Full Day Spearfishing Trip in Carrabelle, Florida
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
8hour spearfishing adventure targeting grouper and snapperPrivate charter accommodates up to 4 guests maximumCaptain Shawn provides 24+ years of local expertise
Ready to take your fishing game underwater? Captain Harvey Fishing Charters offers an 8-hour spearfishing adventure that puts you face-to-face with some of the Gulf's best eating fish. Departing from 407 Marine Street in Carrabelle, this private trip is built for serious spearfishing enthusiasts who want to hunt Red Grouper, Red Snapper, and other premium species in their own backyard. With Captain Shawn's 24+ years of local knowledge guiding you to the hottest spots, you'll be diving structures and ledges that hold trophy fish year-round.
This isn't your typical charter fishing trip – you're going hunting with fins and a speargun. Captain Shawn runs a tight operation aboard his 26' Carver Cabin Cruiser, designed to get you to productive dive sites quickly and safely. The boat's got plenty of room for your spearfishing gear, dive equipment, and coolers to keep your catch fresh. You'll be targeting inshore structures, ledges, and rocky bottom areas where grouper and snapper set up shop. The Gulf waters around Carrabelle offer excellent visibility most days, and the diverse bottom structure creates perfect ambush points for both predator fish and the spearfishermen hunting them. Captain Shawn knows every wreck, every ledge, and every honey hole within range, so you'll spend more time in the water and less time searching for fish.
Bring your own spearfishing equipment because this charter doesn't provide gear – that's how you know it's designed for experienced divers who have their setups dialed in. You'll need your mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, weight belt, speargun, and dive flag. Don't forget a good dive knife and plenty of extra bands for your gun. Captain Shawn will brief you on current conditions, water temperature, and which structures are holding the most fish before you splash. The diving here ranges from 20 to 60 feet depending on the spot, with most productive areas sitting in that sweet 30-40 foot range where grouper love to hole up. You'll be working rocky ledges, artificial reefs, and natural structure that creates perfect ambush points. The key is moving quietly and keeping your eyes peeled for those telltale signs – a grouper's fin sticking out from a ledge or the flash of a snapper cruising the mid-water column.
Red Grouper are the bread and butter of Carrabelle spearfishing, and for good reason. These chunky bottom dwellers average 3-8 pounds but can push 15+ pounds when you find the right holes. They're active year-round but really turn on during the cooler months when they move into shallower water to feed. Red Grouper are curious fish, often swimming right up to investigate divers before darting back to cover. That curiosity makes them perfect spearfishing targets if you can stay calm and wait for the right shot. The meat is firm, white, and absolutely delicious – easily one of the best eating fish in the Gulf.
Red Snapper are the crown jewel of any spearfishing trip, and Carrabelle's waters hold some gorgeous fish. During snapper season (typically June through July), these crimson beauties cruise the mid-water column around structure in schools. They're spooky fish that require patience and good shot placement, but landing a nice red snapper underwater is pure magic. Most fish here run 3-6 pounds, but double-digit snappers show up regularly for divers who know where to look. The challenge is getting close enough for a clean shot before they disappear into the blue.
Lane Snapper might be smaller than their red cousins, but they make up for size with numbers and attitude. These feisty little fighters average 1-2 pounds and often school up in impressive numbers around rocky bottom and artificial reefs. They're active year-round and less spooky than red snapper, making them perfect targets for building confidence underwater. Lane snapper also make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky white meat that's perfect for fish tacos or ceviche.
Gag Grouper are the apex predators of the grouper family around Carrabelle, and they act like it. These aggressive fish can reach 20+ pounds and aren't afraid to challenge divers who get too close to their territory. Gags are more active hunters than red grouper, often cruising open water around structure looking for baitfish. They're most active during the cooler months and can be found in slightly deeper water than reds. Landing a big gag grouper is a battle from the moment your spear hits – they'll try to wrap you around every piece of structure available.
Black Sea Bass round out the target list as scrappy little fighters that punch above their weight class. Most bass here run 1-3 pounds, but they're aggressive biters and fun to hunt around rocky structure. They're active year-round and often the most cooperative fish when other species are being finicky. Black sea bass have excellent table quality with firm, mild meat that holds up well to different cooking methods. They're also great confidence builders for newer spearfishing enthusiasts.
Captain Harvey Fishing Charters has built a reputation for putting serious spearfishermen on fish in Carrabelle's productive Gulf waters. With Captain Shawn's quarter-century of local experience and a boat designed for diving operations, this 8-hour adventure gives you the best shot at filling your cooler with premium eating fish. The private charter format means you're diving at your own pace with your own crew, and the 4-person capacity keeps groups small and personal. Whether you're targeting trophy gag grouper or loading up on keeper red snapper during season, this trip
The 26' Carver Cabin Cruiser is your ticket to serious spearfishing in the Gulf waters off Carrabelle. This 1986 workhorse runs on a reliable MerCruiser 350hp engine that gets you to the fishing grounds without fuss. Built for Gulf fishing, she handles the chop well and gives you a stable platform for diving and spearing. The flybridge puts you up high for spotting structure and fish while the onboard fish finder helps locate those prime grouper and snapper holes. After hours in the water, stretch out on the bed or grab a cold drink from the icebox. GPS keeps you on course to Captain Shawn's secret spots where black sea bass and other targets hang out. With room for 4 anglers, there's plenty of space to gear up, dive, and land your catch without bumping elbows. This boat has seen decades of Gulf fishing and knows these waters as well as you do.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are perfect for divers who want consistent action and great eating. These chunky, dark fish with white-spotted fins typically run 12-16 inches and 1-4 pounds around our area. You'll find them on every piece of structure from 30-120 feet - wrecks, reefs, and rocky bottom. Late spring through summer is prime time when they gather near shore to spawn. What makes them popular is reliability - when other fish aren't cooperating, sea bass usually are, plus they're some of the best eating in the Gulf with sweet, flaky meat. They're curious fish that will come right up to check you out underwater. Local tip: look for the bigger males around the edges of structure in deeper water. They're territorial, so once you find one good spot, work it thoroughly for multiple fish.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag grouper are the bulldogs of the grouper family and one of our most sought-after targets around Carrabelle's offshore structure. These gray, marbled beauties average 15-25 inches but can push 30+ pounds when you find the right spot. They love rocky reefs, wrecks, and drop-offs from 40-200 feet, always near good cover to ambush prey. Best fishing runs spring through fall when they're actively feeding. What makes gags special is that bone-jarring strike followed by a bulldogging fight straight for the rocks. The meat is firm, white, and perfect for the grill. Here's what works: once you hook one, lock your drag and keep them coming up immediately. Give them an inch and they'll find a hole to wrap you around. Live pinfish or large chunks of cut bait work best.
Lutjanus SynagrisLane snappers are the perfect starter fish for folks new to bottom fishing, but don't let that fool you - they're scrappy little fighters. These pink beauties with yellow stripes typically run 10-14 inches and 1-3 pounds around our local reefs and grass flats. You'll find them from 20-100 feet over sandy bottoms with good cover. Spring through early fall gives you the best action when they're feeding heavy before spawning season. What people love is how aggressive they are - they'll hit almost anything you put down, making for steady action when bigger fish aren't cooperating. They're excellent table fare with sweet, mild meat. Local tip: they feed heaviest at dusk, and small pieces of shrimp or cut bait work better than big chunks. Keep your bait moving slightly.
Epinephelus MorioRed grouper are some of the most reliable fighters you'll find around Carrabelle's reefs and wrecks. These rusty-red beauties with white spots typically run 5-10 pounds, though we've seen 20+ pounders come up from the deeper structure. They love rocky bottoms and ledges from 30-150 feet, especially around our local artificial reefs. Best hunting is spring through fall when they're most active. What makes them special is that stubborn fight - once hooked, they'll try to drag you straight into the rocks. The meat is top-shelf eating with that sweet, flaky texture. Pro tip: when you hook one, keep steady pressure and don't give them slack to run back to cover. They're ambush predators, so work your bait slow near the bottom structure.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed snapper are the crown jewel of Gulf fishing, and Carrabelle's offshore structure holds some beauties. Most run 2-8 pounds, but 15+ pounders show up on the deeper reefs and wrecks from 60-200 feet. They're bright red with that classic snapper profile and attitude to match. Peak season runs May through fall when they're actively feeding around hard bottom and structure. What gets people hooked is the combination - they fight hard, look great, and taste even better with that sweet, firm white meat. These fish are smart and spook easy, so approach structure quietly. Here's a local trick: if you see smaller fish scattering, bigger snapper are usually lurking below. Drop fast and get ready for that classic head-shaking fight.
Carrabelle