St Augustine Fishing Charter | 8 Hour Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
8hour inshore fishing charter targeting redfish in St. Augustine watersCaptain Dan provides all equipment for up to 2 guestsMorning departure offers chances at multiple fish species
There's something special about getting on the water at first light in St. Augustine, and Captain Dan knows these inshore waters like the back of his hand. This full-day fishing adventure takes you into some of the most productive shallow water fishing grounds along Florida's Historic Coast, where grass flats, oyster bars, and tidal creeks create the perfect storm for world-class angling. You'll be targeting redfish primarily, but these waters hold plenty of surprises—from hefty black drum to silver kings that'll test your drag system. Captain Dan brings all the gear, bait, and local knowledge you need, so just pack some snacks and drinks for the day. Whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time, this charter delivers the kind of fishing that keeps people coming back to Northeast Florida year after year.
This 8-hour charter gives you serious time to work the best spots around St. Augustine's inshore waters. Captain Dan typically starts the morning by running to productive grass flats where redfish cruise in shallow water, often with their backs out of the water as they root around for crabs and shrimp. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety—one minute you're sight-casting to tailing reds in two feet of water, the next you're working structure for black drum or sheepshead around old docks and bridges. The Matanzas River system and surrounding salt marshes create an endless network of fishing opportunities, and Captain Dan reads the tides, weather, and seasonal patterns to put you on fish consistently. With just two anglers max, you get personalized attention and plenty of room to work without crowding each other. The boat stays in protected waters, so even if it's breezy offshore, you'll have comfortable fishing conditions in the backwaters and flats.
Captain Dan runs a well-equipped inshore boat rigged specifically for the shallow water fishing that St. Augustine is famous for. You'll be using medium to medium-heavy spinning tackle most of the day, perfect for handling everything from 20-inch redfish to surprise tarpon that roll through the flats. Live bait is king out here—fresh shrimp, finger mullet, and mud minnows sourced locally and kept lively in the boat's bait wells. For redfish, you'll often fish with a simple Carolina rig or free-line baits around structure, while sight-fishing opportunities call for more finesse presentations under popping corks. Captain Dan also brings artificial lures for guests who prefer throwing spoons, soft plastics, or topwater plugs when fish are aggressive. The key techniques include reading water color and movement, understanding how tides push baitfish around structure, and learning to spot redfish tails and wakes in shallow water. Don't worry if you're new to inshore fishing—Captain Dan breaks down everything from proper hooksets to fighting fish in shallow water where they can use structure to their advantage.
Redfish are the bread and butter of this charter, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers grow big in St. Augustine's nutrient-rich waters, with fish ranging from slot-sized 18-22 inchers perfect for dinner to oversized bulls that'll peel drag and test your endurance. Redfish feed aggressively here year-round, though fall and spring offer peak action when they school up in larger numbers. What makes them so exciting to target is their willingness to eat in super shallow water—you'll often see them tailing like bonefish as they dig for crabs in the grass. Southern flounder add another dimension to the fishing, especially around creek mouths and channel edges where they ambush passing baitfish. These flatfish are masters of camouflage and provide excellent table fare when you connect. Black drum, the redfish's bigger cousins, show up around structure and can reach impressive sizes—30-pounders aren't uncommon, and they fight with bulldogging power that'll surprise you. Sheepshead are the technical challenge of the group, with their notorious bait-stealing abilities around pilings and rock piles. Landing one requires quick reflexes and sharp hooks, but their excellent eating quality makes the effort worthwhile.
Tarpon bring the real excitement when they're around, typically showing up in warmer months as they migrate through St. Augustine's waters. Even juvenile tarpon in the 20-40 pound range will give you a workout with their acrobatic jumps and powerful runs. These silver kings are catch-and-release only, but the fight alone makes them a customer favorite. Cobia round out the target species list as opportunistic feeders that cruise the flats looking for easy meals. They're curious fish that often approach the boat, giving you sight-fishing opportunities that can result in battles with fish pushing 30-40 pounds. The variety keeps every trip interesting—you never know what's going to grab your bait next in these productive waters.
Redfish dominate the inshore scene around St. Augustine for several reasons. These fish adapt perfectly to the shallow grass flats and oyster bars that define this fishery, feeding heavily on blue crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish that thrive in the marsh system. Peak season runs from September through November and again in March through May, though you'll find fish year-round. What guests love most is the visual aspect—watching redfish tail in skinny water or seeing their wakes as they cruise the flats creates heart-pounding moments that offshore fishing simply can't match. Slot fish between 18-20 inches make excellent table fare, while the oversized bulls provide pure adrenaline as they use their broad tails and bulldogging strength to test your tackle.
Black drum offer a different kind of excitement, typically found around structure where they use their pharyngeal teeth to crush oysters and crabs. These fish can live over 50 years and grow to impressive sizes—fish over 40 pounds
Captain Dan's 2008 Beavertail flats boat is perfectly rigged for stalking redfish in St. Augustine's shallow waters. This specialized fishing machine runs on a reliable 60HP Evinrude that'll get you to the hotspots at 33 knots, then the wireless trolling motor takes over for silent approaches when fish are spooky. The low-profile design lets you slip into skinny water where the big reds like to feed. You'll have everything you need with the built-in ice box keeping your catch fresh, GPS to navigate the maze of creeks and oyster bars, and a quality fish finder to locate structure and baitfish. Built for serious anglers who want to get up close and personal with their targets, this boat handles the flats like a dream while giving you the stealth advantage that makes all the difference between watching fish and actually catching them.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These gray-black bruisers love oyster beds, shallow muddy flats, and around dock pilings where they crush shellfish with powerful jaws. You'll hear them "drumming" - they actually make sounds to communicate. Spring is prime time during spawning season when they school up and become much easier to target. After that, they scatter and get trickier. Guests love the solid fight they put up and the smaller ones (under 15 pounds) make great eating. The bigger fish get tough and aren't worth keeping. Fresh crab is your best bet - it stays on the hook better than shrimp and won't get stolen by catfish. Fish right on the bottom and be patient.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are brown sharks with attitude - except they're not sharks at all. These solitary hunters average 30-50 pounds and 4-5 feet, but 80+ pounders cruise our waters. They love structure like reefs, wrecks, and buoys in 20-80 feet of water, often cruising just under the surface. Spring migration from March through May is prime time when they're moving north to spawn. What makes them exciting is the sight fishing - you'll actually see them swimming before you cast. Plus, they're phenomenal table fare with firm, white meat that's prized by restaurants. They hit hard and make strong runs, giving you a real workout. My tip: when you spot one, cast well ahead of where it's swimming and work a bucktail jig or live eel back toward the fish. They're curious and will often follow before striking.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our bread and butter here in St. Augustine - bronze beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails that cruise the shallow flats year-round. Most run 20-30 inches, but we see plenty of bulls over 40 inches. They love water so shallow their backs stick out, hanging around oyster bars, grass flats, and dock lines. What makes them special is their willingness to eat almost anything and the way they explode on topwater lures in skinny water. The smaller "slot" fish make fantastic table fare with mild, sweet meat. Fall and spring are prime when they school up, but you can catch them any month here. They're perfect for all skill levels since they fight hard but aren't too finicky. Try gold spoons or live shrimp around structure changes where tide moves baitfish.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their black and white stripes, but what really gets people talking are their human-like teeth. They typically run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, though 20-pounders do swim around here. You'll find them around any structure - docks, bridges, pilings - anywhere with barnacles and crustaceans to munch on. They're notorious bait thieves with delicate bites, but once hooked, they put up a solid fight for their size. Winter and early spring are best when they're spawning and concentrated around structures. The meat is excellent - sweet and flaky - making them a favorite for the dinner table. Get your bait tight to the structure and use small hooks with fiddler crabs or shrimp. When you feel them nibbling, set the hook hard and fast.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise - these flat fish bury themselves in sand and mud bottoms, waiting to ambush prey. You'll typically catch them 15-18 inches, though some reach over 30 inches. They love shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and around structure where they can blend in perfectly. Both eyes sit on their left side, which always gets guests talking. Fall and winter are prime time when they move through our area heading to spawn offshore. What makes them special is the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves with light bites, plus they make excellent table fare. My tip: use a slip sinker rig with live shrimp or bull minnows, and when you feel that subtle tap, count to three before setting the hook. They need a moment to fully take the bait.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings of our waters - prehistoric giants that can reach 6+ feet and over 100 pounds. What makes them legendary is their aerial show when hooked, jumping 10 feet out of the water at 35 mph. Around St. Augustine, we find them in deeper channels, around bridges, and along the beaches from late spring through summer. They're strictly catch and release since the meat is full of bones and not great eating. The thrill is purely in the fight and those heart-stopping jumps. These fish can live 50+ years, so that big one you're fighting might be older than you are. Use medium tackle - they don't require super heavy gear. My local tip: when they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them. It keeps tension off and prevents them from throwing the hook.
St. Augustine, FL