Extended Half Day Fishing Trip in St. Augustine
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore fishing trip targeting redfish and sea troutProfessional captain provides all gear and licenses for three guestsMultiple convenient launch locations including Lighthouse Park and Vilano
Looking for some serious fishing action without burning a whole day? Captain Cullen's 6-hour inshore adventure puts you right in the heart of St. Augustine's best fishing grounds. You'll work the flats, oyster bars, and structure where redfish, sea trout, black drum, cobia, and sheepshead call home. With all gear and licenses included for up to 3 anglers, this top-rated charter gets you on the fish fast and keeps you there. Multiple launch points mean we can hit the water from wherever conditions are best - whether that's Lighthouse Park, Vilano, Crystal River, Usina, or Frank Butler ramps.
Captain Cullen runs a clean Maverick skiff that's built for these inshore waters. Six hours gives you real time to work different spots and adapt to what the fish are doing that day. We'll start early to catch the morning bite, then adjust our approach as conditions change. The beauty of St. Augustine's inshore fishery is the variety - one minute you're sight-casting to tailing redfish on a grass flat, the next you're working structure for black drum or picking apart oyster bars for sheepshead. The captain knows these waters like his backyard and isn't afraid to move around to find active fish. You'll learn to read the water, understand tidal movements, and pick up techniques that'll make you a better angler long after the trip ends.
All your gear is dialed in and ready to go - from light spinning tackle for trout to heavier setups when cobia show up. We'll match the tackle to the target species and conditions. Sight fishing with artificial lures is the name of the game most days, though we'll switch to live or cut bait when the situation calls for it. You'll work topwater plugs early in the morning, switch to soft plastics as the sun gets higher, and maybe throw some live shrimp around structure. The captain provides everything from terminal tackle to landing nets, so you can focus on fishing instead of rigging. If you've got your own favorite rod or lucky lure, bring it along - just know that the provided gear is tournament-grade stuff that gets the job done.
Redfish are the crown jewel of St. Augustine inshore fishing. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the flats year-round, with peak action in fall and spring when they school up. A good red will make multiple runs and test your drag system. They're smart fish that spook easily in shallow water, making sight-casting both challenging and rewarding. Most fish run 18-27 inches, with the occasional bull red that'll really test your skills.
Sea trout are your steady producers throughout the year, though they really turn on during cooler months. These spotted beauties love grass flats and drop-offs, and they'll absolutely hammer a well-placed soft plastic. Trout are perfect for building confidence - they bite readily and fight hard for their size. The bigger gator trout that show up in winter are legitimate trophies that any angler would be proud to catch.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're pure power. These bottom-dwellers love structure and oyster bars, where they root around for crabs and shellfish. When a big drum takes your bait, you'll know it - they pull like a freight train and don't give up easy. Spring brings the biggest fish, with some bruisers topping 40 pounds. They're excellent table fare when prepared right.
Sheepshead are the convict-striped tricksters of the inshore waters. They've got human-like teeth for crushing barnacles and crabs, and they're notorious bait stealers. Catching sheepshead consistently takes skill and patience - they're one of the best-eating fish in these waters, so the effort pays off. Look for them around any structure, especially during their spawning run in early spring.
Cobia are the wildcards that can show up anytime from spring through fall. These brown sharks (they're not actually sharks) are curious fish that'll follow the boat and eat almost anything you throw at them. A cobia bite turns any fishing trip into something special - they're strong, acrobatic, and excellent on the dinner table. When water temperatures hit the 70s, keep your eyes peeled for these chocolate-colored rockets.
Six hours with Captain Cullen gives you the perfect taste of what makes St. Augustine such a world-class inshore fishery. You'll work multiple techniques, target different species, and come away with skills and memories that last long after the fish photos fade. The flexible launch locations mean weather rarely cancels trips - there's always a protected spot to wet a line. Just grab some snacks and drinks, and let the captain handle the rest. This customer favorite books up fast, especially during peak seasons, so don't wait to secure your dates. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking for your next red or a newcomer ready to learn the ropes, this extended half-day puts you right where you need to be.
Captain Cullen's Maverick skiff is built for serious inshore action around St. Augustine's productive waters. This nimble motorboat handles the shallow flats and tight spots where redfish and sea trout like to hang out. With room for 3 anglers, the skiff gets you into those hard-to-reach oyster bars and backwater haunts without spooking the fish. The shallow draft design lets you work the grass beds and structure where black drum, cobia, and sheepshead feed. Perfect for poling the flats or running between hot spots, this boat puts you right where the fish are biting. Whether you're sight-casting to tailing reds or working the deeper edges for trout, the Maverick's stable platform gives you the space to fight fish properly. Captain Cullen knows every productive corner of these waters, and this skiff gets you there quietly and efficiently for a solid day of coastal fishing.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, running 5-30 pounds typically but some bulls push 90 pounds. You'll find them crushing oysters and crabs around shallow muddy flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in our brackish waters. They're bottom feeders with powerful jaws, so fresh crab or cut bait on the bottom works best. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - much easier to target then. What guests love is the strong, steady fight these fish put up, plus the smaller ones (under 15 pounds) make excellent table fare with white, flaky meat. Pro tip: when you feel that subtle tap-tap on your bait, don't wait - set the hook hard because they'll steal your bait if you hesitate.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the bruisers we target around structure, often mistaken for sharks with their dark brown color and single dorsal fin. These fish average 20-50 pounds and can hit 100 pounds, making them serious tackle-testers. Look for them around buoys, wrecks, and pilings in 10-30 feet of water, especially during their spring migration from March through May. What gets anglers fired up is sight-fishing for these giants when they cruise just under the surface, plus they're phenomenal table fare - firm, white meat that rivals any fish. The trick is approaching them quietly and dropping a bucktail jig or live bait right in front of their nose. They're curious fish, so if you don't spook them, they'll usually check out your offering.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore waters, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and signature black spot near the tail. They run 20-40 inches and fight like hell in the shallow water where we target them - sometimes so shallow their backs are out of the water. You'll find them year-round on oyster bars, grass flats, and around docks, but fall and spring offer the hottest action. What guests love most is sight-fishing for tailing reds in skinny water and that blistering first run when hooked. They're also excellent table fare with firm, sweet meat. The secret is watching for nervous water or actual fish tails sticking up while they feed head-down. Cast past them and work your bait back slowly - spook them and the game's over.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are beautiful silver fish with distinctive black spots running 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds. They love our grass flats and shallow waters, especially at night and during moving tides. Spring through fall offers the best action, with winter fish schooling in deeper channels. What makes trout special is their willingness to hit topwater lures at dawn and dusk - those explosive surface strikes get everyone excited. Plus they're fantastic eating with delicate, white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. The key is working the grass flats quietly with soft plastics or live shrimp under a popping cork. During cooler months, find the deeper holes and creek bends where they winter up in big schools.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of our waters with their black and white stripes, running 1-8 pounds typically though 20-pounders show up. They live around any structure - docks, pilings, bridges, jetties - feeding on barnacles and crabs with those famous human-like teeth. Best fishing happens in cooler months when they school up for spawning, February through April. Guests love the challenge because sheepshead are notorious bait thieves, plus they're some of the best eating fish we catch with sweet, white meat. The trick is getting your bait tight to the structure and setting the hook fast when you feel them nibbling - they'll clean your hook otherwise. Use fiddler crabs or shrimp and keep it on the bottom near those barnacle-covered pilings.
Saint Augustine, FL