Full Day Apalachicola Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore charter targeting spotted seatrout and redfishAll tackle, bait, and fishing licenses included in charter rateAccommodates up to four guests with professional guide service
When you're looking for a solid day of inshore fishing along Florida's Forgotten Coast, this six-hour charter with Catch The Most Charters delivers exactly what seasoned anglers and first-timers are after. Based out of St. George Island, we'll work the productive waters around Apalachicola Bay, where grass flats meet deeper channels and structure holds everything from slot redfish to keeper trout. This isn't some cookie-cutter fishing trip – we're talking about targeting multiple species in diverse water that changes with the tide, wind, and season. Your group of up to four anglers gets the full treatment: quality tackle, fresh bait, fishing licenses, and a captain who knows these waters like the back of his hand.
This charter runs six hours, giving us plenty of time to work different spots and adjust our game plan based on what the fish are doing. We'll launch early and hit the best bite windows, moving between shallow grass beds, oyster bars, and deeper holes depending on the tide and target species. The boat handles up to four passengers comfortably, so you've got room to fish without bumping elbows. Families love this setup because there's always something biting – even when the trout bite slows down, we can switch to sheepshead around structure or work the flats for redfish. Bring your own snacks and drinks since we don't provide meals, but everything else fishing-related is covered. Don't forget sunscreen and a hat because you'll be exposed out there, especially during summer months.
We fish multiple techniques depending on conditions and what we're targeting. Live bait gets the nod most days – shrimp and pinfish are go-to options that produce consistently for trout, reds, and flounder. When we're working grass flats, we'll drift with the current or use the trolling motor to stay quiet and cover water systematically. Around structure like docks, pilings, and oyster bars, we'll anchor up and present baits vertically for sheepshead and sometimes tripletail. The tackle is sized right for these fish – medium spinning gear with 15-20 pound braid and fluorocarbon leaders. During red snapper season, we'll bump up to heavier tackle and work deeper water with bottom rigs. Artificial lures come into play when fish are aggressive, especially topwater plugs early morning and soft plastics throughout the day.
Spotted seatrout are the bread and butter of this fishery, running anywhere from 12 to 20 inches with occasional gator trout pushing 24 inches or better. They love the grass flats and will hit live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater plugs. Best action typically happens during moving water, especially the first two hours of incoming tide. These fish are fun to catch, great to eat, and available year-round, though spring and fall produce the most consistent action. Redfish are the other main target, with most fish ranging 18 to 27 inches – perfect slot-sized reds that fight hard and taste even better. They cruise shallow flats, especially during high tide, and will ambush baits around oyster bars and mangrove edges.
Flounder might not be the prettiest fish, but they're some of the best eating you'll find in these waters. Most run 14 to 18 inches, and they love sandy bottoms near grass beds and channel edges. They're ambush predators, so we'll work baits slow along the bottom where they're laying. Sheepshead are the technical challenge of the group – these black and white striped fish have incredible eyesight and soft mouths, requiring light tackle and perfect presentations around structure. They're primarily winter fish, showing up in good numbers from December through March. When red snapper season opens, we can target these prized fish in federal waters, with most ranging 16 to 22 inches and providing some of the best table fare in the Gulf.
This full-day charter gives you the best shot at multiple species and a cooler full of fillets. Six hours on the water means we can chase the bite as it develops and move with changing conditions. Whether you're a local angler looking to learn new water or visiting from out of state, this trip showcases what makes Apalachicola Bay special. The diversity of habitat and species keeps things interesting all day, and there's always a backup plan when one bite slows down. Deposits are non-refundable, so make sure your dates work before booking. These top-rated charters fill up during peak season, especially spring and fall when the fishing is at its best. Book now and get ready for a day of serious inshore action along Florida's most productive coast.
Epinephelus ItajaraGoliath Grouper are the giants of our waters - we're talking fish that can hit 8 feet and hundreds of pounds. These massive bottom dwellers hang around shallow reefs, structure, and artificial cover in 30-150 feet. They're protected now, so it's strictly catch and release, but what a catch it is. The first pull from a big goliath will surprise even seasoned anglers - pure power that can drag you around the boat. They're curious fish with no real predators, so they're not shy about taking bait. We see them year-round, but they're more active in warmer months. When one hits, you'll need heavy tackle and a strong back. My tip: anchor close enough to the structure that they'll come out for your bait, but far enough that you can pull them away before they dive back into cover.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed Snapper are seasonal visitors here, usually showing up when conditions are right and regulations allow. These bottom dwellers average 1-2 feet and under 10 pounds, but the bigger ones can really test your tackle. They hang around structure in deeper water - think 30+ feet near reefs, wrecks, and hard bottom. The pink-to-red coloration makes them easy to spot when you bring one up. What guests love most is the fight they put up and the outstanding table fare afterward - mild, nutty flavor that's hard to beat. When targeting snapper, use heavy tackle and get your bait right to the bottom with fresh squid or cigar minnows. Pro tip: once you hook one, keep steady pressure and get them up quick before they run back to structure and cut your line.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing - copper-colored beauties with those signature black spots near the tail. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches and 3-8 pounds, but we see bulls pushing 30+ inches that'll test your drag system. They love super shallow water, sometimes so skinny their backs show above the surface. Look for them around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines in 1-4 feet of water. They're year-round residents, but fall and spring offer the best action. What makes them special is their willingness to eat almost anything and that powerful, bulldogging fight in shallow water. Plus, they're excellent on the table. The sight fishing opportunities when they're tailing in skinny water gets everyone excited. Pro tip: approach quietly and cast past them, then work your bait back through their feeding zone.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Seatrout, or specks as we call them locally, are a mainstay of our inshore fishing. They typically run 14-20 inches and 1-3 pounds, with the occasional gator trout pushing 5+ pounds that really gets your heart pumping. These grass flat specialists love shallow water between 2-8 feet, especially around oyster bars and drop-offs. Spring through fall are prime time, with dawn and dusk being magic hours. They're active feeders that hit topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live shrimp with authority. The fight is scrappy for their size, and they make excellent table fare with flaky white meat - just don't overcook them. What guests enjoy most is how willing they are to bite and how they school up, so when you find one, there's usually more around. Key tip: work your lures slowly and watch for nervous water where they're feeding on baitfish.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of our waters with those distinctive black and white stripes. Most run 1-3 pounds and 14-18 inches, but we occasionally see some pushing 8+ pounds that'll really bend your rod. They're structure lovers - any dock, pier, bridge, or barnacle-covered piling is prime sheepshead territory. Winter and early spring are peak times when they school up for spawning. What makes them challenging and fun is they're notorious bait thieves with those human-like teeth designed for crushing crustaceans. They nibble and test your bait before committing. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in our waters - sweet, white meat that's worth the effort. My advice: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, get tight to structure, and set the hook hard the moment you feel weight.
St. George Island