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Guides > Captain Robert McClinnis

Florida Gulf Coast Charter Fishing

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Crawfordville FL

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Robert McClinnis, Captain at Florida Gulf Coast Charter Fishing

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Are you ready to embark on a fabulous fishing getaway that you’ll be talking about for the rest of your life? Then look no further than Mermaidtales Charter Fishing, where you can book a trip that promises to fulfill your dreams of a relaxing fishing vacation.


When you choose Mermaidtales Charter Fishing, you'll be in the capable hands of Captain Robert McClinnis, a local guide who knows these waters like the back of his hands. With years of experience on the water, Captain Robert has honed his angling skills and is a seasoned outdoorsman. He has been a professional fisherman for over ten years and is well-known as the last captain of the renowned "Apollo," a deep-sea party boat in Crystal River. With Captain Robert, a successful catch is not left to chance but is part of a well-executed plan. He owns and operates one of the best Fishing Charters in Crystal River, FL.


During your fishing adventure, you'll have the pleasure of fishing aboard their 24’ Scout bay boat, which offers ample space for up to 4 anglers. The boat is powered by a reliable 200 HP Yamaha engine, ensuring you don't waste any time getting to the best fishing spots. This well-maintained vessel is equipped with top-of-the-line navigational electronics and equipment such as GPS and a fishfinder. Onboard amenities include a live baitwell, wireless trolling monitor, ice box, and snorkeling equipment, ensuring that all your fishing needs are met.


Now, let's talk about the exciting species you'll have the opportunity to catch. Captain Robert will go above and beyond to put you on Cobia, Redfish, Gag Grouper, Pompano, Sea Trout, Sheepshead, and many other sportfishing trophies. You'll get the chance to explore a variety of fishing techniques, including jigging, drift fishing, spinning, and light tackle fishing. And don't miss out on the incredible experience of scalloping, a must-try activity that adds an extra layer of adventure to your trip.


It's time to start picking the dates and packing your bags for the fishing vacation you've been yearning for. Whether you're traveling with friends or bringing the whole family along, Mermaidtales Charter Fishing guarantees a remarkable trip that will leave you wanting to return again and again. Get ready for an unforgettable fishing adventure where relaxation, excitement, and cherished memories await!

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Upcoming Availability

June 2025
July 2025

Expertise & Attributes

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fishing

fishing

Freshwater FishingFreshwater FishingGood with FamiliesGood with FamiliesGood with KidsGood with KidsGood with New AnglersGood with New AnglersMaster GuideMaster Guide

Fishing Techniques

JiggingLight TackleDrift Boat Fishing

What's Included

Good to Knows

Good to Knows

Your Guide has some important details about your trip with them.

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Nature / Wildlife Views

Nature / Wildlife Views

This guide offers trips with nature and wildlife views.

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Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Policy

When you book your fishing trip, you will need to first put down a deposit to hold the reservation.

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What's Included

Good to Knows

Good to Knows

Your Guide has some important details about your trip with them.

Show More

Nature / Wildlife Views

Nature / Wildlife Views

This guide offers trips with nature and wildlife views.

Show More

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Policy

When you book your fishing trip, you will need to first put down a deposit to hold the reservation.

Show More

Trips Available with Florida Gulf Coast Charter Fishing

Scalloping Charters St Marks | Private - 4 Hour Trip

Fishing

Starting At $400

Scalloping Charters St Marks | Private - 4 Hour Trip

Fishing Area: Crystal River

Fishing: Inshore

Fishing Boat:

Scout (Bay boat) • 24' Scout (Bay boat) • Max 6 guests (base trip price includes 6 guests)

Description: Set out on an unforgettable full-day fishing and scalloping adventure in the breathtaking St. Marks. Join our expert guide as they navigate the pristine waters and lead you to an abundance of scallops. We've got you covered with top-notch fishing equipment, bait, and licenses, so all you need to bring are your snacks and drinks to keep you fueled throughout the excursion. Get ready for a day filled with laughter, excitement, and a bountiful catch that will create lasting memories. Don't miss out on this epic journey into St. Marks' aquatic wonderland! Book your fishing adventure now!

St Marks Charter Fishing | Private - 8 Hour Trip

Fishing

Starting At $500

St Marks Charter Fishing | Private - 8 Hour Trip

Fishing Area: Crystal River

Fishing: Inshore

Fishing Boat:

Scout (Bay boat) • 24' Scout (Bay boat) • Max 5 guests (base trip price includes 5 guests)

Description: Have the boat to yourself for 8 hours and see what awesome fish will bite at the other end of the line. You're in for a full day of amazing fun on the water. You will be fishing for cobia, black sea bass, pompano, redfish, sea trout, and many more. Start picking the dates and book a trip. Don’t forget to bring snacks & drinks, sun protection and wear weather-appropriate clothing. Don't miss out on this opportunity to catch the biggest fish of your life! Book now and secure your exclusive 8-hour boat trip. Your next unforgettable fishing adventure awaits!

Crystal River Fishing Charters | Private - 5 Hour Trip

Fishing

Starting At $450

Crystal River Fishing Charters | Private - 5 Hour Trip

Fishing Area: Crystal River

Fishing: Inshore

Fishing Boat:

Scout (Bay boat) • 24' Scout (Bay boat) • Max 4 guests (base trip price includes 4 guests)

Description: Spend your morning fishing the waters of Crystal River to fish and test your lines and experience! On your to-catch list is everything from Snook, Redfish, Sea Trout, Pompano, Sheepshead, Gag Grouper & more. Your gear, bait & licenses are covered on the trip. Don't forget to grab your snacks & drinks and you're ready to go! Book your fishing trip today and catch the fish of a lifetime! Crystal River offers some of the best fishing in Florida, but spots book up fast. Don't wait - schedule your adventure now and make new memories!

Carabell Red Snapper | Private - 6 Hour Trip

Fishing

Starting At $700

Carabell Red Snapper | Private - 6 Hour Trip

Fishing Area: Crystal River

Fishing: Offshore

Fishing Boat:

Scout (Bay boat) • 24' Scout (Bay boat) • Max 6 guests (base trip price includes 6 guests)

Description: Reel in your trophy Red Snapper and other prized bottom fish on this private 6-hour offshore adventure! Departing at 7:00 AM aboard The Scout (Bay Boat), you'll target a variety of species, including Grey Snapper, Gulf Grouper, King Mackerel, Red Grouper, and Red Snapper. This seasonal trip runs from June 1st – July 31st, offering prime fishing during peak season. Enjoy a free fishing license, top-quality gear, and expert guidance. Book now for $700 and get ready for an unforgettable day on the water!

Vehicle

Scout (Bay boat)

Boat Type:

Boat Guest Capacity:

4

Boat Length:

24 ft

Manufacturer Name:

Scout (Bay boat)

Model Year:

2002

Engine Manufacturer Name:

Yamaha

# of Engines:

1

Horsepower Per Engine:

200

Maximum Cruising Speed:

42

Features: Bait Tank Snorkelling Equipment Trolling Motor Fish Finder GPS

Florida Gulf Coast Charter Fishing Scout (Bay boat) Boat

The Scout (Bay boat) was first built in 2002 and underwent a restoration in 2020. It is equipped with a 200HP Yamaha engine, capable of reaching a maximum speed of 42 knots. Measuring 24ft in length, it can accommodate up to 5 people.

Boat

Florida Gulf Coast Charter Fishing Scout (Bay boat) Boat image 0

Scout (Bay boat)

Boat Type:

Boat Guest Capacity:

4

Boat Length:

24 ft

Vehicle Details

FAQs about Florida Gulf Coast Charter Fishing

Reports and Expert Articles

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Redfish

Fishing Fun Unpredictable Weather! Despite the challenging conditions, we managed to reel in an impressive haul of redfish. Join us for an unforgettable angling adventure where our skilled team defies the odds to create a memorable experience.

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Sheepshead are biting!

Today, we ventured out to the Crystal River in search of one of our favorite fish: the sheepshead. We were not disappointed! After a quick briefing on how to identify this elusive creature, we were off. Captain Robert Mcclinnis has been fishing these waters for over 30 years and knows exactly where to find them. After about an hour of casting our lines into the water, we had our first catch! The sheepshead is a member of the sea bass family and can be found in shallow waters in Florida. This particular one was caught by one of our guests, who was thrilled to have caught such an amazing creature. It took three people to pull it out of its hole—but it was worth it!

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Inshore Gag grouper

the water is cooling quickly and driving gag grouper to shallow water to fatten up for the winter.a lot of tactics work from floating magnum rapala to cut mullet.the best way is to just get out and fish.

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Temperatures dropping

With the temperatures dropping fish will be moving into the rivers, creeks and deep holes.shrimp on a jighead will do the trick.for artificials slow down as temps fall.

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Crystal River Redfish Fishing Report

Shawn's family came to Florida to visit and they wore out the redfish today. The Redfish fishing in Crystal River has been really good so come fish with us!

Ratings & Reviews Summary

5.00
out of 5
Based on 13 ratings
100%
recommended
recommended
Based on 13 recommendations
5
13
4
3
2
1

June 5, 2025

We caught lots of trout, ladyfish, catfish etc. Robert is an incredible guide/captain and he provided some superb equipment for us to use, live shrimp for bait and he filleted many trout before cleaning his boat and putting it onto his trailer, We highly recommend Robert and Florida Gulf Coast Charter Fishing for all of your fishing excursions in the future. Hey Folks, don’t hesitate to book this fishing trip šŸ‘

June 5, 2025

This princess only books with Captain Robert McClinnis of Mermaid Tales:) she continues to learn so much fishing related, animal and plant science and gains knowledge of our ecosystem as a whole in a manner a 6 year old can comprehend and attention span. Furthermore his extensive knowledge gained from from years on and in the water, his expertise, teaching approach and laid back..patient, delightful yet professional demeanor prove Captain Robert of Mermaid Tales to be a tremendous asset to the Cystal River waters and beyond and to his clients, local and visiting from afar. Learning from and fishing with Captain Robert continues to spark interest and enrich the life of this young future female angler and certainly countless other individuals of all ages and experience levels who have had the opportunity to experience some "reel" action on a charter with Mermaid Tales. Without a doubt Captain Robert of Mermaid fishing Tales is the way to go to experience one of the most beautiful areas of Floridas Nature Coast from our beautiful spring fed waterways to our turquoise tropical Gulf waters.

June 5, 2025

This guide is really knowledgeable. He knows what he is doing and we learned a lot from the trip. He even stayed later so we could fish a little longer. Thanks Captain Robert!

June 5, 2025

Captain Robert was really an expert. He really knows the waters and brought us to great fishing spots. It was really an amazing day!

June 5, 2025

Another great trip , with Caitlyn getting her first redfish, and Heiko and my self doing work on the trout. highly recommend mermaidtales for a great time on the water

June 5, 2025

Went out with captain Robert on 10-6-2020 a very successful trip he knows the river and where the fish are. Highly recommend captain Robert will definitely use him again!!!

Captain Fishing Species

Black Sea Bass

Species Name: Centropristis Striata

Habitat: Offshore, Onshore, Nearshore, Wreck, Reef

Weight: 2 - 9 lbs.

Cobia

Species Name: Rachycentron Canadum

Habitat: Onshore, Nearshore, Offshore, Reef, Wreck

Weight: 10 - 80 lbs.

Florida Pompano

Species Name: Trachinotus Carolinus

Habitat: Onshore, Nearshore

Weight: 4 - 8 lbs.

GagĀ Grouper

Species Name: Mycteroperca Microlepis

Habitat: Onshore, Nearshore, Offshore, Reef

Weight: 10 - 50 lbs.

Grey Snapper

Species Name: Lutjanus Griseus

Habitat: River, Lake, Onshore, Near shore, Reef, Backcountry

Weight: 1 - 8 lbs.

Gulf Grouper

Species Name: Mycteroperca Jordani

Habitat: Nearshore, Offshore, Rocky Reef

Weight: 72 - 200 lbs.

King Mackerel

Species Name: Scomberomorus Cavalla

Habitat: Onshore, Nearshore, Offshore, Reef, Wreck

Weight: 10 - 20 lbs.

Red Grouper

Species Name: Epinephelus Morio

Habitat: Nearshore, Offshore, Reef, Wreck, Ocean Floor

Weight: 12 - 25 lbs.

Red Snapper

Species Name: Lutjanus Campechanus

Habitat: Nearshore, Offshore, Reef, Wreck

Weight: 5 - 20 lbs.

Redfish

Species Name: Sciaenops Ocellatus

Habitat: Onshore, Flats, Backcountry, Nearshore

Weight: 10 - 45 lbs.

Sea Trout

Species Name: Salmo Trutta

Habitat: Inshore, Nearshore, Covered River

Weight: 1 - 6 lbs.

Sheepshead

Species Name: Archosargus Probatocephalus

Habitat: Onshore, Nearshore, Offshore, Reef, Wreck

Weight: 1 - 8 lbs.

Snook

Species Name: Centropomus Undecimalis

Habitat: Inshore, Flats, Backcountry

Weight: 12 - 29 lbs.

Tripletail

Species Name: Lobotes Surinamensis

Habitat: Onshore, Nearshore, Inshore, Estuaries, Bays

Weight: 2 - 20 lbs.

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