Full Day Inshore Bonita Springs Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eight-hour charter targeting redfish, snapper, snook, and grouperCombines inshore flats fishing with nearshore Gulf watersAll equipment, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning included
Captain Brett's full-day charter gives you the best of both worlds – prowling the shallow flats for feisty redfish and pushing offshore to drop lines on snapper and grouper. This top-rated 8-hour adventure kicks off at 8:00 AM from Bonita Springs and takes you through prime fishing waters that locals have been hitting for generations. You'll cover everything from backcountry grass flats to structure-rich nearshore spots up to 9 miles out in the Gulf. With room for just three anglers, this isn't some crowded party boat – you get personal attention and prime fishing real estate all day long.
Your day starts early but trust me, it's worth dragging yourself out of bed for. Captain Brett knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll have you rigged up and ready before you clear the marina. The first part of your trip focuses on the inshore flats where redfish cruise the shallows and snook ambush baitfish around mangrove edges. You'll sight-cast to tailing reds in knee-deep water – one of the most exciting ways to fish Southwest Florida. As the morning progresses, Brett heads toward deeper water where the bite often picks up around structure and drop-offs. The boat's equipped with everything you need, so don't stress about tackle or bait – just bring your appetite for fish and maybe some snacks to keep your energy up.
This charter runs the full spectrum of inshore techniques, and Brett matches the method to the conditions. Light tackle spinning rods are the bread and butter for sight fishing redfish on the flats – you'll use 15-20 pound test with circle hooks and live shrimp or pinfish. When you move to nearshore structure for grouper and snapper, expect heavier tackle and bottom rigs with cut bait or live sardines. Trolling comes into play when covering water between spots, and you might pick up a king mackerel or Spanish mac while running and gunning. Jigging vertical structure produces some of the biggest fish of the day, especially when gag grouper are holding tight to ledges and hard bottom. Brett provides top-shelf Penn and Shimano reels matched with quality rods, plus a tackle box that's been fine-tuned through years of guiding these waters.
Snook are the crown jewel of Southwest Florida fishing, and Bonita Springs delivers some world-class action. These silver-sided fighters love structure – think dock pilings, mangrove shorelines, and bridge spans where they ambush glass minnows and pilchards. Fall and spring offer the hottest bite when snook move shallow to feed before and after their spawning cycles. They're notorious for their gill-rattling jumps and bulldogging runs toward cover, which is why guides like Brett keep the drag settings just right. Slot limits protect the breeding stock, so you'll release the big breeders and keep a few eating-sized fish between 28 and 33 inches.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they'll give your arms a workout like few other inshore species. These bottom-huggers cruise oyster bars and grass flats in schools, rooting around for crabs and shellfish. They're year-round residents in Bonita Springs waters, with the biggest concentrations showing up during cooler months. Adult drum can push 30-40 pounds, and they use every ounce of that weight to test your drag system. The fight is all power – no jumping, just steady, bone-deep pulls that make you question your tackle choices. Fresh black drum on the grill rivals any fish in the Gulf, with firm white meat that takes seasoning beautifully.
Sheepshead are the ultimate challenge fish – they've got human-like teeth for crushing barnacles and the lightest bite in the business. These black-and-white striped convicts hang around any hard structure, especially during their late winter and early spring spawning runs. Captain Brett targets them around bridge pilings, rock piles, and oyster bars using small hooks and fresh shrimp. The key is feeling that subtle tick-tick-tick as they nibble, then setting the hook before they steal your bait. Once hooked, sheepshead make determined runs for structure, so you need to muscle them away from cover quickly. They're fantastic table fare with sweet, flaky meat that's worth every bit of frustration they cause.
Sea trout school up over grass flats throughout Bonita Springs' back bays, making them a customer favorite for consistent action. These spotted beauties hit live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater plugs with equal enthusiasm. Spring and fall produce the best numbers, but you'll find keeper trout year-round if you know where to look. They're perfect for anglers who want steady catching mixed with technique – trout respond to subtle presentations and light tackle. The bigger gator trout push 20-plus inches and provide arm-burning fights in shallow water. Most guides recommend releasing the large females since they're the prime spawners, but a few slot-sized fish make excellent dinner.
Redfish are the bread and butter of inshore fishing in Southwest Florida, and Bonita Springs sits right in prime red zone territory. These copper-colored bruisers patrol shallow flats, mangrove creeks, and oyster bars in schools that can number in the hundreds during fall migration. The sight fishing is world-class – you'll spot their bronze backs and black-spotted tails cruising just under the surface. A well-placed cast with live bait or a gold spoon triggers explosive strikes that strip drag and test your knots. Redfish fight dirty, using their broad tails and bulldog strength to make powerful runs toward structure. The slot limit protects breeding stock, so you'll release the oversized bulls and keep a few eating-sized reds for the cooler.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bulldogs of the flats, typically weighing 5-30 pounds around Bonita Springs. These grey-black bruisers have crushing jaws built for oysters and crabs. You'll find them rooting around oyster bars, muddy flats, and creek mouths in 2-15 feet of water. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when we catch the most fish. What guests love is their stubborn, dogged fight and the drumming sound they make when hooked. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. My go-to technique is fresh cut crab on the bottom near oyster beds. The key is keeping your bait right on the bottom - they rarely feed up in the water column, so weight it properly for the current.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing here in Bonita Springs. These copper-colored bruisers average 18-28 inches with that signature black spot near the tail. They cruise super shallow flats, oyster bars, and mangrove edges in 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs show. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action. What makes reds special is their power - they'll peel drag and make long runs even in shallow water. Plus, they're top-notch table fare when kept within slot limits. The secret is spotting their wakes and tails in skinny water, then placing your bait right in their path. Live shrimp works great, but don't overlook gold spoons and topwater plugs for explosive strikes.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks," are bread-and-butter fish that'll keep your rod bent all day. Most run 12-18 inches and 1-2 pounds, with scattered bigger ones pushing 4-5 pounds. They roam grass flats in 3-10 feet of water, especially around potholes and drop-offs. Dawn, dusk, and nighttime produce the best action, though overcast days can be dynamite too. Guests appreciate their willingness to bite and decent fight on light tackle. They're also excellent eating with delicate, flaky white meat. The trick is working soft plastics or live shrimp slowly over grass beds. When you find one, there's usually a whole school nearby. Don't overlook those shallow grass flats at first light - that's when the bigger trout feed aggressively before moving to deeper water.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with those black and white stripes, and they're some of the trickiest fish to catch around here. Most run 1-3 pounds and 14-18 inches, though we occasionally see them pushing 8 pounds near bridges and docks. They live around any structure with barnacles - pilings, rocks, jetties. Winter through early spring is when they're most active and feeding heavily. Guests love the challenge because sheepshead are notorious bait thieves with those human-like teeth. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in these waters - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. My advice: use small hooks with fresh shrimp, get as close to structure as possible, and set the hook hard the moment you feel weight. They'll steal your bait all day if you hesitate.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most popular targets here in Bonita Springs waters. These sleek fighters typically run 1-3 feet long with that distinctive black lateral line and golden coloring. You'll find them hanging around mangrove shorelines, docks, and creek mouths where they ambush baitfish. They love structure and current breaks in shallow water. Spring through fall gives you the best action when water temps stay warm - they're very temperature sensitive. What makes snook special is their explosive strikes and strong runs that'll test your drag. Plus, they're fantastic eating with firm, white meat. Here's a local trick: cast tight to mangrove roots and let your lure sink before working it back slowly. Snook rarely chase baits far from cover, so precision beats distance every time.
undefined, undefined