Full Day Florida Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full 8hour inshore fishing charter targeting redfish and troutLight tackle fishing for up to 4 guests near Pepperfish KeyAll equipment and refreshments included with experienced captain guidance
Picture this: you're standing on the bow at first light, watching the sun paint the shallow flats around Pepperfish Key in shades of gold and turquoise. The water's gin-clear, and you can see every blade of grass swaying below. This is what Florida inshore fishing is all about, and Captain RR Excursions LLC knows these waters like the back of their hand. With 8 solid hours on the water starting at 8 AM, you'll have plenty of time to work the best spots and dial in on whatever's biting. At $550 for two anglers (with room for two more at $50 each), this top-rated charter gives you the full Florida flats experience without breaking the bank.
This isn't your typical half-day rush job where you're checking your watch every hour. Eight hours means you can really settle in and fish smart. The captain will start you off at the prime morning spots when the water's cool and the fish are actively feeding, then adjust throughout the day as conditions change. You might begin working a grass flat for trout and reds, then move to deeper channels when the sun gets high, and finish the day sight-fishing shallow areas as things cool off again. The boat's equipped with everything you need - quality rods, reels, and tackle matched to these waters, plus a cooler stocked with ice and bottled water. Just bring your snacks or lunch, and you're set for a full day of serious fishing. The shallow-draft boat lets you access spots the big offshore rigs can't reach, putting you right where the fish live and feed.
Inshore fishing around Pepperfish Key is all about finesse and reading the water. You'll be using light spinning gear - think 2500-3000 series reels spooled with 15-20 pound braid and fluorocarbon leaders. This setup gives you the sensitivity to feel those subtle trout taps and the backbone to turn a slot red away from structure. The captain will have you rigged with everything from soft plastics on jig heads to topwater plugs, depending on what the fish want that day. When the water's calm and clear, you might be sight-casting to tailing reds in 18 inches of water - that's when your heart really starts pumping. Other times, you'll be working deeper grass beds with paddle tails and scented baits, covering water until you find the schools. The key is staying versatile and letting the fish tell you what they want.
Redfish are the superstars of these flats, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers love the shallow grass beds and oyster bars around Pepperfish Key, especially during moving tides. Slot-size reds (18-27 inches) are common here, and they'll give you a fight that'll test your drag and your patience. Best action usually comes during the cooler months from October through April, when they school up in large numbers. What makes reds so special is their willingness to eat just about anything - live shrimp, cut bait, soft plastics, even topwater plugs when they're really fired up.
Spotted Sea Trout are another customer favorite, and these waters hold some quality fish. Spring and fall are prime time for big trout, when they move onto the flats to feed. You'll find them around grass edges and sandy potholes, usually in 2-6 feet of water. Trout have soft mouths, so you need to play them carefully, but a 20-inch speckled trout is one of the prettiest fish you'll catch in these waters. They're also excellent table fare if you decide to keep a few within the regulations.
Summer Flounder might not be the most glamorous fighters, but they're masters of disguise and fun to target. These flatfish bury themselves in sandy bottoms near grass beds and structure, waiting to ambush passing baitfish. You'll typically find them in 3-10 feet of water, and they can be picky eaters - sometimes you need to work your bait right in their face to get a bite. Florida's fluke can reach impressive sizes, with fish over 20 inches not uncommon in these productive waters.
Cobia are the wild cards of this fishery. These brown sharks of the inshore world cruise the flats looking for crabs and small fish, and when you spot one, your pulse will quicken. They're curious fish that will often come right up to the boat to investigate, giving you multiple shots with live bait or jigs. Spring through early summer is peak season, and a 30-40 pound cobia will test every inch of your tackle and technique.
Spanish Mackerel round out the mix with their blazing speed and acrobatic jumps. These silver bullets school up over grass beds and around structure, especially during the warmer months. They're perfect on light tackle - fast runs, jumping fights, and they taste great if you want to keep a few for dinner. Look for diving birds and surface action to find the schools, then get ready for non-stop action when you find them fired up.
Eight hours on the pristine flats around Pepperfish Key with an experienced local captain - that's what separates this charter from the crowded party boats and rushed half-day trips. You're getting access to prime fishing grounds that many anglers never see, with enough time to really learn the techniques and enjoy the experience. Captain RR Excursions LLC has built their reputation on putting clients on fish while showing them the real Florida backcountry. Whether you're an experienced angler looking to target specific species or a newcomer wanting to learn inshore techniques, this full-day adventure delivers the goods. Remember, deposits are non-refundable, so plan accordingly, but with fishing this good in such beautiful surroundings
Step aboard this 24-foot Sylvan pontoon boat, your floating fishing headquarters for exploring the productive waters around Pepperfish Key. Built with anglers in mind, this spacious platform gives you plenty of room to work the flats while staying comfortable during your 8-hour adventure. The boat comes fully rigged with quality rods, reels, and tackle specifically chosen for targeting redfish, spotted sea trout, flounder, cobia, and Spanish mackerel in these shallow waters. A GPS system keeps you on course to the hottest fishing spots, while the fish finder helps locate schools and structure where the fish like to hang out. The live bait setup ensures you're fishing with the freshest offerings, and there's an icebox to keep your catch cold plus bottled water to keep you hydrated. With its stable design and fishing-focused layout, this pontoon handles the Florida flats perfectly, letting you focus on what matters most – putting fish in the cooler.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the ultimate sight-fishing target - big, brown, and often mistaken for sharks when cruising near the surface. These bruisers average 20-40 pounds but can hit 50+ pounds, making them serious light-tackle opponents. You'll find them around structure like channel markers, docks, and artificial reefs in 10-30 feet of water, plus they love following rays and sharks looking for stirred-up food. Spring and summer are prime time when they migrate through our area. Guests get fired up because it's pure sight-fishing excitement followed by drag-screaming runs - and the meat is top-shelf, firm and mild like a premium steak fish. They'll crush bucktail jigs, live eels, and crabs. Here's the key: when you spot one, get ahead of it and drop a jig right in its path - they're curious fish and will usually investigate anything that looks like easy prey.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our flats fishing, easily spotted by that copper-bronze color and distinctive black spot near the tail. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches, but we see plenty of oversized bulls pushing 30+ inches. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface - around oyster bars, mangroves, and grass flats. Year-round fishing is good, but spring and fall are peak times when they're most active. What makes them special is that heart-stopping moment when you see one tailing in inches of water, plus they fight like bulldogs and taste great. They'll eat live shrimp, cut bait, spoons, and topwater plugs. Pro tip: when sight-fishing, cast well ahead of cruising fish and let your bait sit still - they spook easily in shallow water, so stealth beats speed every time.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout are one of our most reliable inshore targets, typically running 14-24 inches with those distinctive black spots covering their silver sides. They love grass flats in 2-8 feet of water, especially around oyster bars and drop-offs. Night fishing and low-light periods like dawn and dusk are when they really turn on. Guests enjoy their willingness to bite and that satisfying fight on light tackle - they're also excellent table fare with tender, flaky white meat that's easy to prepare. They'll take live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater plugs worked over grass beds. During colder months, they school up in deeper channels. Here's a local tip: fish the edges of grass flats with a popping cork and live shrimp - let it sit for 30 seconds between pops and watch for that cork to disappear.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish Mackerel are fast, aggressive fish that typically run 1-2 feet long and weigh 2-8 pounds around here. You'll spot them by their silver sides covered in yellow spots and that torpedo shape built for speed. They travel in schools near the surface, especially around grass flats and structure during warmer months. Spring through fall gives you the best action when water temps climb. What makes them popular is that lightning-fast strike and the way they fight - plus they're fantastic eating with mild, flaky meat that grills perfectly. They'll hit spoons, jigs, and live bait like sardines. Pro tip: when you see birds diving, get there fast and cast small silver spoons just beyond the school - don't motor right into them or you'll scatter the whole bunch.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy bottoms, changing color to match wherever they settle. Most run 15-20 inches, but we catch some real doormat-sized fish pushing 5+ pounds. They're ambush predators that bury in sand and mud flats, waiting for baitfish to swim by. Fall months from September through November are prime time when they're most active and feeding heavily before winter. What guests love is the challenge of finding them and that solid fight once hooked - plus they're some of the best eating fish in these waters with sweet, white meat. They love live shrimp, mullet, and sea worms fished on circle hooks. My go-to trick is hooking live bait through the lips and letting it work just off the bottom near structure - patience pays off with these guys.
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