Night Fishing Trip in St. Augustine, FL
When the sun goes down over the Ancient City, the real fishing action heats up. Captain Mike McGeehan and Island Fishing Charters have put together one heck of a night fishing adventure that'll have you chasing some of Florida's most sought-after gamefish under the stars. This isn't your typical sunset cruise – we're talking about four solid hours of serious angling in waters that come alive after dark. With just two spots available per trip, you're getting the personalized attention that makes all the difference between going home with fish stories and going home with actual fish.
What to Expect on the Water
Picture this: you're out on the flats and backwaters around St. Augustine as the last light fades, and suddenly the water transforms into a feeding frenzy. That's exactly what Captain Mike has tapped into with this four-hour night fishing experience. The beauty of fishing these waters after dark is that predator fish become more aggressive, moving into shallower areas to hunt baitfish that are easier to ambush in low light. You'll be working the grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths where redfish, snook, trout, and even tarpon set up their dinner tables. The small group size means Captain Mike can tailor the trip to your skill level, whether you're a seasoned angler or someone who's never held a rod after sunset. The cooler evening temperatures make for comfortable fishing, and there's something special about the peace and focus that comes with night angling – no boat traffic, no crowds, just you and the fish.
Gear Setup & Night Tactics
Night fishing requires a different approach than daytime angling, and Captain Mike has the setup dialed in perfectly. You'll be using medium to heavy action rods paired with quality reels spooled with braided line – essential for feeling those subtle bites in the dark and pulling fish out of structure. The key to successful night fishing lies in your bait presentation and lure selection. Live bait like shrimp, pinfish, and mullet are absolute killers after dark, and Captain Mike knows exactly where to source the freshest bait. For artificial lures, you'll be throwing topwater plugs, soft plastics, and suspending jerkbaits that create vibration and sound to help fish locate your offering. Proper lighting is crucial – we're talking red headlamps to preserve night vision and strategically placed boat lights to attract baitfish, which in turn draw in the predators you're after. The captain will position the boat using GPS waypoints and his local knowledge of current patterns, tidal movements, and seasonal fish behavior to put you in the right spot at the right time.
Target Species Breakdown
Redfish are the bread and butter of St. Augustine night fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers love to cruise the shallow flats after dark, often in water so thin you can see their backs breaking the surface. Reds typically range from 18 to 30 inches in these waters, with the occasional bull red pushing 40-plus inches showing up to test your drag system. They're most active during moving tides, especially the last two hours of incoming water when they push into the grass beds to feed on crabs and shrimp. What makes redfish so exciting is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight – they'll make multiple runs and use their broad sides to fight you all the way to the boat.
Spotted seatrout, or "specks" as locals call them, are another prime target that really turns on after sunset. These beautiful fish with their distinctive black spots are typically found in 2-6 feet of water around grass flats and sandy potholes. St. Augustine trout usually run 14-20 inches, with the occasional gator trout exceeding 24 inches. They're most productive during the warmer months from April through October, and they absolutely hammer topwater lures in low light conditions. The strike of a big trout on a surface plug is something you'll never forget – that explosive hit followed by head-shaking jumps that test both your reflexes and your hook set.
Snook are the crown jewel of Florida inshore fishing, and St. Augustine's population has been steadily growing over the past decade. These ambush predators love structure – docks, bridges, mangrove shorelines, and oyster bars where they can hide and strike unsuspecting prey. Snook are extremely light-sensitive, making night fishing one of the most effective ways to target them. They typically range from 20-35 inches in local waters, and their acrobatic fights include spectacular jumps and gill-rattling head shakes. The challenge with snook is their razor-sharp gill plates and their tendency to run straight back to cover, making them one of the most exciting and frustrating fish to battle.
Tarpon might be the bonus fish of the trip, but when they show up, everything else becomes secondary. St. Augustine sees juvenile tarpon year-round, typically in the 20-50 pound range, with larger fish moving through during their spring and fall migrations. These silver kings are most active on warm nights when baitfish are thick, and they'll often roll and crash bait right on the surface. Hooking a tarpon at night adds an extra element of surprise – you never know when that gentle tap is actually a 40-pound fish about to go airborne. Their jumping ability is legendary, and fighting one in the dark requires total focus and quick reflexes.
Time to Book Your Spot
Captain Mike McGeehan has been putting anglers on fish in these waters for years, and his night fishing program represents some of the best inshore action you'll find anywhere along the First Coast. With only two anglers per trip, you're getting a premium experience that larger charter operations simply can't match. The four-hour duration gives you plenty of time to work multiple spots and adjust tactics based on what the fish are telling you. Night fishing isn't just about catching fish – it's about experiencing these waters in a completely