5.0(4 Reviews)Inshore Fishing Charter in Bokeelia, FL
5.0(4 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour inshore fishing adventure targeting Snook, Redfish, and SnapperExpert Captain Brandon guides guests to prime Pine Island spotsAccommodates three guests with all experience levels welcome
Looking for a solid inshore fishing experience near Cape Coral? Captain Brandon's 4-hour charter out of Bokeelia puts you right in the heart of Pine Island's best fishing waters. This isn't some cookie-cutter trip – you're fishing with a third-generation captain who's been working these flats and mangrove shorelines his whole life. Whether you're a weekend warrior or just getting your feet wet with saltwater fishing, Brandon knows how to put you on fish and make sure you're having a good time doing it.
You'll launch from Bokeelia, which sits perfectly positioned to access some of Southwest Florida's most productive inshore waters. Pine Island Sound offers everything from shallow grass flats to deeper channels, and Captain Brandon reads these waters like a book. He's not the type to anchor up in one spot and hope for the best – expect to move around and hit multiple locations based on tide, weather, and what's biting. The boat comfortably handles up to 3 anglers, so you're not crowded and everyone gets plenty of fishing time. Brandon provides all the tackle and knows exactly what baits and lures are working for each species. He'll adjust the game plan based on your skill level too – if you're new to inshore fishing, he'll walk you through the basics. If you're experienced, he'll put you on the challenging spots where the bigger fish hang out.
Inshore fishing around Pine Island means working structure – mangrove shorelines, oyster bars, grass flats, and dock pilings. Captain Brandon runs different techniques depending on conditions and target species. You'll do plenty of sight fishing on the flats, where you can actually see redfish and snook cruising in shallow water. He'll have you casting live bait like shrimp and pinfish, plus throwing artificial lures when the fish are active. For snapper around structure, expect to drop baits near oyster bars and mangrove cuts where these fish like to ambush prey. The tackle is light enough to feel every bite but heavy enough to turn fish away from cover. Brandon keeps multiple rods rigged and ready, so you're not wasting time retying when the bite is on. He'll teach you how to read the water too – spotting nervous baitfish, understanding how tide affects fish movement, and recognizing productive structure.
"Captain Brandon communicated excellent prior to the trip. He is a third generation captian who knows the waters and the area history like the back of his hand. My wife and I didn't have specific goals so he just put us on some fish quickly and kept us moving. We caught redfish, sheepshead, mangrove snapper and snook - my first snook! I would highly recommend Floridaze." - Jon
"Had a great time on the water and the Captain worked hard to find fish for us!" - Michael
"Coldest day of the season and Captain Brandon found us fish. Great time!" - Timothy
"Captain Brandon took good care of us on our recent fishing trip. We had a windy day which made for tough fishing but he moved us around and helped us find the fish. We ended up having a very good day. Captain Brandon is knowledgeable, friendly and easy going. Great charter captain! We will most definitely have him take us out again soon!" - Charles
Red Snapper are the prize catch that brings many anglers to these waters. These hard-fighting fish hang around structure in 20-40 feet of water and put up an impressive battle once hooked. They're smart too – they'll wrap you around anything they can find, so you need to turn them quick. Peak season runs from June through August, and a good-sized red snapper makes for excellent table fare. The thrill comes from the initial strike and their ability to dive straight back to the bottom.
Snook are the ultimate inshore game fish and a real bucket-list species for visiting anglers. These ambush predators love mangrove shorelines and dock pilings, especially during moving tides. They'll slam a well-presented bait or lure, then immediately try to wrap you up in cover. Snook are catch-and-release only during certain seasons, but the fight makes them worth targeting year-round. They're most active during dawn and dusk, and nothing beats the visual excitement of watching a snook blow up on a topwater lure in shallow water.
Redfish, or red drum, are Pine Island's most reliable target species. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the grass flats and are often caught in sight-fishing situations where you can see them before you cast. They average 18-27 inches in these waters and fight hard with powerful runs. Redfish feed year-round, making them a consistent target regardless of season. They're also great eating within the slot limit, and their willingness to eat both live bait and artificials makes them perfect for anglers of all skill levels.
Grey Snapper, also called mangrove snapper, are abundant around Pine Island's extensive mangrove systems. These smaller cousins to red snapper are scrappy fighters that will test your drag and try every trick to get back to cover. They're excellent table fare and relatively easy to target, making them perfect for families or newer anglers. Peak action happens during summer months, and they'll readily eat live shrimp or small baitfish presented near mangrove roots and oyster bars.
Sea Trout are grass flat specialists that provide consistent action throughout the year. These spotted beauties are often the first species new saltwater anglers catch, and they're perfect for learning inshore techniques. They school up over grass beds and respond well to both live bait and artificial lures. While not the hardest fighting fish in these waters, their willingness to bite and decent table quality makes them a favorite target
Captain Brandon's 22' Pathfinder Tournament is built for serious inshore fishing around Pine Island's productive waters. This center console handles the shallow flats and backcountry channels where snook and redfish like to hang out. The wireless trolling motor lets you sneak up on spooky fish without spooking them with engine noise, while the GPS keeps you on the productive spots trip after trip. The spacious deck gives you and up to 2 other anglers plenty of room to fight fish and move around when targeting different species. The onboard ice box keeps your catch fresh and your drinks cold during those hot Florida afternoons. Whether you're sight-casting to tailing reds in skinny water or working structure for snapper, this boat gets you to the fish and gives you the platform to land them.
Lutjanus GriseusAlso called mangrove snapper, these copper-colored fighters are some of the smartest fish you'll target around our docks and structure. Most run 10-14 inches and 1-2 pounds, though the deeper water holds some 4-5 pounders. They hang around anything with cover - mangroves, pilings, rock piles, grass flats - usually in 5-30 feet of water. Spring through fall are your best bets, especially during warmer months when they're more aggressive. What makes them fun? They're cautious biters that'll test your patience, but once hooked they scrap hard for their size. The payoff is sweet, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. My secret: use a light 4J hook with live shrimp hooked through the tail, let it sink to the bottom, then barely lift it off. Patience wins with these guys.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed snapper are the prize fighters of the Gulf, usually running 1-2 feet and 5-10 pounds around here, though bigger ones lurk in deeper water. These bright red beauties live on structure - wrecks, ledges, and hard bottom in 30-100+ feet. They're year-round residents, but summer and fall give you the best shot when they're most active. What makes them special? They fight like hell once hooked, diving straight for cover to cut your line. Plus, there's no better eating fish in these waters - that sweet, flaky white meat is restaurant quality. My tip: use fresh cigar minnows or live pinfish, and the second you feel that thump, start reeling fast and keep steady pressure. Don't give them time to think about running to structure.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the backbone of our inshore fishing - bronze-backed bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails. Around here, most slot fish run 18-27 inches, but the bulls can hit 40+ inches and really bend your rod. They cruise super shallow flats, often with their backs out of the water, plus oyster bars and mangrove edges in 1-4 feet. Year-round fishing, but fall is magic when they school up. What's not to love? They eat almost anything, fight like freight trains, and smaller ones are fantastic on the table with sweet, firm meat. They're also perfect for sight fishing when conditions are right. My favorite trick: throw a gold spoon or topwater plug ahead of cruising fish and work it slow. That explosive surface strike will get your heart pumping every time.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them, are probably the most reliable fish in these grass flats. They typically run 14-20 inches and 1-3 pounds, with some bigger gator trout pushing 5+ pounds in cooler months. Look for them over grass beds in 2-8 feet of water, especially around potholes and drop-offs. They bite year-round, but fall and winter are money when they school up. Dawn and dusk are prime time, though they'll feed at night too. Anglers love them because they're aggressive strikers, fight well on light tackle, and make excellent table fare with that tender white meat. Just don't overcook them or they'll get mushy. Pro tip: work a soft plastic shrimp or jerk bait slowly over the grass tops. When you feel that subtle tap-tap, set the hook gently - their mouths are soft.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the ultimate inshore gamefish around Pine Island - sleek, silver torpedoes with that signature black lateral line. Most run 18-28 inches, but the big females can push 40+ inches and really test your drag. They love structure: mangroves, docks, bridges, anywhere with current and cover. Spring through fall are prime time, especially around the new and full moons when they spawn. What gets anglers hooked? That explosive strike and bulldogging fight, plus they're sight fishing targets in shallow water. Fair warning though - they're catch and release only, so it's all about the experience. Here's my go-to trick: throw soft plastics or live shrimp tight to cover, but be ready to horse them out quick before they wrap you up in the mangroves.
5.0 out of 5.0Captain Brandon communicated excellent prior to the trip. He is a third generation captian who knows the waters and the area hist...
Had a great time on the water and the Captain worked hard to find fish for us!
Coldest day of the season and Captain Brandon found us fish. Great time!
Captain Brandon took good care of us on our recent fishing trip. We had a windy day which made for tough fishing but he moved us a...
Thank you for the glowing review Chuck, I thoroughly enjoyed having you guys out and hope to get ya'...
Cape Coral