Quick Redfish and Sheepshead Fishing Trip
Private Trip
Backcountry Fishing
Target redfish and sheepshead during optimal lunar phasesSightfishing and fly fishing in shallow spartina grass flatsSmall group experience with maximum two guests per trip
Captain Cullen knows exactly where the big reds and sheepshead hang out in St. Augustine's backcountry waters. This isn't your typical charter boat grind—you're getting up close and personal with some of Florida's most sought-after inshore species. When the lunar phases line up just right during summer and fall, those higher tides push fish deep into the spartina grass where the real action happens. You'll be sight-fishing in shallow water, watching these fish work the flats before making your move. It's pure adrenaline when you spot a tailing redfish and know you've got one shot to make it count.
This is backwater fishing at its finest, where stealth and skill matter more than horsepower. Captain Cullen runs a tight operation with just two anglers max, so you're not fighting for rod space or good positioning. The spartina marshes around St. Augustine come alive during those lunar tide swings, and that's when the fish move in to feed. You'll be poling through skinny water, sometimes in less than two feet, searching for fish that are actively feeding. The start time changes based on the tides because Captain Cullen knows there's no point hitting the water when conditions aren't right. Some days you're launching at dawn, others you might start mid-morning—it all depends on when the water's moving and the fish are feeding. The boat stays quiet, engines off most of the time, so you can hear the fish working in the grass.
This trip is all about visual fishing—spotting your target before you cast. Captain Cullen's got the elevated platform experience to pick out fish that most anglers would cruise right past. When you're working the spartina flats, you're looking for subtle signs: nervous water, tails breaking the surface, or the telltale copper flash of a big redfish turning in shallow water. Fly fishing really shines in these conditions since you can drop a pattern right in front of a feeding fish without the splash of a heavy lure. The grass provides perfect cover for these fish, but it also means you need pinpoint accuracy with your casts. Captain Cullen will position the boat so you've got clean casting lanes and help you read the water. Whether you're throwing flies or conventional tackle, the key is patience and precision. One good cast to the right fish beats fifty random casts any day of the week.
Redfish are the stars of this show, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers can push 30+ inches in St. Augustine waters, and when they're up in the grass feeding, they're aggressive and willing to eat. Reds are sight-fishers' dream because they often feed with their backs out of water, giving you that classic "tailing" presentation. They hit hard and fight harder, making long runs and using their broad sides to pull drag. Summer and fall are prime time as they follow the higher tides into the marshes where they can access crabs, shrimp, and baitfish that normally stay tucked deep in the grass. What makes catching reds so addictive is the visual aspect—you see the fish, make the cast, watch the eat, and feel that instant hookset. It's fishing in high definition.
Sheepshead might not win any beauty contests, but they're technical fish that separate good anglers from great ones. These black-and-white striped convicts have human-like teeth designed for crushing shellfish off structure, which makes them notorious bait stealers. In the backcountry around St. Augustine, they move onto oyster bars and dock pilings during higher tides, picking off barnacles and small crabs. They're incredibly spooky fish with excellent eyesight, so your approach has to be clean and your presentation natural. When you hook a good sheepshead—anything over 15 inches—you'll feel why they're so respected. They don't make flashy runs like reds, but they use their flat profile and strong body to turn sideways and pull steady pressure. Captain Cullen knows the specific structure these fish prefer and when they're most likely to feed, which makes all the difference in your success rate.
This isn't the kind of fishing trip you can find just anywhere. Captain Cullen's approach to working the lunar tides and targeting specific fish behavior sets this charter apart from the typical St. Augustine fishing scene. With only two spots available per trip, you're getting personalized attention and prime positioning for every opportunity. The seasonal timing matters here—those summer and fall lunar phases create the perfect storm of conditions that bring these fish into fishable water. Don't wait until the last minute to book, especially during peak lunar periods when the fishing is hottest. Whether you're an experienced angler looking to dial in your sight-fishing skills or someone who wants to experience backcountry fishing done right, this trip delivers the goods. Captain Cullen's local knowledge and commitment to fishing the tides properly means you're maximizing your time on the water when it counts most.
Captain Cullen's motorboat is perfect for getting you into the shallow backcountry waters where redfish and sheepshead love to hang out around St. Augustine. This nimble boat handles just 2 anglers, so you'll have plenty of room to cast and move around without bumping elbows. Built for navigating those skinny flats and grass beds, it gets you close to the action when the tides push fish up into the spartina to feed. The shallow draft lets Captain Cullen pole right into spots where bigger boats can't go, putting you within casting distance of tailing reds and cruising sheepshead. Whether you're sight-fishing or working the grass lines, this boat gives you the perfect platform to make those precise casts that count. The motor runs quiet enough that you won't spook fish in the shallows, and there's room for both conventional and fly fishing gear.
Sciaenops OcellatusCopper-colored beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails, redfish are the stars of our shallow water game. These fish cruise 1-4 feet of water, sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. Most fish we catch run 20-30 inches, but the big bulls can push 40+ inches and really test your drag. They love spartina grass flats, oyster bars, and dock lines throughout our area. Summer and fall bring the best action, especially around new and full moons when higher tides push them into the grass to feed. What guests love most is the visual aspect - watching these bronze torpedoes cruise the shallows before making your cast. My local secret: look for nervous bait and "waking" water where reds are pushing shrimp around. A well-placed topwater plug will get explosive strikes.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusThese gray-and-black striped fighters are nicknamed "convict fish" for good reason. Running 1-8 pounds typically, with some bruisers hitting 20+ pounds, sheepshead hang tight around any structure - docks, bridges, pilings covered in barnacles. They've got human-like teeth that crush shellfish all day long. What makes them tricky is they're notorious bait thieves, nibbling to steal your offering without getting hooked. The payoff? Excellent table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. Around St. Augustine, target them near the Bridge of Lions and marina pilings. Pro tip: use fiddler crabs or shrimp, keep your bait tight to the structure, and when you feel that telltale tap-tap-tap, set the hook hard - their bony mouths need a solid hookset.
Saint Augustine, FL