Charter Fishing Sarasota | 6 or 8 Hour Combo Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Customizable 6 or 8 hour inshore fishing charters in SarasotaSmall group experience accommodating up to 6 guests maximumFlexible scheduling with Beach Bum Charters professional guides
Ready to hit Sarasota's legendary inshore waters? Beach Bum Charters has been putting anglers on fish for years, and our customizable combo trips are hands-down the best way to experience what these flats have to offer. Whether you're booking a 6 or 8-hour adventure, we'll tailor every minute to match your crew's fishing style. From first-timers who've never held a rod to seasoned anglers chasing their next personal best, our waters deliver consistent action year-round. We keep groups small at just 6 anglers max, so everyone gets plenty of shots at the fish and personal attention from your captain.
Your day starts before sunrise at our dock, where you'll meet your captain and get the lowdown on current conditions. Sarasota Bay and the surrounding grass flats are our playground, and we know every productive hole, oyster bar, and mangrove shoreline where fish love to hang out. The beauty of our combo trips is flexibility – if the snook are crushing topwater plugs around the docks, we'll stay put and let you work them over. If the redfish are tailing on the shallow flats, we'll pole into skinny water and get you within casting distance. Your captain reads the water, weather, and tides to put you where the fish are biting, not where they were biting last week. Expect to cover a lot of water, try different techniques, and learn why Sarasota consistently ranks as one of Florida's top inshore fishing destinations.
We fish light tackle here – mostly spinning gear spooled with 15-20 pound braid that gives you the sensitivity to feel every bump and the strength to turn a big fish away from structure. Live bait is king on these flats, and we'll have fresh shrimp, pilchards, and pinfish ready to go. But don't sleep on the artificial action – when fish are aggressive, nothing beats the strike of a snook hammering a topwater plug at dawn or a redfish crushing a gold spoon over a grass bed. Your captain will rig you up based on conditions and target species, switching between live bait rigs, jig heads with soft plastics, and plugs as the day unfolds. We'll anchor up on productive structure, drift the flats, and make precision casts to visible fish – whatever it takes to keep your rod bent. The shallow water means you'll see a lot of the action happen, from following wakes to explosive surface strikes that'll get your heart racing.
Bluefish school up thick in Sarasota Bay, especially during cooler months when baitfish are concentrated. These aggressive feeders hit hard and fight dirty, making multiple runs that'll test your drag system. They're not picky eaters – live shrimp, cut bait, or fast-moving spoons all trigger vicious strikes. What makes blues special here is their numbers – when you find a school, every angler on board can hook up simultaneously. They average 2-4 pounds but don't let their size fool you; pound-for-pound, few fish fight harder or provide more consistent action when conditions are right.
Snook are the crown jewel of Sarasota fishing, and our mangrove shorelines provide world-class habitat for these ambush predators. They lurk under docks, around bridge pilings, and in the shadows of overhanging branches, waiting to explode on unsuspecting baitfish. Summer months are prime time when snook move shallow to feed aggressively before spawning season. A 20-inch snook will give you a fight you won't forget – they jump, they run, and they'll try every trick to wrap your line around the nearest piling. The thrill of sight-casting to a visible snook in crystal clear water, watching it track your bait, and feeling that bone-jarring strike is why anglers become obsessed with these fish.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're absolute bulldogs that test your tackle and technique. These bottom-dwellers cruise oyster bars and shell beds, using their crushing jaws to crack open crabs and shellfish. Fresh shrimp or cut crab on the bottom is the ticket, and once hooked, drum make powerful runs toward structure. They grow large in our waters – fish over 30 pounds are common, and true giants exceeding 40 pounds lurk in deeper holes. The fight is all about endurance; drum don't jump or make flashy moves, but they pull steady and hard, making you work for every inch of line you gain back.
Sea trout are Sarasota's most cooperative gamefish, providing steady action when other species are finicky. These spotted beauties love grass flats where they feed on shrimp, small fish, and crabs. They hit both live and artificial baits eagerly, making them perfect for beginners learning to feel strikes and set hooks. Trout fishing is often visual – you'll see them cruising in small schools over light-colored sand patches between grass beds. They're most active during moving tides, and experienced anglers know that early morning and late afternoon produce the most consistent bite. While they don't grow as large as other target species, their willingness to bite and beautiful coloration make them crowd favorites.
Redfish are the ultimate sight-fishing target, and Sarasota's shallow flats provide perfect conditions to spot these copper-colored bruisers. Watch for their distinctive black tail spots as they cruise the shallows or "tail" while feeding head-down in turtle grass. The visual aspect of redfish angling – seeing the fish, making an accurate cast, and watching them eat – creates some of fishing's most memorable moments. Reds are smart and spooky in shallow water, requiring quiet approaches and precise presentations. But when everything comes together and a slot red inhales your bait in two feet of gin-clear water,
Get ready to hit Sarasota's productive inshore waters aboard our well-equipped 21-foot Hurricane deck boat! This reliable fishing platform runs on a powerful 225 HP Yamaha engine, giving you quick access to the flats, grass beds, and mangrove shorelines where snook, redfish, and trout love to feed. The boat's fishfinder helps locate schools and structure, while GPS keeps you on the most productive spots. Radar ensures safe navigation even when morning fog rolls in from the Gulf. With room for up to 5 anglers, there's plenty of casting space without getting lines tangled. The onboard livewell keeps your bait frisky, and the icebox preserves your catch and keeps drinks cold during those hot Florida afternoons. Whether you choose the 6 or 8-hour combo trip, you'll have time to work different areas as conditions and fish activity change throughout the day. Perfect for targeting multiple species in Sarasota Bay's diverse waters.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, commonly running 15-40 pounds with some giants pushing 60+ pounds. These bottom-feeders have powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs, making them tough fighters that use their weight against you. Look for them around oyster bars, muddy flats, and bridge pilings in 5-30 feet, especially during spring spawning season when they school up. They're most active March through May around here. What guests love is the steady, powerful fight - no jumping, just pure muscle. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are great eating with firm, white meat. Here's the key: fish dead on the bottom with fresh crab or cut mullet. You'll hear them drumming underwater during spawning season - that's when the action gets hot.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive predators that show up in our waters from spring through fall, typically running 3-15 pounds with some reaching 20+. These silver-blue fighters have razor-sharp teeth and hit hard - they're known for their famous feeding frenzies where they'll attack baitfish even when full. You'll find them in 10-40 feet around structure, inlets, and wherever baitfish are schooling. They fight like crazy on light tackle and make excellent table fare when bled immediately. Spring and fall migrations offer the best action when they're moving in schools. Pro tip: use wire leaders - their teeth will cut through mono in a heartbeat. Cut bait works great, but watch your fingers when unhooking them.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our signature species here in Sarasota - bronze beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails, typically running 18-27 inches in the slot with some bruiser bull reds over 40 inches offshore. These copper-colored fighters cruise the shallow flats, mangrove shorelines, and oyster bars in 1-6 feet of water. Year-round fishing with spring and fall being peak times when they school up. What makes them special is you can sight-fish them in skinny water - watching their backs and tails as they feed. They hit hard and make long runs, plus they're fantastic eating within the slot limit. The real thrill is seeing them push wakes across the flats. Best tip: work the falling tide around oyster bars with live shrimp or gold spoons.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are our bread-and-butter inshore species, typically running 12-20 inches with some reaching 25+ inches. They're beautifully marked with dark spots and have soft mouths, so you need to play them carefully. These fish love grass flats, sandy potholes, and drop-offs in 3-15 feet of water. Best fishing is spring through fall, with dawn and dusk being prime time. They school up in winter in deeper channels when it gets cold. Guests enjoy their willingness to bite artificials and their excellent table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They're also great for kids since they're cooperative. The secret is working soft plastics or live shrimp slowly along the bottom near grass beds. Keep steady pressure but don't horse them - those soft mouths tear easily.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the ultimate inshore gamefish around Sarasota - they're ambush predators with that distinctive black lateral line and can grow from slot size around 28 inches up to trophy fish over 40 inches. You'll find them around mangroves, docks, bridges, and creek mouths in 2-15 feet of water. They love structure and current breaks. Spring through fall offers the best fishing, especially around new and full moons when they spawn. What makes them special is their explosive strike and bulldogging fight - plus they're excellent eating within the slot. These fish are temperature sensitive, so they move to deeper water when it gets cold. My go-to trick is working live shrimp or pilchards tight to the mangroves - that's where they ambush their prey.
Sarasota