Full-Day Inshore Fishing in Bokeelia, FL
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day inshore fishing adventure targeting redfish and grouperExpert-guided trips accommodate up to three guests maximumEight hours exploring prime Pine Island fishing locations
Look, if you're tired of half-day trips that leave you wanting more, this 8-hour inshore adventure around Pine Island is exactly what you need. We're talking about a proper fishing day here – the kind where you hit multiple spots, work different techniques, and actually have time to dial in on what's biting. Captain runs a tight ship with Floridaze Fishing Charters, and with only 3 anglers max, you're getting the attention and fish-finding expertise that makes the difference between stories and just another day on the water. Pine Island Sound is loaded with structure, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines that hold serious fish year-round.
This isn't your typical tourist fishing trip. We're launching early from Bokeelia and covering serious ground throughout the day, hitting the spots that produce consistently. The beauty of an 8-hour charter is flexibility – if the morning bite is slow on the flats, we can run to deeper structure for grouper and snapper. If the reds are schooling in the shallows, we'll work them hard until they move off. You'll be using both live and artificial baits, switching between light tackle sight fishing and heavier bottom rigs depending on what we're targeting. The Pine Island area offers everything from skinny water flats to 15-foot holes loaded with structure, so we can adapt to conditions and what the fish want on any given day.
We run a mix of techniques depending on species and conditions. For redfish and trout on the flats, you'll be throwing soft plastics and topwater plugs around oyster bars and grass edges. When we hit the deeper structure for grouper and snapper, we're dropping live pinfish and grunts on circle hooks with enough weight to get down quick. The captain provides all rods, reels, and tackle – we're talking quality gear that can handle everything from 20-inch trout to bull reds pushing 30 pounds. Live bait comes from our wells, but we also carry a solid selection of artificials including DOA shrimp, spoons, and plugs that work great in these waters. If conditions are right, we might even break out some shark tackle for those looking to tangle with something that pulls back hard.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Pine Island fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters average 20-26 inches in our waters and put up one hell of a scrap on light tackle. They school up heavy in fall and winter, making for some fast action when you find them. Spring brings the big breeding reds – we're talking 35+ inch fish that will test your drag and your patience. What makes reds special here is how they use the structure – you'll find them tailing in 2 feet of water one minute, then schooled up around dock pilings the next.
Red Snapper are the prize everyone wants to bring home, and the deeper structure around Pine Island holds some solid fish. These guys average 15-20 inches but we regularly see fish pushing 25+ inches that fight like they're twice that size. Summer is prime time when they're aggressive and feeding heavy. They're smart fish that require good bait presentation, but when you hook one, that head-shaking fight and the way they dive for structure makes every red snapper a memorable catch.
Gag Grouper are ambush predators that live around the hard bottom and structure throughout our fishing areas. These fish average 18-24 inches and are absolute bulldogs – they'll try to get back to their hole the second they feel steel. What makes gags exciting is the surprise factor – you never know when that pinfish you're dropping for snapper is going to get crushed by a 5-pound grouper. Fall and winter are peak seasons when they're feeding heavy before moving offshore.
Grey Snapper (Mangrove Snapper) might not be the biggest fish we target, but they're some of the smartest and most fun to catch. These guys average 12-16 inches and are notorious for stealing baits and testing your patience. They school up around any structure they can find – docks, rocks, even shell bars in deeper water. Summer nights are when they really turn on, but we catch them consistently year-round. What makes them special is they're excellent table fare and will test your light tackle skills.
Sea Trout are the perfect inshore species – they bite year-round, fight well for their size, and are found throughout Pine Island Sound. These spotted fish average 14-18 inches with bigger gator trout pushing 20+ inches. They love grass flats and drop-offs, especially during moving tides. Spring and fall bring the best trout fishing when they school up and feed aggressively. What's great about trout is they'll hit both live bait and artificials, making them perfect for anglers who want to work lures.
This 8-hour inshore trip gives you the time and variety that shorter charters just can't match. You're getting access to multiple fishing spots, different techniques, and the kind of fish variety that makes every cast interesting. With only 3 spots available, you're getting personalized attention from an experienced captain who knows these waters inside and out. Pine Island's year-round fishing means there's never a bad time to book, but the sooner you reserve your spot, the better your chance of getting the dates you want. Don't settle for a rushed half-day trip when you can experience what Pine Island fishing is really about.
Get ready to fish the productive waters around Pine Island aboard this well-equipped 22' Pathfinder Tournament boat. Built for serious anglers, this center console handles the shallow flats and deeper channels where redfish, snapper, grouper, and sea trout love to hang out. The wireless trolling motor lets you sneak up on spooky fish without spooking them, while the GPS keeps you on the most productive spots. With an ice box to keep your catch fresh and room for up to 6 anglers, you'll have everything needed for a successful day targeting multiple species. The boat's shallow draft design is perfect for accessing those hard-to-reach backcountry spots where the big fish hide, and the stable platform gives you a solid casting deck whether you're sight fishing the flats or dropping baits in deeper water.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag Grouper are the bulldogs of the reef - they'll test your tackle and your patience. Most run 15-25 inches, but the big ones can hit 40+ inches and 20 pounds. You'll find them around hard bottom, ledges, and structure in 40-100 feet, especially near stone crab traps where they hunt for crabs. Spring and fall are prime time when they're more active and feeding heavy. What guests love about gags is the fight - they hit hard and immediately try to get back to their hole. The meat is excellent too, firm and white. Here's the key: once you hook up, lock that drag and horse them up fast. Don't give them an inch or they'll wrap you around the nearest rock and you'll lose both fish and tackle.
Lutjanus GriseusGrey Snapper, or Mangrove Snapper as most locals call them, are smart fish that'll keep you on your toes. They average 12-16 inches and 1-3 pounds, though the bigger ones can push 5+ pounds in deeper water. Look for them around docks, mangroves, rock piles, and grass flats in 5-30 feet of water. They bite best during moving tides, especially around dawn and dusk. What makes them fun is they're finicky - you need to be sneaky and patient. The meat is fantastic, sweet and flaky like their red cousins. My go-to trick: use a small 4J hook with live shrimp hooked through the tail, let it sink naturally to the bottom, then barely lift it off. No jerky movements - these fish spook easy but the reward is worth the effort.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed Snapper are one of the most sought-after fish in our waters, and for good reason. These beauties typically run 1-2 feet and 5-10 pounds around here, though we've pulled up some real monsters over 20 pounds. They live in 30-200 feet of water around structure - reefs, wrecks, and rocky bottom. The cooler months from October through March give us the best action when they're more active. What makes them special? They fight hard, pulling straight down toward cover, and the meat is absolutely top-shelf - sweet, flaky, and perfect for the dinner table. Pro tip: once you hook one, keep steady pressure and don't let them get back to the rocks. They'll cut your line in a heartbeat if you give them slack.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the kings of our shallow water flats and every angler's favorite target around here. They typically run 20-30 inches and 5-15 pounds, with those distinctive black spots near the tail. You'll find them in super shallow water - sometimes with their backs showing - around oyster bars, mangroves, and grass flats in 1-4 feet. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring are peak times when they're feeding heavily. What makes reds special is their power - they'll make long runs and really test your drag. Plus, they're great eating with mild, sweet meat. The trick is being quiet and making accurate casts. Once hooked, let them run and tire themselves out. Try topwater plugs early morning for explosive strikes, or live shrimp under a popping cork.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout are a bread-and-butter inshore species that'll keep your rod bent all day. Most run 14-18 inches and 1-2 pounds, though we catch plenty of "gator trout" over 20 inches during cooler months. They love grass flats, sandy potholes, and drop-offs in 3-8 feet of water. Fall through spring gives us the best action, especially on moving tides. What's great about trout is they're aggressive feeders and excellent table fare - soft, white meat that's perfect fried or grilled. Just don't overcook it. They school up heavy in winter, making for fast action. Best tip I can give: work soft plastics or live shrimp slow along the bottom near grass edges. Trout have soft mouths, so keep steady pressure but don't horse them in.
Cape Coral