Full Day Inshore Charter - St Pete Waters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full day inshore charter targets snook, redfish, trout, and flounderEight hours covering grass flats, mangroves, and ICW watersPrivate trip for three guests includes tackle, bait, and licenses
When you book this full-day inshore adventure with Captain Gills, you're getting eight solid hours on some of Florida's most productive waters. We'll cover everything from the shallow grass flats around Indian Shores to the deeper cuts and mangrove channels that make St Petersburg a world-class fishing destination. This isn't your typical half-day rush job - we've got time to really work the water and put you on fish. With space for up to three anglers, this private charter lets us focus on what you want to catch while I share the local knowledge that comes from years of working these waters daily.
Your day starts early - that's when the fish are most active and the water's at its calmest. We'll launch from one of the local ramps and immediately start reading the conditions. Tide, wind, water temperature, bait activity - all of this determines where we fish first. The beauty of having eight hours is flexibility. If the redfish are schooling up in the shallows near Redington Shores, we'll pole the flats and sight-cast to them. When the snook get active around the mangrove points, we'll switch tactics and work live bait along the structure. This top-rated charter adjusts to what the fish are doing, not what we planned from shore. You'll see why local anglers consider this area their home water - the variety keeps every cast interesting, and there's always a backup plan when one spot goes quiet.
We fish light tackle exclusively - it's more fun and way more effective in these inshore environments. I've got everything rigged and ready, from spinning reels loaded with 15-pound braid for the grass flats to slightly heavier setups when we're working deeper structure. Live bait is king out here, and I keep a good supply of shrimp, pinfish, and whatever else the local bait shops are seeing work. We'll also throw artificials - soft plastics, topwater plugs, and spoons all have their moments depending on the conditions. The technique changes with the target and terrain. Sight-casting to tailing redfish requires a completely different approach than drifting live bait through a mangrove creek for snook. That's part of what makes this customer favorite trip so engaging - you're constantly learning and adapting to what the water's telling us.
Southern Flounder are the masters of camouflage, lying flat on sandy bottoms waiting for bait to swim overhead. These guys are most active during cooler months, and when you hook one, you'll feel that distinctive head-shaking fight that makes them so popular with light-tackle anglers. They're not the biggest fish we'll catch, but pound-for-pound, they're scrappy. Florida Pompano are the speed demons of the flats. These silver bullets love clean, sandy areas and hit baits with surprising force for their size. Spring and fall are prime time for pompano, and they're absolutely fantastic table fare - many anglers consider them the best eating fish in these waters. Snook are the prize fighters of Tampa Bay's inshore scene. These ambush predators lurk around mangroves, docks, and bridge pilings, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. They're most active in warmer months and put up a fight that'll test your drag system. That gill-rattling jump when they feel the hook is pure adrenaline. 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 are willing biters year-round, though they get more aggressive in spring and fall. They're perfect for anglers wanting consistent action and make excellent fish tacos. Redfish are the heavyweight champions of the shallows. These copper-colored bulldogs cruise the flats in schools, and when you find them, the action can be non-stop. They feed year-round but get especially aggressive in fall. That initial run when a big red feels the hook will remind you why they're called bull reds.
This renowned full-day charter fills up fast, especially during peak seasons when the fishing really turns on. Eight hours on the water with a local guide who knows where the fish live and what they're eating - that's the kind of day that turns good anglers into great ones and creates fishing stories you'll tell for years. All your tackle, bait, and licenses are included, so just bring yourself, some snacks, plenty of water, and get ready for some serious angling. The variety of species, the multiple locations we'll fish, and the time to really work each spot properly makes this the best trip for anyone serious about inshore fishing. Book now and let's get you on the water where the fish are biting.
Hit the shallow flats around St Petersburg in our 14ft McKee Craft skiff, built for sneaking into those tight spots where the big reds and snook like to hide. This nimble flats boat handles three anglers comfortably while the 40HP Mercury gets you there fast and quiet. We'll work the skinny water around Indian Shores and Redington Shores that bigger boats can't touch - those backcountry pockets where fish feel safe. The GPS keeps us on productive spots while the fish finder shows what's swimming below. Perfect for stalking tailing redfish in 2 feet of water or working mangrove shorelines for snook. This boat's shallow draft opens up miles of untouched flats around Pinellas County.
Trachinotus CarolinusFlorida Pompano are some of the most sought-after fish in our waters, and for good reason. These silvery, deep-bodied members of the jack family typically run 1-3 pounds and 12 inches, but we occasionally see bigger ones that'll really test your tackle. You'll find them cruising sandy areas near beaches and moving into our bay systems, especially around structure where they hunt crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish. Spring through fall gives you the best shot at them when water temps are right. What sets pompano apart is their incredible fight - they're scrappy as any jack - and their buttery, rich meat that's prized in restaurants. The secret is using small hooks since they have tiny mouths. Bright jigs in yellow or orange work great, but live sand fleas or small crabs are hard to beat when you can find them.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the backbone of our inshore fishing, and they're everything you want in a gamefish. These copper-colored bruisers typically run 18-27 inches with that signature black spot near their tail, though we see plenty of oversized fish that'll really put you to work. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out - around oyster bars, mangroves, and grass flats. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring are prime time when they're most aggressive. What makes reds special is their bulldogging fight and willingness to eat almost anything. Plus, they're outstanding table fare. The money tip is watching for tailing fish in skinny water during high tide. A gold spoon worked through a school will usually trigger strikes, but live shrimp under a cork is hard to beat when they're being picky.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are one of the most reliable fish you'll encounter on these grass flats. They typically run 14-18 inches with plenty of those telltale black spots, and the bigger ones can hit 24+ inches. These fish love shallow grass beds where they hunt shrimp and small baitfish, usually in 2-6 feet of water. They bite year-round but really turn on during cooler months when they school up. What guests love about trout is their willingness to bite and their delicate, flaky meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're also great for beginners since they're forgiving fighters. The key is using light tackle with live shrimp under a popping cork, but soft plastic jigs worked slowly through the grass can be just as effective. Listen for that distinctive grunt when you land one.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the crown jewel of inshore fishing around here, and once you hook one, you'll understand why. These sleek predators with their distinctive black lateral line typically run 18-28 inches, but the big girls can push 35+ inches and give you a fight you won't forget. Look for them around mangrove shorelines, docks, bridges, and anywhere there's structure in 2-10 feet of water. They're most active during warmer months, especially around dawn and dusk. What makes snook special is their explosive strikes and powerful runs, plus they're great eating with firm, white meat. The trick is getting your bait right in their strike zone - they won't chase it far. Live pilchards work best, but soft plastics and topwater plugs can be deadly when worked along the mangrove edges during moving tides.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are unique flatfish that live camouflaged on sandy and muddy bottoms around our local grass flats and deeper channels. These ambush predators typically run 15-18 inches, though we see some nice ones pushing 25+ inches. They're masters of disguise, changing color to match the bottom while waiting to strike at shrimp, crabs, and small baitfish. Fall through early spring offers the best action when they're feeding heavily before moving offshore. What makes flounder special is their table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. The key trick here is using light jig heads with live shrimp or small soft plastics, working them slow along the bottom. When you feel that subtle tap, give them a second to fully take the bait before setting the hook.
St. Petersburg