5.0(3 Reviews)Afternoon Inshore Fishing with Captain Rob Nevins
5.0(3 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore fishing targeting redfish, snapper, and flounderAll gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning services includedCaptain Rob provides expert guidance for all skill levels
Looking for a solid afternoon on the water? Captain Rob Nevins runs one of the top-rated inshore fishing charters out of St. Augustine, and this 4-hour trip is a customer favorite for good reason. You'll be targeting some of Florida's best eating fish – redfish, black drum, flounder, sheepshead, and mangrove snapper – in the productive waters around America's oldest city. The $500 price covers two anglers and includes everything you need: rods, reels, tackle, bait, fishing licenses, and fish cleaning service for your legal catches. Want to bring the crew? You can add up to two more people for just $50 each. All you need to pack is drinks, snacks, and sunscreen.
Captain Rob knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's not afraid to get his boat into skinny water where the fish like to hang out. This isn't a cattle boat operation – you're looking at a maximum of four people, which means plenty of room to fish and personal attention from your guide. The afternoon timing works great because you're hitting prime feeding windows as the day cools down and baitfish start moving. Rob's got a reputation for putting clients on fish even when conditions get tough, and he'll work spots that bigger boats can't reach. The relaxed pace makes this perfect for families, first-timers, or experienced anglers who want to learn the local patterns without the pressure of a tournament-style trip.
You'll be fishing the grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths that make St. Augustine's inshore waters so productive. Captain Rob runs light tackle setups that let you feel every bite – we're talking spinning reels with 15-20 pound braid and fluorocarbon leaders that won't spook these clear-water fish. Depending on what's biting, you might be throwing live shrimp under popping corks, bouncing jigs along the bottom for flounder, or sight-casting to tailing redfish in shallow water. The boat's equipped with a trolling motor for quiet approaches, and Rob's got the local knowledge to read the tides and structure. He'll switch up techniques based on what the fish are doing that day – whether that's dropping baits around dock pilings for sheepshead or working the mangrove edges for snapper.
"What a fun day of fishing. The weather was crazy the fishing was not so great because of the we weather. But captain Rob gave it all he had to make sure my fishing experience was fun and it was! I didn't think that we would caught anything at all but we did. We caught big reds, blue crab, and some croakers that we used for bait. Captain Rob is very skillfull as a guide! He got us into places I didn't think a boat of it's size could go, but he made it happen. Thank you again Captain Rob for a very fun day of fishing. I will book you again if I'm in your neck of the woods." - Debra
"The Captain was very knowledgeable about the area. Took us to some really good spots. He was very personable. Told us good stories of old St. Augustine and old Florida. Will use him again." - Christine
"Had a blast, little cold but will do it again next year." - Sandy
Grey Snapper (Mangrove Snapper) are some of the smartest fish you'll encounter on this trip, and that's what makes them so satisfying to catch. These guys typically run 12-16 inches around St. Augustine's docks and structure, though bigger ones lurk in deeper holes. They're notorious bait stealers with incredible eyesight, so you need light leaders and fresh bait to fool them. Summer and fall are prime time when they're feeding heavy before moving offshore. Once you hook one, get ready for a scrappy fight and some of the best eating fish in Florida waters.
Black Drum are the bulldogs of the inshore flats, and St. Augustine's got some real bruisers. These fish can range from puppy drum around 2-3 pounds up to monsters pushing 20-30 pounds that'll test your drag system. They love oyster bars and grass edges where they root around for crabs and shrimp with their downturned mouths. The bigger fish are catch-and-release due to regulations, but the slot-sized drum make excellent table fare. Spring and fall bring the best action when they're schooled up and feeding aggressively.
Tarpon are the silver kings that make every angler's heart skip a beat, even though most of what you'll encounter are juvenile "poons" in the 10-30 pound range. Don't let the smaller size fool you – these fish can still clear the water multiple times and strip line like nobody's business. St. Augustine's creeks and rivers hold good numbers during the warmer months, especially around bridges and deeper holes. They're primarily catch-and-release fish, but the fight and photo opportunities make them worth every minute of battle.
Summer Flounder are the chameleons of the inshore world, lying flat on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush baitfish swimming overhead. Around St. Augustine, they typically run 14-20 inches and are absolute table fare champions with their mild, flaky white meat. The trick is keeping your bait moving just off the bottom – they won't chase it far, but they can't resist a well-presented offering. Spring through fall offers the best action, with the bigger "doormat" flounder showing up during cooler months.
Redfish are Florida's poster child for inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters are aggressive, predictable, and absolutely delicious within the slot limit. St. Augustine's reds typically range from
Captain Rob's 2023 Stott Craft center console is built for serious inshore fishing around St. Augustine's productive waters. This 21-footer cuts through the shallows at 30 knots, getting you to the redfish flats and snapper holes quickly. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're stalking spooky fish in skinny water, while the GPS and fish finder help locate structure where flounder and sheepshead hang out. With room for up to 4 anglers, there's plenty of space to work lures around docks and oyster bars without tangling lines. The Tahatsu engine runs smooth and reliable, perfect for those afternoon trips when the bite picks up. Whether you're casting to redfish tailing in the grass or bottom fishing for black drum, this boat handles St. Augustine's backwaters like a dream.
Pogonias CromisThese are the heavyweights of the drum family, and they'll give you a fight you won't forget. Most of our inshore drum run 5-30 pounds, with that distinctive black coloring and powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs. You'll find them around oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths in 2-10 feet of water. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning. What guests love is the raw power - no acrobatics, just pure bulldogging strength. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent eating with white, flaky meat. My local trick is using fresh blue crab for bait - cut it in half and use a circle hook. The crab scent draws them in, and other baitfish won't steal it as quickly.
Lutjanus GriseusAlso called Mangrove Snapper, these greyish-red fish are some of the smartest fighters in our waters. They typically run 1-3 pounds inshore, with that distinctive dark stripe across their eye. You'll find them around docks, piers, and any structure they can use for ambush hunting. They're nocturnal feeders, so late afternoon trips often produce the best action. What makes them special is their wariness - they'll test your patience and skill. The meat is outstanding - white, flaky, and mild. My go-to trick is using live shrimp hooked through the tail, letting it sink to the bottom near structure, then barely lifting it off the bottom. Keep movement minimal - these fish are opportunistic but spook easily with too much action.
Sciaenops OcellatusThe classic inshore slam fish with that copper-bronze color and signature black spot near the tail. Most of our local reds run 18-30 inches and are absolute bulldogs in shallow water. They love grass flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines in 1-4 feet - sometimes so shallow their backs show. Year-round fishing here, but spring and fall are peak times. What hooks guests is their attitude - they eat aggressively and fight hard in skinny water. Plus, the slot-size fish make great table fare with mild, firm meat. The bigger "bull" reds we release to keep breeding. Try live shrimp under a popping cork near structure, or throw a gold spoon over grass flats. They'll often tail-walk when hooked in shallow water.
Paralichthys DentatusThese flatfish are masters of disguise, lying camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-20 inches and put up a surprising fight for their size. You'll find them on sandy flats, near inlet mouths, and around structure in 10-30 feet of water. Fall is prime time, September through November, when they're most active before moving offshore. Guests love them because they're excellent table fare - sweet, white meat that's perfect for the dinner plate. They're also fun to watch change colors when you bring them up. My trick is using a bucktail jig with a strip of squid or a live minnow. Drift over sandy bottom and bounce it slowly - flounder like their meals served right on the deck.
Megalops AtlanticusThe silver king - nothing matches the thrill of a 50-100 pound tarpon launching itself skyward. These prehistoric giants frequent our inshore waters, especially around bridges, channels, and deeper holes in 8-20 feet. They're most active during warmer months when baitfish are thick. What makes tarpon special isn't the eating (we release them all), but that raw power and acrobatics. They can jump 10 feet out of the water trying to throw your hook. Most guests remember their first tarpon jump for years. The key here is live bait - pinfish or mullet work great. When you hook up, bow to the fish during jumps by pointing your rod tip toward them. This gives slack and keeps them from throwing the hook on their aerial show.
5.0 out of 5.0What a fun day of fishing. The weather was crazy the fishing was not so great because of the we weather. But captain Rob gave it a...
The Captain was very knowledgeable about the area. Took us to some really good spots. He was very personable. Told us good storie...
Had a blast, little cold but will do it again next year.
St. Augustine