10-Hour Florida Bass & Multi-Species Adventure
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
10hour lake fishing targeting trophy bass with Captain MonteMultiple species available including sunfish, crappie, and catfishIntimate 2guest capacity with complimentary drinks provided
Get ready for a full day on Florida's productive waters with Captain Monte, where trophy largemouth bass are just the beginning of your fishing story. This 10-hour charter is built for serious anglers who want to maximize their time on the water and target multiple species that call Florida's lakes home. You'll be casting for bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish while enjoying complimentary drinks throughout the day. With space for just two anglers, you'll get personalized attention and prime positioning at every honey hole we hit.
Captain Monte knows these Florida waters like the back of his hand, and he'll put you on fish from sunrise to sunset. We start early to beat the crowds and catch that magical morning bite when bass are actively feeding in the shallows. The boat is equipped with quality rods, reels, and a tackle box full of proven lures that produce results in these waters. You'll fish everything from grassbeds and timber to deeper drop-offs where the big girls like to hang out. Since we're out for 10 hours, you'll experience different bite windows throughout the day - morning topwater action, midday structure fishing, and that sweet evening bite when the sun starts to drop. Pack your own snacks and lunch because we'll be covering serious water, and you'll want to stay fueled up. Don't forget your Florida fishing license - it's required and we can't launch without it.
We'll be throwing a mix of techniques depending on conditions and what the fish are telling us. Expect to flip jigs into heavy cover, work soft plastics around structure, and throw reaction baits when the bass are aggressive. For crappie, we'll downsize to lighter tackle and work brush piles and deeper structure with small jigs and minnows. The catfish bite often comes alive using cut bait or stink baits near deeper holes and channels. Captain Monte provides all the gear, but if you've got a favorite rod or lucky lure, bring it along. We'll adjust our approach based on weather, water temperature, and seasonal patterns. Florida's year-round fishing means we're always adapting - whether it's pre-spawn, post-spawn, or those tough summer dog days when fish head deep.
Largemouth Bass are the star attraction and Florida grows them big. These Florida strain bass are known for their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights. Spring brings the spawn when bass move shallow and get territorial, making them easier to target but also more protective of their beds. Summer pushes them to deeper structure and grasslines, while fall brings another feeding frenzy as they bulk up for winter. A 5-pound bass is a solid fish here, but don't be surprised if you tangle with something in the 7-8 pound range that'll test your drag and put a serious bend in your rod.
Crappie fishing in Florida is exceptional, especially during their spawn in late winter and early spring. These slab-sided fighters love brush piles, timber, and deeper structure during the warmer months. Florida crappie run bigger than their northern cousins, with 2-pound fish being common and 3-pounders making your day. They're excellent table fare and fun to catch on light tackle. We'll target them with small jigs, live minnows, and sometimes small spinnerbaits when they're aggressive.
White Catfish might not win beauty contests, but they're scrappy fighters that'll keep your rod bent. They're most active during low-light periods and love stink baits, cut bait, and live worms. These fish are perfect for filling out a mixed bag and are surprisingly strong for their size. They typically run 1-3 pounds but occasionally surprise you with a 5-pounder that'll make you think you've hooked a bass.
Redear Sunfish, also called shellcrackers, are Florida favorites that spawn in massive beds during spring. They're larger than regular bluegill and fight harder pound-for-pound than you'd expect. These fish love deep water and shell beds where they crack open snails and mussels - hence the nickname. They're excellent table fare and a blast to catch on ultralight tackle. During their spawn, you can catch dozens in a single spot.
This 10-hour adventure gives you the best shot at experiencing everything Florida fishing has to offer. You'll leave with sore arms, great memories, and hopefully a cooler full of fish. Captain Monte's local knowledge and dedication to putting clients on fish makes this a top-rated choice for serious anglers visiting Florida. Whether you're chasing your personal best bass or just want to enjoy a full day of steady action with multiple species, this trip delivers. Book your dates early, especially during peak seasons, and get ready for the kind of fishing day that keeps you coming back to Florida's waters year after year.
Your fishing platform for this 10-hour Florida bass adventure is a well-equipped motorboat designed to get you to the hottest spots on Central Florida's prime lakes. The boat features GPS navigation to pinpoint productive fishing areas and a reliable fish finder to locate those trophy bucketmouths hiding in structure below. With comfortable seating for two anglers, you'll have plenty of room to work your favorite lures without getting tangled up with your fishing partner. The boat's shallow draft design lets Captain Monte navigate into those back-water pockets where the big bass like to ambush prey. Electric trolling motor keeps you positioned quietly over productive water, while the main outboard gets you from spot to spot quickly during this full-day fishing marathon targeting bass, sunfish, crappie, and catfish across Florida's legendary fishery.
Pomoxis NigromaculatusCrappie are some of the best eating fish in Florida waters, and they're fun to catch too. Most run 7-12 inches and half a pound to a pound, traveling in schools around cover like brush piles and fallen timber. You'll find both black and white crappie here - blacks prefer clearer water while whites don't mind it murky. Spring spawning season is peak time when water hits 62-68°F, but they bite year-round if you know where to look. Dawn and dusk are magic hours since they're less active midday. Guests love them because they're not finicky eaters and provide steady action once you locate a school. The delicate white meat is worth the effort. Pro tip: use small jigs or live minnows, and when you catch one, work that same area thoroughly - where there's one crappie, there's usually more.
Micropterus SalmoidesFlorida's largemouth bass are what most folks come here for, and for good reason. These green machines average 12-24 inches and 1-4 pounds, but the big ones can push well over that. They love hanging around structure - fallen trees, weed lines, docks, anywhere they can ambush prey. Spring through early summer is prime time when they're shallow and aggressive, though you can catch them year-round here. What makes them special is that legendary fight - they'll jump, run, and test your drag like few other freshwater fish. Plus they're excellent eating when handled right. My local tip: throw something red near structure during the spawn. Bass get territorial and that red color triggers strikes even when they're not actively feeding.
Lepomis MicrolophusRedear sunfish, or "shellcrackers" as locals call them, are a favorite target for light tackle fun. They average 6-10 inches and under a pound, but their specialized teeth let them crunch snails and mussels that other panfish can't touch. Look for them around vegetation, fallen logs, and brush in lakes and slow rivers where they can hide. Late spring to early summer is prime when water temps hit 66-70°F and they're spawning in shallow redds. Guests enjoy them because they're not bait shy and provide steady action once located. The fight is solid for their size, and they're excellent eating. The challenge isn't catching them - it's finding them. My go-to technique: use nightcrawlers or small jigs with enough weight to get down to them since they're bottom oriented, then work it slowly through likely cover.
Ameiurus CatusWhite catfish are the smallest of our catfish family, but don't let that fool you - they're scrappy fighters and great table fare. Most weigh half a pound to 2 pounds, though we occasionally see 10-pounders that'll surprise you. They're bottom feeders with those signature white chin whiskers, cruising muddy lake bottoms and slow river sections looking for insects, small fish, and crustaceans. Unlike other catfish, they're not strictly nocturnal - morning and evening bites are common. What guests like is they're less finicky than bass but more active than channel cats. They can handle low oxygen and even brackish water. The meat is sweet and mild. Here's my trick: use chicken liver or nightcrawlers on a Carolina rig, but keep it moving slightly off bottom so they can smell it. Dead-still bait often gets ignored.
Winter Haven, FL