Full Day Expert Fishing Trip in Naples and Marco Island
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour private inshore fishing trip with Captain TimTarget trout, redfish, snook, tarpon in Southwest Florida watersFully equipped Pathfinder skiff includes gear, licenses, and live bait
Captain Tim's eight-hour private inshore fishing adventure takes experienced anglers deep into Southwest Florida's most productive waters. You'll fish from a top-rated Pathfinder skiff equipped with everything serious anglers need – premium tackle, live bait, GPS fish finder, and a whisper-quiet trolling motor that won't spook fish in shallow water. This isn't a beginner's trip; it's designed for anglers who know their way around a rod and want to test their skills against some of the Gulf Coast's most challenging gamefish. With just two guests maximum, you'll have Captain Tim's full attention as you work the mangroves, grass flats, and backcountry spots that casual fishing trips never reach.
Your day starts early, meeting Captain Tim at the dock as the sun comes up and the fish are waking up hungry. The Pathfinder skiff is built for these waters – shallow draft lets you get into places where big fish feel safe, while the stable platform gives you room to fight fish without worrying about balance. You'll spend the morning working different structures depending on tides and conditions. Maybe it's sight-fishing redfish in knee-deep grass flats, or working topwater plugs around mangrove points where snook ambush baitfish. Captain Tim reads these waters like a book, adjusting tactics throughout the day based on what the fish are telling him. When the bite slows in one spot, you're already moving to the next productive area. This is active fishing – you'll cover water, change baits, and adapt your approach as conditions change.
The boat comes rigged with quality spinning and baitcasting setups matched to different techniques you'll use throughout the day. Light tackle for trout on the flats, medium-heavy gear for snook around structure, and heavier tackle ready when tarpon show up. Captain Tim keeps a variety of live baits – pilchards, pinfish, and shrimp – plus an arsenal of artificials from topwater plugs to soft plastics. You'll learn to read water conditions and match your presentation accordingly. In clear, shallow water, you might sight-cast to individual fish with lightweight jigs. Around docks and mangroves, you'll pitch live bait into pockets where big snook hide. The GPS and fish finder help locate structure and bait schools, but success comes down to presentation and persistence. Captain Tim shares local knowledge about tide movements, seasonal patterns, and how different species behave in these specific waters. All gear, tackle, and fishing licenses are included, so experienced anglers can focus on technique and strategy rather than logistics.
Snook are the crown jewel of Southwest Florida inshore fishing, and these waters hold some real bruisers. They're ambush predators that love structure – mangrove shorelines, dock pilings, and oyster bars where they can pin baitfish against cover. Peak season runs from spring through early fall, with the best action during moving tides when baitfish get pushed through their feeding zones. A 20-pound snook will test your drag system and your patience, making long runs toward whatever structure they can find. They're notorious for their gill-rattling jumps and their ability to cut you off on barnacle-crusted pilings. Anglers love them because every hookup is a battle, and they're beautiful fish with that distinctive black lateral line.
Tarpon fishing here is world-class, especially during their spring and summer migrations when schools of 80 to 150-pound fish cruise these backcountry channels. These silver kings are pure adrenaline – they'll clear the water six feet high and shake their heads like they're trying to throw the ocean off their backs. You'll typically find them rolling in deeper channels or laid up in shallow basins on calm mornings. Live crabs and large pilchards are go-to baits, though they'll smash topwater plugs when conditions are right. Fighting a big tarpon tests every aspect of your angling skills – boat positioning, drag settings, and stamina. Most anglers consider landing their first tarpon a career milestone.
Sea trout are consistent producers year-round and perfect for dialing in your light-tackle technique. They school up over grass flats and sandy potholes, feeding heavily on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring and fall offer the best chances at gator trout – those thick-bodied females over five pounds that are getting harder to find. They're suckers for live shrimp under popping corks or soft plastic jigs worked slowly across the bottom. Trout fishing teaches you to feel subtle bites and work structure methodically, skills that transfer to targeting other species.
Redfish are the perfect inshore gamefish – they fight hard, eat aggressively, and grow big in these nutrient-rich waters. You'll find them tailing in shallow grass flats, cruising oyster bars, or schooled up in deeper potholes. Sight-fishing for reds is addictive – watching a 30-inch fish turn on your bait in two feet of crystal-clear water never gets old. They're not picky eaters, taking live bait, cut bait, and artificials with equal enthusiasm. Fall brings the best red fishing when they school up for their spawn, sometimes finding groups of 20 or more fish in a single spot.
Crevalle jack round out the slam opportunities and provide arm-burning action when other species are finicky. These bulldogs show up in schools and attack bait with reckless abandon. They're not the prettiest fish, but pound for pound, few species pull harder. Jacks often save the day when other fish aren't cooperating – they'll eat almost anything and fight like they're twice their size. Finding a school of 15-pound jacks means non-stop action until your arms give out.
This customer favorite trip sells out regularly,
Your floating fishing headquarters is a nimble 22-foot Pathfinder motorboat built for serious inshore action around Naples and Marco Island. This skiff cuts through shallow waters at 32 mph thanks to its reliable 200 HP Yamaha engine, getting you to the best fishing spots fast. The wireless trolling motor keeps things whisper-quiet when stalking spooky redfish and snook in the mangroves, while the GPS system helps Captain Tim navigate to his secret honey holes. A built-in livewell keeps your bait frisky and your catch fresh. The fighting chair gives you the leverage needed when battling larger tarpon, and there's even snorkeling gear on board for cooling off between fishing sessions. This boat handles grass flats and backcountry waters like a dream, positioning you perfectly for sight fishing or working structure where the big fish hide.
Caranx HipposCrevalle jacks are the muscle cars of the flats - built for speed and power. These brassy-gold fighters average 3-8 pounds but can hit 20-plus, and they'll test your tackle like no other inshore fish. They roam both shallow flats and deeper channels, often in aggressive schools that push baitfish to the surface. You'll know they're around when you see birds diving and commotion on the water. While they're available year-round, summer and fall bring the biggest schools. Guests love jacks for their raw power - they fight harder pound-for-pound than anything else we target. They're not great eating, but the battle makes up for it. When you find a school feeding on top, cast past them and rip your lure back fast. They can't resist that aggressive retrieve.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the workhorses of our flats - bronze-backed beauties with that signature black eyespot near their tail. They typically run 20-28 inches and love super shallow water where you can actually see their backs breaking the surface. Look for them tailing on oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines year-round, though they school up in deeper water during winter. What makes reds special is their bulldogging fight and willingness to eat almost anything. They're excellent table fare too, with sweet, firm meat. Unlike other species, they stay fairly local and aren't spooked easily, making them perfect for sight fishing. The secret is presentation - cast well ahead of cruising fish and let your bait sink to the bottom before they get there. They're bottom feeders, so keep it low.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are our bread-and-butter inshore species, running 14-20 inches on average with those beautiful black spots scattered across their silver sides. They cruise grass flats and sandy bottoms in 2-8 feet of water, feeding heavily during dawn and dusk. Spring through fall provides the best action, especially on moving tides when they're actively hunting shrimp and baitfish. What guests love about trout is their willingness to bite and excellent eating quality - mild, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're also great for beginners since they're forgiving fighters that won't break you off. My go-to technique is working a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds. The key is a slow, twitching retrieve that mimics wounded prey.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of Southwest Florida's premier gamefish, averaging 18-30 inches with that distinctive black lateral line running down their golden sides. They love structure - mangroves, docks, bridges, and creek mouths where they ambush baitfish. These fish are finicky about water temperature, so they move into deeper holes during winter cold snaps and become more active in warmer months from spring through fall. What makes them special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight - they'll jump and make powerful runs that test your drag. Plus, they're fantastic table fare with firm, white meat. Pro tip: when fishing around structure, keep your drag tight and get them away from cover fast. They'll wrap you up in mangroves or cut you off on barnacles if you give them the chance.
Megalops AtlanticusThe silver king is what dreams are made of - these prehistoric fish can reach 6 feet and over 100 pounds, though most we catch run 60-80 pounds. They roam shallow flats, deep channels, and bridges from spring through fall when water temps hit the 70s. What sets tarpon apart is their aerial show - they'll launch themselves 8 feet out of the water, gill-rattling and tail-walking like nothing else in the Gulf. It's pure adrenaline watching a 100-pound fish go airborne next to the boat. We practice catch and release since their meat is bony and they're slow-growing fish. Best fishing happens during moving tides around new and full moons. Here's the key: bow to the fish when it jumps - drop that rod tip fast or it'll throw the hook on you every time.
Naples, FL