St Petersburg Quick Cast Inshore Fishing Charters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target Snook, Redfish, Trout, and Flounder in productive backwatersFlexible 13 hour trips accommodate different schedules and experience levelsAll gear, bait, and fishing licenses included for up to three guests
When you're looking to get on the water without burning a whole day, Captain Gills' Quick Cast Specials hit the sweet spot. These flexible inshore trips let you choose between one, two, or three hours of targeted fishing around St Petersburg, Indian Shores, and Redington Shores. Perfect for families with tight schedules, visiting anglers wanting to test the waters, or locals who just need a quick fishing fix. We keep groups small at three guests max, so you're not fighting for rod space or waiting your turn to get hooked up.
These aren't your typical offshore marathons – we're hunting the backcountry flats and mangrove systems where the fish actually live. The Pinellas area offers some of Florida's most productive inshore waters, and we know exactly where to put you on them. Depending on tides and conditions, we'll work the grass lines where trout stack up, slide into the mangrove pockets where snook ambush bait, or cruise the shallow flats where redfish cruise in packs. The beauty of these shorter trips is we can adjust on the fly – if the bite's hot in one spot, we stay put. If it's slow, we're mobile enough to cover water and find active fish. All your gear, bait, and fishing licenses are handled, so you just show up ready to fish.
We fish light tackle here – spinning rods spooled with 15-20 pound test that can handle a bull red but still let you feel every headshake from a trout. Live bait is king in these waters, and we'll have fresh shrimp, pinfish, or pilchards depending on what's working that day. For artificial presentations, we'll throw soft plastics on jig heads around structure, work topwater plugs over the flats during low light, or bounce spoons through schooling fish. The key is reading the water and matching your presentation to conditions. Shallow draft boats are essential here – we're talking two to four feet of water most of the time, sliding through areas where bigger boats can't reach. That's where the fish feel safe, and that's where we shine.
Snook are the crown jewel of inshore fishing around St Pete, and these ambush predators know how to fight. They'll posted up under mangrove overhangs or bridge pilings, waiting to crush anything that swims by. Spring through fall offers the best action, with fish ranging from schoolie size up to slot busters over 28 inches. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and aerial show – they'll jump, tail walk, and generally try to throw your hook every way possible.
Redfish bring consistent action year-round and fight like freight trains once hooked. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the flats in schools, tailing in shallow water or working bait schools in slightly deeper areas. Fall months see the biggest fish as they fatten up for winter, with bulls over 30 inches putting serious bend in your rod. Reds are perfect for beginners since they're aggressive feeders but also challenge experienced anglers with their bulldogging runs.
Sea Trout might not win beauty contests, but they make up for it in numbers and eating quality. These spotted beauties school up over grass beds and structure, often providing steady action when other species are finicky. Winter months concentrate trout in deeper holes, while warmer weather spreads them across the flats. They're excellent for kids and new anglers since they bite readily and don't require perfect presentations.
Southern Flounder are the chameleons of the flats, perfectly camouflaged on sandy bottoms near structure transitions. These flatfish are prized table fare and provide unique light-tackle action. Spring and fall offer peak flounder fishing as they move between deeper winter holes and shallow summer feeding areas. Finding flounder requires knowledge of bottom contours and structure – exactly the kind of local intel that makes these guided trips worthwhile.
Florida Pompano represent some of the finest eating fish in the Gulf, and catching them requires precise timing and technique. These silver bullets prefer sandy areas with moving water, often found around passes and inlet mouths. Pompano fishing peaks during cooler months when schools migrate through our area. They're notoriously picky eaters, making each hookup feel earned and rewarding.
Quick Cast Specials solve the biggest problem facing today's anglers – finding time to fish. Whether you're squeezing in a session before the family wakes up, stealing a few hours during a business trip, or introducing someone to inshore fishing without overwhelming them, these flexible charters deliver real fishing in bite-sized packages. The St Petersburg area's year-round fishery means there's always something biting, and our intimate group size ensures personalized attention whether you're learning to cast or perfecting your technique. Don't let a busy schedule keep you off the water – sometimes the best fishing happens in the shortest windows.
Our 14ft McKee Craft skiff cuts through the shallow Pinellas flats like a knife, getting you into prime fishing spots where bigger boats fear to venture. With just a 40HP Mercury pushing us along, we can sneak into those skinny-water honey holes around Indian Shores and Redington Shores where the snook and redfish love to hide. This nimble flats boat handles three anglers comfortably while staying whisper-quiet through the mangroves. The GPS keeps us on target while the fish finder shows what's lurking below in the grass lines. Perfect for chasing trout in knee-deep water or working the backwater pockets for that trophy red. When the fish are holding tight to structure in water most boats can't touch, this little rocket ship gets you there fast and keeps you fishing longer.
Trachinotus CarolinusFlorida Pompano are one of the most sought-after fish in our waters, and for good reason. These silvery beauties with bright yellow fins typically run 1-3 pounds and 12 inches, though we occasionally hook into larger ones. They love cruising sandy beaches and grass flats in small schools, feeding on crabs, shrimp, and mollusks. Spring through fall offers the best action when water temps are warm - they head deeper in winter. What makes pompano special is their incredible fight for their size - they're part of the jack family and will test your drag. Plus, they're considered premium table fare with buttery, flaky meat that restaurants pay top dollar for. The key to success is using small hooks since they have tiny mouths, and bright jigs in yellow or orange work great in clear water. Live sand fleas or shrimp are deadly baits, especially when you find them rooting around in sandy pockets near structure.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our signature inshore species - copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches and 3-8 pounds, perfect for the dinner table. These fish love super shallow water, sometimes with their backs showing, around oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and grass flats. They're year-round residents, but fall offers some of the best action as they school up. What makes redfish special is their willingness to eat just about anything and their powerful, drag-screaming runs. They're built like tanks and fight accordingly. The meat is firm with a mild flavor that's hard to beat. You can sight-fish them in skinny water or blind-cast around structure. My favorite technique is using a gold spoon or soft plastic jig, but live shrimp never fails. Key tip: when you spot a red, cast well ahead of where it's headed and let your bait settle - they spook easily in shallow water.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout, or "specks" as we call them, are beautiful fish with distinctive black spots scattered across their silvery sides. Most of what we catch runs 14-18 inches and 1-2 pounds, though bigger "gator trout" over 20 inches are always possible. They love grass flats, especially in 2-6 feet of water where they can ambush shrimp and small baitfish. Spring and fall provide consistent action, while summer nights can be phenomenal. What guests love about trout fishing is how willing they are to bite artificials - soft plastics, topwater plugs, and live shrimp all produce well. They're also great eating with flaky white meat, though you need to be careful not to overcook them. The bite can be subtle, so pay attention to your line. Here's a local tip: work the edges of grass beds rather than the thick stuff, and if you're not getting bit, slow down your retrieve - trout often follow before they commit to striking.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the crown jewel of our inshore waters - sleek, aggressive predators with that distinctive black lateral line and sloped forehead. They typically range from 18-30 inches, with trophy fish pushing 40+ inches in our area. You'll find them around mangroves, docks, bridges, and any structure that provides ambush points. They love moving water and hunt most actively during dawn, dusk, and nighttime. What makes snook fishing addictive is their explosive strikes and bulldogging fights - they'll jump, run, and try every trick to throw your hook. They're also temperature sensitive, with the best action during warmer months when they're more active. The meat is firm and white with great flavor. My best advice is to fish the edges of structure rather than right in it - snook often hold just outside cover, waiting to dart out and nail baitfish. Live pilchards or pinfish work great, but don't overlook topwater plugs during low-light periods.
Paralichthys LethostigmaThese masters of camouflage are flat, oval-shaped fish that bury themselves in sand and mud bottoms, waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-18 inches and weigh around 5 pounds, though we've seen some real doormat-sized ones up to 20+ pounds. You'll find them on shallow flats, around grass beds, and along channel edges where they can easily blend in. Fall and winter months are prime time when they move toward deeper water before spawning. What makes flounder fishing special is watching them perfectly camouflage against the bottom - both eyes on one side of their head give them that unique appearance. They're also excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. My go-to trick is using live mud minnows on a Carolina rig and dragging it slowly across the bottom - when you feel that telltale thump, count to three before setting the hook since they grab prey sideways first.
St. Petersburg