St Augustine Flats Fishing With Captain Dan
Private Trip
Flats/Shallows Fishing
Target redfish in shallow Florida flats with experienced Captain DanAll gear, bait, and fish cleaning services included in tripSmall group experience with maximum 2 guests per charter
Captain Dan's been working these St Augustine flats for years, and he knows exactly where to find the fish when they're feeding. This 3-hour sight fishing charter puts you right in the action on some of Florida's most productive shallow water. You'll be poling through crystal-clear water, watching for tails and wakes while targeting redfish, trout, and whatever else is cruising the grass beds. Captain Dan provides all the gear, bait, and lures you need, plus he'll clean your catch at the end of the day. Just bring your drinks and snacks, and get ready to see why these flats have such a reputation among serious anglers.
These St Augustine flats offer some of the best sight fishing you'll find on Florida's east coast. Captain Dan runs a technical flats boat that gets you into skinny water where the big fish like to hunt. You'll spend your time poling through turtle grass beds, oyster bars, and sandy potholes where redfish and trout ambush baitfish. The water clarity here is usually fantastic, letting you spot fish from 50 feet away on a good day. Captain Dan's got his eyes trained for picking out subtle movements and color changes that most people would miss. He'll position the boat perfectly for your cast, whether you're throwing live shrimp under a cork or working a topwater plug across a grass flat. The whole experience revolves around stealth and precision – when you see that red tail waving in two feet of water, you've got one shot to make it count.
Captain Dan comes loaded with top-shelf tackle that's perfectly matched to these waters. You'll be fishing with medium-light spinning gear spooled with 15-20 pound braid, perfect for making long casts to spooky fish. He keeps a variety of live bait including shrimp, finger mullet, and mud minnows, plus an arsenal of artificial lures that have proven themselves on these flats. Depending on conditions, you might be throwing DOA shrimp on a jig head, working a Z-Man ChatterBait through the grass, or floating live bait under a popping cork. The key technique here is sight casting – Captain Dan will spot the fish first, then guide your cast to intercept their path. You'll learn to read water color, current breaks, and structure that holds fish. When the bite gets tough, Captain Dan switches up presentations until something clicks. His approach combines old-school flats knowledge with modern techniques that consistently put fish in the boat.
Redfish are the main attraction on these St Augustine flats, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the shallows in small schools, feeding aggressively on crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish. Most of the reds you'll encounter run between 18-27 inches – perfect slot fish that fight like freight trains in shallow water. They're most active during moving tides, especially the last two hours of incoming water when they push onto the flats to feed. What makes redfish so exciting here is watching them hunt in clear water. You'll see their backs and tails breaking the surface as they root around oyster bars and grass edges. When a 24-inch red takes your topwater plug in two feet of water, the explosion will get your heart racing every time.
Sea trout are another flats favorite that Captain Dan targets regularly. These spotted beauties typically range from 14-20 inches in these waters, with occasional gator trout pushing over 24 inches. They love deeper grass beds and sandy potholes where they can ambush prey. Trout are most cooperative during cooler months from October through April, when they school up in predictable areas. They hit live shrimp with authority and absolutely crush soft plastic baits worked along grass edges. The fight might not match a redfish, but trout are excellent eating and they're usually willing biters when you find a school.
Black drum don't get as much attention as reds, but they're common on these flats and surprisingly fun to catch. These bottom-feeders can range from small puppy drum around 12 inches to bruiser bull drum over 30 pounds. They're most active around oyster bars and shell beds where they crush crabs and mollusks. Black drum are strong, stubborn fighters that use their broad sides to leverage against you in shallow water. They're not the prettiest fish, but they're great eating in the smaller sizes and provide serious tackle-testing action when you hook a big one.
Sheepshead show up around structure like dock pilings, oyster bars, and bridge supports. These convict-striped bait thieves are notorious for their light bites and hard mouths, but they're worth the effort. Most sheepshead in these waters run 12-16 inches, with occasional slabs pushing over 18 inches and 4 pounds. They're most active during cooler months and spawn runs from December through April. Sheepshead require finesse and patience – you'll be using small hooks, light leaders, and fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs. When you finally stick one, they make strong runs and fight surprisingly hard for their size.
Southern flounder round out the mixed bag that makes these flats so productive. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sand waiting to ambush passing prey. Most flounder here run 14-18 inches, with occasional doormat fish over 20 inches. They're most active during fall months when they stage for their offshore spawning migration. Flounder hit live finger mullet, shrimp, and soft plastic baits dragged along the bottom. They're not spectacular fighters, but they're excellent table fare and always a welcome addition to the cooler.
Captain Dan's St Augustine flats fishing delivers exactly what serious anglers want – quality fish, pristine water,
Captain Dan's 2008 Beavertail flats boat is perfectly rigged for sight fishing St Augustine's shallow waters. This specialized craft draws minimal water, letting you slip into those skinny spots where trophy redfish cruise. The 60HP Evinrude pushes you across the flats at 33 knots, getting you to the fish fast, while the wireless trolling motor keeps things whisper-quiet when you're stalking your targets. The fish finder helps locate structure and bait schools, and GPS keeps you on productive waters. An icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during the 3-hour hunt. Built for just two anglers, you'll have plenty of room to cast and fight fish without crowding. This boat handles the shallow grass flats and oyster bars like it was born there.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our flats, ranging from 5-30 pounds with monsters reaching 90+. These copper-colored bruisers love oyster bars, muddy bottoms, and shallow creeks where they crush crabs and shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring spawning season is your best bet when they school up in big numbers around structure. You'll hear them "drumming" underwater - they actually make noise to communicate. Guests get hooked on the pure power these fish deliver; even smaller ones will test your drag. The smaller fish under 15 pounds make great table fare with sweet, flaky meat. Here's the key: use fresh crab or cut bait right on the bottom near oyster beds. When you get a bite, don't rush it - let them mouth the bait for a few seconds before setting the hook, as they're notorious for picking up and dropping baits.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our shallow water game, and for good reason. These bronze-backed beauties with distinctive black spots run 20-35 inches on average, with bull reds reaching 40+ inches and serious weight. They cruise grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in water so shallow their backs show above the surface. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall brings the big schools. What guests love most is the visual aspect - watching these fish hunt in skinny water and the explosive strikes when they take your bait. They're strong fighters that make blistering runs and pull hard. The meat is excellent with a mild, sweet flavor. The real magic happens when you spot their copper backs or tails waving in shallow water. My advice: approach quietly, cast beyond the fish, and work your bait past their nose. Once hooked, keep steady pressure and let your drag work - they'll make several powerful runs before giving up.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are our bread-and-butter fish, perfect for sight fishing on the grass flats. These silver beauties with black spots typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, with occasional trophies pushing 8+ pounds. They love shallow grass beds, oyster bars, and drop-offs where they ambush shrimp and baitfish. Spring through fall are prime, especially early morning and evening when they're actively feeding. Guests appreciate their aggressive strikes and decent fight, plus they're fantastic eating with tender, white meat. What's really fun is watching them blow up on topwater lures in skinny water - it's pure visual excitement. The trick is to work your lure slowly and deliberately; trout will follow baits for a long time before committing. When fishing live shrimp under a popping cork, keep it moving with gentle pops every few seconds to mimic wounded baitfish.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of our waters with their black and white stripes, but don't let their looks fool you - they're some of the smartest fish around. Running 1-8 pounds typically, with occasional 20-pounders, they hang tight to any structure: docks, bridges, pilings, and rock piles. Spring months are best when they're spawning around jetties and offshore structure. What makes them special are those human-like teeth they use to crush barnacles and crabs. Guests love the challenge because they're notorious bait thieves and the sweet, white meat rivals snapper. The fight is solid but it's outsmarting them that's the real game. My tip: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crab, get as close to structure as possible, and when you feel that nibbling, set the hook hard and fast - hesitate and they'll steal your bait every time.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise, laying flat on sandy and muddy bottoms where they ambush prey. These unique flatfish have both eyes on their left side and can change color to match their surroundings. Most run 15-18 inches and 3-5 pounds, though big ones hit 30+ inches. You'll find them in shallow bays, creeks, and around dock pilings where they hunt shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Fall and winter are prime time when they're fattening up before their offshore spawn. Guests love the challenge - they're sneaky biters and surprisingly strong fighters once hooked. The white, flaky meat is some of the best eating around. Pro tip: when you feel that subtle tap-tap, don't set the hook right away. Let them take it and turn before you strike, or you'll just pull the bait right out of their mouth.
St. Augustine, FL