Jacksonville Inshore Fishing at Its Best
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Guided inshore fishing in Jacksonville's scenic coastal watersExpert guides provide equipment for anglers of all skill levelsSmall group experience accommodates up to four guests maximum
Picture yourself casting into the productive waters where the St. Johns River meets the Atlantic, surrounded by Jacksonville's incredible inshore fishery. Big Blue Sportfishing Charters takes you to the sweet spots where local anglers have been pulling fish for generations. These protected waters offer some of Florida's most consistent fishing, with grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths holding everything from slot redfish to chunky black drum. You'll fish with a captain who knows every drop-off, every grass edge, and exactly where the fish are feeding based on tide, season, and recent patterns.
Your day starts at one of Jacksonville's premier marinas where you'll meet your guide and get the rundown on tackle, target species, and game plan. With space for up to four anglers, this trip works perfectly for families, buddy trips, or couples looking to get on some fish together. The boat comes rigged with quality rods, reels, and all the terminal tackle you'll need - though you're welcome to bring your favorite setup if you've got one. Most trips run 4-6 hours, giving you plenty of time to work different areas as conditions and fish activity dictate. Your captain reads the water like a book, adjusting techniques and locations throughout the day to keep you hooked up. Expect to move around quite a bit - that's the beauty of inshore fishing in Jacksonville's expansive system.
Inshore fishing here is all about versatility and adapting to what the fish want on any given day. You'll primarily fish with medium-action spinning gear spooled with 15-20 pound braid, perfect for making long casts to spooky fish in shallow water. Live bait is king - expect to fish with mud minnows, shrimp, and finger mullet depending on what's available and what the target species are hitting. When the bite gets tough, your guide will switch things up with soft plastics, gold spoons, and topwater plugs that can trigger strikes from pressured fish. The technique varies with the target - you might be sight fishing to tailing redfish in two feet of water one minute, then dropping baits near structure for black drum the next. Jacksonville's inshore waters demand this kind of flexibility, and that's what keeps it interesting trip after trip.
Southern Flounder are the masters of camouflage in Jacksonville's sandy bottoms and grass edges. These flatfish typically run 14-20 inches, with the occasional doormat pushing 3-4 pounds that'll test your drag system. Fall and early winter are prime time when they're staging near inlets before their offshore spawn. What makes flounder so exciting is the way they hit - often just a subtle tick on your rod tip before they try to bury back into the sand. The fight might not be explosive, but there's something satisfying about fooling these ambush predators with a perfectly presented mud minnow or gulp shrimp.
Black Drum are the bulldogs of Jacksonville's inshore waters, and when you hook into a big one, you'll know it immediately. These fish run anywhere from 2-15 pounds inshore, with their oversized cousins lurking around deeper structure. They're year-round residents but fish best during cooler months when they school up around oyster bars and bridge pilings. Black drum have incredible pulling power for their size - that steady, head-shaking fight that makes your arms burn. They're also one of the better eating fish in these waters when kept in the slot, with firm white meat that's perfect for blackening or fish tacos.
Sheepshead are the pickpockets of the inshore scene, famous for stealing bait faster than you can set the hook. These convict-striped fish hang around any kind of structure - docks, pilings, oyster bars, and rock jetties. They average 2-4 pounds but can push 6-8 pounds when you find the right school. Winter months are absolutely prime, when they stack up thick around Jacksonville's many bridges and marina docks. The challenge with sheepshead is their incredible ability to mouth bait without getting hooked - it takes finesse, quality hooks, and lightning-fast reflexes. When you do connect, they pull surprisingly hard and make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat.
Sea Trout are the bread and butter of Jacksonville inshore fishing, abundant throughout the system and willing to eat a variety of baits and lures. These spotted beauties typically run 12-18 inches with occasional "gator trout" exceeding 20 inches that are real trophies. They're most active during warmer months, holding over grass flats and around creek mouths where they ambush baitfish. Trout are exciting because they'll hit topwater plugs with explosive strikes early in the morning, creating some of the most heart-stopping action you'll find inshore. They're also excellent eating when kept in slot, though many anglers practice catch-and-release to keep the population strong.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Jacksonville inshore fishing and what most anglers dream about when they book a trip here. These copper-colored bruisers run 18-27 inches in the slot, with oversized bulls that can exceed 30 inches providing tackle-busting fights. Reds are year-round residents but fish especially well in fall when they school up in massive numbers. What makes redfish so special is their versatility - you might sight-cast to tailing fish in skinny water, work them around downed trees in tidal creeks, or target schools busting bait in open water. Their initial run when hooked is legendary, often taking 50-75 yards of line before you can slow them down. They're also incredibly smart fish that require stealth and proper presentation, making every hookup feel well-earned.
Jacksonville's inshore fishing scene delivers year-round action,
Step aboard our fully restored 24' Skeeter bay boat and get ready to chase fish through Jacksonville's prime inshore waters. This 2015 vessel got a complete makeover in 2022, combining classic reliability with modern performance. The powerful 300HP Yamaha engine pushes us to a top speed of 45 knots, meaning less time traveling and more time with lines in the water. Built specifically for shallow bay fishing, this boat gets you into those productive backwater spots where the redfish and speckled trout like to hang out. The spacious deck comfortably handles up to four anglers, giving everyone plenty of room to cast and fight fish without getting tangled up. Whether you're working topwater lures at sunrise or bouncing soft plastics along oyster bars, this boat's shallow draft and responsive handling make it perfect for targeting inshore species around Jacksonville's marshes, creeks, and flats.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 5-30 pounds with giants reaching 90+ pounds. These powerful fish love oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths around Jacksonville, especially during spring spawning season when they school up and make that distinctive drumming sound you can actually hear underwater. They're bottom feeders with crushing jaws built for crabs and oysters, so fresh crab bait works best. What guests love about drum fishing is the incredible pull these fish have - even smaller ones will test your drag. The smaller fish under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with mild, flaky meat. For the big ones, I always recommend using circle hooks with fresh blue crab on a fish finder rig. The key is keeping your bait right on the bottom and being patient - when a big drum picks up your crab, you'll know it.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Jacksonville's signature inshore species, easily recognized by their copper-colored backs and distinctive black spots near the tail. These fish typically run 20-40 inches, with slot-sized fish around 18-27 inches being the most common targets. You'll find them in extremely shallow water - sometimes with backs exposed - around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines. Year-round fishing is good, but fall offers prime action when they school up. What makes redfish special is their explosive strikes and bulldogging fights that'll test your drag. They're also excellent table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. The sight-fishing opportunities are outstanding on calm days when you can spot their backs or wakes in shallow water. My go-to technique is a gold spoon or topwater plug worked slowly over grass beds. When targeting tailing reds, approach quietly and cast ahead of their direction - they spook easily in skinny water.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks," are a staple of Jacksonville's grass flats and shallow waters. Most run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, with their silvery bodies covered in distinctive black spots. These fish love our seagrass beds, especially during warmer months when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. Dawn and dusk produce the best action, particularly on moving tides. What guests enjoy about trout fishing is their willingness to hit artificial lures and their solid fight for their size. The meat is delicate and delicious when prepared right - just don't overcook it or it gets mushy. During winter, they school up in deeper channels making for some great action. My favorite setup is a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below, worked slowly over grass beds. When they hit, you'll see that cork disappear. The trick is using lighter tackle to feel their subtle strikes.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their black and white stripes and those crazy human-like teeth. Most run 1-8 pounds around Jacksonville's docks, bridges, and jetties where they feed on barnacles and crabs. Spring is prime time, especially February through April during spawning season. These fish are notorious bait thieves - they'll nibble and pick at your offering before committing. What makes them such a favorite is the challenge they present and their reputation as some of the best eating fish in our waters. That white, flaky meat is worth the effort. My best advice is using small hooks with fresh fiddler crabs or shrimp, getting as close to structure as possible. When you feel those subtle taps, don't wait - set the hook immediately and firmly. They have tough mouths, so don't be shy about a solid hookset. The key is staying patient and keeping fresh bait on.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise, burying themselves in sandy and muddy bottoms where they ambush prey. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches and weigh around 5 pounds, though we occasionally hook into specimens pushing 20+ pounds. You'll find them in shallow estuaries, around docks, and near creek mouths throughout Jacksonville's inshore waters. Fall and winter months offer the best action when they're actively feeding before moving offshore. What makes flounder fishing special is their incredible fight once hooked - they'll make powerful runs and put that flat body to work against you. The meat is absolutely excellent, white and flaky. My go-to trick is using live mud minnows on a carolina rig, keeping the bait moving slowly along the bottom. When you feel that telltale tap-tap, wait a beat before setting the hook - they like to grab bait sideways first.
Jacksonville, FL