Full-Day Inshore Fishing in Clearwater
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday inshore fishing charter targeting six popular speciesEighthour guided expedition through Clearwater's backcountry watersFourguest capacity ensures personalized fishing experience
When you're looking for a real fishing adventure along Florida's Suncoast, Captain Evan Denis knows how to deliver. This 8-hour charter gets you into some of the best inshore waters around Clearwater, where the flats and backcountry channels hold some serious fish. You'll be targeting everything from hard-fighting tarpon to crafty snook, plus red snapper, sheepshead, and redfish that'll test your skills. Fair warning though – snook, trout, and redfish are all catch and release, but trust me, the fight and the photos make it worth every minute.
This isn't your typical half-day trip where you're just getting warmed up when it's time to head back. Eight hours gives you the real deal – enough time to work different spots, adjust techniques, and really dial in on what the fish are doing that day. Captain Evan runs a top-rated operation that keeps groups small at just four anglers max, so you're not fighting for rod space or waiting your turn. The boat's set up for serious inshore work, with shallow draft capabilities that let you get into those skinny water spots where the big snook like to ambush baitfish. You'll be working grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and deeper channels depending on tides and fish activity. The Suncoast backcountry is famous for its variety – one minute you're sight fishing redfish in two feet of water, the next you're working a tarpon school that just rolled up on the surface.
Captain Evan's got the gear dialed in for Florida inshore fishing. You'll be using both live bait and artificials depending on conditions and target species. Live shrimp, pinfish, and sardines are go-to baits for most species, but don't be surprised if he breaks out some topwater plugs or soft plastics when the bite calls for it. The tackle varies from medium spinning gear for trout and smaller redfish up to heavier conventional setups when tarpon are in the mix. Circle hooks are standard for most applications – they're better for the fish and honestly hook up better once you get used to them. The key to productive inshore fishing here is reading the water and understanding how tides move bait around. Captain Evan knows these waters like the back of his hand, from the grass flats near Dunedin to the deeper holes around the Belcher Reef area. You'll learn to spot nervous water, read bird activity, and understand why certain structures hold fish at different tide stages.
Red snapper are the table fare stars of this trip, and these Florida fish are chunky and aggressive. They typically run 12-20 pounds in these waters and love structure – bridge pilings, rocky bottom, and artificial reefs. Peak season runs from June through August, but you'll find good numbers most of the year. What makes snapper fishing exciting is the instant gratification – when they bite, they bite hard, and you know you're connected to something solid. Plus, they're fantastic eating if you're looking to take fish home.
Snook are the inshore glamour species, and Clearwater's got some real bruisers. These fish are ambush predators that love mangrove edges, dock pilings, and bridge shadows. They're catch and release only, but landing a 30-inch snook is something you'll remember forever. Summer months are prime time when they're active and feeding heavily, though they can be finicky about presentation. The reward is a fish that jumps, runs hard, and looks incredible in photos before you release it.
Tarpon are the reason many anglers get addicted to Florida fishing. These silver kings can range from 50-pound juveniles up to monsters pushing 150 pounds or more. When a tarpon eats your bait and goes airborne, everything else becomes secondary. They're most common from April through October, with peak activity in summer months. The backcountry areas around Clearwater see good tarpon numbers, especially during mullet runs and when bait concentrations are high.
Sheepshead might not win beauty contests, but they're crafty fighters and excellent eating. These black-and-white striped fish love structure and are notorious bait thieves. They require finesse – light tackle, small hooks, and patience. Winter months are actually prime time for sheepshead when they school up around bridges and pilings. Landing a 4-5 pound sheepshead takes skill, and they make outstanding fish tacos.
Redfish, or red drum, are the bread and butter of Florida inshore fishing. These copper-colored fighters are catch and release only, but they're willing biters and strong fighters. Bull reds over 27 inches are pure power – they'll take you into the backing and test your drag system. Slot-sized fish between 18-27 inches are scrappy and fun on lighter tackle. Redfish are year-round residents, but fall months often produce the best action when they school up in large numbers.
An 8-hour charter with Captain Evan Denis isn't just another fishing trip – it's a genuine Suncoast fishing experience that covers serious water and targets multiple species. You're getting access to prime inshore fishing grounds with a captain who knows how to put you on fish, whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time. The combination of Florida's world-class inshore fishery and a full day on the water means you're maximizing your chances for that fish-of-a-lifetime moment. With small group sizes and personalized attention, this customer favorite charter delivers the kind of fishing memories that keep people coming back to Clearwater year after year. Ready to see what Florida inshore fishing is really about? Book your spot and get ready for a day on the water you won't forget.
This 23-foot Dorado bay boat is built for serious inshore fishing adventures around Clearwater's productive waters. With a powerful 225 HP Mercury engine, she'll get you to the fishing grounds fast, then switch to the wireless trolling motor for silent approaches when targeting spooky species like Tarpon and Snook. The onboard fishfinder helps locate structure and baitfish while GPS keeps you on productive spots throughout your 8-hour charter. Perfect for up to 4 anglers, this boat handles Florida's shallow backcountry waters with ease, whether you're sight fishing the flats for Redfish or working deeper channels for Snapper and Sheepshead. The VHF radio ensures safe communication, while the bay boat design gives you the versatility to fish everything from skinny water to nearshore reefs during your full day on the water.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed Snapper are one of those fish that'll test your skills and reward you with great eating. Most we catch run 2-4 pounds around here, but the big ones can hit 15-20 pounds and really put up a fight. They hang out around structure in 30-60 feet of water - think wrecks, reefs, and rocky bottom. Best fishing is spring through fall when water temps are in that 60-70 degree range. What makes them special is they're smart - they'll steal your bait if you're not paying attention, but hook one and they'll make powerful runs toward cover. The meat is fantastic - mild, nutty flavor that's perfect grilled or blackened. My tip: use a knocker rig with fresh squid or cigar minnows, and when you feel that first tap, give it a second before setting the hook. They like to mouth the bait first.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are perfect for sight fishing in our shallow backcountry waters. Most are 18-27 inches, called slot fish, and they're all catch and release to protect the population. You'll find them tailing in 1-4 feet over grass flats, around oyster bars, and in shallow creeks. They're year-round residents, but fall and winter offer the best action when they school up. What's cool is that distinctive black spot near the tail and how they'll cruise with their backs out of the water. They eat everything - shrimp, crabs, baitfish - and aren't too picky about lures. The fight is solid and steady rather than flashy. Even though they're catch and release, the experience of stalking them in skinny water is what hooks people. Local tip: look for nervous water or slight wakes moving across the flats. Approach quietly and cast ahead of their path with a gold spoon or soft plastic.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convicts of the flats with those black and white stripes, but they're also some of the best eating fish around. They typically run 2-5 pounds and 14-18 inches, with the occasional 8-pounder to keep things interesting. Look for them around any structure - docks, bridges, pilings, anywhere barnacles grow. They stay in 5-30 feet of water year-round, but winter and early spring is when they really school up. What's unique is those human-like teeth they use to crush barnacles and crabs. The challenge is they're notorious bait thieves - they'll clean your hook without you feeling a thing. But land one and you've got sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. My advice: use small hooks with fiddler crabs or shrimp, get tight to the structure, and watch your rod tip like a hawk. The bite feels like gentle tapping before they commit.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the ultimate inshore challenge - they're finicky, fight like crazy, and look absolutely beautiful with that black lateral line. Around Clearwater, most run 18-28 inches, but we get some real bruisers over 30 inches. They love structure like mangroves, docks, and bridge pilings in 2-10 feet of water. Spring through fall is prime time, especially around the full and new moons when they're most active. What guests love is how they ambush bait with lightning speed then make these blistering runs. They're catch and release only, but the fight alone makes it worthwhile. They're temperature sensitive - anything below 60 degrees and they go dormant. Here's a local trick: work your lure or bait right along the structure edges where the current breaks. That's their strike zone, and patience pays off because they can be picky eaters.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings for a reason - there's nothing like watching a 100-pound fish launch 6 feet out of the water when it's hooked. Most we see range from 50-150 pounds, though the giants can hit 200+. They cruise shallow flats, channels, and around bridges in 5-20 feet of water. May through September is peak season when they migrate through our waters. What makes them special isn't the eating - they're all catch and release - it's that raw power and acrobatics. They'll jump repeatedly, make long runs, and test every piece of gear you have. The fight can last 30 minutes or more on a big fish. They've been around 125 million years and can live 50+ years, so respect is key. Pro tip: when they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them. Keeps tension off the line and prevents break-offs during those spectacular leaps.
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