Boca Grande Snook & Redfish Adventure
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore charter targeting snook, redfish, and grouper speciesAll fishing gear, licenses, bait, and cleaning services includedSuitable for beginners and experienced anglers alike
Captain Yannis has been working these waters for years, and he knows exactly where the fish are hiding. This 6-hour inshore charter puts you right in the heart of Boca Grande's legendary fishing grounds, where snook patrol the mangroves and redfish cruise the grass flats. You're not just getting a fishing trip – you're getting a guided tour of some of Florida's most productive inshore waters with a captain who lives and breathes these fisheries. Whether you're a weekend warrior or someone who's never held a rod, this charter adapts to your skill level while maximizing your time on prime fishing spots.
Your day starts early, meeting Captain Yannis at the dock as the sun begins to paint the sky. The 6-hour format gives you serious time to work different areas – something you can't do on shorter trips. Depending on the tide, season, and what's been biting lately, you might find yourself casting live bait around dock pilings for snook, working soft plastics over grass flats for redfish, or even getting surprised by a monster goliath grouper near one of the historic wrecks. The beauty of this charter is the flexibility. Captain Yannis reads the water conditions and adjusts the game plan throughout the day. Some mornings the snook are aggressive on topwater baits near the passes, other days they're tucked deep in the mangroves waiting for live pilchards. The boat stays comfortable with just two anglers max, so you're not fighting for rod space or the captain's attention. Every cast counts, and with six hours to work with, you'll cover water that most day-trippers never see.
Captain Yannis comes prepared with everything dialed in – spinning reels loaded with fresh line, a tackle box that's seen some serious action, and live wells stocked with the baits that produce in these waters. You'll work with medium-action spinning rods perfect for the inshore game, typically rigged with circle hooks and just enough weight to get your bait down without spooking fish in shallow water. Live bait fishing dominates here – pilchards, pinfish, and shrimp that get presented around structure where these species feed. When the bite gets tough, Captain Yannis switches tactics. Soft plastic jigs get worked through grass beds where redfish root around for crabs. Topwater plugs create explosive strikes from snook ambushing baitfish near oyster bars. The approach changes based on what the fish are telling you. Some days they want baits moving fast, other days they want something barely crawling along the bottom. The key is having a captain who recognizes these patterns and adjusts accordingly. All your gear, tackle, and Florida fishing license come included, so you can focus entirely on reading the water and making good presentations.
Snook are the stars of this show, and Boca Grande offers some of the best snook fishing in Florida. These ambush predators love structure – docks, mangroves, bridges, anywhere they can pin baitfish and strike fast. They're incredibly line-shy and notorious for their explosive jumps when hooked. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, with fish ranging from schoolie-sized specimens to slot fish that'll test your drag system. What makes snook special is their intelligence – they study your bait before committing, and once they're on, they know exactly where every piling and oyster bar is located.
Redfish bring a different kind of fight to the table. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the grass flats and shallow waters around Boca Grande year-round, though they're most active during cooler months when they school up in impressive numbers. Unlike snook, reds are willing to eat a variety of baits and aren't as spooky around the boat. When you hook into a bull red pushing 30+ inches, you're in for a sustained battle that'll make your arms burn. They use their broad sides to leverage against the current, and they're famous for those last-second runs just when you think you've got them beaten.
Gag grouper add bottom-fishing excitement to the mix, especially around the historic wrecks and hard-bottom areas that Captain Yannis knows by heart. These fish hit hard and immediately head for cover, testing both your drag and your ability to turn them before they reach structure. Gag grouper fishing requires heavier tackle and quick reflexes – once they feel the hook, it's a race to get them up and away from the reef or wreck they call home.
Permit are the wild cards of this fishery – incredibly spooky, selective feeders that can show up anywhere from the flats to deeper water. They're considered one of the trickiest fish to catch on light tackle, known for their blistering runs and their ability to throw hooks with head-shaking jumps. When permit are around, they often travel in small schools, giving you multiple shot opportunities if you can make the right presentation.
Blacktip sharks bring pure adrenaline to the equation. These aggressive feeders respond well to fresh-cut bait and provide some of the most acrobatic fights you'll experience in inshore waters. Blacktips are famous for their aerial displays, often jumping completely clear of the water multiple times during the fight. They're most active during warmer months and can show up anywhere from shallow grass flats to deeper channel edges.
This charter delivers exactly what serious anglers want – extended time on productive water with a captain who knows how to put you on fish. The 6-hour format means you're not rushed, you can work different techniques, and you have time to capitalize when the bite turns on. Captain Yannis provides all the essentials, from tackle and bait to cleaning your catch and keeping you hydrated throughout the day. With space limited to just two anglers, every trip feels like a private guided experience.
Captain Yannis' 24-foot center console is built for serious Boca Grande fishing. This bay boat's shallow draft gets you into those back-country spots where snook love to hide, while the wide beam keeps everyone steady when fighting redfish in choppy water. The open layout gives you room to move around the boat and cast in any direction—perfect for sight fishing the grass flats or working structure near the passes. The wireless trolling motor lets us slip quietly into fish-holding areas without spooking them, while the fish finder shows exactly what's below. GPS and radar keep us on productive spots and safe in changing conditions. Your catch stays fresh in the icebox, and there's plenty of room for your cooler with snacks and drinks. Whether you're casting to tailing reds on the flats or dropping baits near the historic wrecks, this boat handles Boca Grande's diverse waters with ease.
Carcharhinus LimbatusBlacktip sharks are some of our most exciting catches, typically running 4-6 feet but capable of hitting 8+ feet and 200+ pounds. They patrol our nearshore waters in 20-100 feet, often cruising around reefs, wrecks, and wherever baitfish are schooling. Spring and summer are prime time when they move into warmer waters and feed more aggressively. What makes them a blast is their acrobatic jumps - they'll leap completely out of the water multiple times during the fight, spinning and thrashing. They're also one of the faster sharks, making blistering runs that'll test your drag. We always release them, but the fight is what people remember. My best advice: use circle hooks with strong wire leaders and fresh, oily bait like mackerel or sardines. Once you get one on, keep steady pressure but let your drag do the work.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag grouper are solid fighters that usually run 20 inches, though the big ones can push 50+ inches and 80 pounds. They love hanging around rocky structure, wrecks, and reefs in 30-100 feet of water. The smaller fish stay closer inshore while adults head to deeper offshore spots. Spring through fall gives you the best action when they're most active and feeding heavy. What makes them special is that hard pull when they try to drag your bait straight back to the rocks - they've got serious power and won't give up easy. Live pinfish and cut squid work great, but here's the key: once you hook one, keep that reel locked tight and your rod tip low. Don't give them an inch or they'll wrap you around the nearest structure and cut you off every time.
Trachinotus FalcatusPermit are the holy grail for many flats fishermen - challenging, smart, and absolutely beautiful fish. They typically run 20-30 inches, but we've seen them hit 40+ inches and 50 pounds. These fish cruise shallow grass flats and sandy areas, often in just 2-4 feet of water, using those golf ball-sized eyes that see everything. Spring through fall gives you the best shot when they're more active, but they're around year-round in our warm waters. What makes them special is they're incredibly difficult to fool - most anglers consider catching one a major achievement. They fight hard with long runs and that distinctive sickle tail cutting through the water. Live blue crabs are the ticket, but here's my key tip: keep your distance when you spot them and make a quiet, accurate cast well ahead of where they're heading. Spook them once and they're gone.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are perfect for anglers wanting steady action and great eating. Most run 20-30 inches, but we see plenty of bull reds pushing 40+ inches and 30-50 pounds. They love super shallow water - sometimes just 1-3 feet over grass flats, oyster bars, and sandy areas where you can actually see their backs. Year-round fishing here, but fall and spring are prime when they school up heavy. What guests love most is watching them cruise the flats and that strong, steady fight once hooked. They're not fancy fighters, just pure bulldogging power. The meat is sweet and mild, perfect for the table. Best tip I can share: look for that telltale copper flash and black spot near the tail, and use live shrimp on a light jig head. Keep it quiet when you spot them - they spook easy in shallow water.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our signature fish here in Boca Grande, running anywhere from 18 inches up to 4 feet for the big females. They love hanging around mangroves, grass flats, and creek mouths in water from 2-20 feet deep. The best fishing happens May through September when they're spawning and more aggressive, especially around the new and full moons. What makes them so popular is that explosive strike and acrobatic fight - they'll jump and run hard when hooked. Plus they make excellent table fare with that clean, white meat. These fish are ambush predators that use cover, so you'll find them tucked under docks, mangrove overhangs, and structure. My go-to tip: work your lure slowly along the edges where they hide, and be ready for that sudden strike.
Boca Grande, FL