8hr Flamingo Everglades Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day charter targeting snook, redfish, tarpon in Everglades backcountryPrivate 17' Maverick skiff accommodates two guests with included gearEight hours exploring mangroves and flats with experienced guide
Nothing beats a full day fishing the legendary backcountry waters of Flamingo in Everglades National Park. This 8-hour private charter puts you right in the heart of some of Florida's most productive inshore fishing grounds, where snook cruise the mangrove edges and tarpon roll in the deeper cuts. You'll have the whole day to work the tides, hit multiple spots, and really get into the rhythm of backcountry fishing. With just you and one other angler aboard, there's plenty of room to cast, fight fish, and soak in the wild beauty of this world-class fishery. The Everglades backcountry is fishing at its purest – no crowds, no pressure boats, just you and some of the most challenging gamefish that swim these waters.
Your day starts early at Flamingo Marina, where you'll meet your captain and load up the 17-foot Maverick skiff. This shallow-draft flats boat is perfect for the skinny water you'll be fishing – it'll float in less than a foot of water and get you to spots where bigger boats can't go. The Yamaha 70hp pushes this rig fast enough to cover serious water but quiet enough for stealthy approaches to spooky fish. You'll spend your time poling through mangrove creeks, drifting grass flats, and working deeper channels where fish move with the tide changes. The beauty of an 8-hour trip is you're not rushed – if the bite is hot in one area, you can stay and work it thoroughly. If it slows down, you've got time to move and find active fish. Everything's included in your trip: all the tackle you'll need, Florida fishing licenses for both anglers, a cooler with ice, and plenty of water to keep you hydrated. Just bring your lunch, some snacks, sun protection, and get ready for a proper day of backcountry fishing.
Fishing the Everglades backcountry means adapting your approach throughout the day as conditions and tides change. You'll be sight casting to fish cruising the flats, working structure like oyster bars and mangrove points, and drifting baits in deeper holes where fish congregate. The captain provides top-quality spinning and baitcasting gear rigged with everything from topwater plugs to live shrimp rigs. Early morning often means throwing topwater lures at the mangrove edges where snook and tarpon ambush baitfish. As the sun gets higher, you might switch to live bait or soft plastics worked slowly through grass beds where redfish and trout feed. The afternoon bite often picks up again with moving water, and that's when you might find yourself sight casting to laid-up tarpon or working a school of reds tailing in shallow water. Your captain knows these waters inside and out – where fish hold on different tides, which baits work best in each season, and how to read the water to find active fish. Part of what makes this such a great learning experience is picking up local knowledge that only comes from fishing these waters day in and day out.
Snook are the crown jewel of Everglades fishing, and these backcountry waters hold some true giants. These ambush predators love structure – you'll find them tucked under mangrove overhangs, around downed trees, and along oyster bars where they wait for baitfish to sweep by with the current. Peak snook season runs from late spring through early fall, but you can catch them year-round in the Everglades. What makes snook so special is their attitude – they hit hard, jump high, and use every trick in the book to throw your hook. A slot snook in the 28 to 32-inch range will give you a fight you won't forget, and the bigger fish over the slot are pure bulldogs that'll test your tackle and technique.
Redfish are the workhorses of the flats, and the Everglades has some of the most consistent red fishing in Florida. These copper-colored fighters cruise the shallow grass beds and oyster bars, often in schools that'll keep you busy for hours. Reds feed aggressively on crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish, making them perfect targets for both live bait and artificial lures. The best part about Everglades redfish is their size – fish in the 20 to 30-inch range are common, with plenty of bulls over the slot that'll bend your rod and burn drag. They're year-round residents, but fall and winter often provide the most consistent action as cooler water concentrates baitfish and the reds that follow them.
Tarpon fishing in the Everglades is something every angler should experience at least once. These silver kings range from juvenile fish in the 10 to 30-pound class up to adults that can top 100 pounds. The backcountry holds fish year-round, but peak season runs from late winter through summer when migratory tarpon flood these waters. What makes tarpon fishing so addictive is the visual element – you'll often see them rolling on the surface or spot them lying in deeper holes before you cast. When a tarpon eats your bait and goes airborne, everything else stops mattering. They're powerful, acrobatic, and absolutely relentless fighters that will humble even experienced anglers.
Sea trout are often overlooked, but the Everglades holds some true gator trout that'll surprise you with their size and fight. These spotted beauties love grass flats and sandy potholes, especially areas with good current flow. They're excellent table fare and aggressive feeders that'll hit everything from live shrimp to soft plastic jigs. Spring and fall typically offer the best trout fishing, when cooler water brings them shallow to feed. A 20-inch sea trout from the backcountry is a fish to be proud of, an
Your fishing platform for the day is a 17' Maverick skiff that's built specifically for Everglades backcountry fishing. The shallow-draft hull lets you slip into skinny water where snook and redfish hunt, while the reliable Yamaha 70hp gets you to those productive spots quickly. With room for two anglers, there's plenty of casting space on the open deck whether you're sight fishing the flats or working the mangrove edges. The wireless trolling motor keeps you positioned quietly over fish without spooking them, and the GPS/fish finder combo helps locate structure and bait schools. An onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during the full 8-hour trip. This skiff handles the varied conditions you'll encounter - from open bay runs to tight creek mouths where tarpon roll and seatrout feed.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are brown, shark-like fish that cruise alone or in small groups, often mistaken for sharks until you see that broad, flat head. They average 30-50 inches and 20-40 pounds, with some pushing 60+ pounds. Look for them around structure - channel markers, buoys, or floating debris in 10-50 feet of water. Spring migration from March to May is peak season as they move through our waters heading north. Anglers love cobia because they're curious, often approaching the boat, and they're outstanding table fare with firm, white meat that tastes like a cross between mahi and grouper. They fight hard but fair - long runs without the jumps. Best bet is sight fishing with live bait or big jigs - when you spot one, get ahead of it and drop your bait in its path.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the copper-colored bulldozers of the flats, easily spotted by their bronze backs and black eyespots near the tail. They average 20-30 inches and 5-15 pounds, with slot fish being the best eating size. You'll find them in skinny water from 6 inches to 4 feet deep, tailing on oyster bars, grass flats, and around mangrove shorelines. They're year-round residents here, but fall and winter offer the most consistent action as they school up. Reds are prized for their powerful runs and excellent table fare - firm, sweet meat that grills perfectly. They're not spooky like some species, making them great for sight fishing. When you see one tailing, cast past them and work your bait back - they feed with their heads down and won't see you coming.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are ambush predators with that distinctive black lateral line and golden coloring that cruise the mangroves and shallow flats. Most run 20-30 inches, but the big girls can push 40+ inches and really pull drag. They love structure - docks, mangrove roots, oyster bars - anywhere they can hide and strike baitfish. Spring through fall gives you the best action when water temps are warm. What makes snook special is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight in tight quarters. They're also fantastic table fare with white, flaky meat. Pro tip: work your lure slow along the mangrove edges during moving water - snook position themselves in the current breaks waiting to feed.
Megalops AtlanticusThe silver king is what dreams are made of - these prehistoric giants average 4-6 feet and 80-100 pounds, but can hit 200+ pounds. They frequent our shallow backcountry channels, rolling and feeding in 3-10 feet of water around structure and current. May through September is prime time when they're most active in the Everglades system. What hooks anglers is their aerial show - tarpon will jump 8-10 feet out of the water multiple times during a fight. Most folks release them since the meat is bony and tough. These fish can live 50+ years, so that 100-pounder might be 15 years old. Here's the key: when one jumps, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip to give slack, or they'll throw the hook.
Salmo TruttaSeatrout, or speckled trout, are silver-sided fish covered in distinctive black spots that make them easy to identify. They typically run 14-20 inches and 1-3 pounds in our waters. You'll find them over grass flats and sandy bottoms in 2-8 feet of water, especially around potholes and drop-offs. Cool weather from fall through spring concentrates them in deeper holes and channels. Trout are popular because they bite readily, fight well for their size, and make excellent eating with mild, white meat. They're also great for beginners since they're not too picky about lures. The trick here is fishing early morning or late evening over grass beds with soft plastics or topwater - that's when they move shallow to feed.
Homestead, FL