Advanced Half Day Fishing with Capt. Tony
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour advanced charter targeting redfish, cobia, and snookExpert captain guides skilled anglers using light tackle techniquesSmall group experience accommodates up to 2 guests maximum
If you're looking to test your skills against some of Tampa Bay's smartest fish, this 4-hour charter with Capt. Tony Frankland is exactly what you need. This isn't your typical tourist trip – it's designed for anglers who know their way around a rod and want to push their techniques to the next level. You'll be targeting some seriously feisty species like redfish, cobia, jack crevalle, and snook in waters that have made Tampa Bay legendary among Florida's fishing community. With just 2 guests max, you get the kind of personalized attention that turns good anglers into great ones.
Capt. Tony runs a tight ship focused on results, not hand-holding. You'll launch into Tampa Bay's maze of grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and structure-rich areas where the big fish like to hang out. The 4-hour window gives you enough time to work different spots as conditions change throughout the day. Don't expect to just drop a line and wait – this charter is all about reading water, adjusting presentations, and staying one step ahead of fish that have seen every lure in the tackle shop. The intimate 2-person setup means you're not competing for prime casting spots or waiting your turn to work productive water. Capt. Tony's local knowledge runs deep, and he's not shy about sharing the kind of insights that separate weekend warriors from serious stick fishermen.
This trip is all about finesse fishing with light tackle that puts you in direct contact with every headshake and run. You'll be working artificial lures, live bait, and cut bait depending on what the fish are telling you. Tampa Bay's diverse structure means you might be sight-casting to tailing redfish on shallow flats one minute, then dropping baits around bridge pilings for snook the next. The grass flats hold baitfish that draw in predators, while the deeper channels and holes concentrate fish during tide changes. Capt. Tony knows how to read these transitions and position you where the action is happening. Expect to use spinning gear with 15-20 lb test, though he'll match the tackle to the target species and conditions. The boat is rigged for serious fishing with quality rods, fresh bait, and all the terminal tackle you'll need.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Tampa Bay inshore fishing, and these copper-colored bulldogs will test every knot and drag setting on your reel. They range from slot-sized fish around 18-27 inches up to bull reds that can push 40+ inches and 30 pounds. Spring through fall are prime time, with fish feeding aggressively on crabs, shrimp, and baitfish along the grass flats and oyster bars. What makes them special is their fight – they'll make long, powerful runs and use their broad sides to pull hard against the current. Plus, they're not picky eaters when you present baits correctly, making them a favorite target for anglers who want consistent action with the chance for a true giant.
Cobia are the wanderers of Tampa Bay, showing up when you least expect them but providing some of the most exciting fishing when they do. These brown sharks (as locals call them) cruise the flats and channels from spring through early fall, often following rays and sharks looking for stirred-up prey. They average 20-40 pounds but can easily hit 50+, and they fight like a cross between a shark and a tarpon. Cobia are sight fishing at its finest – you'll spot their dark shapes cruising just under the surface and make precise casts to intercept them. They're curious fish that will often follow lures or baits, giving you multiple chances if you keep your cool and make the right presentation.
Jack crevalle might not win any beauty contests, but they're pure muscle wrapped in silver scales. Tampa Bay's jacks range from schoolie fish around 5-10 pounds up to lone wolves pushing 20+ pounds that patrol the flats like submarines. They hit lures with reckless abandon and fight way above their weight class, making screaming runs that will have you questioning your drag settings. Peak action happens during warmer months when schools of jacks terrorize baitfish in shallow water. You'll hear them feeding before you see them – the sound of jacks crashing bait on the surface is unmistakable and gets every angler's heart pumping.
Bluefish bring schooling action and razor-sharp teeth to Tampa Bay's inshore waters. These silver bullets typically run 2-8 pounds in the bay, traveling in aggressive schools that can turn a quiet flat into a feeding frenzy in minutes. Fall and winter months see the best blue fishing as cooler water temperatures bring schools into the shallows. They're not subtle feeders – blues attack lures and baits with savage strikes that often result in cut lines if you're not using wire leaders. What makes them exciting is their unpredictability and the visual spectacle when you find a feeding school chopping up baitfish on the surface.
Snook are Tampa Bay's signature gamefish – the species every serious inshore angler wants to master. These ambush predators love structure like docks, mangroves, and bridge pilings where they can dart out to grab unsuspecting prey. They're incredibly line-shy and structure-oriented, meaning you need pinpoint accuracy and quick reflexes to land them before they cut you off. Snook are most active during warmer months and around moving water, especially during dawn and dusk periods. Their gill-rattling jumps and bulldogging runs near cover make them one of the most challenging inshore species to consistently catch and land.
This advanced charter fills up fast because Capt. Tony has built a reputation among serious anglers who want quality over quantity. The 2-person limit ensures you get
Hit Tampa Bay's prime fishing spots aboard this reliable 22-foot Ranger Bay boat, your ticket to serious inshore action. This 2008 vessel packs a 200-horsepower Suzuki engine that'll cruise at 38 knots, getting you to the redfish flats and cobia holes fast. Built for the serious angler, she's equipped with GPS navigation and a fish finder to put you right on top of the action. The shallow draft design lets Captain Tony slide into those skinny water honey holes where the big snook and redfish hang out. With room for up to 4 anglers, there's plenty of space to work your light tackle techniques on Tampa Bay's toughest fighters. The stable platform gives you solid footing whether you're sight-casting to cruising reds or battling a bull jack crevalle in open water. This boat means business when it comes to putting you on fish.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive feeders that show up in Tampa Bay during cooler months, typically running 2-10 pounds with razor-sharp teeth. They travel in schools and create feeding frenzies that churn the water white when they hit baitfish. Fall and winter are your best bets when they're moving through our area. These fish fight hard for their size and make decent table fare when bled immediately and kept cold. You'll find them around bait schools in open water, often mixed with other species. When the bite is on, almost anything works - spoons, jigs, or cut bait. Just remember to bring a wire leader or heavy fluorocarbon because those teeth will cut through regular line in a heartbeat.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the brown bombers of our waters, averaging 20-40 pounds and often mistaken for sharks when cruising just under the surface. You'll spot them around structure like channel markers, reefs, and floating debris in 15-50 feet of water. Spring migration from March through May is prime time when they're moving through on their way north. These fish are prized for their excellent table quality - firm, white meat that rivals any restaurant fish. They're curious by nature, which makes sight fishing really exciting. When you see one, drop a live crab or bucktail jig right in front of their nose. Pro tip: they often follow rays, so always check around any stingray you see cruising the flats.
Caranx HipposJack Crevalle are the bulldogs of Tampa Bay, typically running 3-8 pounds but capable of much more. These brassy, muscular fish travel in schools and love to crash baitfish on the surface near structure like bridges and docks. Look for diving birds - that's your best indicator of feeding jacks below. They're most active during warmer months and will absolutely test your drag with their bulldogging runs. While they're not great table fare, the fight alone makes them worth targeting. My go-to trick is watching for that telltale watermelon smell when you get close to a feeding school, then cast silver spoons or topwater plugs right into the chaos and hang on tight.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are one of Tampa Bay's signature species, running 20-35 inches on average with that distinctive black eyespot near their tail. You'll find them cruising the shallow flats in 1-4 feet of water, especially around oyster bars and grass beds where they tail and feed. Spring through fall gives you the best action when water temps are warm. These copper-colored fighters put up a solid fight on light tackle and make excellent table fare with their mild, flaky meat. The key here is staying quiet and watching for their backs or tails breaking the surface - once you spot one tailing in skinny water, cast your topwater or shrimp imitation well ahead and let it drift into their feeding zone.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are Florida's premier inshore gamefish, with that distinctive black lateral line and aggressive strikes that'll get your heart pumping. Most run 18-28 inches around Tampa Bay, lurking in mangrove shorelines, docks, and bridge pilings where they ambush prey. Summer months are prime time, especially around the new and full moons when they're most active. These fish are pure gold on the dinner table with sweet, white meat, but handle the slot limits carefully. They're ambush predators that love structure, so pitch your lures tight to cover. My best advice: use live shrimp or pinfish around dawn and dusk near mangrove points, and always have your net ready because their gill plates are sharp as razors.
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