6hr Flamingo Everglades Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour private charter targets snook, redfish, and tarponSeventeenfoot Maverick skiff navigates shallow Everglades backcountry watersAll fishing gear, licenses, and refreshments included onboard
Looking for a world-class backcountry fishing experience that'll have you talking for years? This top-rated 6-hour private charter puts you right in the heart of Flamingo Everglades National Park, where shallow-water legends are made. You'll spend the day targeting some of Florida's most prized species – snook, redfish, sea trout, tarpon, and more – all while cruising through pristine mangrove tunnels and grass flats that most anglers only dream about. With just you and one other angler aboard our custom 17' Maverick skiff, you get the personalized attention and prime fishing spots that make this trip a customer favorite.
Your day starts at the renowned Flamingo marina, where you'll meet your captain and step aboard a shallow-draft 17' Maverick skiff powered by a reliable Yamaha 70hp. This setup isn't just about looks – it's built specifically for the skinny water fishing that makes the Everglades so special. We're talking areas where bigger boats can't go, where the water's barely knee-deep and the fish feel safe to feed. The calm, protected waters of Florida Bay and the backcountry creeks mean you won't be fighting seasickness while you're fighting fish. Everything's included – rods, reels, tackle, licenses, cooler with ice, and plenty of water to keep you hydrated. Whether you're a weekend warrior or someone who's never held a fishing rod, your captain will adjust the approach to match your skill level. The beauty of this charter is that beginners can learn proper techniques while experienced anglers can push their skills in some of the most productive shallow-water fisheries in the country.
Flamingo backcountry fishing is all about sight fishing and working structure. Your captain will position the skiff using a push pole in the skinny stuff, keeping things quiet so you can spot tailing redfish and cruising snook before they spot you. You'll learn to cast to mangrove edges where snook ambush baitfish, work oyster bars where reds hang out during moving tides, and read the water for nervous baitfish that signal feeding activity below. The gear setup varies depending on what we're targeting – lighter spinning tackle for trout and smaller reds, heavier setups when we're hunting big snook or hoping for a tarpon encounter. Live bait like pilchards and shrimp are deadly here, but don't be surprised if your captain has you throwing artificials like DOA shrimp, topwater plugs, or soft plastics when the fish are aggressive. The key is staying quiet, making accurate casts, and being ready when that drag starts screaming. This isn't deep-sea trolling – it's technical, visual fishing that rewards patience and precision.
Black drum are the bulldogs of the flats, and Flamingo's got some bruisers. These copper-colored fighters typically show up in 2-8 feet of water around oyster bars and creek mouths, especially during cooler months from November through March. They're not the prettiest fish, but when a 20-pound drum decides to make a run, you'll understand why anglers respect them. They feed by rooting around the bottom for crabs and shellfish, so you'll often see their tails sticking up as they dig. Live or cut crab is the ticket, though they'll also eat shrimp. What makes them special here is the size – Flamingo consistently produces fish in the 15-30 pound range, with occasional giants pushing 40-plus pounds.
Tarpon are the silver kings for a reason, and even juvenile tarpon in the 10-50 pound range will test your tackle and your nerves. Peak season runs from March through July, when these acrobatic fighters move into the backcountry to feed and spawn. They're ambush predators that love to hang around structure – bridge pilings, channel edges, and deep potholes in the flats. When hooked, they immediately go airborne, gill-rattling and tail-walking in a display that'll get your heart pounding. Live sardines or threadfin herring work great, but they'll also smash topwater plugs early and late in the day. The smaller tarpon we typically encounter here are perfect for learning proper tarpon technique without the marathon fights of their 100+ pound cousins offshore.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Everglades fishing, and for good reason. These copper-sided fighters are here year-round, though they're most aggressive during spring and fall when water temperatures are optimal. Reds love shallow water – we're talking 6 inches to 3 feet – where they cruise oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines looking for crabs, shrimp, and small fish. They're notorious for their powerful runs and stubborn fights, often heading straight for the nearest mangrove root system when hooked. What makes redfish so exciting is their willingness to eat almost anything – live shrimp, cut bait, spoons, soft plastics, and topwater plugs all produce. Plus, they're perfectly sized for the dinner table, with slot-sized fish (18-27 inches) providing some of the best eating you'll find.
Permit are the holy grail of flats fishing, and Flamingo gives you a legitimate shot at one of the most challenging fish that swims. These disc-shaped fighters are incredibly spooky and selective, often following a fly or lure for long distances before either eating it or spooking into deep water. Peak permit season runs from March through June, when they move onto the flats to spawn. They're crab eaters by nature, so live crabs or crab-pattern flies are your best bet, though they'll occasionally take shrimp or small jigs. What makes permit so special isn't just their difficulty – it's their fight. They use that saucer
Get ready to fish the legendary backcountry waters of Flamingo aboard our 17' Maverick skiff, perfectly designed for prowling the shallow flats where snook, redfish, and tarpon love to hunt. This clean, shallow-draft boat draws minimal water, letting you slip into those skinny spots other boats can't reach. The reliable Yamaha 70hp gets you there fast, while the wireless trolling motor keeps things whisper-quiet when you're sneaking up on feeding fish. Two anglers have plenty of open deck space for comfortable casting, plus the fish finder helps locate schools hiding in the mangroves. Everything's included – rods, tackle, licenses, plus a cooler stocked with ice and water. The GPS keeps us on productive waters, and safety gear ensures peace of mind while you focus on landing that trophy fish in some of Florida's most pristine fishing grounds.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the brown sharks that aren't sharks - dark bronze fish with broad shoulders that cruise alone looking for trouble. These bruisers average 30-50 pounds but can push 100+ pounds and 6 feet long. You'll spot them around channel markers, wrecks, and structure in 10-50 feet of water, often following rays or just cruising the surface. Spring migration and summer months are prime time. What gets people fired up is the sight fishing - watching a 60-pound fish swim up to your lure. They're also top-shelf eating with firm, white meat that rivals grouper. The key is casting ahead of them with a bucktail jig or live bait. They're curious but spook easily if you drop something on their head.
Trachinotus FalcatusPermit are the holy grail of flats fishing - a tall, silver disc-shaped fish that'll test every skill you have. Most run 10-25 pounds but can hit 40+ pounds. These spooky fish cruise sand and grass flats in 2-6 feet of water, using those golf ball-sized eyes that rotate 360 degrees to spot danger. Spring through fall offers the best shots, especially around spawning season. What makes them legendary is their wariness - they'll refuse perfect presentations just because they feel like it. When hooked, they make blistering runs and fight like bulldozers. The secret is live crabs presented naturally ahead of them. Move too fast or splash, and they're gone. Most challenging fish in these waters, hands down.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These dark, powerful fish love shallow oyster beds and muddy flats around the backcountry, using their crusher jaws to demolish crabs and shellfish. Spring brings the best action when they school up for spawning. What makes them special is their drumming sound - you'll actually hear them calling to each other underwater. They're solid table fare under 15 pounds, but the bigger ones get tough and stringy. Pro tip: use fresh crab on the bottom and let them run with it before setting the hook. Their mouth is like concrete, so patience pays off when they're mouthing the bait.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of Everglades fishing. These copper-colored beauties with the signature black spot near their tail typically run 20-35 inches and fight way above their weight class. They cruise the shallow grass flats, oyster bars, and mangrove edges in just 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and winter bring the best action when they school up. What guests love is the aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights, plus they're fantastic eating with sweet, flaky meat. They'll hit everything from topwater plugs to live shrimp. My tip: look for nervous water and tailing fish on the flats during moving tides.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings of the Everglades backcountry. Most run 80-100 pounds and 4-6 feet, but they can push 200+ pounds. These prehistoric giants love rolling in the deeper channels and basin edges, especially around the moats and cuts between keys. Late spring through summer is prime time when they move through our waters. What hooks anglers is the raw power - they'll jump 10 feet out and run line like a freight train. Don't expect dinner though; they're all bones and not great eating. The trick here is keeping your rod tip down when they jump. Bow to the king or they'll throw the hook every time. Live mullet or big flies work best in the 3-6 foot range.
Homestead, FL