St Marks Inshore Family Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 6hour inshore fishing trip in Apalachee Bay.All gear, bait, and licenses included for convenience.Target trout, drum, jacks, mackerel, and redfish species.
Looking for the perfect family fishing trip that won't break the bank or stress you out with gear prep? King Charters has you covered with their top-rated 6-hour inshore fishing experience in Crawfordville, Florida. This private charter takes your crew of up to three into the productive waters of Apalachee Bay, where seasoned captains know exactly where the fish are biting. Everything's included – rods, reels, bait, and fishing licenses – so you can focus on what matters most: making memories and filling the cooler. Whether you're after a mixed bag of whatever's hitting or want to zero in on redfish specifically, these guides tailor the trip to what your family wants to catch.
Your day starts early at the St Marks area, where you'll meet your captain and get a quick rundown of the game plan. Apalachee Bay offers some of Florida's most consistent inshore action, with grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths that hold fish year-round. The boat is set up perfectly for families – stable platform, plenty of room to move around, and all the safety gear you need. Your guide knows these waters like the back of their hand, reading tides, wind, and structure to put you on active fish. Expect to cover different spots throughout the six hours, adjusting tactics based on what's working. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – you might start the morning sight-fishing redfish in shallow water, then move to deeper grass beds for trout as the sun gets higher.
King Charters runs well-maintained boats equipped with quality spinning gear that's perfect for the inshore game. You'll be using medium-action rods spooled with 15-20 pound test, ideal for everything from scrappy jacks to bull redfish. Live bait is the name of the game here – fresh shrimp, pinfish, and pigfish that the guides source locally. Depending on conditions and target species, you'll learn different presentations: free-lining live bait over grass flats, working soft plastics around structure, or sight-casting to cruising reds in skinny water. The guides are patient teachers, helping kids learn proper casting techniques and showing adults how to read the water. Artificial lures come into play too – gold spoons, soft plastics, and topwater plugs that can turn a slow bite into fast action when worked correctly.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Apalachee Bay, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers average 18-27 inches in these waters, with plenty of slot fish that make for great table fare and trophy photos. Spring through fall offers the best redfish action, especially during moving tides when they patrol the flats looking for crabs and baitfish. What makes reds so special is their fight – they'll make that drag scream and test your patience with powerful runs toward structure. Plus, they're beautiful fish with that distinctive black spot near the tail.
Sea trout provide consistent action throughout the year, with winter months often producing the biggest gator trout of the season. These spotted beauties love the grass flats and drop-offs, typically running 14-20 inches with occasional monsters pushing 5-6 pounds. They're eager biters that respond well to live shrimp or soft plastic jigs, making them perfect for getting kids hooked on fishing. The bite marks from their canine teeth are like a badge of honor for young anglers.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're absolute bulldogs that will test your tackle. These bottom-dwellers can range from 2-15 pounds in the bay, with the bigger ones putting up fights that surprise first-time anglers. They love oyster bars and structure, feeding on crabs and shellfish. Late fall and winter see the best drum fishing, and they make excellent table fare when prepared right.
Crevalle jacks bring the excitement factor with their aggressive strikes and never-quit attitude. These silver torpedoes travel in schools and can turn a quiet morning into chaos when they move through. They'll hit live bait, artificials, and anything else that moves, making them perfect confidence builders for kids. While they're not great eating, the fight they put up pound-for-pound rivals any gamefish in the bay.
Cobia are the wild cards that can show up anytime but are most common during warmer months. These brown sharks (as locals call them) are curious fish that often approach the boat, giving anglers shots at sight-fishing. They're excellent table fare and can reach 20-40 pounds, making them legitimate trophy fish. When cobia are around, guides will often switch tactics completely, using live bait or large jigs to tempt these prized catches.
This family-friendly charter represents serious value for groups wanting a private, customized fishing experience without the hassle of gear and licensing. King Charters' reputation for putting clients on fish while maintaining a safe, enjoyable atmosphere makes them a customer favorite in the Crawfordville area. The 6-hour timeframe gives you plenty of opportunity to try different techniques and locations while not overwhelming younger anglers. With all equipment provided and experienced guides sharing local knowledge, you're set up for success from the moment you step aboard. Remember that deposits are non-refundable, so plan accordingly – but with Apalachee Bay's consistent fishing and King Charters' track record, you're investing in a day your family will talk about for years.
Your fishing adventure starts aboard our reliable 24-foot Panga motorboat, built for comfort and performance on the waters around Crawfordville. This spacious boat handles Apalachee Bay's conditions with ease, powered by a dependable 90-horsepower Suzuki engine that gets you to the best fishing spots quickly and quietly. The Panga's smart design gives your family plenty of room to move around while casting lines and reeling in catches. We've equipped her with GPS navigation to pinpoint productive waters and a quality fish finder that helps locate schools of trout, redfish, drum, and other local favorites hiding below. The boat's stable platform makes it perfect for anglers of all ages and skill levels, from kids landing their first fish to parents working larger catches. With rod holders positioned around the boat and ample space for tackle, everyone can fish comfortably without getting tangled up. This setup lets families focus on what matters most – spending quality time together on the water while targeting some of Florida's best inshore species.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of Apalachee Bay, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+. These gray-black bruisers love oyster beds and muddy flats in 2-15 feet of water, using their crushing jaws to demolish crabs and shellfish. Spring brings the best action when they school up for spawning - you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. They're incredible fighters that will test your drag, and smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with firm, flaky meat. The larger bulls are better released as they get tough and stringy. My go-to trick is using fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig right on the bottom - these fish are pure bottom feeders and won't chase anything in the water column.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the trophy fish that can make your whole trip - these dark brown, shark-looking fish average 20-40 pounds and fight like freight trains. We find them around buoys, channel markers, and structure in 10-50 feet of water, especially during their spring migration from March through May. They're usually loners, not schoolers, so it's all about sight-fishing when you spot one cruising near the surface. Guests go crazy for cobia because they're both amazing fighters and premium table fare - firm, white meat that tastes like a cross between grouper and mahi. The secret is approaching slowly and dropping a bucktail jig or live crab right in front of their nose. They're curious fish but easily spooked, so one shot is usually all you get.
Caranx HipposCrevalle jacks are the bulldogs of Apalachee Bay - pure muscle and attitude in 3-15 pound packages. These brassy-gold fighters school up over grass flats, around structure, and near baitfish schools that you'll see birds working. They're aggressive year-round but really light up during spring and summer when bait is thick. What guests love about jacks is their raw power - pound for pound, they're the strongest fish we catch, making screaming runs that'll burn your forearms. They're not great table fare, so we typically release them to fight another day. Watch for diving birds to locate schools, then cast silver spoons or topwater plugs and retrieve them fast - jacks love the chase. Once hooked, keep steady pressure because they'll wrap you around any structure they can find.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore waters, averaging 18-28 inches with that signature black spot and copper-bronze coloring. They love super shallow water - often just 1-4 feet deep around oyster bars, grass edges, and mangrove shorelines where you can sight-fish them with their backs out of water. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, though they bite year-round here in Florida. What makes reds special is their powerful runs and stubborn fight, plus they're fantastic table fare when kept in the slot. Families love watching them cruise the shallows like submarine shadows. The trick is approaching quietly and casting well ahead of cruising fish - they spook easily in skinny water, so keep the boat in deeper water and make long, accurate casts.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are bread-and-butter fish here in Apalachee Bay, running 14-24 inches with occasional 5+ pounders. Look for them over grass flats in 3-8 feet of water, especially around creek mouths and deeper pockets. They're most active during cooler months when water temperatures drop, and early morning or evening feeds produce the best action. Trout have relatively soft mouths and put up a decent scrap, plus they're some of the best eating fish in these waters - white, flaky meat with mild flavor that's perfect for families. The key is using live shrimp under a popping cork about 18 inches deep. Keep your drag light and don't horse them - that soft mouth will tear out if you're too aggressive on the hookset.
St. Marks