St Petersburg Inshore Fishing Charter Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore charter targeting snook, redfish, and troutAccommodates up to six guests with all gear and licenses includedExplores St Petersburg backcountry waters and mangrove shorelines
Captain Gills knows these St Petersburg waters like the back of his hand, and this 6-hour inshore charter is your ticket to some of Florida's best shallow-water fishing. We're talking about a full day exploring the productive flats, mangrove shorelines, and backcountry spots around St Pete, Indian Shores, and Redington Shores. With room for up to six anglers, this trip works perfectly for families, buddy groups, or anyone looking to spend serious time chasing snook, redfish, and trout in their natural habitat. All your gear, bait, and licenses are covered – just bring yourself and get ready to fish some world-class waters.
This isn't your typical half-day rush job. Six hours gives us the flexibility to really work the water and adapt to what the fish are doing. We'll start early, hitting the prime feeding windows when these inshore species are most active. The Pinellas backcountry is a maze of oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove creeks that hold fish year-round, and Captain Gills has spent years learning every productive spot. Depending on conditions and what's biting, we might start shallow for redfish tailing on the flats, then move to deeper pockets for trout, or work the mangrove edges where snook love to ambush baitfish. The beauty of this extended trip is we're not locked into one technique or spot – if the action slows down, we're moving to find the bite. Expect a mix of sight fishing, casting to structure, and reading the water to put you on fish.
We're fishing light tackle that lets you feel every headshake and run these inshore species are famous for. Captain Gills provides top-rated spinning gear matched to the conditions, along with fresh live bait that these fish can't resist. Depending on what we're targeting, we might be throwing live shrimp under popping corks, working soft plastics around structure, or sight-casting to fish we spot cruising the flats. The boat is rigged for shallow water, letting us get into those skinny spots where big fish feel safe. Live wells keep our bait fresh all day, and the deck layout gives everyone room to cast without tangling lines. We're not just dropping hooks and hoping – this is active fishing where you're reading the water, watching for signs, and making precise casts to likely holding spots.
Snook are the kings of these mangrove shorelines, and for good reason. These ambush predators love to hang in the shadows under overhanging branches, waiting for baitfish to swim by. They're notorious for their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights, often jumping multiple times before you get them to the boat. Peak snook fishing happens during the warmer months from April through October, with summer being especially productive. What makes them special is their attitude – they fight dirty, using every bit of structure to try and break you off. Landing a slot-size snook on light tackle is something every angler should experience.
Redfish are another customer favorite, and St Petersburg's shallow flats are perfect redfish habitat. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the grass flats looking for crabs and shrimp, often with their tails breaking the surface as they feed head-down. Sight-fishing for tailing reds is pure adrenaline – you're literally stalking fish you can see, making that perfect cast ahead of their path. They're available year-round but really turn on during the fall months when they school up. Reds are bulldogs that make long, powerful runs, and their drum-like croaking sound when you handle them always gets first-timers excited.
Sea trout might not have the reputation of snook or reds, but they're fantastic fighters and great eating. These spotted beauties love grass flats and drop-offs, especially around dawn and dusk. They're often the most cooperative species, making them perfect for kids or novice anglers building confidence. Trout fishing peaks in spring and fall, and when you find a school, the action can be non-stop. Their delicate mouths mean you need to play them carefully, but that just adds to the challenge.
Southern flounder are the masters of disguise, lying flat on sandy bottoms waiting for prey to swim overhead. These flatfish are more common during cooler months and provide a different kind of fight – less jumping, more determined pulling. What's exciting about flounder is the challenge of finding them and the reward of their excellent table fare. Florida pompano are another seasonal treat, showing up in good numbers during spring and fall. These silver speedsters are prized for their incredible runs and their reputation as one of Florida's best eating fish.
St Petersburg inshore fishing doesn't get much better than this. Six hours with Captain Gills means you're getting the full experience – multiple species, various techniques, and enough time to really learn these waters. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to dial in your inshore skills or a family wanting to create lasting memories, this charter delivers. The combination of top-rated equipment, local knowledge, and prime fishing grounds makes this a customer favorite for good reason. Don't wait for the perfect conditions – these fish bite year-round, and the best trip is the one you actually book.
Our 17ft Carolina Skiff is built specifically for working the shallow flats around St Petersburg and Indian Shores. This stable fishing platform easily handles six anglers and gets you to the prime snook and redfish spots fast with its dependable 115HP Suzuki outboard. The skiff's shallow draft design lets us slip into those productive backcountry mangroves and grass flats where the fish love to hang out. You'll stay comfortable all day with the onboard icebox keeping your drinks cold and snacks fresh. The GPS system helps us navigate efficiently between honey holes, so you spend more time with your line in the water targeting those sought-after inshore species. Whether you're sight-casting to cruising reds or working the mangrove edges for snook, this boat puts you right where the action is. Perfect for families or groups wanting to experience some of the best inshore fishing the Tampa Bay area has to offer.
Trachinotus CarolinusFlorida pompano are the gold standard of inshore eating fish, with buttery white meat that commands top dollar in restaurants. These silvery, flat-sided fish average 1-3 pounds but can reach 8-9 pounds. They cruise sandy beaches, grass flats, and around structure in 3-20 feet of water, often traveling in small schools. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially when water temps are in the 70s-80s. What guests love is their scrappy fight relative to size and that they're pure table fare. Being part of the jack family, they pull hard and make good runs. Use small hooks since they have tiny mouths, and yellow or orange jigs work best. My local trick: look for them feeding in the sandy pockets between grass beds during moving tides.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the backbone of our inshore fishing, known for those distinctive black spots near the tail and copper-bronze coloring. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches, but bull reds over 30 inches provide serious fights. They cruise shallow flats, oyster bars, and mangrove edges in 1-6 feet - sometimes so shallow their backs show. Year-round fishing with spring and fall being exceptional when they school up. What guests love is their power and that classic tail-slapping fight. They're also excellent eating in the slot size. These fish aren't picky eaters but can be spooky in shallow water. My best tip: approach quietly and cast live shrimp or cut bait ahead of cruising fish. Watch for tailing reds in super shallow water - they're focused on feeding and easier to hook.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks," are perfect for anglers wanting steady action with good eating fish. These silver beauties with black spots typically run 14-18 inches, with occasional 4-5 pound "gator trout." They love grass flats, sandy potholes, and drop-offs in 3-12 feet of water. Cool weather months are prime time - they school up heavily in winter. What guests enjoy is their willingness to bite and that they're fantastic table fare with flaky white meat. They're not the strongest fighters but make up for it in numbers. The key is finding the schools. My best advice: work live shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds during moving tides. When you find one, stick around - where there's one trout, there's usually more nearby.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are our signature inshore game fish, known for that distinctive black lateral line and aggressive strikes. Most run 18-28 inches, but trophy fish over 30 inches lurk around our mangroves and docks. They love structure - bridge pilings, mangrove shorelines, and oyster bars in 2-8 feet of water. Summer and fall are peak seasons when water temps stay above 70 degrees. What makes them special is their explosive topwater strikes and strong runs toward cover. They're also great eating with firm, white meat. The challenge is keeping them out of structure once hooked. My go-to tip: use live pilchards or pinfish around dawn and dusk near moving water. Cast past the structure and work your bait back toward it - that's where they ambush prey.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise, burying themselves in sand and mud on shallow flats and around structure. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches but can reach over 30 inches. You'll find them along sandy bottoms, grass beds, and around docks in 2-15 feet of water. Fall and winter are prime time when they're most active before their offshore spawning runs. What makes them special is their camouflage ability and that explosive strike when they ambush prey. They're also excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. My tip: work your bait slow along the bottom and watch for that subtle tap - flounder don't slam baits like other fish. Use live shrimp or finger mullet on a Carolina rig and be patient when you feel that bite.
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