches, though some reach up to 33 inches. They love shallow coastal waters, bays, and estuaries with sandy or muddy bottoms. Fall and winter are prime times when adults move offshore. What makes them special? Both eyes sit on their left side, and they can change colors to match their surroundings. Guests enjoy the challenge since flounder are sneaky feeders and make excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. My tip: use a slip sinker rig with live shrimp or bull minnows, and fish right on the bottom. When you feel that subtle tap, give it a second before setting the hook - they like to mouth the bait first.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate game fish - silver kings that can grow 6-8 feet and weigh over 200 pounds, though most we catch run 80-100 pounds. They migrate through our waters spring through fall, hanging around bridges, channels, and deeper holes in the flats. Summer months are prime time when they're most active. What makes them special? Pure athleticism - they'll jump 10 feet out of the water and run at 35 mph. It's all about the fight since most folks release them (they're bony and not great eating). These fish have been around 125 million years and can live 50+ years. Pro tip: when they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them. This keeps tension off the line and prevents them from throwing the hook during their acrobatic display.
5.0 out of 5.0Mike is a great guy. Made the effort to get us on fish on a cold day. Super company and looked after the two of us all day. Als...
St. Augustine, FL