Top-Rated Inshore Fishing in Trinidad & Tobago
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 4hour deep sea fishing charter for three guestsTarget premium species including Tarpon, Jack Crevalle, and SnookProfessional guides provide equipment and local fishing expertise
Looking for some serious action on the flats? Grand Slam Fishing Charters has you covered with their half-day and full-day inshore trips that'll put you right in the middle of some of the Caribbean's best shallow water fishing. For $500, you and up to two buddies get four hours of guided fishing in waters that consistently produce trophy-sized gamefish. We're talking about targeting some legendary species here - Tarpon that'll test your drag, Bonefish that'll challenge your casting skills, and Permit that are as beautiful as they are stubborn. The guides know these waters like the back of their hand, and they've got the gear dialed in perfectly for sight fishing and working the structure around Tobago's pristine coastline.
This isn't your typical deep water trolling trip - you're getting into the technical side of fishing where finesse and patience pay off big time. The charter runs out of Trinidad and Tobago's prime inshore zones, hitting grass flats, mangrove edges, and sandy areas where these gamefish cruise looking for baitfish. Your captain will position the boat based on tide, wind, and what's been biting recently. Some days you'll be sight casting to fish you can actually see cruising the shallows, other times you'll work likely spots where fish typically hold. The boat stays in relatively calm, protected waters most of the time, making this perfect for anglers who might get seasick on rough offshore trips. You'll spend the day moving between different productive areas, with your guide reading the water and adjusting tactics as conditions change throughout the trip.
The guides come prepared with spinning and fly gear that's perfectly matched to the species you're targeting. For Tarpon and big Jacks, you'll likely be throwing live bait on medium-heavy spinning tackle with 20-30 pound test and circle hooks. When sight fishing for Bonefish and Permit, the setup gets lighter - maybe 10-15 pound test with small jigs, shrimp, or crab patterns. If you fly fish, bring your 8 or 9 weight rod because these fish will put it to work. The guides know how to read bird activity, water color changes, and current breaks that hold fish. They'll teach you to spot the subtle signs - a nervous baitfish school, a slight discoloration in the water, or the way the current flows around a particular structure. Live bait is king out here, but artificial lures definitely produce when worked properly. Expect to do some actual fishing rather than just holding a rod - this style requires active participation and quick reactions when fish show up.
Tarpon are the absolute kings of these waters, and hooking into one is something you'll never forget. These silver missiles can reach over 100 pounds and when they hit your bait, they explode out of the water in a series of spectacular jumps that'll have your heart pounding. Peak season runs from April through August when big schools move through the area. They're ambush predators that love to hang around structure and current breaks, feeding on everything from mullet to crabs. What makes them special is their incredible fight - they'll take long runs, jump repeatedly, and test every knot in your setup.
Bonefish might look unassuming, but they're considered the ultimate shallow water gamefish for good reason. These chrome-colored ghosts cruise the flats in small groups, tailing and rooting for crabs and shrimp in the turtle grass. They're incredibly spooky - one bad cast or heavy footstep and they vanish like they were never there. When you do hook up, they make blistering runs that'll strip line off your reel faster than you thought possible. The window for Bonefish is pretty much year-round in these waters, but they're most active during incoming tides when fresh water brings in food sources.
Permit are probably the most challenging fish you'll encounter on this trip, and that's exactly why experienced anglers obsess over them. They've got this habit of swimming right up to your bait, inspecting it like they're conducting a scientific study, then swimming away for no apparent reason. When you finally connect with one, they fight with incredible power and use their disc-shaped bodies to leverage against the current. They're most active from March through September, often found around coral heads and sandy areas where they hunt for crabs and small fish.
Crevalle Jack might not win any beauty contests, but they make up for it with pure aggression and fight. These fish will attack just about any lure or bait you throw at them, and once hooked, they pull like freight trains. They school up in large numbers, especially around baitfish concentrations, and when you find a school, the action can be absolutely non-stop. They're available year-round and often serve as a great backup when the more finicky species aren't cooperating.
Snook are the perfect ambush predators, hanging around mangrove edges, docks, and structure where they can surprise unsuspecting baitfish. They've got this distinctive black lateral line and when they hit a bait, it's usually explosive. These fish are structure-oriented, so you'll be casting tight to cover and working lures through areas where most fish wouldn't dare to swim. They're most active during dawn and dusk periods, and the guides time the trips to hit multiple spots during these prime feeding windows.
Grand Slam Fishing Charters delivers exactly what serious anglers are looking for - knowledgeable guides, quality equipment, and access to some of the Caribbean's most productive inshore fishing grounds. The $500 price point for up to three people makes this an outstanding value compared to similar charters in other destinations. Remember that the balance payment is cash only at the end of the trip, so plan accordingly. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking
Hit the waters around Trinidad and Tobago aboard our reliable 23-foot custom flat-bottom skiff, built specifically for these Caribbean fishing grounds. This 2008 vessel runs on a powerful 130HP Yamaha engine that gets you to the best spots quickly and smoothly. With room for three anglers, you'll have plenty of space to work your lines without bumping elbows. The shallow-draft design lets us access prime flats and nearshore areas where tarpon, jack crevalle, and snook like to hunt. Our onboard fish finder helps locate schools and structure, giving you the edge when targeting these feisty Caribbean species. The boat's stable platform makes it easy to land fish and move around safely while fighting those hard-running jacks or acrobatic tarpon that these waters are known for.
Albula VulpesBonefish are the "silver ghosts" of shallow water - sleek, torpedo-shaped fish averaging 16-30 inches and 6-8 pounds, with some reaching 40+ inches. They cruise grass flats, sandy areas, and mangrove edges in water so shallow their backs sometimes break the surface while feeding. Low tide is prime time when they move onto the flats to hunt crabs and shrimp. What makes them special is the challenge - they're incredibly spooky with excellent eyesight, requiring perfect casts and stealthy approaches. Once hooked, they make blistering 100+ yard runs at 30 mph. It's pure sight fishing that tests your skills. Most are released since they're very bony. Look for "tailing" fish with their tails sticking up while they dig for food. Key tip: when you spot one feeding, cast well ahead of its path and let your shrimp or crab fly settle before the fish arrives.
Caranx HipposCrevalle Jack are the bulldogs of our waters - powerful, aggressive fish with brass-green backs and bright yellow tails. Most run 12-24 inches and 3-5 pounds, but the big ones can hit 4 feet and 60 pounds of pure muscle. You'll find them schooling around reefs, wrecks, grass beds, and anywhere baitfish gather, from shallow flats to 100+ feet deep. They're year-round residents here, but spring and summer offer the best action when they're most active. What guests love is the non-stop fight - these fish don't give up and will test your tackle to the limit. They're excellent eating with firm, white meat. Watch for diving birds to locate schools pushing bait to the surface. Pro tip: when you find a school, work the edges first with fast-moving lures - cast beyond them and retrieve quickly through the school. They love the chase.
Trachinotus FalcatusPermit are the ghosts of the flats - silvery, disc-shaped fish that can grow to 3-4 feet and 40+ pounds, though most average 20-30 inches. They cruise shallow sandy areas, grass flats, and around structures in 2-20 feet of water, using those golf-ball eyes that rotate almost 360 degrees to spot danger. April through October is prime time when they're most active and feeding heavily. What makes them special is they're notoriously difficult to fool - probably the trickiest fish you'll target. They spook easily but fight like bulldozers once hooked, making long powerful runs. The challenge is what draws people back again and again. Most consider them the hardest of the "grand slam" species to complete. My secret: use a fresh blue crab on a light circle hook, and when you see one, approach slowly from behind - never cast directly at them.
Centropomus UndecimalisCommon Snook are sleek predators with that distinctive black lateral line running down their golden sides. Most you'll catch here run 1-3 feet, but the big females can push 4 feet and really test your drag. They love our mangrove creeks, shallow lagoons, and anywhere structure meets moving water - usually in 2-20 feet. These fish are ambush hunters that hit hard and make powerful runs toward cover. May through September is peak season when they're spawning and most aggressive. What makes them special is that explosive strike and the way they fight dirty, trying to wrap your line around anything they can find. They're good eating too, with firm white meat. Pro tip: when you're working mangroves, cast your live shrimp or soft plastic right into the shadows where the roots meet open water - that's where they're waiting.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings of our waters - massive fish that can hit 6+ feet and 200+ pounds, though most we see run 4-5 feet and 80-100 pounds. They patrol our coastal waters, channels, and deeper holes around 20-60 feet, often rolling on the surface to gulp air. Peak season runs April through September when they're spawning and most active. What guests love is the pure spectacle - when a tarpon hits, it goes airborne in jumps that can reach 10 feet high, trying to throw the hook. These ancient fish have been around 125 million years and know every trick in the book. Most anglers practice catch and release since they're bony and not great eating. The fight is what counts - pure adrenaline for 30+ minutes. My advice: keep steady pressure but bow to the fish when it jumps to prevent break-offs.
Tobago