Half Day Charter Trip (24' Boat)
Nothing beats starting your morning with some quality time on South Florida's inshore waters, and Captain Josh's half-day charter delivers exactly what local anglers and visitors are looking for. You'll be fishing aboard a comfortable 24-foot Pathfinder that's built for these shallow waters, with room for up to four anglers who want to experience some of the best light tackle fishing in the country. This isn't some rushed tourist trip – it's a proper fishing charter where you'll learn the waters, work the flats, and have real shots at some trophy-caliber fish.
What to Expect on the Water
Your morning kicks off early when the conditions are prime and the fish are most active. Captain Josh knows these South Florida flats and backcountry waters like the back of his hand, and he'll put you on fish whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time. The 24-foot Pathfinder is the perfect platform for this kind of fishing – shallow draft gets you into skinny water where the big fish feed, but stable enough to cast comfortably. You'll be targeting some of Florida's most sought-after inshore species including bonefish, snook, redfish, tarpon, mangrove snapper, and permit. Captain Josh provides all the quality tackle, fresh bait, and local knowledge you need, so you can focus on what matters – putting fish in the boat. The morning hours typically offer calmer winds and more cooperative fish, making this a top-rated choice for anglers who want to maximize their time on the water.
Light Tackle & Sight Casting
This is where South Florida inshore fishing really shines. You'll be working with light tackle that lets you feel every run, every jump, and every head shake these fish throw at you. Captain Josh sets you up with the right gear for the conditions and target species – whether that's spinning tackle for redfish cruising the mangroves or fly gear if you want to try your hand at some of the most challenging gamefish in the flats. Sight casting is a huge part of what makes this trip special. Instead of blindly throwing bait and hoping, you'll actually see fish moving through the shallows and make precise casts to feeding or cruising fish. It takes some practice, but there's nothing like watching a redfish turn on your bait in two feet of crystal-clear water. The backcountry areas hold different opportunities – deeper pockets where snook ambush baitfish, mangrove shorelines where anything from baby tarpon to crevalle jacks might be lurking, and grass flats where permit and bonefish cruise looking for crabs and shrimp.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Redfish are the bread and butter of South Florida inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers range from schooling "rat reds" around 16-20 inches up to bull reds that can push 40 inches and give you a fight you won't forget. They're year-round residents, but fall and winter months often produce the largest fish as they move to spawn. Redfish are aggressive feeders and will hit live shrimp, cut bait, or artificials worked along mangrove edges and grass flats. What makes them special is their willingness to eat and their bulldogging fights – they don't jump much, but they'll make long, powerful runs that test your drag and your patience.
Permit are considered the holy grail of flats fishing, and South Florida offers some of the most consistent permit fishing in the world. These silver, disc-shaped fish are incredibly spooky and selective, making them a true test of an angler's skill. Most permit caught here run 8-15 pounds, but fish over 20 pounds cruise these waters. They're year-round residents, with peak action typically in spring and fall when water temperatures are moderate. Permit primarily feed on crabs, so live crabs or crab-pattern flies are your best bet. Landing a permit on light tackle is a career fish for many anglers – they make blistering runs and have the endurance to fight for 20 minutes or more.
Crevalle jacks might not win beauty contests, but they'll give you some of the most powerful fights pound-for-pound of any inshore species. These golden, broad-shouldered fish travel in schools and can appear anywhere from shallow flats to deeper channels. They're opportunistic feeders that will crush just about any bait or lure you throw at them. Jacks are year-round residents, but summer months often produce the largest schools. What makes them exciting is their raw power – a 10-pound jack fights like a 20-pound fish of most other species, and they have the stamina to make multiple long runs.
Bonefish are the ghosts of the flats – silver torpedoes that can disappear in inches of water and make runs that will drain your reel in seconds. South Florida bonefish typically range from 3-8 pounds, with the occasional fish pushing double digits. They're primarily spring and summer fish here, though you can find them year-round in the right conditions. Bonefish feed almost exclusively on the bottom, rooting for crabs, shrimp, and worms in the sand and grass. They're extremely spooky and require precise casts and quiet approaches. The reward is one of the fastest, most exciting fights in shallow water fishing – bonefish make screaming runs that can take them hundreds of yards across the flats.
Grey snapper, or mangrove snapper as they're commonly called, are the perfect species for anglers who want consistent action and excellent table fare. These copper-colored snappers hang around structure – docks, mangrove roots, rock piles, and channel edges. They're year-round residents, with summer months typically producing the largest fish. Mangrove snapper are bottom feeders that respond well to live or dead shrimp, small crabs, and cut baitfish. They're smart fish that can be