Steinhatchee Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour private charter targets redfish, trout, and flounderCaptain Jacob provides all equipment and fishing licensesFish cleaning and packaging service included with trip
Captain Jacob Watts knows these Steinhatchee waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious fish. This isn't your typical tourist trap – we're talking about a legitimate 4-hour private charter that targets the Big Bend's most sought-after inshore species. Whether you're an experienced angler or just getting your feet wet, Jacob's got the local knowledge and patience to make sure you have a productive day on the water. With everything from rods to licenses included, all you need to bring is yourself and maybe a cooler for those fresh fillets you'll be taking home.
Your day starts with Captain Jacob sizing up the conditions – wind, tide, and where the fish have been biting. Steinhatchee's inshore waters offer a mix of grass flats, oyster bars, and deeper channels that hold different species depending on the season and time of day. You'll launch from the Steinhatchee River and work your way through some of the most productive fishing grounds on Florida's Nature Coast. Jacob runs a clean, well-equipped boat with top-quality tackle, so you're not dealing with beat-up gear or wondering if your drag will hold when that big red makes her run. The beauty of a private charter is flexibility – if the trout are schooled up on one flat but the redfish are cruising another, you can adjust your game plan without worrying about what other anglers want to do. Morning trips often start around sunrise when the water's calm and fish are actively feeding, while afternoon charters take advantage of moving tides and less boat traffic.
Steinhatchee inshore fishing is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish want. Captain Jacob's arsenal includes everything from live bait rigs for finicky trout to artificial lures that trigger aggressive redfish strikes. You'll likely spend time working the grass flats with soft plastics, bouncing jigs along oyster bars, and maybe even throwing topwater plugs if conditions are right. The water here isn't gin-clear like you'd find down south, so scent and vibration matter more than perfect presentation. Jacob's got the local bait shops dialed in, so you'll always have fresh shrimp, pinfish, or whatever's working that week. The tackle is sized appropriately for the fish – medium spinning gear that can handle a 30-inch red without being overkill for slot-sized trout. Don't worry about bringing your own stuff; Jacob's rods are rigged and ready, and he knows exactly which spots require which techniques. Structure fishing around downed trees and rock piles can produce some of the biggest fish, but it takes local knowledge to work these areas without losing tackle.
Spotted seatrout are the bread and butter of Steinhatchee fishing, and for good reason. These fish are year-round residents that feed aggressively in the grass flats and deeper potholes. Spring and fall offer the best action, with fish averaging 15-20 inches and plenty of "gator trout" over 25 inches mixed in. Trout have soft mouths, so you'll feel that distinctive head-shake when they're hooked, but don't horse them or you'll pull the hook. What makes trout fishing here special is the numbers – it's not uncommon to boat 20 or more fish in a morning when they're biting. They're excellent table fare too, with white, flaky meat that's perfect for a fish fry.
Redfish are the prize that every angler dreams about, and Steinhatchee's shallow flats provide perfect habitat for these copper-colored fighters. Reds feed in water so shallow you can see their backs, creating heart-pounding sight-fishing opportunities. Fall is prime time when schools of bull reds move through the area, but resident fish provide action year-round. A slot-sized red between 18-27 inches will test your drag and make multiple runs, while the oversized bulls can peel line like you wouldn't believe. Redfish are notorious for their bulldogging fight – they don't jump like a tarpon, but they'll use every oyster bar and grass bed to try breaking you off. The take home limit and excellent eating quality make them a customer favorite.
Southern flounder might not win any beauty contests, but they're crafty predators that provide a different kind of challenge. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, burying themselves in sand and mud to ambush passing bait. Flounder fishing requires patience and feel – they often pick up a bait and swim with it before committing, so you need to give them time. Fall is when the big "doormat" flounder move through Steinhatchee on their way to spawn offshore, with fish over 20 inches providing great sport and excellent table fare. Their white, mild meat is prized by local restaurants, and many anglers consider them the best eating fish in these waters. Captain Jacob knows the drop-offs and channel edges where flounder stage, and his technique of slow-dragging baits along the bottom produces consistent results.
This top-rated Steinhatchee fishing experience fills up fast, especially during peak seasons when the fishing is hot. Captain Jacob's local reputation and repeat customers mean weekend dates book weeks in advance. The combination of his knowledge, quality equipment, and fish-cleaning service delivers serious value for both novice and experienced anglers. You'll walk away with a cooler full of fresh fillets, some great photos, and the kind of fishing stories that get better each time you tell them. Don't let another season pass without experiencing what Steinhatchee's inshore waters have to offer – this is the kind of fishing trip that reminds you why you fell in love with the sport in the first place.
Your fishing platform for Steinhatchee's productive inshore waters is a 2022 Lowe 22-foot center console that handles the Gulf's shallow flats and deeper channels with ease. Powered by a reliable Mercury 200HP engine, this boat gets you to the redfish holes and trout grass beds quickly, then switches to whisper-quiet trolling motor mode when you're working structure or stalking tailing reds in skinny water. The center console design gives all four anglers room to cast without tangling lines, while the GPS keeps Captain Jacob on his productive spots and the fish finder shows what's underneath. When weather moves in off the Gulf, the radar keeps you safe and fishing. Built for Florida's inshore fishing conditions, this Lowe delivers the stability you need when fighting that bull red and the shallow draft to reach those back-country honey holes where the big trout hide.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing, typically running 20-35 inches with those signature black spots near the tail. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out - around oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths. These copper-colored beauties are year-round residents but really fire up in fall and spring. What guests love is their hard-pulling fight and that mild, sweet taste on the table. They'll eat just about anything from live shrimp to cut bait, but topwater plugs early morning create some explosive strikes. Here's a local trick: when you see them tailing in skinny water, cast past them and work your bait back slowly - spook them and they're gone for good.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout are one of our most consistent inshore targets, running 14-24 inches with that classic speckled pattern along their sides. They love grass flats and shallow waters, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. These fish have a soft, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table, but don't overcook it or it gets mushy. What makes them fun to catch is their willingness to hit both live shrimp and artificial lures like soft plastics and topwater plugs. My go-to tip: fish the grass edges at dawn or dusk with a popping cork and live shrimp - that combo is deadly when they're feeding actively on the flats.
Paralichthys LethostigmaFlounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy and muddy bottoms, typically running 15-18 inches but capable of reaching 30-plus. These flatfish bury themselves in the substrate with both eyes on their left side, ambushing prey like shrimp, crabs, and small baitfish. Fall is prime time when they're fattening up before heading offshore for winter. What makes them special is their unique appearance and excellent table fare - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. They're ambush predators, so slow presentations work best with live mud minnows or shrimp on jig heads. Pro tip: when you feel that subtle tap, count to three before setting the hook - they need time to turn the bait around in their mouth.
Jacksonville