Morning Inshore Trip - St. Augustine, FL
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour morning inshore fishing adventure in St. Augustine watersAll fishing gear provided with family-friendly atmosphere for ages 4+Captain Chris Charters offers intimate two-guest capacity experience
There's something special about getting on the water early in St. Augustine. The morning light hits those historic waters just right, and the fish are already moving. Captain Chris knows these inshore waters like the back of his hand, and this 4-hour morning trip puts you right where the action is. You'll be fishing some of the most productive flats and channels around the Ancient City, targeting everything from hard-fighting redfish to trophy-sized tarpon. With all gear provided and room for two anglers, this is your chance to experience what makes St. Augustine one of Florida's top-rated inshore fishing destinations.
Your morning starts early – and that's exactly how you want it. Captain Chris will have you on the water while the baitfish are still moving and before the afternoon wind picks up. These 4 hours fly by when you're working the grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths that make St. Augustine's inshore fishing world-class. The boat stays in protected waters, so you're not dealing with rough seas – just productive fishing in some beautiful backwater spots. Kids 4 and up are welcome, making this a perfect family trip. Just bring your own snacks and drinks because once you start catching, you won't want to head back to the dock. The intimate 2-person capacity means you get personalized attention and plenty of room to fight fish without getting tangled up with other anglers.
Captain Chris runs a clean operation with quality gear that's perfect for inshore work. You'll be using medium-action spinning rods matched with reels that can handle anything from schooling trout to a 100-pound tarpon. Live bait is the name of the game here – fresh shrimp, finger mullet, and whatever else is working that day. Depending on conditions, you might be sight-casting to redfish on the flats, drifting live bait over deeper holes, or working artificial lures around structure. The captain reads the tides, wind, and fish movement to put you in the right spots using the right techniques. Whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time, he'll adjust the approach to match your skill level and make sure everyone gets shots at fish.
Red Snapper around St. Augustine are the real deal – these bottom dwellers love the rocky ledges and artificial reefs just offshore from the inshore flats. They're aggressive biters when you find them, usually running 2-8 pounds with the occasional keeper-sized fish pushing double digits. Peak season runs spring through fall, and they're known for that distinctive red coloration and hard fighting style. What makes snapper fishing exciting is the surprise factor – you never know if that next bite is a legal keeper or a nice throwback, and they always put up a solid scrap.
Southern Flounder are the masters of disguise in these waters, lying flat on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush baitfish. They're year-round residents but really turn on during cooler months from October through March. Most fish run 14-20 inches with doormat-sized flounder over 5 pounds always a possibility. Anglers love flounder fishing because it requires finesse – you're working soft plastics or live bait slowly along the bottom, feeling for that subtle pickup. Plus, they're outstanding table fare, making them a customer favorite for good reason.
Tarpon are the silver kings of St. Augustine's inshore waters, and even juvenile tarpon in the 20-50 pound range will test your tackle and skills. These prehistoric fish jump like crazy when hooked, making for some of the most exciting moments you'll have on the water. Summer months bring the best tarpon action, especially around dawn and dusk when they're rolling and feeding actively. The beauty of tarpon fishing is that explosive strike and subsequent aerial display – it's pure adrenaline and exactly why anglers travel from around the world to fish these waters.
Sea Trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the bread and butter of inshore fishing here. They school up over grass flats and around creek mouths, making them perfect targets for this type of trip. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action, with fish ranging from schoolie-sized 12-inchers up to gator trout pushing 20+ inches. What makes trout fishing so popular is the consistent action – when you find a school, you can often catch multiple fish before they move on. They're also forgiving for beginners while still providing enough challenge to keep experienced anglers engaged.
Redfish are the crown jewel of St. Augustine inshore fishing and the species most anglers specifically target on these trips. These copper-colored bruisers patrol the flats year-round, with fish ranging from schooling reds under the slot limit up to bull reds over 30 inches. Fall months typically produce the most consistent action, but St. Augustine's redfish bite stays strong throughout most of the year. The excitement comes from sight-casting to tailing fish in shallow water – watching a red crush your bait in 2 feet of water never gets old. Their powerful runs and dogged fighting style make them a favorite among both novice and expert anglers.
This morning inshore trip delivers exactly what serious anglers want – productive fishing in beautiful waters with an experienced captain who knows how to put you on fish. The 4-hour timeframe is perfect for families and gives you enough time to work multiple spots without wearing out younger anglers. With only 2 guests per trip, you're getting a personalized experience that larger charter operations simply can't match. St. Augustine's inshore waters produce fish year-round, and Captain Chris has the local knowledge to make your trip successful regardless of conditions. Don't wait – the best fishing dates fill up fast, especially during peak seasons when the bite is hot.
Cast off into St. Augustine's productive inshore waters aboard this well-equipped motorboat, perfect for targeting redfish, trout, and flounder in the shallow flats and grass beds. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're stalking fish in skinny water, while the GPS helps navigate the maze of creeks and oyster bars that make this area so productive. The fish finder takes the guesswork out of locating structure and baitfish, giving you the edge when working the drop-offs and ledges where gamefish love to ambush prey. With room for two anglers, you'll have plenty of space to work lures or live bait without getting tangled up. The boat handles the choppy conditions near the inlet and runs shallow enough to access those back-country honey holes where the big ones hide.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed Snapper are bottom dwellers that turn from pink to deep red as they mature. Most catch around here runs 1-2 feet and under 10 pounds, but they can hit 35+ pounds if you're lucky. You'll find them near structure in deeper water - think 30 to 620 feet around reefs, wrecks, and rocky bottom. They prefer water temps between 50-70 degrees, making spring through fall your best bet. What makes them special? These fish are absolute warriors when hooked - they'll fight hard and try to cut your line on structure. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish in the ocean with that mild, nutty flavor. Pro tip: use heavy weights to get your bait down fast and keep constant pressure - if you give them slack, they'll wrap you around the nearest obstacle and you'll lose them every time.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails. Around St. Augustine, most run 28-33 inches, but big bulls can push 45 inches and 50 pounds. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. Look for them around oyster reefs, grass flats, and dock pilings in 1-4 feet of water over mud bottoms. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially on moving tides. What makes reds special is their power and the fact they eat almost anything - live shrimp, topwater plugs, jigs, you name it. They're also great table fare with mild, sweet meat. Plus, watching a big red crush a topwater bait in skinny water never gets old. Local secret: when you spot tailing reds in shallow water, cast well ahead of where they're moving and let your bait sit still - they'll find it.
Salmo TruttaSea Trout, or Speckled Trout, are one of our most reliable inshore targets. These silvery fish with black spots typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds. You'll find them over grass flats and in shallow waters, especially at night when they move in to feed on shrimp and small baitfish. They like temperatures between 34-80°F, making them active most of the year here. During winter they school up in deeper channels. What anglers love about specks is their willingness to hit topwater plugs, plastic shrimp, and jigs - plus they're excellent eating with tender, flaky white meat. Just don't overcook them or they'll get mushy. Best local tip: work the grass flats early morning or evening, and if the bite's slow, try trolling at idle speed with a small jig. The vibration often triggers strikes when they're being finicky.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise - these flat, oval fish lie buried in sand and mud waiting to ambush prey. Both eyes sit on their left side, and they can change color to match the bottom perfectly. Most run 15-18 inches, but you can find them up to 33 inches if conditions are right. They love sandy, muddy, and rocky bottoms in shallow coastal waters, bays, and rivers. Adults head offshore during winter, so your best shots are spring through fall in the shallows. What guests love about flounder fishing is the surprise factor - one second your bait's sitting there, next second you've got a solid fish on. They're also fantastic table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. Here's a local trick: when you feel that subtle tap-tap-pause, count to three before setting the hook. Flounder grab bait sideways first, then turn to swallow it headfirst.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings of inshore fishing - these prehistoric giants can reach 8 feet and 280 pounds, though most around St. Augustine run 4 feet and 80-100 pounds. They're famous for their acrobatics, jumping 10 feet out of the water when hooked. You'll find them in shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and around structure, especially during their spring to summer migration through our area. What makes tarpon special isn't the meat - they're catch and release only - it's the fight. These fish can swim 35 mph and will test every inch of your drag system. The late spring to early fall gives you the best action when they're moving through. A guide's secret: when that tarpon jumps, bow to the fish by pointing your rod tip at them. This gives slack during the jump so they can't use their weight against the hook and throw it.
St. Augustine, FL