Half Day St Marks Fishing - Bass, Cobia & More
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 4hour inshore fishing charter for two guestsTarget cobia, bass, redfish, trout and pompano speciesExclusive boat access with Florida Gulf Coast Charter Fishing
Looking for a solid half-day fishing trip without the crowds? This 4-hour private charter out of St Marks puts you right where the fish are biting. With just you and one other angler on board, you'll have plenty of room to work and all the personal attention you need from your guide. The waters around St Marks serve up everything from hard-fighting cobia to tasty sea trout, and your captain knows exactly where to find them based on tides, weather, and what's been hitting lately. Pack your snacks and drinks, slather on the sunscreen, and get ready for some real fishing action.
Your captain will pick the spots based on conditions and what's been producing. Some days that means working the grass flats for redfish and trout, other days you might be bouncing bottom for grouper or working structure for cobia. The beauty of a 4-hour trip is you can cover good ground without feeling rushed. Your guide will have all the tackle sorted, but feel free to bring your own gear if you've got favorites. The boat's set up for two anglers comfortably, so you won't be bumping elbows or tangling lines. Weather can change quick out here, so dress in layers and bring a light jacket even if it looks perfect at the dock. The captain will keep you on fish and share local knowledge that only comes from years on these waters.
St Marks fishing means adapting to what Mother Nature gives you. Your guide might have you throwing live bait under popping corks for trout and redfish, or switching to jigs when the fish want something with more action. For cobia, it's often about sight fishing - scanning the water for those brown shadows cruising near the surface. Bottom fishing with cut bait produces solid grouper and sea bass, especially around structure and drop-offs. The captain will rig you up with the right tackle for each target species. Circle hooks are standard for most live bait work, and you'll likely see a mix of spinning and conventional gear depending on what you're after. Don't worry if you're new to some techniques - your guide will walk you through everything and put you on fish.
Sea trout are the bread and butter around St Marks, and for good reason. These spotted beauties love the grass flats and hit everything from live shrimp to soft plastics. They're scrappy fighters that make great eating, and you'll find them year-round with peak action in spring and fall. Most fish run 14-20 inches, with bigger gator trout always possible. Redfish are another local favorite, cruising the shallows and putting up bulldogging fights that'll test your tackle. Look for copper-colored fish with distinctive black spots near their tails - they're gorgeous fish and fight way above their weight class. Cobia show up when the water warms, often following rays and sharks. These brown sharks (they're actually not sharks at all) can reach 30-40 pounds and will absolutely smoke your drag. Florida pompano are the table fare champions - small but incredibly strong for their size, with white flaky meat that's restaurant quality. Black sea bass hang around structure and are always willing to bite, while gag grouper offer that classic bottom-fishing experience with their hard initial run toward cover. Tripletail are the wild cards - odd-looking fish that float like leaves near structure, but don't let their lazy appearance fool you.
Sea Trout around St Marks are active year-round, but spring and fall offer the hottest action when water temps are prime. These fish love grass flats and will hit live shrimp, pinfish, or artificial lures worked slowly. They're perfect for light tackle and make excellent table fare. Most run 15-18 inches, but trophy trout over 24 inches lurk in these waters. Redfish are the inshore slam favorites that never disappoint. They cruise shallow flats, especially during moving tides, and their copper sides flash in the sun as they tail in skinny water. These fish fight dirty, using their broad sides and bulldogging runs to test your drag. Peak season runs spring through fall, with fish ranging from slot-size to oversized bulls.
Cobia are the spring and summer stars that get every angler's heart pumping. These brown missiles follow rays, sharks, and floating debris, often cruising right at the surface where you can sight-cast to them. They hit hard, run fast, and can easily reach 30-50 pounds in these waters. The fight is pure adrenaline - long runs followed by dogging battles near the boat. Florida Pompano might be smaller than other targets, but pound-for-pound they're some of the strongest fish in the Gulf. These silver bullets love sandy bottom and hit jigs, live shrimp, and small crabs. They rarely exceed 3 pounds, but they'll surprise you with their power and speed.
Black Sea Bass are the reliable producers that keep rods bent when other species get finicky. They live around structure, hit cut bait readily, and provide steady action when you need it. Most fish run 12-16 inches and make decent eating. Gag Grouper represent the classic bottom-fishing experience - hard initial runs toward structure followed by steady pressure. These fish are smart and strong, requiring good tackle and quick reflexes to turn them away from cover. Tripletail are the oddball species that float near structure looking like floating debris. They're ambush predators that hit baits with surprising aggression, despite their lazy appearance. These fish are excellent table fare and always generate excitement when hooked.
This half-day charter gives you everything you want in a fishing trip - variety, action, and personal attention from an experienced guide. With just two anglers on board, you'll get the kind of hands-on instruction and fish
Your private fishing charter features a beautifully restored 24-foot Scout bay boat, perfect for navigating St Marks' productive inshore waters. This classic vessel combines reliability with modern fishing technology - equipped with a powerful 200HP Yamaha that'll get you to the hotspots quickly, plus a whisper-quiet wireless trolling motor for sneaking up on speckled trout and redfish in shallow water. The onboard GPS and fish finder take the guesswork out of locating structure where cobia, black sea bass, and pompano like to hang out. With space for just you and a fishing buddy, you'll have plenty of room to work your lines and land whatever decides to bite. The boat's shallow draft design lets your captain access those hidden grass flats and oyster bars where the best action happens.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are reliable bottom fish around St. Marks structure, and they're perfect for anglers wanting steady action. These chunky, dark fish typically run 1-4 pounds, though bigger males can hit 8+ pounds around deeper structure. You'll find them stacked up on rocky bottom, wrecks, and jetties in 20-120 feet of water. Late spring through summer is prime time when they move inshore to spawn. What guests appreciate is their willingness to bite and decent table fare with firm white meat. They're not the hardest fighters, but they'll give you some good head shakes. During spawning, males turn bright blue and develop a hump on their heads - pretty cool to see. Pro tip: they're structure-oriented, so get your bait right on the bottom near rocks or wreck pieces. A simple two-hook rig with squid strips works great, and don't be surprised if you double up regularly since they school together.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the ultimate sight-fishing target around St. Marks - these dark brown, shark-looking fish average 3-4 feet and can hit 100 pounds. You'll spot them cruising just under the surface near structure like buoys, channel markers, and crab traps in 20-50 feet of water. Spring migration from April through June gives you the best shot at them, though they're around all summer. What makes cobia special is their incredible fight combined with some of the finest eating you'll find offshore - firm, white meat that rivals any grouper. They're curious fish that will often approach the boat, giving you multiple chances if you don't spook them. These solitary hunters will eat just about any bait you throw at them. Pro tip: when you spot one, don't cast right at it. Lead them by 10-15 feet with a bucktail jig and let them find it naturally - they hate having baits splashed on their heads.
Trachinotus CarolinusFlorida pompano are pure gold around St. Marks - literally and figuratively. These silvery, laterally-compressed fish with bright yellow fins typically run 12 inches and 1-3 pounds, but they're worth their weight in restaurant prices. You'll find them roaming sandy beaches and grass flats where they hunt for mollusks and crustaceans. Summer and fall are prime time when they're most active in our area. What makes them special is their incredible table fare - rich, buttery meat that's considered some of the finest eating in the Gulf. They're also scrappy fighters, being part of the jack family. The challenge is their small mouths, so you need small hooks and baits. My secret: use tiny jigs in bright yellow or orange colors bounced along the bottom near grass beds. They'll hit fast and light, so keep your drag loose - their soft mouths tear easily, and you'll lose more fish than you land if you're heavy-handed.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag grouper are the bread and butter of our bottom fishing around St. Marks structures. These mottled gray fish typically run 20 inches but can reach 50+ inches and 80 pounds around deeper reefs and wrecks. You'll find them holding tight to rocky bottom, ledges, and artificial reefs in 30-100 feet of water. Late spring through summer offers the best action when they move into shallower haunts. What guests love is their bulldogging fight - once hooked, they immediately head for the rocks trying to break you off. They're also phenomenal table fare with firm, white, flaky meat. The challenge is pulling them away from structure before they cut you off. My trick: keep your reel locked tight and your rod low when fighting them. Don't give them any line to work with, and be ready to horse them up and away from the bottom immediately after hookup. Circle hooks and 40-pound line minimum are essential.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the backbone of our inshore fishing here in St. Marks. These copper-colored beauties with their signature black eyespot near the tail typically run 20-30 inches and fight way above their weight class. You'll find them cruising the shallow flats in 1-4 feet of water, often with their backs showing above the surface. They love oyster bars, grass beds, and muddy bottoms where they root around for crabs and shrimp. Spring through fall offers the best fishing, especially during moving tides. What guests love most is their bulldogging fight - once hooked, they'll make powerful runs and really test your drag. Plus, they're excellent table fare with firm, mild meat. My go-to tip: look for nervous water or tailing fish on the flats, then make a quiet approach and cast well ahead of them. They spook easily but eat aggressively when you don't blow the presentation.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are some of the most reliable fish you'll find in our grass flats and shallow waters around St. Marks. These silvery beauties with their distinctive black spots typically run 14-24 inches and weigh 1-5 pounds, though bigger ones show up occasionally. They love cruising the flats at night and early morning, feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. Summer through fall gives you the best action when they're most active. What makes them special is their soft, flaky white meat - some of the best eating you'll find inshore. They're also great fighters for their size, making those drag-screaming runs. Pro tip: when working the grass flats, keep your lures weedless and fish them slow. Specks are ambush predators, so let them come to the bait rather than rushing your retrieve.
Lobotes SurinamensisTripletail are one of our most unique targets around St. Marks - these odd-looking fish get their name from their rounded dorsal and anal fins that make them look like they have three tails. They typically run 2-13 pounds and have this amazing ability to change colors from dark to light, helping them blend in with floating debris. You'll find them lying on their sides near the surface, mimicking floating weeds or trash in 10-30 feet of water. Summer months are prime time when they're most active. What makes them exciting is their acrobatic fight - they'll jump and thrash like crazy for such a stocky fish. Plus, their meat rivals red snapper with its firm, sweet flavor. The key to success is being stealthy - these fish are incredibly spooky. My trick is to cast well past them and slowly work the bait back, letting them ambush it rather than spooking them with a direct presentation.
Carrabelle, FL, United States