Half Day Family Inshore Redfish and Cobia Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour morning charter targets redfish, cobia, and speckled trout.Light tackle fishing through shallow flats and mangrove shorelines.All equipment, licenses, and professional coaching included for families.
Tarpon Springs has everything a family needs for a world-class inshore fishing adventure. This four-hour morning trip with Florida Snook Charters puts you right in the heart of some of the Gulf Coast's most productive shallow water fisheries. Whether you're teaching the kids how to cast or looking to add some serious fish to your photo album, these flats and mangrove shorelines deliver consistent action for anglers of all skill levels. The trip keeps things simple and stress-free - all your gear, tackle, and licenses are covered, so you can focus on what matters most: getting fish in the boat.
Your morning starts early, heading out to the productive flats around Tarpon Springs where the water runs crystal clear and the fish are actively feeding. This isn't deep sea fishing - you're working the shallows where sight-casting becomes a real possibility and every cast has potential. The boat stays in protected waters, making it perfect for families with younger anglers who might get seasick on bigger boats in rough conditions. Your captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, reading the tide charts and wind patterns to put you on the most active spots of the day. The four-hour window gives you plenty of time to work different areas without wearing out the kids or less experienced anglers in your group.
The setup here is all about finesse fishing with light tackle that lets you feel every bump and run. You'll be working with spinning reels spooled with lighter line, perfect for the clear shallow water where heavier gear would spook the fish. Live bait is the name of the game - fresh sardines, pinfish, and crabs that get the attention of everything from slot redfish to big cobia cruising the flats. During the peak tarpon season in May and June, the focus shifts completely to sight-casting with live crabs, targeting those massive 80 to 100-pound silver kings that migrate through these waters. The captain provides hands-on coaching for beginners, showing you how to read the water and present your bait naturally. Experienced anglers get the technical challenges they're looking for, with opportunities to perfect their sight-casting skills on some truly challenging fish.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Tarpon Springs inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers love the shallow grass flats and oyster bars, where they root around for crabs and baitfish. Most of the reds you'll encounter run between 18 and 27 inches - perfect slot fish that put up a serious fight on light tackle. They're year-round residents, but fall and winter months often produce the most consistent action. What makes redfish so exciting is their willingness to eat and their bulldogging fight style that gets your drag screaming. Kids especially love them because they're aggressive feeders and don't require perfect technique to hook up.
Cobia are the wild cards of this fishery - massive brown sharks that cruise the flats looking for an easy meal. These fish can push 30 to 40 pounds, and when you spot one tailing in three feet of water, your heart rate doubles. Spring through fall offers the best cobia action, especially around structure like channel markers and crab traps. They're curious fish that will often follow your bait boat-side before deciding to eat, giving you multiple chances at a hookup. The fight is absolutely incredible - long powerful runs that test your tackle and your patience. Cobia are also fantastic table fare, making them a customer favorite for families looking to bring dinner home.
Spotted weakfish, or speckled trout as the locals call them, are the finicky eaters that reward skilled presentations. These beautiful silver fish with distinctive black spots love grass flats and drop-offs, especially during moving tides. Most specs run between 14 and 20 inches, though the occasional gator trout over 25 inches makes an appearance. They're most active during cooler months, from October through March, when they school up in deeper potholes. Speckled trout have paper-thin mouths, so the fight is all about finesse - too much pressure and they'll throw the hook. They're also excellent eating, with firm white meat that's perfect for the dinner table.
Snook are the marquee species that every angler wants to catch, and Tarpon Springs delivers some of the most consistent snook fishing on Florida's Gulf Coast. These golden-sided fighters love structure - mangrove shorelines, docks, and bridge pilings where they ambush passing baitfish. Snook are extremely seasonal, with the best action during warmer months when they're actively feeding in shallow water. They're also protected by strict regulations, with specific seasons and slot limits that your captain knows inside and out. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight - they'll jump, run, and do everything possible to throw your hook. Even catch-and-release snook provide memories that last a lifetime.
This top-rated Tarpon Springs charter delivers exactly what families need: consistent action, professional guidance, and the chance to target multiple species in one trip. The two-person capacity keeps things intimate and ensures everyone gets plenty of hands-on attention from your captain. Morning trips are trending for good reason - cooler temperatures, calmer conditions, and more active fish make for the best possible experience. Whether you're introducing kids to inshore fishing or looking to add some new species to your catch list, this half-day adventure gives you everything you need for a successful day on the water. Don't wait for the best dates to fill up - book your family fishing trip today and see why Tarpon Springs is becoming the go-to destination for world-class inshore action.
The 25' Dorado Bay Boat cuts through Tarpon Springs waters with authority, powered by a robust 350HP Mercury Pro Verado that gets you to the fishing grounds fast. This 2017 center console is built for serious inshore action, where redfish cruise the flats and cobia patrol the deeper channels. With room for up to 4 anglers, the boat's design puts everyone within easy casting distance of the action. The fish finder helps locate structure where speckled trout hide, while the wireless trolling motor lets you ghost into shallow spots without spooking fish. During tarpon season, this boat becomes your platform for sight-casting to 100-pound silver kings rolling in the Gulf. The onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those hot Florida mornings. GPS navigation ensures you hit the productive spots along the mangrove shorelines where snook ambush baitfish. Whether you're working live crabs around downed trees or casting artificials across grass flats, this boat delivers the stability and speed needed for successful inshore fishing in these productive waters.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the dark horses of our local waters - big, aggressive fish that often get mistaken for sharks at first glance. These brown bruisers average 20-40 pounds around here and love hanging around structure like channel markers, wrecks, and crab traps. Spring migration from March through June is prime time when they cruise the flats looking for crabs and baitfish. They're sight-fishing targets that'll eat almost anything you throw at them - bucktail jigs, live bait, even topwater plugs. What guests love is the visual aspect - seeing a 30-pound fish swim up to the boat - plus they're some of the best eating fish in these waters. Here's the trick: when you spot one, don't cast right at it. Lead them by about 10 feet and work your bait back into their path. They're curious fish and will often follow before they strike.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are some of the most reliable fish we target around Tarpon Springs. These copper-colored beauties average 18-28 inches and love cruising our shallow grass flats in just 1-4 feet of water. You'll spot them by that distinctive black eyespot near their tail and their bronze backs. They're not picky eaters and will hit everything from topwater plugs to live shrimp. Spring through fall gives us the best action when they're actively feeding. What makes them special is that explosive strike and the way they'll peel drag on light tackle. Plus, they taste great on the table with that mild, sweet flavor. Pro tip: when you see one tailing in the shallows, cast past them and work your bait back slowly - they spook easily but once hooked, they'll give you a fight to remember.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the ultimate inshore gamefish around our mangroves - sleek, golden fish with that prominent black lateral line. They typically run 18-30 inches in our waters and are absolute cover junkies, hiding under docks, around mangrove roots, and near any structure they can find. Warmer months from April through October are peak season, especially during their spawning period when their fins turn bright yellow. What makes them special is their explosive topwater strikes and drag-screaming runs. They're also excellent eating with white, flaky meat. These fish are ambush predators with serious attitude - they'll crush a well-placed lure. My go-to tip: cast tight to structure and work your bait parallel to the mangroves rather than away from them. Snook are temperature-sensitive, so focus on shadier spots during hot afternoons.
Cynoscion NebulosusSpeckled trout are what we call the bread and butter of our grass flats. These silver fish with distinctive black spots typically run 12-16 inches and love hanging around our seagrass beds year-round. They're ambush predators with those sharp canine teeth, perfect for grabbing shrimp and small baitfish. Cooler months from October through March often produce the best action when they school up in deeper grass. They're perfect for families since they're aggressive strikers and fight hard for their size. The bonus is they're excellent table fare when prepared fresh. One thing to remember - they have soft mouths, so don't horse them in. Keep steady pressure but let your drag do the work. Also, work your bait slow near the bottom around grass edges where they like to ambush prey.
Tarpon Springs, FL