3/4 Day Inshore Private Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 6-hour inshore charter accommodates up to 3 guestsTarget redfish, snook, cobia using light tackle spinning techniquesIncludes fishing licenses, bait, tackle aboard 22' Pathfinder boat
Looking for a solid day on the water without the crowds? Captain Tanner's 3/4 day private charter gives you and two buddies six full hours to work the inshore waters for some of the coast's most sought-after gamefish. This isn't your typical party boat experience – it's just you, your group, and a captain who knows exactly where the fish are holding. With species like redfish, snook, and cobia on the menu, you're looking at consistent action and the kind of memories that keep anglers coming back season after season.
You'll be fishing from a 22-foot Pathfinder – a boat that's built for serious inshore work. These rigs are known for their shallow draft and stability, which means we can get into those skinny water spots where the big fish like to hang out. Captain Tanner has this boat dialed in with all the electronics you need: GPS for marking productive spots, a quality fishfinder to locate structure and baitfish, plus a trolling motor for those stealthy approaches when you're sight-casting to tailing redfish or cruising snook. The live bait well keeps your offerings fresh and active, which makes all the difference when these fish are being picky. Six hours gives you plenty of time to hit multiple spots, adjust tactics when conditions change, and really get into a rhythm with the fishing.
We're talking light spinning gear here – the kind of setup that makes every fish feel like a monster and gives you that direct connection to what's happening down below. You'll be throwing everything from live shrimp under popping corks to soft plastics worked slowly along drop-offs and grass lines. When the Spanish mackerel are running, we'll switch to small spoons and jigs that mimic the baitfish they're chasing. For the bigger predators like cobia and jack crevalle, we might bump up to medium-heavy spinning tackle with live pinfish or blue crabs. The beauty of light tackle inshore fishing is the versatility – one minute you're finesse fishing for speckled trout in three feet of water, the next you're battling a bull redfish that's trying to wrap you around a dock piling. All your tackle, bait, and fishing licenses are handled, so you can focus on reading the water and making good casts.
Spanish mackerel are the speed demons of the inshore waters, and they're absolutely addictive to catch on light tackle. These fish typically run 1-3 pounds but fight like they're twice that size, making blistering runs and acrobatic jumps that'll test your drag settings. They're most active during the warmer months and often travel in schools, so when you find one, you've usually found a bunch. They're suckers for fast-moving lures and small live baits, and they'll often compete with each other to hit your offering first. The bite marks from their razor-sharp teeth on your lures are like badges of honor.
Snook are the poster fish for inshore fishing, and for good reason. These ambush predators love structure – docks, mangrove overhangs, bridge pilings – anywhere they can hide and surprise their next meal. They're incredibly line-shy and spooky, which makes them a real challenge on light tackle. A good snook will make several powerful runs toward whatever structure is nearby, testing both your equipment and your nerves. They're most active during dawn and dusk, and in the warmer months, they move into shallower water to spawn. Landing a slot-sized snook on spinning gear is something every inshore angler should experience.
Speckled trout, or "specks," are the bread and butter of inshore fishing. These beautiful fish are perfect for light tackle techniques, and they're found in grass flats, drop-offs, and around structure throughout the year. They're excellent table fare, which makes them a favorite among anglers who like to take a few home for dinner. Specks are known for their soft mouths, so you need to keep steady pressure without horsing them. They respond well to live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater lures during low-light conditions. A good day on the specks can mean steady action for hours.
Redfish are the bullies of the shallow water, and they're built like tanks. These copper-colored bruisers can push 20-30 pounds and will test every knot and connection on your light tackle setup. They're found in everything from super shallow flats to deeper channels, and they're not particularly line-shy, which makes them great targets for beginning anglers. When you hook a big red, expect it to make several bulldogging runs while shaking its head violently. They're also one of the few inshore species you can sight-fish for regularly, watching them cruise the flats or tailing in shallow water.
Cobia are the surprise guests of inshore fishing – you never know when one might show up, but when they do, it's game on. These fish can reach impressive sizes, with 20-40 pounders not uncommon in inshore waters. They're curious by nature and will often follow your boat or check out whatever you're doing, which gives you opportunities for sight-casting. Cobia are incredible fighters, combining the power of a big fish with surprising speed and agility. They're also excellent eating, which makes them a prized catch for any angler lucky enough to connect with one.
Six hours of private charter fishing with all the gear, bait, and expertise you need – that's what separates a good day from a great one. Captain Tanner's setup gives you the flexibility to target whatever's biting while learning techniques you can use for years to come. With free cancellation up to seven days out, there's no risk in booking when the weather window looks good. The inshore bite is
This fully restored 22' Pathfinder is your ticket to productive inshore fishing. With a reliable 225 HP Yamaha pushing you through the shallows at 30 mph, you'll spend more time with lines in the water and less time getting there. The boat's equipped with everything serious anglers need – GPS to mark those honey holes, a fishfinder to locate structure and baitfish, plus a live bait well to keep your offerings lively. The wireless trolling motor lets you position quietly over spooky fish without spooking them, while the fighting chair gives you leverage when battling bigger cobia or jack crevalle. An onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and your drinks cold during those long fights with redfish and snook. Perfect for up to 3 anglers who want to target the full range of inshore species from speckled trout in the grass flats to mangrove snapper around structure. This isn't just transportation – it's a fishing platform designed to put you on fish.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are brown, shark-looking fish that can grow huge - average 30-50 pounds, but 70+ pounders show up regularly. They're loners, usually found around structure like buoys, wrecks, and channel markers in 15-60 feet of water. Spring migration (March-May) is prime time when they move through shallow bays heading to spawn. What makes them special is the sight fishing aspect - you can actually see these big fish cruising near the surface. They fight like freight trains with long, powerful runs and they're some of the best eating fish in the ocean - firm, white meat like mahi. Here's the trick: when you spot one, get a bucktail jig or live bait in front of its nose quickly. They're curious but won't chase much, so precise boat positioning is everything.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are bronze-colored fighters with those famous black spots near the tail - usually 20-35 inches and built like tanks. They're shallow water specialists, often cruising in just 1-4 feet around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring are peak times when they school up. What guests love is the visual aspect - you can often see them tailing or cruising, making it like hunting. They fight hard with powerful runs and that classic head-shaking battle. Great eating too, with firm white meat. My best advice: look for mud clouds or nervous baitfish in skinny water. When you spot a red, cast ahead of where it's going, not where it is. They're constantly moving and you need to lead them like a bird dog.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are beautiful fish with silver sides covered in black spots that typically run 12-20 inches and 1-3 pounds. They're actually not trout at all, but members of the drum family. You'll find them over grass flats and sandy bottoms in 3-8 feet of water, especially around drop-offs and channels. They bite best in cooler months and low-light conditions - early morning, late evening, and overcast days are prime time. What makes them fun is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they make great table fare with tender, sweet meat. The secret is fishing slow and quiet over the grass beds. They spook easily, so keep boat noise down and use a long cast. Look for surface activity or birds working - that's where the baitfish are, and the trout won't be far behind.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the ultimate inshore gamefish - sleek predators with that signature black lateral line and golden color. Most run 18-28 inches, but the big females can push 40+ inches and really put up a fight. They love hanging around mangroves, docks, bridges, and oyster bars in 2-10 feet of water where they can ambush prey. Spring through fall are your best bets, especially around new and full moons when they're most active. What guests love is how they eat - explosive strikes followed by acrobatic jumps and strong runs toward cover. They're also excellent table fare with white, flaky meat. Here's the key: always work your bait or lure near structure, but be ready to pull them away from cover quickly. Snook will dart straight back to those pilings or mangroves.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish Mackerel are fast, silvery fish with distinctive yellow spots that typically run 1-2 feet and weigh 2-3 pounds. They're speed demons that travel in big schools near the surface, making them exciting targets on light tackle. You'll find them around structures and drop-offs, usually in 10-40 feet of water. Spring through fall are prime times when they move through our area following bait schools. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes and strong runs - they'll test your drag for sure. Plus, they're fantastic eating with firm, flaky meat that grills perfectly. My go-to tip: when you hook one, expect company. Where there's one mackerel, there's usually a whole school, so keep your lines in the water and work fast.
Fort Myers, FL, United States