Full Day Inshore Fishing in Punta Gorda
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full day inshore charter targeting redfish and sea troutSmall group experience with maximum two guests aboardWildlife viewing opportunities including manatees and dolphins
Ready to spend a full day chasing some of Southwest Florida's most sought-after gamefish? This Punta Gorda inshore charter puts you right in the heart of Charlotte Harbor's best fishing grounds, where redfish, sea trout, and snook are waiting to test your skills. We're talking about a proper full-day adventure that gives you plenty of time to work the flats, hit the mangrove shorelines, and really dial in on what's biting. Plus, you'll likely spot some of the local wildlife – manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles make regular appearances in these waters. With just two anglers max, you get that personalized attention that makes all the difference between a good day and a great day on the water.
Your day starts early with Fun Times Charters, and that's exactly how you want it. The morning bite is usually the most productive, especially when we're targeting these species. Charlotte Harbor and the surrounding backcountry offer some of the most diverse inshore fishing in Florida – we've got grass flats that hold sea trout, oyster bars where redfish love to cruise, and mangrove shorelines that snook call home. The beauty of a full-day trip is we can move around and follow the fish. If the trout are being finicky on one flat, we'll slide over to another spot where the reds might be tailing. The small group size means you're not fighting for rod time or prime spots on the boat. This is hands-on fishing where you'll learn to read the water, spot fish, and really understand what makes these species tick.
We fish light tackle here – typically spinning gear in the 2500-3000 class spooled with 15-20 pound braid. The water clarity in Charlotte Harbor means these fish can be spooky, so we often drop down to fluorocarbon leaders in the 20-25 pound range. Techniques vary throughout the day depending on what we're targeting. For sea trout, we'll work soft plastics under popping corks over the grass flats, letting that subtle action do the work. When we're sight fishing for redfish, we switch to weedless jigs or spoons that we can work through shallow water without hanging up. Snook fishing often means getting up tight to structure – docks, mangroves, and bridges – where accurate casting makes the difference. Live bait has its place too, especially when the fish are being picky. Pinfish, pilchards, and shrimp all have their moments, and knowing when to make the switch is part of the game.
Snook are the crown jewel of inshore fishing here, and Punta Gorda's backwaters hold some real bruisers. These ambush predators love structure and moving water, which we have plenty of around the harbor's bridges and mangrove creeks. They're most active during the warmer months, roughly April through October, though you can catch them year-round if you know where to look. What makes snook so special is their fight – they'll make powerful runs, try to wrap you around structure, and throw some serious head shakes. Plus, they're beautiful fish with that distinctive black lateral line. Most of our snook run between 24-32 inches, with the occasional slot-buster that'll get your heart pumping.
Sea trout are the bread and butter of these grass flats, and they're arguably the most consistent biters we target. These spotted beauties school up over the deeper grass beds, typically in 3-8 feet of water. Spring and fall are prime time when the water temps are in that sweet spot, but summer early mornings and winter warm spells can produce excellent action too. Trout have a soft mouth, so they're fun on light tackle but require a gentle touch when fighting and handling. The keeper-sized fish here typically run 15-20 inches, with some real gator trout pushing over 24 inches during the cooler months. They're also excellent table fare if you're looking to take a few home for dinner.
Redfish might just be the perfect inshore gamefish – they eat well, fight hard, and show up in good numbers throughout the year. Charlotte Harbor's shallow flats and oyster bars are redfish paradise, especially during the fall months when they school up in big numbers. These copper-colored bruisers are built for the shallows, with that underslung mouth perfect for rooting around oysters and grass beds. Sight fishing for reds is addictive – watching them cruise the shallows with their backs out of the water, then making that perfect cast ahead of the school. Our reds typically range from 18-27 inches, right in that slot size that fights like crazy but isn't too big to handle easily.
A full day on Charlotte Harbor's inshore waters gives you the best shot at connecting with all three of these world-class gamefish species. The combination of diverse habitat, healthy fish populations, and experienced guidance makes this one of Southwest Florida's top-rated fishing experiences. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to refine your technique or someone newer to the sport wanting to learn from a pro, this charter delivers. The wildlife encounters are just the bonus – though watching a manatee surface next to the boat or dolphins working a school of bait never gets old. These are the kind of fishing memories that stick with you long after you've headed home. Ready to see what Charlotte Harbor has to offer? Let's get you on the water.
Your fishing adventure starts aboard our reliable 2006 24-foot Ranger Bay, built to handle Punta Gorda's inshore waters with ease. This spacious motorboat comfortably accommodates up to 2 anglers, giving you plenty of room to work the flats for redfish and sea trout without feeling cramped. The wireless trolling motor lets you slip quietly into shallow water where the fish feed, while our fish finder helps locate schools and structure below. GPS navigation keeps you on the productive spots, and the onboard icebox ensures your catch stays fresh and your drinks stay cold during those long stretches between bites. Whether you're sight-casting to tailing redfish or working grass beds for spotted sea trout, this boat gets you where the action is. The shallow draft design opens up backcountry areas that bigger boats can't reach, putting you on fish that rarely see pressure. Perfect for serious anglers who want to maximize their time on the water.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our Punta Gorda flats fishing. These copper-colored bruisers typically run 20-30 inches and are famous for that distinctive black spot near their tail. You'll find them cruising oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines in just 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Year-round fishing is good, but spring and fall are prime time when they're most active. What makes reds special is their powerful, sustained runs and how they'll eat almost anything - from topwater plugs to live shrimp. They're also excellent eating with a mild, sweet flavor. My go-to technique is sight-casting with a gold spoon or soft plastic shrimp. When you see that red back cruising the shallows, cast ahead of them and let the lure sink - they can't resist it.
Salmo TruttaSea trout, or speckled trout as we call them locally, are fantastic fish for anglers of all skill levels around Punta Gorda. They typically range from 14-24 inches and love our grass flats and shallow bays. You'll find them in 2-8 feet of water, especially around dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. Fall through early spring offers the best fishing when water temperatures cool down. What guests love about trout is their willingness to bite and their delicate, flaky white meat - they're some of the best eating fish we have. During winter months, they school up in deeper channels, making for some fast action. Pro tip: use a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below. The noise draws them in, and that natural bait seals the deal every time.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are some of the most sought-after fish around Punta Gorda's mangroves and estuaries. These golden-colored fighters typically run 1-2 feet long, though we occasionally see giants pushing 3-4 feet. They love hanging around structure - docks, mangrove roots, and creek mouths where they ambush baitfish. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around the new and full moons when they're more active. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll make blistering runs toward cover. Plus, they're excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Here's a local tip: cast your lure past the structure and work it back through the strike zone. Snook are ambush predators, so that first retrieve through their hiding spot is often your money shot.
Punta Gorda, FL