Half Day Boca Grande Snook, Trout & Redfish Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fivehour inshore fishing trip targeting snook, redfish, and sea troutPrivate charter accommodates up to four guests aboard 23foot Dorado boatCaptain Bryce provides expert guidance for all skill levels
Want to fish some of the most productive inshore waters in Southwest Florida? Captain Bryce Greene's half-day charter out of Placida puts you right in the heart of Boca Grande's legendary fishing grounds. This 5-hour adventure targets three of the area's most sought-after species – snook, redfish, and sea trout – in the pristine flats and backwaters that make this region a customer favorite among serious anglers. Whether you're picking up a rod for the first time or you've been chasing these fish for decades, Captain Bryce tailors each trip to match your crew's experience level. You'll fish from his 23-foot Dorado Bay Boat, which handles these shallow waters like a dream and gives up to 4 anglers plenty of room to work.
Your day starts at 6301 Boca Grande Causeway in Placida, where you'll meet Captain Bryce and get a quick rundown of the game plan. He's been working these waters for years and knows exactly where to find fish based on tides, weather, and seasonal patterns. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – one cast you might be working a grass flat for trout, and the next you're pitching jigs under mangrove roots for snook. The Dorado Bay Boat draws just enough water to get you into those skinny spots where big fish hide, but it's stable enough that everyone stays comfortable while fighting fish. Captain Bryce provides all the tackle, bait, and guidance you need, plus he's great at reading what each angler needs – whether that's hands-on instruction for beginners or just pointing seasoned guys toward the best structure. The pace stays relaxed but productive, with plenty of time to soak in the scenery between hookups.
Inshore fishing around Boca Grande means adapting your approach to match the conditions and target species. Captain Bryce keeps his boat rigged with both spinning and conventional gear, typically running medium-heavy rods that can handle everything from schoolie trout to bull reds. Live bait is often the ticket here – pilchards, pinfish, and shrimp all have their place depending on what's biting. You'll also throw plenty of artificials, from soft plastics on jigheads to topwater plugs when fish are busting bait on the surface. The key is reading the water and matching your presentation to the structure. Around grass flats, you might be sight-fishing to cruising reds with a gold spoon, while deeper potholes call for bouncing jigs along the bottom for trout. Under the mangroves, it's all about precise casting and quick hooksets before snook can cut you off in the roots. Captain Bryce handles boat positioning and gives you the intel on which lures are working, but you'll get plenty of hands-on time learning to read fish behavior and water conditions yourself.
Snook are the crown jewel of Southwest Florida inshore fishing, and Boca Grande's backwaters hold some serious fish. These ambush predators love structure – mangrove shorelines, docks, and oyster bars where they can pin baitfish against cover. They're most active during warmer months, roughly April through October, with the best action often happening around dawn and dusk. What makes snook so special is their fight – they'll jump, run for cover, and use their razor-sharp gill plates to try cutting your line. Plus, they're just gorgeous fish with that distinctive black lateral line and silver sides. Captain Bryce knows exactly where to find them based on tides and time of day, and he's got the technique down for getting them away from structure once hooked.
Redfish might be the most reliable target in these waters, and they're a blast to catch whether you're targeting slot-sized fish or big bulls pushing 30-plus inches. Reds feed year-round in Southwest Florida, but fall months often produce the best action as fish school up before spawning. You'll find them cruising grass flats, tailing in shallow water, or holding around oyster bars and mangrove points. What anglers love about redfish is their versatility – they'll eat live bait, artificials, and everything in between. Their fight is all about power and endurance rather than aerial acrobatics, and that distinctive copper coloration with the black spot near the tail makes them one of the most photogenic catches around.
Sea trout round out the slam and they're often the most cooperative species on any given day. These spotted beauties prefer grass flats and sandy bottoms, especially around deeper potholes and channel edges. Spring and fall tend to produce the biggest trout, with fish over 20 inches becoming more common as water temperatures moderate. Trout have relatively soft mouths, so they require a delicate touch, but they make up for it by being aggressive feeders that readily take both live and artificial baits. They're also excellent table fare, which makes them a favorite target for families looking to bring home dinner. Captain Bryce knows the prime trout spots around Boca Grande and can put you on schools of quality fish when conditions align.
This top-rated half-day trip delivers exactly what serious anglers want – access to world-class fishing grounds with an experienced captain who knows how to put you on fish. The 5-hour timeframe gives you enough water time to target multiple species without feeling rushed, and the 4-person capacity keeps things intimate whether you're bringing family or friends. Captain Bryce's local knowledge and personalized approach have made this one of the most sought-after charters in the Placida area, so popular dates fill up quickly, especially during peak fishing months. The combination of diverse fishing opportunities, beautiful scenery, and hands-on instruction creates the kind of day that has anglers coming back season after season. Ready to see what
Captain Bryce's 2020 Dorado Bay Boat is perfectly rigged for chasing snook, redfish, and trout in Boca Grande's legendary waters. This 23-footer runs smooth and quiet with its 250 HP Mercury, letting you slip into the shallows where the big fish hunt without spooking them. Built for serious anglers, she handles the flats and backwaters like a dream while keeping up to 4 guests comfortable during those long battles with stubborn reds. The shallow draft gets you into places bigger boats can't reach, right where the action heats up along the mangrove edges and grass flats. Whether you're working live bait around structure or throwing artificials at tailing fish, this bay boat puts you in prime position to land some Southwest Florida beauties.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the poster child of our shallow water fishery. These copper-colored bruisers with their distinctive black spots near the tail average 20-28 inches, but we regularly see 30+ inch bulls that'll test your drag. They thrive in 1-4 feet of water around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring offer peak action when they school up heavily. What makes reds special is their power - once hooked, they make long, determined runs that'll have your reel screaming. They're also fantastic eating with a mild, sweet flavor. Here's my local secret: look for "tailing" reds in super shallow water where their tails stick up while they're feeding head-down. Approach quietly and drop a live shrimp or gold spoon right in front of their nose.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are a staple of our grass flats here in Southwest Florida. These spotted beauties average 14-18 inches with some pushing 24+ inches and 5 pounds. You'll find them cruising shallow grass beds and sandy potholes, usually in 2-6 feet of water. They're most active in cooler months when water temps drop, and early morning or late evening produces the best bites. What guests love about trout is their willingness to hit lures and their delicate, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're also great for beginners since they're forgiving fighters. My go-to trick is using a popping cork with live shrimp or a soft plastic. The noise from the cork calls them in from a distance, then that slow-sinking bait underneath seals the deal. Work it over grass beds during moving tide.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most prized inshore targets here in Boca Grande. These sleek, golden fish with that signature black lateral line typically run 18-30 inches, though we occasionally hook into 40+ inch trophies. They love hanging around mangroves, docks, and creek mouths in 2-10 feet of water. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around new and full moons when they're most active. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll make multiple runs and try every trick to shake the hook. Plus, they're excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Here's a local tip: work your lure slowly along the mangrove edge during moving water. Snook are ambush predators and they want an easy meal drifting right past their nose.
Boca Grande