Full Day St Augustine Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eight-hour inshore fishing charter targeting redfish in St. Augustine watersCaptain Dan provides all equipment for up to two guestsMorning departure with potential for multiple species catches
Captain Dan's 8-hour inshore charter puts you right in the heart of St. Augustine's best fishing waters. This isn't your typical half-day rush job – we're talking about a full commitment to finding fish and putting you on the action. The Ancient City's backwaters and nearshore flats hold some of Florida's most sought-after species, and with a full day on the water, we've got time to work multiple spots and adjust tactics based on what the fish are telling us. You'll be fishing prime inshore waters where the Matanzas River meets the Atlantic, creating the perfect storm of structure, current, and forage that keeps these waters loaded year-round.
We launch early to beat the crowds and capitalize on prime feeding times when fish are most active. Captain Dan knows these waters like the back of his hand – every oyster bar, creek mouth, and grass flat that holds fish. The boat comes rigged with quality tackle and fresh bait, so all you need to bring is your fishing license, some snacks, and drinks for the day. This is sight fishing and structure fishing at its finest, where you'll learn to read the water and understand what makes these inshore species tick. The 2-person capacity means you get personalized attention and coaching, whether you're working on your casting accuracy or learning to feel the difference between a bite and bottom contact. We'll move around based on tides, weather, and fish activity, so no two trips are exactly alike.
Inshore fishing here is all about versatility and reading conditions. We'll be throwing live shrimp under popping corks around structure, working soft plastics along drop-offs, and sight casting to cruising fish in skinny water. Captain Dan sets you up with medium-action spinning gear that can handle everything from finicky sheepshead to bruiser cobia. The boat carries an arsenal of lures – paddle tails, spoons, topwater plugs, and jigs – plus we'll have live bait when the situation calls for it. You'll learn proper presentation for different species and structure types, from slow-rolling baits near dock pilings to aggressive retrieves over grass flats. The beauty of a full 8-hour charter is having time to experiment with different techniques and really dial in what's working best that day.
Redfish are the backbone of St. Augustine inshore fishing and our primary target. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the flats in schools, especially during cooler months, and provide heart-stopping sight fishing opportunities. Reds here typically run 20-30 inches, with plenty of oversized bulls mixed in that'll test your drag system. They're most active during moving water on the first two hours of incoming tide, when they push up onto shallow flats to feed. What makes redfish special is their willingness to eat and their bulldogging fight – they'll make multiple runs and use every oyster bar and grass bed to their advantage.
Southern Flounder are the masters of disguise in these waters, laying buried in sandy potholes and creek mouths waiting to ambush prey. These flatfish can reach impressive sizes here – doormat flounder over 20 inches aren't uncommon, especially during fall migration periods. They're structure-oriented fish that love drop-offs, dock edges, and creek bends where current sweeps baitfish past their ambush spots. The challenge with flounder is feeling their subtle bite – they often just load up on your bait without the dramatic strikes of other species. Fall and winter months produce the biggest specimens as they stage for their offshore spawning run.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, with fish over 40 inches and 30+ pounds regularly caught in St. Augustine waters. These powerful fish cruise in schools along channel edges and around bridge pilings, using their pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and oysters. Spring months bring the biggest concentrations as they move into shallow water to spawn. Black drum provide a completely different fight than other inshore species – it's pure power and endurance rather than speed and acrobatics. They're also excellent table fare in smaller sizes, with sweet, flaky white meat.
Tarpon show up seasonally and turn every angler into a kid again with their aerial displays and raw power. St. Augustine's tarpon fishery peaks in late spring and early summer when schools of 50-100+ pound fish patrol the nearshore waters and river mouths. These silver kings will test every aspect of your tackle and technique – from the hookset to the final moments at boatside. Most tarpon here are catch-and-release fish, making them a true trophy species that's all about the experience rather than the dinner table. When conditions align and tarpon are present, it's some of the most addictive fishing you'll ever experience.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge that keeps things interesting, especially around St. Augustine's abundant structure. These black-and-white striped convicts have human-like teeth and lightning-fast reflexes that can steal bait faster than you can blink. They concentrate around docks, bridges, and oyster bars, particularly during cooler months when they're most aggressive. Sheepshead require finesse and patience – light tackle, small hooks, and perfect bait presentation. When you do connect, they're surprisingly strong fighters for their size and make excellent table fare with sweet, firm meat.
Cobia are the wildcards that can show up anytime and turn a good day into a legendary one. These brown sharks (as they're sometimes called) cruise shallow flats and around structure, often following rays and sharks to pick up disturbed prey. Cobia here can exceed 40 inches and 20+ pounds, providing tackle-busting fights with powerful runs and head-shaking jumps. They're curious fish that will often follow lures boat-side, giving you
Captain Dan's 2008 Beavertail flats boat is your ticket to some serious inshore action around St. Augustine's prime fishing waters. This shallow-draft vessel draws minimal water, letting you slip into those backcountry spots where the big reds like to hang out. The 60HP Evinrude pushes you along at a cruising speed of 33 knots, getting you to the honey holes fast so you can spend more time with lines in the water. The wireless trolling motor keeps things whisper-quiet when you're stalking fish in skinny water – no spooking your targets before you get that perfect cast. Between the GPS and fish finder, Captain Dan can put you right on top of structure and drop-offs where the action happens. The onboard ice box keeps your catch fresh and your drinks cold during those long 8-hour days on the water. Built for just 2 anglers, you'll have plenty of casting room and personalized attention whether you're working topwater plugs at first light or bouncing soft plastics through grass flats.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, and you'll know one when you hear it - they make that distinctive drumming sound that gives them their name. Most fish we catch run 5-15 pounds, but don't be surprised if you hook into a 30+ pounder around our oyster beds and bridge pilings. These grey-black bruisers have crushing jaws designed for munching crabs and oysters. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them easier to target in shallow flats and creek mouths. They're found year-round in our brackish waters, from super shallow to about 30 feet deep. Guests love the bulldogging fight they put up - pure power, not flash. Smaller ones make great table fare with sweet, white meat. My tip: use fresh crab bait and keep it right on the bottom. When you feel that steady pull, set the hook hard and hang on.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are brown sharks that aren't sharks - that's how most folks first describe them with their dark coloring and single dorsal fin. These bruisers average 20-40 pounds but can push 60+ pounds, making them one of the strongest fish we target. They're loners, usually found cruising around buoys, channel markers, and wrecks from spring through fall when they migrate through our area. What makes them special is the incredible fight - they're pure muscle and will test your drag system. Plus, they're phenomenal table fare with firm, white meat that's like a cross between grouper and mahi. We sight-fish for them a lot, spotting that dark shadow just under the surface. They're curious fish and will often come check out the boat. The trick is to cast a bucktail jig or live bait ahead of their path and work it naturally - don't cast right on top of them or they'll spook.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our bread and butter around St. Augustine - copper-colored beauties with that signature black spot near the tail. Most fish run 18-30 inches, perfect slot size for keeping, though we catch plenty of oversized bulls that put up serious fights. These shallow water specialists love our grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in just 1-4 feet of water. You'll often see their backs or tails out of the water when they're feeding. Spring through fall are prime, but they bite year-round here. What makes them great is the combination - they fight hard with strong runs, they're fun to sight-fish, and the slot fish are outstanding table fare with mild, sweet meat. They'll eat just about anything, from live shrimp to topwater plugs. My go-to tip: look for nervous water or mullet jumping - redfish are usually nearby pushing baitfish around.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of our waters with those distinctive black and white stripes, but what really sets them apart are their human-like teeth - perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs off dock pilings. Most run 2-5 pounds and 14-18 inches, though we see some nice ones pushing 8+ pounds around our jetties and bridge structures. They're year-round residents but winter and early spring are prime when they school up near inlets and deeper structures. These guys are structure huggers - docks, bridges, oyster bars, anywhere there's something to pick at. Guests love the challenge because they're notorious bait thieves with a light bite, plus they're some of the best eating fish around with sweet, white meat. The trick is getting your bait right against the structure and setting the hook at the first hint of weight - they'll clean your hook in seconds if you hesitate.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise that lie flat on sandy and muddy bottoms, perfectly camouflaged until prey swims by. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches and weigh around 5 pounds, though we've seen some nice ones push 25+ inches. Both eyes sit on their left side, giving them that distinctive look. You'll find them in shallow bays, around docks, and near creek mouths where they ambush shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Fall and winter are prime time when they're feeding heavily before moving offshore. Guests love the challenge - they're sneaky biters and surprisingly strong fighters once hooked. The white, flaky meat is excellent table fare too. Here's the trick: when you feel that subtle tap-tap, don't set the hook right away. Let them take it and swim off a bit first, then set hard.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings of our waters - massive, acrobatic fish that can reach 6+ feet and over 100 pounds, though we typically see 40-80 pounders around St. Augustine. These prehistoric fighters are famous for their explosive jumps when hooked, often launching 8+ feet out of the water. They cruise our inshore waters, bridges, and inlet areas from late spring through early fall when water temps warm up. You'll spot them rolling on the surface or cruising in schools. What makes them special isn't the eating - most folks release them - but the pure adrenaline of the fight. They're incredibly strong and can run for hundreds of yards. We target them with live bait like mullet or crabs around structure. Here's the key: when they jump, bow to the fish by pointing your rod tip at them. It keeps tension off and prevents them from throwing the hook.
St. Augustine, FL