Half Day Family Fishing in St. Augustine Waters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour inshore fishing trip targeting Redfish, Trout, and FlounderFamily-friendly experience with patient Captain Rob in calm watersAll equipment provided for comfortable beginner-friendly adventure
Looking for the perfect way to get your family hooked on fishing? Captain Rob Nevins knows exactly how to make that happen on the pristine inshore waters around St. Augustine. This top-rated half-day charter starts bright and early at 8 a.m., giving you four solid hours to work the flats and channels where some of Florida's most sought-after species love to hang out. With space for just two guests, you'll get the personalized attention that makes all the difference between a good day and a great day on the water. Captain Rob's got a reputation for keeping things fun and relaxed while still putting fish in the boat, making this the customer favorite for families wanting their first real taste of Florida fishing.
The beauty of inshore fishing around St. Augustine is that you're never more than a short boat ride from productive water. Captain Rob will have you working the grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths where redfish cruise the shallows and trout stack up along the drop-offs. The morning bite is usually the best time to be out there, and starting at 8 a.m. puts you right in the sweet spot when fish are most active. Don't worry about bringing anything except your Florida fishing license – Captain Rob provides all the rods, reels, tackle, and bait you'll need. The boat stays in protected waters, so even kids who might get queasy on rougher trips will feel comfortable. This isn't about testing your sea legs; it's about learning to read the water, feel the bite, and work a fish to the boat. Captain Rob takes his time with beginners, showing you how to cast, when to set the hook, and how to fight different species without losing them at the boat.
Inshore fishing is all about finesse and reading the conditions. You'll be using medium-action spinning rods spooled with 15-20 pound test line – perfect for handling anything from a feisty trout to a bulldogging redfish. Captain Rob switches up techniques based on what the fish want that day. Live shrimp under popping corks work great when trout are feeding up in the water column, while bottom rigs with cut bait are deadly for black drum and flounder holding tight to structure. You might throw soft plastics on jig heads along the mangrove edges where reds like to ambush prey, or work spoons over grass flats when the water's clean and fish are sight-feeding. The key is staying versatile and letting Captain Rob guide you through different presentations. He'll teach you to feel the difference between a fish picking up your bait and getting hung on bottom – that subtle distinction that separates successful anglers from those who go home empty-handed. The tackle box stays stocked with everything from circle hooks for live bait to various weights for different depths and currents.
Grey Snapper are scrappy fighters that'll test your drag system and your patience. These fish have excellent eyesight and can be picky about presentations, especially in clear water. They typically run 12-16 inches around St. Augustine's inshore waters, though larger specimens cruise the deeper channels. Summer and fall are prime time for snapper, when they move into shallower water to feed. What makes them special is their aggressive strike and the way they'll try to cut you off on structure – you've got to muscle them away from cover fast. Captain Rob knows the rocky areas and ledges where they like to hold, and he'll teach you to work your bait just off the bottom where snapper feel comfortable feeding.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the inshore flats, with fish ranging from schoolie-sized specimens to monsters pushing 30+ pounds. These fish are bottom feeders with a serious appetite for crabs, shrimp, and oysters. They're most active during cooler months, but you'll find them year-round in St. Augustine waters. What guests love about drum fishing is the power – even smaller fish will make your reel sing, and bigger ones will test every knot in your tackle. They're not flashy jumpers, but they'll pull steady and hard, making long runs when they feel the hook. Captain Rob targets them around oyster bars and structure where they root around for food, and he'll show you how to detect their subtle pickup – black drum are notorious for mouthing bait before committing to a real bite.
Summer Flounder are the masters of camouflage, lying buried in sand waiting to ambush prey. These flatfish are prized for their table fare and their sneaky fighting style. They typically run 14-20 inches in local waters, with bigger fish showing up during their fall migration. Flounder fishing requires patience and a good feel for your bait – they'll often grab it and run before stopping to turn it around and swallow it. Captain Rob knows the sandy bottoms and channel edges where they like to set up, usually in 8-15 feet of water. What makes flounder fishing exciting is the element of surprise – you never know when that flat fish is going to hammer your bait as it drifts along the bottom. They're also one of the best eating fish in these waters, making them a favorite target for families.
Sea Trout are probably the most cooperative fish you'll encounter on this trip, making them perfect for beginners and kids. These spotted beauties are abundant in St. Augustine's grass flats and love to feed in shallow water, especially during moving tides. They typically range from 14-18 inches, though bigger "gator" trout over 20 inches are always a possibility. Trout have soft mouths, so Captain Rob will teach you to fight them with steady pressure rather than horsing them to the boat. They're most active in spring through fall, and they'll hit a variety of baits from live shrimp to artificial lures. What guests love about trout is their willingness to bite and their beautiful coloration – those distinctive spots make for great photos before release.
Hit the calm inshore waters of St. Augustine aboard our 2023 Stott Craft center console - a solid 21-footer that'll get you to the fishing spots in comfort. This modern boat handles beautifully with its reliable Tahatsu engine, cruising at a smooth 30 knots to maximize your time with lines in the water. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're working the shallows for redfish and trout, while our GPS and fish finder help Captain Rob put you right on the fish. Perfect for families, this center console gives everyone room to cast and move around safely. Whether you're teaching the kids to fish or just want a relaxed morning on the water targeting snapper and flounder, this boat delivers the stable platform you need for a successful day of inshore fishing around historic St. Augustine.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters hitting 50+ pounds. These bottom-feeders love oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths where they crush crabs and shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring brings the best action when they school up for spawning in our shallow bays. What guests love is the steady, bulldogging fight - no flashy jumps, just pure strength. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent eating with mild, flaky meat. My go-to tip: use fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig and let it sit still on the bottom. Black drum are notorious for slow, deliberate bites, so when you feel weight instead of a sharp strike, that's your fish.
Lutjanus GriseusGrey Snapper, or Mangrove Snapper, are smart fighters that love hanging around docks, bridges, and any structure they can use for cover. These opportunistic feeders typically run 1-3 pounds inshore, with their greyish-red coloring and distinctive dark eye stripe. They're most active at dawn and dusk, making our early morning trips perfect timing. What makes them special is their excellent table fare - white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. They're sneaky though, so patience pays off. Here's a local trick: once your live shrimp hits bottom, reel up just a foot or two to keep it off the structure but in the strike zone. When you feel that tap, don't jerk - let them take it and run before setting the hook.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our shallow water fishing, easily spotted by their copper-bronze sides and distinctive black eyespot near the tail. These bruisers typically run 18-30 inches inshore and fight like freight trains, making long runs and using their broad tails for leverage. They cruise oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines in water so shallow their backs sometimes show. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes and that classic red drum bulldogging fight. Plus, they're excellent table fare when kept within slot limits. My best advice: look for nervous water or tailing fish in the shallows, then cast a gold spoon or live shrimp just ahead of their path and let them find it.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout are one of our most reliable inshore species, running 1-4 pounds on average with beautiful spotted flanks and a soft mouth that requires finesse. They love grass flats, sandy potholes, and oyster bar edges in 2-8 feet of water. Dawn and dusk are prime time, especially during warmer months when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. What guests enjoy most is their willingness to hit artificial lures and their excellent eating quality - tender, white meat that flakes perfectly. The trick with trout is their paper-thin mouths, so keep steady pressure but don't horse them. My local secret: work a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds during moving water. The sound draws them up from cover.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy bottoms, blending in perfectly until an unsuspecting baitfish swims by. These flatfish typically run 15-20 inches and make fantastic table fare with sweet, white meat. They're ambush predators that lie buried in sand near drop-offs, channels, and grass edges in 6-20 feet of water. Fall months from September through November offer the best fishing when they're feeding heavily before their offshore migration. What makes them fun is the challenge - you need to feel for that subtle tap as they inhale your bait sideways. Pro tip: use a long-shanked hook with live finger mullet and drift slowly along bottom contours. When you feel the bite, count to three before setting the hook to let them turn the bait.
St. Augustine