All-Day Jensen Beach Inshore Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour inshore charter targeting snook, tarpon, and redfishAll gear, bait, and licenses provided by Captain EdProfessional instruction available for all experience levels
Captain Ed Zyak knows these Jensen Beach waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious fish. This 8-hour inshore charter targets the heavy hitters – snook, tarpon, redfish, permit, and crevalle jack – in waters that consistently produce year-round action. Whether you're new to saltwater fishing or you've been chasing these species for years, Ed tailors the trip to your skill level while keeping everyone in the boat engaged and learning. All your gear, bait, and licenses are handled, so you just show up ready to fish. With a max of 3 anglers, you'll get personalized attention and plenty of room to work without bumping elbows.
You'll launch from Jensen Beach and work both the protected inshore flats and the nearshore waters where the real action happens. Captain Ed reads these waters daily, adjusting the game plan based on tides, weather, and what the fish are doing. Early morning might find you working the mangrove edges for snook, then moving to deeper structure for tarpon as the sun gets higher. The boat stays comfortable throughout the 8-hour day, and Ed keeps the energy up with constant instruction and encouragement. Beginners learn proper casting techniques and how to read the water, while experienced anglers pick up advanced presentations and local secrets. The variety keeps things interesting – one minute you're sight-fishing the flats, the next you're battling a tarpon in open water.
Captain Ed runs quality spinning and conventional setups matched to the target species and conditions. Live bait is the foundation here – pilchards, pinfish, and shrimp – but artificial lures come into play when the fish are aggressive or when you want to cover water quickly. You'll learn to work topwater plugs for snook at dawn, present live bait naturally to cruising tarpon, and cast jigs effectively around structure for redfish. The captain adjusts tackle throughout the day, switching from lighter gear on the flats to stouter rods when targeting permit or big jacks in deeper water. Circle hooks are standard for conservation, and Ed teaches proper catch-and-release techniques to keep these fisheries healthy. The boat is rigged for both anchor fishing and drifting, letting you experience different approaches as conditions and species dictate.
Snook are the crown jewel of Jensen Beach inshore fishing, and these ambush predators know how to use every piece of structure to their advantage. They stage around mangroves, docks, and inlet mouths, especially during moving tides when baitfish get flushed through the system. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, with fish ranging from schoolie-size up to true slob snook pushing 30-plus inches. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight – they'll jump, gill-rattle, and make screaming runs toward any snag they can find. The slot limit keeps you honest, but the thrill of a big snook crushing a topwater plug at sunrise never gets old.
Tarpon turn every angler into a believer, and Jensen Beach sits right in their migration highway. These silver kings range from juvenile tarpon in the 20-40 pound class up to true giants exceeding 100 pounds, depending on season and location. Peak season runs late spring through early fall, but resident fish provide action year-round in the deeper holes and channels. What sets tarpon apart is their incredible jumping ability – they'll clear the water completely, shaking their heads and throwing hooks with the best of them. The fight can last 30 minutes or more on bigger fish, testing your endurance and the drag system. Even smaller tarpon demand respect, and the sight of one rolling on the surface gets everyone's attention quickly.
Redfish are the workhorses of the inshore scene, and these copper-colored bruisers provide consistent action when other species get finicky. They school up in shallow water, often with their backs and tails visible as they root around for crabs and shrimp. Fall brings some of the best action as big schools of bull reds gather near the inlet, but slot-size fish are catchable year-round in the backcountry. Reds fight with pure power, making long runs and using their broad sides to stay deep. They're also excellent table fare within the slot, making them a favorite for anglers who want to take home dinner. The variety in redfish fishing keeps it interesting – sight-fishing the flats, working structure with cut bait, or intercepting schools in deeper water.
Permit represent the ultimate inshore challenge, and Jensen Beach's grass flats and nearshore wrecks hold some quality fish. These spooky, disc-shaped fighters are notoriously difficult to fool, requiring perfect presentations with live crabs or small jigs. They're most active during warmer months but can show up year-round when conditions align. What makes permit special is their wariness – they'll inspect your bait from every angle before deciding, and one wrong move sends them fleeing. When you do connect, they make blistering runs and fight much harder than their size suggests. Landing a permit on any tackle is an accomplishment, and doing it on light gear becomes a story you'll tell for years.
Crevalle jack bring the muscle to this fishery, and these aggressive predators hit hard and fight harder. They school up around structure and moving water, often creating surface commotion as they attack baitfish. Jacks are available year-round but peak during warmer months when they're most active. What makes them popular is their willingness to eat almost anything and their incredible pulling power – they're pound-for-pound some of the strongest fish in the ocean. A 20-pound jack will test your tackle and your back, making runs that seem impossible for their size. They're also great for kids and beginners since they're not particularly line-shy and provide plenty of action when other species are slow.
Meet the Jensen Special, your ticket to some serious inshore action off Jensen Beach. This custom 22-foot bay boat was built in 2020 specifically for Florida's challenging waters, powered by a reliable 200HP Yamaha that'll get you to the fish fast with speeds up to 45 knots. The spacious layout comfortably handles up to three anglers, giving everyone room to work their lines without getting tangled up. Captain Ed's ride comes equipped with GPS and fish finder technology to locate those productive spots where snook, tarpon, redfish, bonito, and crevalle jack like to hang out. The flybridge gives you that elevated vantage point to spot feeding activity and structure. Whether you're a weekend warrior or seasoned angler, this boat's designed to handle everything from shallow backcountry flats to nearshore runs, making those 8-hour fishing adventures both productive and comfortable on the water.
Caranx HipposCrevalle Jack are the bulldogs of the flats - aggressive, powerful, and always ready to fight. These brassy-green fish typically run 3-15 pounds around Jensen Beach, with occasional giants pushing 30+ pounds. You'll find schools of them in both shallow and deeper water, from grass flats to nearshore reefs and around structure. They're active year-round but really fire up in warmer months. What guests love about jacks is their raw power and willingness to eat almost anything - they're not picky. The fight is all muscle with strong, sustained runs that'll test your tackle. Watch for diving birds; where there are birds working, there are usually jacks pushing baitfish to the surface. They're decent eating when bled properly, though most folks target them for sport. Here's my go-to technique: cast silver spoons or large topwater plugs and retrieve them fast - jacks love the chase and aggressive movement.
Trachinotus FalcatusPermit are the holy grail of flats fishing - beautiful, challenging, and incredibly rewarding to catch. These tall, silver fish average 15-25 pounds but can reach 40+ pounds. They cruise shallow grass flats and sandy areas in 2-8 feet of water, often showing their sickle-shaped tails and dorsal fins. Spring through fall provides the best opportunities when they're more active in our area. What makes permit special is their wariness - they have excellent eyesight and spook at the slightest disturbance. The fight is strong and steady, different from the explosive runs of other species. While not commonly eaten, the challenge of catching one keeps anglers coming back. Live crabs are the gold standard bait, but crab-pattern flies work too. The trick is patience and precise casting - you get one shot, so make it count. Lead them by at least 10 feet and let the bait sink naturally.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are perfect for anglers wanting consistent action and great table fare. These copper-colored fish with their signature black spots near the tail typically range 20-30 inches, though bull reds can hit 40+ inches. They love super shallow water - we're talking 1-4 feet around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines. Fall and spring offer the hottest bite, but they're catchable year-round in our area. What guests love about reds is their willingness to eat and their bulldogging fight - they'll make long, powerful runs. Plus, slot-sized fish make excellent eating with mild, sweet meat. You'll often spot them "tailing" in shallow water with their backs exposed while feeding. Here's the key: approach quietly and cast well ahead of cruising fish. Redfish spook easily in skinny water, so stealth beats speed every time.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are hands-down one of the most popular inshore targets around Jensen Beach. These sleek, golden fish with that distinctive black lateral line typically run 1-3 feet long, though trophy snook can push 4 feet. You'll find them around mangroves, docks, and creek mouths in both salt and brackish water. They're ambush predators with lightning-fast strikes that'll test your drag. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around new and full moons when they move to spawn. What makes snook special is their explosive fight - they'll jump, run, and try every trick to throw your hook. The meat is white, flaky, and delicious too. Pro tip: when casting near structure, drop your rod tip the second they strike to prevent them from cutting you off on barnacles or pilings.
Megalops AtlanticusThe "Silver King" is what fishing dreams are made of. These prehistoric giants average 80-100 pounds but can reach 200+ pounds and 6 feet long. Around Jensen Beach, we find them in shallow bays, around bridges, and rolling on the surface in 10-30 feet of water. Late spring through summer is prime time when they migrate up our coast. What sets tarpon apart is their aerial show - they'll jump 8-10 feet out of the water repeatedly, shaking their heads to throw hooks. It's pure adrenaline. Most anglers practice catch and release since the meat isn't great eating due to heavy bones. These fish can live 50+ years, so that 100-pounder you're fighting might be older than you. My advice: keep steady pressure but bow to the fish when it jumps - gives them slack to prevent break-offs during those wild acrobatics.
Jensen Beach