Florida Inshore Fishing - Saint Marks, FL
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Inshore fishing charter accommodates up to 4 guests comfortablyHalfday and fullday trip options with equipment includedProfessional guided fishing experience in St. Marks waters
Welcome to some of the best inshore fishing Florida has to offer! St. Marks sits right where the river meets the Gulf, creating this perfect mixing zone that fish absolutely love. When you book with Fightin Bottom Charters, you're getting access to waters that locals have been working for generations. The grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths around here hold serious fish year-round. Our top-rated charter accommodates up to 4 anglers, so bring your buddies or make it a family affair. We've got all the tackle, bait, and local knowledge you need - just show up ready to fish.
St. Marks inshore fishing means variety and action. We'll be working the shallow flats and structure where redfish cruise looking for crabs and baitfish. The grass beds here are world-class - thick turtle grass that holds trout like you wouldn't believe. Depending on the tide and season, we might hit the rock piles for sheepshead or work the deeper grass edges where black drum hang out. The beauty of this fishery is that something's always biting. Early morning starts are usually best, especially in summer when the fish are more active before the heat sets in. We fish light tackle here - it's way more fun feeling every head shake and run on spinning gear than muscling fish up with heavy stuff.
Inshore fishing around St. Marks is all about reading the water and matching your presentation to what the fish want. We'll be using medium-light spinning rods with 15-20 lb braided line - gives you the sensitivity to feel those light bites but enough backbone to turn fish away from structure. Live shrimp under popping corks is deadly here, especially over grass flats. When fish are feeding aggressively, we'll throw soft plastics on jig heads - paddle tails and shrimp imitations work best. The key is staying quiet and making accurate casts to structure. Redfish are spooky in shallow water, so we'll use the trolling motor to stay back and make long casts to likely spots. Sheepshead fishing requires different tactics - we'll anchor up near structure and use small hooks with fiddler crabs or shrimp, feeling for those subtle taps.
Redfish are the crown jewel of St. Marks inshore fishing. These copper-colored bruisers love the shallow flats and oyster bars around here. They'll run anywhere from 18 inches up to slot-busting bulls over 30 inches. Spring and fall are prime time when they school up in big numbers, but we catch them year-round. What makes reds so special is how they fight - long runs and that bulldogging power that'll test your drag. They're also one of the best eating fish in the Gulf when kept in slot.
Sea trout are abundant in the grass flats and provide steady action when you find them. These spotted beauties average 15-20 inches but we regularly see fish pushing 25 inches or better. Summer evenings are magic for trout - they'll come up shallow to feed and you can sight-cast to them in clear water. Trout have soft mouths so you need to keep steady pressure without horsing them. They're customer favorites because they bite readily and taste amazing on the dinner table.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're absolute tackle-busters. These bottom-dwellers can push 40+ pounds and will test every knot and connection you've got. They love oyster bars and rocky structure where they crush crabs and shellfish. The bite is usually subtle - just weight, then they're gone. Best fishing is during cooler months when big drum move shallow. Landing a trophy black drum is something you'll remember forever.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge that keeps things interesting. These black-striped fish have incredible eyesight and will examine your bait before deciding to bite. They hang around any kind of structure - docks, rocks, bridge pilings. The bite feels like a quick tap-tap-tap, then you better set the hook fast or they'll steal your bait. They're notorious bait thieves but also some of the best eating fish in the ocean. Spring is prime time when they move shallow to spawn around structure.
St. Marks inshore fishing delivers everything you want in a charter - variety, action, and fish that actually fight back. Whether you're after a mess of trout for dinner, hoping to tangle with a bull redfish, or want to test your skills against finicky sheepshead, these waters have it all. Fightin Bottom Charters knows where the fish live and how to catch them. We provide all the gear and expertise - you just need to show up ready to fish. Half-day trips are perfect for families or beginners, while full-day adventures let you really explore different areas and techniques. Don't wait around wondering what you're missing out on the water. Book your St. Marks fishing charter today and see why anglers keep coming back to these productive inshore waters.
Our well-equipped motorboat is your ticket to productive inshore fishing around St. Marks' pristine coastal waters. Built for up to 4 anglers, this fishing machine comes loaded with everything you need to find and catch fish. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when stalking redfish and trout in shallow grass flats, while our fish finder helps locate schools in deeper channels. Stay connected with VHF radio communication and navigate confidently with GPS. The spacious ice box keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold throughout the day. Perfect for exploring the countless creeks, oyster bars, and flats that make this area a fishing paradise. Whether you're after speckled trout, redfish, or flounder, this boat gets you there comfortably and ready to fish.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with monsters reaching 90+ pounds. These powerful fish love hanging around oyster beds and muddy flats in 1-4 feet of water, using their crushing jaws to demolish crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their signature drumming sounds underwater. They're incredible fighters that'll test your drag, and the smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent eating with mild, flaky meat. My go-to tip: use fresh crab on a Carolina rig and keep your bait right on the bottom. These fish are picky eaters but once they commit, hang on tight because they'll pull hard and use that broad body to fight you all the way to the boat.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our shallow water fishing, with their copper-bronze backs and signature black spots near the tail. Most fish run 18-30 inches, but we see plenty of slot-breakers over 27 inches that'll really test your tackle. They love cruising oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines in 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs break the surface. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring offer the best action when they're most active. These fish are pure fun - they hit hard, run strong, and never give up easy. Plus, the slot-sized ones are fantastic eating with mild, sweet meat. The key is being quiet on approach and making accurate casts. Once you spot their backs or tails in skinny water, put your bait right in front of their nose and get ready for a fight.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are the bread and butter of our grass flats, averaging 14-24 inches and known for their beautiful spots and tender white meat. These fish cruise the shallow grass beds and sandy potholes, especially active during dawn, dusk, and nighttime hours. They're year-round residents but really turn on during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. What guests love most is how willing they are to hit artificial lures - soft plastics, topwater plugs, and spoons all work great. The meat is delicate and mild, perfect for the dinner table if you don't overcook it. My best advice: work your lures slow and steady over the grass. When you hook one, keep steady pressure but don't horse them - their mouths are soft and they'll throw the hook if you get too aggressive with them.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the pickpockets of the flats - these crafty fish with human-like teeth love stealing bait around any structure they can find. Running 1-8 pounds typically, they're always hugging dock pilings, bridge supports, and oyster bars where they scrape off barnacles and crabs. February through April is peak season when they gather in big numbers for spawning. What makes them special is those distinctive black stripes and their reputation as excellent table fare - sweet, white meat that's worth the effort. The trick with sheepshead is getting close to structure without spooking them and setting the hook hard the second you feel weight. They'll nibble and steal bait all day, so keep your line tight and don't hesitate when you feel them loading up on your rod.
Saint Marks, FL