Half-Day Everglades Inshore Fishing Charter
Want to experience some of the best inshore fishing in Florida? This half-day charter with Captain Jose takes you deep into Everglades National Park's backcountry waters, where snook, tarpon, and black drum cruise the mangrove-lined shores. You'll fish the shallow flats, backcountry channels, and oyster bars that make this area legendary among serious anglers. Whether you're slinging lures for the first time or you've been working these waters for years, this top-rated charter delivers the kind of fishing that keeps people coming back to South Florida.
What to Expect on the Water
This isn't your typical head boat experience – you're getting a private charter for up to three anglers, which means more fish per rod and personalized attention from Captain Jose. The Everglades backcountry is like fishing in a maze of mangroves, where every turn reveals new structure and new opportunities. You'll work the edges of oyster bars during moving water, cast tight to mangrove roots where snook love to ambush baitfish, and maybe even get a shot at laid-up tarpon in the deeper pockets. The beauty of a half-day trip is you get the prime fishing hours without committing to a full day, perfect for families or anyone wanting to sample what makes Everglades fishing so special. Captain Jose provides all the tackle, so you just need to bring snacks, drinks, and your fishing license. Fair warning for international visitors – there's a $100 park entry fee that goes directly to the National Park Service.
Techniques and Tackle
Inshore fishing in the Everglades is all about reading the water and matching your presentation to the conditions. Captain Jose runs spinning gear loaded with everything from topwater plugs to soft plastics, depending on what the fish are telling us. Early morning often calls for topwater action along the mangrove edges – there's nothing like watching a big snook explode on a walk-the-dog lure in three feet of crystal clear water. As the sun gets higher, you might switch to soft plastics worked slowly along the bottom for black drum, or live bait suspended near structure for tarpon. The shallow draft boat lets you access spots that bigger vessels can't reach, getting you into those backcountry honey holes where the fish haven't seen much pressure. You'll learn to cast accurately to structure, work different retrieves, and read the signs that tell you when fish are around – rolling tarpon, nervous baitfish, or that telltale swirl near the mangroves.
Customer Stories
"We had an absolute blast fishing with captain Joey! We learned a lot about the Everglades and got to see a lot of cool stuff! On top of that, we ripped lips as hard as we could go for the whole trip! We caught redfish, snapper, snook, grouper, trout, and ended the day with a huge black drum! We had fun from the minute we stepped on the boat! Captain Joey is a very personable guy and this was one of the best charters I've ever been on!!" - Amanda
Species You'll Want to Hook
Snook are the crown jewel of Everglades inshore fishing, and for good reason. These ambush predators love to hang tight to structure – think mangrove overhangs, dock pilings, and oyster bar edges. They're notorious for their gill-rattling jumps and that distinctive black lateral line that makes them unmistakable. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially during moving water when they position themselves to pick off baitfish getting swept by the current. What makes snook so exciting is their explosive strike and the way they'll try to wrap you up in the nearest structure. A slot-sized snook between 28-33 inches makes excellent table fare, with firm white meat that's perfect for the grill.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they'll absolutely test your tackle and technique. These bottom dwellers can push 30-40 pounds in Everglades waters, using their broad tails and bulldog fighting style to wear down even experienced anglers. They're year-round residents but really turn on during cooler months when they school up around oyster bars and channel edges. Black drum have pharyngeal teeth that let them crush oysters and crabs, so you'll often hear them "drumming" as they feed – that's actually the sound of their swim bladders resonating. The bigger fish are usually catch-and-release, but smaller drum in the 14-24 inch slot make fantastic eating with sweet, flaky meat similar to redfish.
Tarpon are pure adrenaline on a fishing rod – there's a reason they're called the "silver king." These prehistoric fish can live over 80 years and grow to over 200 pounds, though the juveniles in the 20-60 pound range are more common in the backcountry. What sets tarpon apart is their acrobatic ability – they'll jump repeatedly, often throwing the hook in spectacular fashion. The Everglades offers year-round tarpon fishing, but spring and summer bring the best action as fish move through the area during their spawning migration. Even a 40-pound tarpon will give you a workout, stripping drag and making multiple runs. They're almost always released since they don't make good table fare, but landing your first tarpon is a milestone every angler remembers.
Redfish are the workhorses of the flats, known for their copper-bronze coloration and distinctive spot near the tail. These drum family members are perfectly adapted to shallow water hunting, using their downturned mouths to root around oyster bars and grass flats for crabs and shrimp. Redfish between 18-27 inches are slot legal and make excellent eating, while the oversized "bull" reds provide arm-burning fights in deeper water. They're relatively easy to target, making them perfect for newer anglers, but big reds will still challenge experienced fish
5.0(1 Reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Everglades National Park – Flamingo Marina, FL
Half
