PM Inshore Charter: Tarpon, Snook & Redfish
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
6hour afternoon charter targeting tarpon, snook, and redfishMaverick flats boat accommodates two guests with included gearExpert guidance from Crandon Park or Homestead Bayfront locations
If you're looking to get serious about South Florida inshore fishing, this 6-hour afternoon charter is where you want to be. We're talking prime time fishing when the shadows start getting longer and the fish get more active. You'll launch from either Crandon Park or Homestead Bayfront depending on conditions, and trust me – both spots put you right in the heart of some of the best flats fishing in the world. This isn't a crowded party boat situation either. Just you, one buddy, and a guide who knows these waters like the back of their hand. We're targeting the big five that make South Florida legendary: tarpon, snook, redfish, bonefish, and permit. Everything's included – bait, tackle, water, and the kind of local knowledge that turns good days into legendary ones.
The afternoon bite is something special down here. While everyone else is heading in from their morning trips, you're just getting started when the fish are waking up from their midday siesta. Your guide will pick you up at either Crandon Park Marina if we're working the upper keys and Biscayne Bay, or Homestead Bayfront when the action's better down south. The Maverick flats boat is perfect for this kind of fishing – shallow draft, quiet, and built to get you into places where the big fish hang out without spooking them. You'll cover everything from grass flats to mangrove shorelines, oyster bars to deeper channels. The beauty of a 6-hour trip is we're not rushed. If the tarpon are rolling in one spot, we can stay and work them. If the redfish are tailing somewhere else, we've got time to make moves. This is fishing the way it should be – patient, tactical, and focused on quality over quantity.
South Florida inshore fishing is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish are doing. We'll be sight fishing a lot – poling the flats and looking for tails, wakes, and nervous water that gives away where the fish are feeding. For tarpon, we're talking about live pilchards or crabs presented just right in their travel lanes. Snook fishing means working the mangrove edges with everything from topwater plugs at dawn to live shrimp bounced along the bottom. Redfish are suckers for gold spoons and cut bait when they're cruising the flats. The tackle is all provided, but we're using quality spinning and conventional gear that can handle anything from a 5-pound bonefish to a 100-pound tarpon. Your guide will have you rigged with the right leader material, hooks, and weights for whatever we're targeting. If you've got your own gear and want to use it, that's cool too – just make sure your drag is smooth because these fish will test it.
Tarpon are the kings of South Florida flats, and for good reason. These silver monsters can hit 150 pounds and jump like they're trying to touch the clouds. Peak season runs from April through July, but you'll find resident fish year-round in the deeper channels and basins. When a tarpon eats your bait and goes airborne, everything else stops mattering. They're called the silver king for a reason, and landing one is a badge of honor that'll have you planning your next trip before this one's over.
Snook are the local favorites and rightfully so. These ambush predators love structure – docks, mangroves, bridges, anywhere they can hide and surprise their next meal. They're most active during the warmer months but you can catch them year-round if you know where to look. A good snook will pull hard and jump, and they're beautiful fish with that distinctive black lateral line. Plus, they're excellent table fare if you decide to keep one within the slot limit.
Redfish, or reds as we call them, are probably the most reliable target on the flats. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the shallows looking for crabs and shrimp, and when they're feeding, you can actually see their tails waving above the surface. They fight like trucks, making long powerful runs and using their broad sides to leverage against you. Spring and fall are prime time, but honestly, there's never a bad time to target reds in South Florida.
Bonefish are the ghosts of the flats – spooky, smart, and incredibly fun to catch. These silvery speedsters will test your casting accuracy and patience, but when you hook one, get ready for a screaming run that'll take line faster than you thought possible. They're most active on the incoming tide when they move onto the flats to feed. Spotting a school of bones in shallow water and making the perfect cast is what flats fishing is all about.
Permit are the holy grail for many flats anglers. These disc-shaped fish are notoriously picky eaters and known for refusing even the most perfect presentation. But when one finally eats, it's game on. They're incredibly strong fighters that will use every trick in the book to break you off. Permit fishing requires patience and persistence, but landing one is an achievement that puts you in pretty exclusive company among anglers.
This afternoon charter hits all the sweet spots – prime fishing time, expert guidance, top-notch equipment, and access to some of the most productive inshore waters in Florida. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to add some South Florida species to your list or someone newer to the game who wants to learn from a pro, this trip delivers. The 6-hour timeframe gives us real flexibility to chase the bite wherever it takes us, and with just two anglers max, you're getting personalized attention that makes all the difference. Don't sleep on booking this one – the best guides fill up fast, especially during peak season.
Your afternoon pursuit of South Florida's premier gamefish starts aboard this sleek 2020 Maverick HPXV Carbon Edition flats boat. At 17 feet, this purpose-built shallow-water machine gets you into those skinny backcountry spots where the big tarpon roll and redfish cruise the grass flats. The Yamaha 70HP pushes you along at a comfortable 40 mph cruise, cutting travel time so you spend more hours with lines in the water. Built for stability when you're battling that silver king or sight-casting to tailing reds, this boat handles like a dream in South Florida's varied inshore waters. The spacious cockpit gives you and one other angler plenty of room to work, while the onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold during those hot afternoon sessions. GPS keeps you on the productive spots, and VHF radio ensures safe communication. Whether you're working the mangrove shorelines for snook or stalking bonefish on the flats, this Maverick delivers the shallow-draft performance and rock-solid platform serious inshore fishing demands.
Albula VulpesBonefish are the "grey ghosts" of the flats, averaging 3-8 pounds with torpedo-shaped silver bodies. They hunt shallow grass flats and sand bars in 6 inches to 4 feet of water, often tailing while rooting for crabs and shrimp. Best fishing is on incoming tides when they move up to feed. Bones are pure adrenaline - they'll peel 100 yards of line in seconds once hooked. Most anglers release them since they're full of bones and not great eating. The magic happens when you spot them tailing or cruising and make that perfect cast. Live shrimp, small crabs, or bone-colored jigs work well. Key tip: cast ahead of moving fish and let your bait settle to the bottom before they arrive. Any sudden movement will send them racing for deep water.
Trachinotus FalcatusPermit are the holy grail of flats fishing - tall, silver, and incredibly spooky. Most run 15-25 pounds and cruise sand flats, channels, and reef edges in 2-15 feet of water. Prime time is April through October when they're spawning and more aggressive. These fish have golf ball-sized eyes that rotate almost 360 degrees, so they see everything. The challenge is what draws anglers - permit are notoriously difficult to hook and even harder to land. They make searing runs and test your drag like few fish can. Blue crabs are the gold standard bait, but crab-pattern flies work too. The trick is getting your bait to the bottom quickly and presenting it naturally. Most permit are caught by accident while targeting other species - be ready!
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are perfect for sight fishing on South Florida flats, usually running 20-35 inches with that distinctive black spot near the tail. They cruise grass flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines in 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above water. Year-round fishing here, but fall and winter offer the best action when they school up. Reds fight hard with powerful runs and are excellent table fare with mild, flaky meat. They'll eat almost anything - live shrimp, crabs, or artificials like gold spoons and soft plastics. Pro tip: when you spot a redfish tailing or cruising, cast well ahead of where it's going and work your bait slowly across its path. They spook easily in shallow water.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of South Florida's premier game fish, averaging 1-3 feet with that signature black lateral line running down their golden sides. They love structure - mangroves, docks, bridges, and oyster bars in 2-10 feet of water. These ambush predators hit hard and make blistering runs when hooked. Best fishing happens during warmer months, especially around new and full moons when they're more active. They're great eating too - firm, white meat that's perfect grilled or blackened. The key to landing snook is keeping steady pressure without overworking them. They've got razor-sharp gill plates that'll cut your line in a heartbeat, so always use a leader and try to keep their head up during the fight.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the kings of South Florida flats, typically running 4-6 feet and 80-150 pounds around here. These silver giants cruise shallow bays, channels, and bridge areas, often rolling on the surface. They're most active from April through October, especially on moving tides during warmer weather. What makes tarpon special is their aerial show - they'll jump 8-10 feet out of the water, gill-rattling and throwing the hook if you're not careful. Most folks catch and release since they're too bony to eat well. The secret with tarpon is keeping a tight line during their jumps but not fighting them too hard. Bow to the fish when it goes airborne - drop your rod tip to give slack and prevent the hook from tearing out.
Miami, FL, United States