Full Day Private Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday inshore charter targeting snook, redfish, snapper, and grouperEight hours of fishing in Tampa Bay and Gulf watersPrivate boat accommodates up to four guests with Lucky Strike Charters
Picture this: you and your crew heading out at first light with Lucky Strike Fishing Charters for a full eight hours on some of Florida's most productive inshore waters. This isn't your typical half-day rush job – we're talking about a proper fishing adventure that gives you time to really work the flats, mangroves, and nearshore structure where Tampa Bay's legendary gamefish live. For $1200, you get the boat, the captain's expertise, and enough time to chase multiple species from snook in the backcountry to big reds on the grass flats. We'll accommodate up to four anglers, which means everyone gets plenty of room to cast and fight fish without bumping elbows.
Your day starts early – and trust me, that's when the magic happens. We'll pick our spots based on tide, weather, and what's been biting lately. Some days we might start working the residential canals for snook, other times we'll head straight to the grass flats for redfish and trout. The beauty of a full-day trip is flexibility. If the bite slows in one area, we've got time to run to another hot spot. You'll fish a mix of live bait and artificials – pilchards and shrimp when we can get them, plus plenty of soft plastics and topwater plugs. The boat's rigged with quality tackle, but feel free to bring your favorites. We'll move around throughout the day, hitting everything from shallow mangrove shorelines to deeper grass beds and oyster bars where these fish love to hang out.
We fish light – think 7-foot medium action rods spooled with 15-20 pound braid and a fluorocarbon leader. This setup lets you feel every bump and gives these smart inshore fish a natural presentation. You'll learn to work soft plastics along the bottom, twitch topwater baits over grass beds, and present live bait around structure without spooking fish. We use circle hooks for live bait fishing, which means better hooksets and healthier releases. The captain will show you how to read the water – spotting redfish tails, finding the right depth on grass flats, and identifying productive mangrove cuts. Sight fishing is a big part of what we do here, especially for reds and snook. You'll learn to cast ahead of moving fish and keep your bait in the strike zone. We carry a mix of jig heads, paddle tails, and topwater plugs in colors that work year-round in Tampa Bay.
Snook are the crown jewel of Tampa Bay inshore fishing. These ambush predators love structure – docks, mangrove overhangs, bridge pilings, and oyster bars. They're most active during warmer months but can be caught year-round if you know where to look. A good snook will pull drag and jump, making them one of the most fun fish to catch on light tackle. They're also excellent table fare during open season. Look for them in 2-6 feet of water, especially around moving water like creek mouths and passes.
Tarpon are the silver kings of our waters, and Tampa Bay is famous for its resident population plus the massive migrations that happen each spring and summer. These fish can range from 20-pound juveniles in the backcountry to 150-pound giants in the deeper channels. They're pure adrenaline – big jumps, long runs, and fights that can last 30 minutes or more. We target them with live crabs, pilchards, and large artificials. The best action typically happens from April through August, but smaller tarpon can be found year-round in the warmer backwater areas.
Sea trout are your bread-and-butter inshore fish – they bite consistently, fight well for their size, and taste great. You'll find them over grass flats in 2-8 feet of water, often in schools. They love soft plastics bounced along the bottom and topwater plugs early and late in the day. Trout are active year-round but bite best in spring and fall. A good day might produce 20-30 trout, with some reaching the 20-24 inch range that locals call "gator trout."
Redfish are probably the most popular target for Tampa Bay anglers, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers are strong fighters that use their broad tails to make powerful runs. You'll find them tailing on shallow flats, cruising mangrove shorelines, and schooled up around structure. Reds bite live bait, cut bait, and artificials equally well. They're most active during moving water and can be caught year-round. The slot-size fish (18-27 inches) are perfect for the dinner table, while the bigger "bull" reds provide tackle-testing fights in shallow water.
This full-day adventure gives you the complete Tampa Bay inshore experience – multiple species, varied techniques, and enough time to really learn the water. At $300 per person for up to four anglers, it's a solid value for eight hours with an experienced captain who knows these waters inside and out. Whether you're looking to put fish in the cooler, learn new techniques, or just spend a day on the water with friends, this trip delivers. The combination of Tampa Bay's diverse fishery and a full day to explore it makes for consistently good fishing and the kind of stories you'll tell for years. Book early, especially during peak season from March through June when the fishing is absolutely on fire.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of Tampa Bay fishing - reliable, fun to catch, and great on the table. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches, perfect for keeping. You'll spot them tailing in 1-3 feet over grass flats, around oyster bars, and in shallow mangrove creeks. They're year-round residents, but fall brings the best action when they school up in big numbers. What makes reds special is their power - they'll make long, bulldogging runs that'll test your drag. Plus, that distinctive black spot near the tail makes them easy to identify. The meat is mild and sweet, perfect for blackening or grilling. Here's the deal with reds: when you see them tailing in shallow water, cast well ahead of where they're headed and let your bait settle. They spook easily, so patience pays off. A live shrimp or gold spoon works wonders.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them, are fantastic light-tackle fish that'll keep your rod bent all day. Most run 12-18 inches with plenty of 2-3 pounders mixed in. They love grass flats and sandy potholes in 2-6 feet of water throughout Tampa Bay. Fall and winter are prime time when they school up in deeper holes and channels. What guests love about trout is their willingness to bite and great table fare - sweet, white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. They're not the strongest fighters, but they make up for it in numbers and taste. The key is finding the schools. Look for diving birds or baitfish activity on the flats. Once you locate them, you can usually catch several before they move on. Use a soft plastic shrimp or small jig and work it slowly along the bottom.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of Tampa Bay's most prized inshore species, and for good reason. These silver beauties with that signature black lateral line typically run 18-30 inches, though the occasional slot-buster over 35 inches will test your drag. You'll find them around mangroves, docks, and oyster bars in 2-8 feet of water. They love structure and ambush prey from cover. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially around the new and full moons when they're most active. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and powerful runs - they'll jump and thrash like a tarpon. The meat is white, flaky, and absolutely delicious. Pro tip: when fishing around structure, make your first cast count. Snook spook easily, so if you miss that prime spot or hang up, move on to the next hole.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate bucket-list fish in our waters. These silver kings average 80-100 pounds and 4-6 feet, but giants over 150 pounds show up regularly. You'll find them rolling in Tampa Bay's channels, around bridges, and nearshore in 10-40 feet. Late spring through summer is prime time when they migrate through our area. What hooks anglers is their raw power - they'll jump 8 feet out of the water and make blistering runs that'll empty your spool. It's pure adrenaline. Most folks catch and release since the meat's not great eating - too bony and oily. The fight is the reward here. My advice: when a tarpon jumps, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them. This keeps tension off the line and prevents them from throwing the hook on those spectacular leaps.
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