Full Day Cedar Key Inshore Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Eighthour inshore fishing adventure with Captain ChadTarget redfish, speckled trout, cobia, and black drumAll gear, tackle, bait, and licenses included
Cedar Key's pristine inshore waters offer some of Florida's most productive fishing, and Captain Chad's full-day trip with Chums Guide Service puts you right in the heart of it all. This world-class 8-hour fishing adventure gives serious anglers the time they need to work multiple spots and target the area's most prized species. Whether you're after that trophy redfish or hoping to fill the cooler with speckled trout, Captain Chad knows exactly where to find them. The trip covers everything you need – gear, tackle, bait, and fishing licenses – so you can focus on what matters most: getting your line wet and making memories on the water.
Your day starts early with Captain Chad, who's been guiding these waters for years and knows every grass flat, oyster bar, and drop-off where fish love to hang out. The 8-hour timeframe is a game-changer because it allows you to hit multiple productive zones as conditions change throughout the day. Morning might find you working the grass flats for speckled trout, while the afternoon could see you sight-fishing for redfish in the shallows or targeting cobia around structure. The boat comfortably handles up to 6 anglers (starting rate covers 2, with additional guests at $100 each), giving everyone plenty of room to cast and fight fish without getting tangled up. Captain Chad provides top-rated gear and knows exactly which baits and lures are working best for each species. You'll want to bring your own drinks, snacks, and sun protection – trust me, you'll work up an appetite after hours of steady action.
Cedar Key's inshore fishing requires versatility, and Captain Chad comes prepared with the right gear for every situation. Depending on conditions and target species, you might be throwing topwater plugs at first light, working live shrimp under popping corks, or casting soft plastics along mangrove shorelines. The captain provides spinning and baitcasting setups rigged with everything from 15-pound test for trout to heavier tackle for bull redfish and cobia. Artificial lures like DOA shrimp, Gulp baits, and spoons are staples here, but live bait often steals the show – especially fresh shrimp, pinfish, and mullet. The shallow waters around Cedar Key mean you'll be sight-fishing quite a bit, watching for redfish tails, trout slicks, or the dark shadow of a cruising cobia. Captain Chad's local knowledge shines when it comes to reading water conditions, tides, and weather patterns that determine where fish will be holding on any given day.
Redfish: These copper-colored bruisers are the crown jewel of Cedar Key inshore fishing. Redfish here range from slot-sized fish perfect for the dinner table to massive bull reds that'll test your drag system and your patience. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, with fish feeding heavily in the grass flats and around oyster bars during moving tides. What makes redfish so exciting is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight – they'll make long runs and use their broad sides to pull hard against the rod. Sight-fishing for reds in skinny water is pure adrenaline, especially when you watch a 30-inch fish track your lure before crushing it in two feet of water.
Speckled Trout: The bread and butter of Cedar Key fishing, speckled trout provide consistent action throughout the trip and make excellent table fare. These spotted beauties love the grass flats and can be targeted year-round, though spring and fall typically offer the best numbers and size. Trout in the 15-20 inch range are common, with occasional gator trout pushing 24+ inches showing up to make your day. They're suckers for live shrimp under a popping cork, but artificial baits like soft plastics and topwater plugs can trigger explosive strikes. What anglers love about trout fishing is the steady action – when you find a good school, you can often catch fish after fish until they move on or the tide changes.
Cobia: Cedar Key's structure and baitfish populations make it a renowned destination for cobia, especially during their spring and fall migrations. These brown sharks (as locals sometimes call them) can reach 40+ pounds and provide some of the most exciting fights in the inshore waters. Cobia are curious fish that often approach the boat, giving you shot after shot with live bait or large jigs. They're typically found around crab trap buoys, channel markers, and other structure where they ambush prey. The customer favorite technique here is sight-casting to cruising fish – there's nothing quite like watching a 30-pound cobia swim up to inspect your bait before deciding to eat it.
Snook: While more common in warmer months, snook around Cedar Key offer trophy potential and heart-stopping strikes. These ambush predators love mangrove shorelines, docks, and structure where they can surprise passing baitfish. Snook are notorious for their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights, often jumping multiple times and making sizzling runs toward cover. The best snook action typically happens during dawn and dusk periods, when these predators move into shallow water to feed. What makes snook fishing so addictive is their unpredictability – you never know when a slot fish or a true giant might inhale your lure along a mangrove bank.
Captain Chad's full-day inshore fishing trip represents the best value for serious anglers who want to maximize their time on Cedar Key's productive waters. Eight hours gives you the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions, work different areas as tides shift, and really dial in on what's biting. The inclusive package – gear, tackle, bait, and licenses – means you
Get ready to fish Cedar Key's legendary inshore waters aboard Captain Chad's 24-foot Carolina Skiff. This 2017 beauty runs on a powerful 300HP Mercury engine that'll get you to the fish fast and reliable. Built with a shallow draft design, she can slip into those skinny water spots where the big redfish and speckled trout like to hide. The stable platform gives you plenty of room to work your lines while targeting cobia, black drum, and whatever else is biting. With comfortable seating for your group and all the modern conveniences, this boat is made for serious fishing. Whether you're sight-casting in the grass flats or working structure in deeper water, she handles it all with ease. Perfect for anglers who want to cover water and put fish in the cooler.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the big game fish of our inshore waters, averaging 30-50 pounds with some reaching 6 feet long. These brown, shark-like fish cruise alone around structure - channel markers, crab traps, even floating debris. Spring migration from April through June is prime time when they move through Cedar Key heading to spawn. They're curious fish that will often surface to check out the boat, giving you sight-fishing opportunities you won't forget. The fight is powerful and sustained, plus cobia are some of the best eating fish in these waters - firm, white meat that's restaurant quality. Here's what works: when you spot one, throw a bucktail jig or large soft plastic ahead of it and work it slowly. Cobia will follow lures, so don't give up if they don't strike immediately.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the ultimate sight-fishing target here in Cedar Key's shallow waters. These copper-colored bruisers average 20-28 inches and love cruising oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines in just 1-4 feet of water. You'll spot them by their distinctive black spot near the tail - sometimes they're so shallow their backs break the surface. Fall and spring offer prime fishing when they're feeding heavily before and after winter. What guests love most is watching these fish explode on topwater lures and then bulldogging toward cover. The meat is excellent eating with a mild, sweet flavor. Pro tip: when you see a red cruising shallow, cast well ahead of where it's going and let your lure sit still. They're curious and will often investigate.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are Cedar Key's bread and butter fish, running 14-18 inches with beautiful spotted sides. They cruise grass flats in 2-8 feet of water, especially around oyster bars and creek edges. Cool mornings and evenings from spring through fall produce the best bites, though winter can be fantastic when they school up in deeper holes. Trout have a soft bite, so you need to stay alert - they'll often just swim off with your bait. The fight isn't wild, but they make up for it on the dinner table with sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. My go-to tip: use a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below. The cork noise draws them in, and that natural presentation seals the deal.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of Cedar Key's premier game fish, with their golden bodies and signature black lateral line. Most run 18-24 inches, though bigger ones lurk around docks and mangroves. They love structure - oyster bars, creek mouths, and any place with current flow. Spring through fall gives you the best action when they're feeding aggressively on shrimp and baitfish. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll jump and run for cover every time. The meat is white and flaky, perfect for the grill. Here's the trick: cast your lure past the structure and work it back slowly along the edges. Snook ambush from cover, so patience pays off when you see that telltale swirl.
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