St Marks Inshore Fishing for Families 6 Hour Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 6-hour family fishing adventure in Apalachee Bay watersTarget trout, drum, redfish with all gear and licenses includedExpert guides provide local knowledge for productive fishing spots
Looking for a solid day on the water with the family? This 6-hour private inshore trip with King Charters puts you right in the heart of Apalachee Bay's best fishing grounds. We're talking about waters that consistently produce quality catches, and with a captain who knows these flats and grass beds like the back of his hand, you're setting up for success. The boat holds up to 3 guests, making it perfect for smaller family groups who want personalized attention and room to move around. Everything's included - rods, reels, bait, and fishing licenses - so you can focus on what matters: getting your kids hooked on fishing and maybe landing some dinner in the process.
Apalachee Bay is a top-rated inshore fishery that stretches from the St. Marks River system out toward the Gulf. The water here is a mix of shallow grass flats, deeper channels, and oyster bars that hold baitfish year-round. Your captain will work these zones based on tide, wind, and what's been biting lately. The beauty of a 6-hour trip is having time to hit multiple spots without feeling rushed. You might start shallow for trout over the grass beds, then move to structure for drum and redfish. The boat stays within protected waters, so even if it's breezy outside, you'll find fishable water. Kids love the action here because something's always willing to bite - whether it's a feisty jack pulling drag or a solid trout putting a bend in the rod.
Inshore fishing around St. Marks means adapting to what the fish want on any given day. Your guide comes equipped with medium-action spinning rods spooled with 15-20 pound braid - perfect for the structure and grass you'll be working. Live bait is king here, and you'll typically fish with shrimp under popping corks over the grass flats for trout, or free-line cut bait around oyster bars for drum and redfish. When the jacks and mackerel are schooled up, switching to small jigs or spoons can turn into fast action that gets everyone excited. The captain reads the water and adjusts techniques throughout the day - maybe starting with bottom fishing at first light, then switching to sight fishing as the sun gets higher and fish move into skinnier water.
Sea trout are the bread and butter of Apalachee Bay fishing. These spotted beauties hang over grass flats in 2-6 feet of water and hit live shrimp like they're starving. Most trout here run 14-18 inches, with keeper fish at 15 inches providing excellent table fare. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, though winter can produce some of the biggest fish of the year when they school up in deeper holes. Kids love trout because they bite readily and fight hard for their size, making every hookup feel like a trophy.
Redfish are the customer favorite for a reason - these copper-colored bruisers put up a world-class fight and are gorgeous fish. In the St. Marks area, you'll find reds cruising oyster bars, working shallow flats, and hanging around creek mouths. Fish typically range from 18-28 inches, with the slot-size fish (18-27 inches) being perfect for the dinner table. Fall brings some of the best redfish action as they school up for their spawning runs. There's nothing quite like watching a redfish eat your bait in shallow water - it's the kind of visual fishing that hooks people for life.
Black drum often surprise anglers with their size and power. These bottom-dwellers love structure and can be found around oyster bars, bridge pilings, and deeper channels. Drum in this area commonly reach 20-30 inches, with some real giants mixed in during spring spawning season. They're excellent eating when kept on ice, and their strong, steady fight tests both angler skill and tackle. Drum bite best on fresh cut bait fished right on the bottom, making them perfect targets when you want to slow down and let the kids learn proper bottom fishing techniques.
Crevalle jacks bring the excitement factor to any trip. These silver bullets school up in huge numbers and attack bait with reckless abandon. When you find a school of jacks, every rod on the boat can be bent at once. They're incredibly strong for their size - a 5-pound jack fights like a 10-pound fish of most other species. Jacks hit both live bait and artificials, making them great for kids who want to try different techniques. While they're not typically kept for the table, the pure fun of catching jacks creates fishing memories that last forever.
Cobia are the wildcards of inshore fishing around St. Marks. These brown sharks (as kids often call them) cruise the flats and around structure, often following rays or just swimming solo in surprisingly shallow water. Cobia here typically run 25-40 inches and are phenomenal on the table. They're sight-fishing targets that test an angler's patience and casting accuracy. When a cobia eats your bait, you know it immediately - they hit hard and make powerful runs that get everyone on the boat excited. Spring and fall offer the best cobia opportunities as they move through the area during seasonal migrations.
This family-friendly inshore trip delivers exactly what you're looking for: quality time on the water with a real shot at bringing home dinner. The 6-hour window gives you enough time to work different areas and techniques without wearing out the kids, and having everything included means you can focus on making memories instead of worrying about gear. Captain knows these waters inside and out, and the personalized attention you get with just 3 guests makes all the difference in both fish caught and fishing skills learned. Whether you're looking to introduce the family to saltwater fishing or want to
Hit the productive waters of Apalachee Bay aboard this well-equipped 24-foot Panga motorboat, perfect for your family's 6-hour inshore fishing adventure. The spacious design comfortably accommodates up to 3 guests while the reliable 90-horsepower Suzuki engine gets you to those prime fishing spots where trout, redfish, drum, and mackerel are biting. Modern electronics including GPS navigation and fish finder help locate the best structure and schools, giving your family the edge when targeting those sought-after species. The boat's shallow draft design is ideal for working the flats and nearshore waters around Crawfordville, allowing access to both open water and back country fishing grounds where the big reds roam.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the big bruisers of Apalachee Bay, typically running 5-30 pounds with some monsters hitting 90+. These dark, powerful fish love our oyster beds and muddy flats where they crush crabs and shellfish with their strong jaws. You'll hear them "drumming" underwater during spawning season in spring - that's prime time when they school up and become easier to target. They're serious fighters that'll test your gear, making them perfect for families wanting some real action. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent table fare with flaky white meat. Pro tip: use fresh crab bait on the bottom near oyster bars - they can't resist it, and catfish won't steal it like they do shrimp.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the big game fish of our inshore waters and always get everyone excited when one shows up. These dark brown, shark-lookalikes average 3-6 feet and can hit 100 pounds, making them serious trophy fish. They're loners that cruise our reefs, wrecks, and channel markers, usually in 30 feet or less during spring and summer. Peak season runs March through June when they're migrating and spawning in our area. What makes them special is their curious nature - they'll often approach the boat for a look. They're also some of the best eating fish in the Gulf with firm, white meat. Sight fishing is key: look for their distinctive brown shapes cruising near structure. When you spot one, drop a bucktail jig right in front of them and be ready for a serious fight.
Caranx HipposCrevalle Jacks are the muscle cars of our bay - aggressive, powerful, and always ready for a fight. These brassy-green bruisers typically run 12-24 inches and 3-5 pounds, but don't let the size fool you. They'll test your drag and your arms with their bulldog determination. Look for them around structure, grass beds, and especially under diving birds where they're pushing baitfish to the surface. They're year-round residents but really turn on during warmer months when bait is thick. Families love the non-stop action once you find a school. While they're not great eating, they're pure fun on light tackle. Here's the secret: cast past the school and retrieve fast with silver spoons or topwater plugs - they can't resist the chase.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore waters and what many families specifically request. These copper-colored beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails average 20-35 inches and put up fights that'll have everyone talking. They love our shallow flats, oyster bars, and grass beds in just 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. Year-round fishing is good here, but fall brings the best action when they're feeding heavily. What makes them special is their willingness to eat almost anything and their bulldogging fight style. Plus, they're fantastic table fare with mild, sweet meat. My go-to tip: look for "nervous water" or slight surface disturbances on calm days - that's often redfish pushing bait in the shallows.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are one of our most popular targets here in Apalachee Bay. These silver beauties with distinctive black spots typically run 14-24 inches and about 1-5 pounds, though we occasionally see bigger ones. They love our grass flats and shallow waters, especially at night or during cooler parts of the day. Spring through fall gives us the best action when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. Families love them because they're great fighters on light tackle and make excellent eating with tender, flaky white meat that's hard to overcook. They're also pretty forgiving for newer anglers. Here's a local trick: try trolling slowly along the grass edges with small jigs or live shrimp - the movement through their territory often triggers strikes.
St. Marks