5.0(1 Reviews)Everglades Grand Slam: Snook, Redfish & Tarpon
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Wrecks/Reefs Fishing
Target snook, redfish, and tarpon in Everglades watersFull-day charter accommodates up to four anglers maximumFish both open ocean and mangrove backcountry areas
Looking for a full-day fishing adventure that'll test your skills against some of Florida's most prized gamefish? Captain Andrew Atwill and Local Grown Charters have you covered with this top-rated Everglades fishing experience. You'll spend the day hunting the legendary "Grand Slam" trio - snook, redfish, and tarpon - plus bonus species like grey snapper, grouper, and barracuda. This isn't your typical half-day trip; we're talking serious fishing time in one of the most diverse fisheries in the world. The Everglades offer everything from backcountry flats to open Gulf waters, and Captain Drew knows exactly where to find the action based on tides, weather, and what's biting.
This full-day charter takes you deep into the heart of Everglades fishing, where mangrove tunnels meet expansive flats and the Gulf of Mexico opens up endless possibilities. You'll fish with a maximum of 4 anglers, which means plenty of personal attention and room to work. Captain Drew adapts the day based on conditions - maybe you'll start sight fishing the flats at first light for tailing redfish, then move to deeper structure for snapper and grouper when the sun gets high. The afternoon might find you working the mangroves for snook or heading to deeper water if the tarpon are rolling. Every trip is different because the fish dictate the game plan, not the other way around. Bring your appetite for variety because you'll likely target 6-8 different species throughout the day.
Captain Drew runs a well-equipped boat stocked with quality tackle for every technique you'll need. Live bait fishing is huge out here - pilchards, pinfish, and shrimp are go-to baits for most species. You'll also throw artificials like soft plastics, topwater plugs, and jigs depending on what's working. The beauty of Everglades fishing is the variety of techniques in one day. You might be sight casting to cruising tarpon in 3 feet of water, then dropping live bait on a wreck in 40 feet an hour later. Spinning tackle handles most situations, but don't be surprised if heavier conventional gear comes out for the big tarpon or when the grouper are being stubborn on structure. The captain provides all rods, reels, tackle, and bait - you just bring yourself and maybe a lucky hat.
"Captain Drew was awesome. We did two excursions with him for a total of 12 hours and it still wasn't enough. He put us on fish constantly and we caught a huge variety of fish. We loved it! It's been an unforgettable couple of days. Thanks so much!" - Tyson
Redfish: These copper-colored bruisers are year-round residents and absolute favorites among anglers. Everglades reds average 20-30 inches and fight like they're twice that size in shallow water. They love the grass flats and mangrove edges, especially on moving tides. Fall and winter months are prime time when they school up in big numbers. What makes them special? That initial run when hooked will strip line off your reel, and they're gorgeous fish with those distinctive black spots and bronze coloring.
Snook: The second piece of the Grand Slam puzzle, snook are ambush predators that haunt the mangrove shorelines and dock lights. These fish are temperature sensitive, so they're most active when water temps are above 70 degrees - basically March through November in South Florida. They average 24-28 inches but can push over 40 inches. Snook have serious attitude and will explode on topwater baits or crush a well-placed live shrimp. Their gill-rattling jumps and strong runs make them a customer favorite.
Tarpon: The "Silver King" and crown jewel of the Grand Slam. Everglades tarpon range from juvenile fish around 30-50 pounds up to giants over 150 pounds. Peak season runs May through August, but you'll find fish year-round in the backcountry. These prehistoric fighters are famous for their acrobatic jumps and bulldogging runs. Hooking a tarpon is one thing - landing one requires patience, proper technique, and a little luck. They're mostly catch-and-release, but the photos and memories last forever.
Grey Snapper: Don't overlook these scrappy bottom dwellers. Mangrove snapper are excellent eating and surprisingly strong fighters for their size. They're structure-oriented fish that love wrecks, ledges, and mangrove roots. Most run 12-16 inches, but the Everglades produce some chunky 4-5 pound fish. They're finicky biters that require light tackle and fresh bait, making them a fun challenge on conventional bottom fishing gear.
Gulf Grouper: When you venture into deeper Gulf waters, grouper become prime targets. These bottom huggers are powerful fish that immediately try to get back to their holes when hooked. Gag and red grouper are most common, with fish ranging from keeper size around 20 inches up to real tackle-busters over 10 pounds. They're excellent table fare and provide that classic Florida bottom fishing experience.
Great Barracuda: The speed demons of the flats. Cuda are aggressive predators that will absolutely destroy a well-placed lure or bait. They're common year-round and range from 3-4 foot "school fish" up to 5-6 foot giants. Their explosive strikes and blazing runs make them popular with anglers who appreciate raw power and agg
Our 24-foot Pathfinder is built for serious fishing in the Everglades backcountry. Powered by a 300hp Yamaha that'll push you up to 52 knots, this boat gets you to the fish fast and covers water efficiently when targeting snook, redfish, and tarpon. The shallow draft design navigates skinny mangrove creeks where big fish hide, while the spacious layout comfortably handles up to 4 anglers with room to fight fish. GPS keeps you on productive spots, radar cuts through morning fog, and the fish finder marks structure holding your next catch. Whether you're sight-casting the flats or working deeper channels, this Pathfinder delivers the performance and fishability needed for a successful day chasing the Everglades Grand Slam.
Caranx HipposCrevalle Jack are the bulldogs of the flats - all muscle and attitude packed into 12-24 inch frames that fight like fish twice their size. These brassy, golden-sided speedsters roam both shallow flats and deeper channels, often showing up in big schools that push baitfish to the surface. Look for diving birds - that's your best sign. They're year-round residents but really turn on during warmer months when the baitfish are thick. Guests love them because they hit hard, fight dirty, and never give up. While they're not great table fare, the action more than makes up for it. They'll eat anything that moves fast - spoons, topwater plugs, live bait. My go-to trick: cast beyond the school and retrieve as fast as you can crank. These fish love the chase, and that aggressive retrieve triggers their predator instincts.
Sphyraena BarracudaGreat Barracuda are the ocean's missile - long, silver torpedoes that can hit 35 mph and grow up to 5-6 feet. These toothy predators patrol coral reefs, grass flats, and mangrove edges, usually near the surface where they can ambush prey. They're year-round residents but more active during warmer months when baitfish are thick. What draws anglers is their explosive strikes and initial runs, though they tire quickly. They're curious fish that'll often follow lures right to the boat. While edible, most folks release them due to occasional ciguatera concerns. They'll hit anything shiny and fast-moving - spoons, tubes, live bait. The key is speed and flash. My go-to setup is a silver spoon or tube lure retrieved fast near the surface. Use a wire leader - those teeth will cut through anything else. When you hook up, hang on for that first screaming run.
Lutjanus GriseusGrey Snapper, or mangrove snapper as most folks call them, are smart little fighters that'll test your patience and skill. These copper-red fish typically run 10-14 inches inshore, though the bigger ones can hit 4-5 pounds around deeper structure. They love hanging around mangroves, docks, rocks - anywhere they can dart out and grab a meal. They're active year-round but really turn on during warmer months, especially at night when they get less spooky. People love targeting them because they're excellent table fare with sweet, white meat, plus they're plentiful. The challenge is they're incredibly line-shy and smart. My advice: use the lightest leader you can get away with and let your bait sit still. These fish are opportunistic but cautious - too much movement and they'll spook. A 4/0 hook with live shrimp works great.
Mycteroperca JordaniGulf Grouper are rare gems in these waters, usually running 3-4 feet and weighing around 100 pounds when we do find them. These ambush predators hang around rocky structure, kelp beds, and deeper reefs, typically 15-100 feet down, though they'll move deeper in summer. They're not your typical Everglades target, but when conditions align during cooler months, we sometimes pick them up around deeper structure near the Gulf. What makes them exciting is their pure power - they'll try to bust you off in the rocks immediately after being hooked. They're also excellent eating, though populations are stressed so we practice catch and release. Here's the key: use heavy tackle and get them up fast. Once hooked, they'll head straight for cover, so you need to turn them right away or you'll lose them in the structure.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are one of the most reliable targets in the Everglades, especially in those skinny flats where you can see their backs breaking the surface. These copper-colored fish with distinctive black spots near their tails typically run 20-30 inches and put up a solid fight. You'll find them cruising oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines in 1-4 feet of water. They're year-round residents but spring and fall offer the best action when they're more active. What makes them special is their willingness to eat almost anything - live shrimp, spoons, topwater plugs - and they taste great on the table with that mild, sweet flavor. Pro tip: when you spot a school, cast past them and work your bait back through - redfish spook easily if you land right on top of them.
Salmo TruttaSea Trout, or speckled trout, are bread-and-butter fish that'll keep your rod bent all day. These spotted beauties typically run 14-20 inches and love cruising grass flats and shallow bays. They're most active during cooler months and at night, though you can catch them year-round. What makes them popular is they're aggressive feeders, great table fare with tender white meat, and relatively easy to locate. They'll hit live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater plugs, especially when worked slowly over grass beds. Spring and fall are prime time when they school up in deeper holes and channels. The trick is finding the right depth - they'll move from 2-15 feet depending on temperature and bait. Use a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below. The cork attracts them, and the shrimp seals the deal. Don't overcook them - the meat is delicate.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the crown jewel of Everglades fishing - sleek, golden predators with that unmistakable black lateral line running down their sides. Most run 18-28 inches, though bigger ones lurk in the deeper cuts. They love structure: mangrove roots, docks, bridge pilings, anywhere they can ambush prey. Warmer months are prime time, especially around new and full moons when they spawn. What makes them special is they're smart, strong, and incredibly good eating - that white, flaky meat is hard to beat. They're also temperature sensitive, so cold fronts shut them down fast. The trick with snook is presentation - they can be picky. I like to work soft plastics or live shrimp real slow around structure. Don't horse them once hooked; their gill plates are sharp and they'll cut your line if you're not careful.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate bucket-list fish - silver kings that can reach 4-6 feet and jump clean out of the water when hooked. These prehistoric giants migrate through our waters, especially during spring and summer months when they're moving to spawn. You'll find them rolling on the surface in channels, around bridges, and along the edges of flats. What makes them legendary is pure athleticism - they'll jump repeatedly, run hard, and test every bit of your tackle and skill. Most folks release them since the meat isn't great, but landing one is a lifetime memory. Best bite is usually May through August during moving tides. Here's the key: when they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them. This keeps tension off the line and prevents them from throwing the hook. It takes practice, but it's the difference between landing and losing these magnificent fish.
5.0 out of 5.0Captain Drew was awesome. We did two excursions with him for a total of 12 hours and it still wasn't enough. He put us on fish con...
Key Largo, FL