5 Hour Nearshore Trip | St Petersburg FL
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fivehour nearshore fishing trip targeting multiple speciesAccommodates up to four guests with FishHuge ChartersCatch and release shark fishing available during afternoon
This nearshore charter puts you right in the sweet spot where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. Five hours gives us plenty of time to work different structures, from artificial reefs to natural ledges, targeting everything from aggressive Cobia to sneaky Mangrove Snapper. With just four anglers max, you'll get the personal attention that makes the difference between a good day and a great day on the water. We'll be fishing waters that range from 15 to 40 feet deep, where the diversity of species keeps every cast interesting.
We'll launch from one of St Pete's premier marinas and make our way to productive nearshore waters within 20 minutes. The beauty of this trip is the variety – one minute you're bottom fishing for Gag Grouper around structure, the next you're casting live bait to a school of Spanish Mackerel that just lit up the fish finder. The smaller group size means everyone gets hands-on coaching, whether you're learning to feel that subtle Sheepshead bite or perfecting your technique for working a jig around rocky bottom. If we decide to target sharks in the afternoon, it's all catch and release – but watching a 4-foot Blacktip come to the boat never gets old, even when you're sending it back home.
We'll be using medium to medium-heavy spinning rods paired with quality reels spooled with 20-30 pound braid. Bottom fishing calls for circle hooks and enough weight to stay connected to the structure, while our live bait presentations use lighter tackle to keep things natural. When Spanish Mackerel are running, we'll switch to wire leaders and smaller hooks – these guys have razor-sharp teeth and lightning-fast strikes. For Cobia, we keep heavier tackle ready since these bruisers can push 30-40 pounds and love to test your drag. All gear is provided, but if you've got a favorite rod you like to bring, that's always welcome aboard.
Crevalle Jack are absolute bulldogs that'll give you an arm workout you won't forget. These silver torpedoes average 10-20 pounds around St Pete's nearshore waters and fight way above their weight class. They're most active during moving water, especially around structure where baitfish get pushed around by the current. What makes Jacks special is their never-quit attitude – they'll pull drag from the surface all the way to the boat.
Cobia are the prize catch that keeps anglers coming back. These brown sharks (as locals call them) cruise the flats and nearshore waters from spring through fall, often following rays and sharks. A good Cobia will go 25-40 pounds, and they're incredible table fare with firm, white meat. The best part about Cobia fishing is sight-casting to fish you can actually see – there's nothing like watching a 35-pound fish decide whether to eat your bait.
Spanish Mackerel are pure action fish that travel in schools and feed aggressively. They'll hit anything from live shrimp to small spoons, and when you find a school, you can catch them until your arms give out. These guys average 2-4 pounds but make up for size with numbers and attitude. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, and they're fantastic on the dinner table when prepared fresh.
Gag Grouper are the bottom-dwelling heavyweights that test both your tackle and your technique. These guys live around structure and won't hesitate to dive for the rocks when hooked. A keeper Gag (24 inches minimum) provides some of the best eating you'll find in the Gulf. They're most active during cooler months, and learning to fish for Grouper teaches you to read bottom structure and feel subtle bites.
Snook are the inshore glamour species that occasionally push into nearshore waters, especially around passes and creek mouths. These silver-sided fighters are masters of using structure to their advantage, and they'll test every knot and connection on your rig. Currently catch and release only, but the fight alone makes them worth targeting. They're most active during dawn and dusk periods when baitfish are moving.
This 5-hour nearshore adventure gives you the best of both worlds – the variety of inshore fishing with the bigger fish potential of deeper water. With space for just four anglers, you're guaranteed personal attention and plenty of fishing time. Whether you're after dinner for the family or just want to feel your drag scream, this trip delivers the goods. The waters around St Petersburg stay productive year-round, but each season brings its own opportunities. Book your spot now and get ready to see why this nearshore fishery has earned its reputation as one of Florida's most consistent producers.
Hit the waters around St Petersburg aboard FishHuge Charters' well-equipped motorboat, designed for productive nearshore fishing adventures. This reliable vessel comfortably handles up to 4 anglers and comes rigged with GPS navigation and a quality fish finder to put you on the fish fast. You'll be targeting prime species like Flounder, Gag Grouper, Mangrove Snapper, Black Seabass, Sheepshead, and Spanish Mackerel in these productive Gulf waters. The boat's setup lets you cover productive fishing grounds efficiently, whether you're working structure for grouper or chasing schools of mackerel. For those interested in afternoon shark action, we practice strict catch and release. The vessel's design focuses on fishing functionality, giving you plenty of room to work your lines and land your catch in St Pete's famous fishing waters.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are some of our most sought-after fish, averaging around 30-50 pounds with the occasional giant pushing 80. These brown torpedoes cruise alone near the surface around buoys, wrecks, and structure in 30-70 feet of water. Spring migration from April through June is prime time when they're moving through our area to spawn. Guests love them because they're strong fighters and absolutely fantastic eating - firm white meat that's hard to beat. They're curious fish that'll often approach the boat, making for exciting sight fishing opportunities. Here's my go-to trick: when you spot one, cast a bucktail jig well ahead of where it's swimming and work it back with steady hops off the bottom. Don't cast directly at them or they'll spook.
Caranx HipposThese brassy bulldogs of the sea are built for power, averaging 12-24 inches and 3-5 pounds, though they can reach up to 60 pounds. You'll find them in schools around seagrass flats, structure, and nearshore reefs. They're year-round targets here in St Pete waters, but spring through fall offers the best action when they're actively feeding on the surface. Watch for diving birds - that's your biggest tell. Jacks hit hard and fight dirty, making long powerful runs that'll test your drag. They're not great table fare, but the fight alone makes them worth targeting. Pro tip: when you see birds working, cast your spoon past the school and burn it back fast - these fish love the chase and rarely refuse a fast-moving lure.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag grouper are our bread-and-butter bottom fish, typically weighing 5-15 pounds with some reaching 30-plus. These gray, mottled fighters live around hard bottom, ledges, and structure in 30-100 feet of water. They're most active during cooler months when the season's open, usually fall through spring. Guests love the solid fight they put up and they're among the best eating fish in the Gulf - firm, white, flaky meat that's perfect for any recipe. Once hooked, they'll immediately try to get back to their hole in the rocks, so you've got to muscle them up quick. Circle hooks are required, and here's the key: once you feel that thump, reel down tight and lift straight up. Don't give them an inch or they'll wrap you up in the structure below.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are Florida's signature gamefish, averaging 18-28 inches with that distinctive black lateral line and golden color. These ambush predators love mangrove shorelines, docks, bridges, and creek mouths where fresh and saltwater mix. They're most active during warmer months and around the full and new moons when they spawn from May through September. Guests go crazy for snook because they fight like hell with explosive strikes and acrobatic jumps, plus they're incredible table fare when in season. They're structure-oriented fish that use cover to ambush prey, so you'll want to get your bait right up against the mangroves or pilings. Here's what works: cast live shrimp or pinfish tight to cover and let it drift naturally. Be ready - when a snook hits, it's usually lights out.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are some of our most reliable and fun fish to catch, typically running 1-2 feet long and weighing 2-4 pounds. These silver speedsters with yellow spots love nearshore structure, flats, and anywhere baitfish congregate. They're most active during warmer months from spring through fall, especially when the water's calm and bait is thick. Guests enjoy their acrobatic fights and the fact that they're outstanding table fare with mild, flaky meat that grills perfectly. They travel in schools and feed aggressively on the surface, making for fast-paced action. My best tip: use small silver spoons or got-cha plugs and retrieve them quickly just under the surface. When you find one spanish, there's usually a whole school nearby, so keep working the same area.
St. Petersburg, FL