St Augustine Flats Scenic Fishing
Private Trip
Flats/Shallows Fishing
Target redfish, trout, snook, and tarpon on scenic flatsPrivate 4-hour charter accommodates up to four guestsAll bait, tackle, and licenses included with licensed captain
The St Augustine flats offer some of the most rewarding shallow water fishing in northeast Florida, and this 4-hour charter puts you right in the heart of the action. You'll be targeting redfish as your bread and butter, but these productive waters hold plenty of surprises - speckled trout, snook, and even tarpon when conditions align. With space for up to two anglers, this intimate trip lets you really focus on perfecting your technique while soaking in the stunning coastal scenery that makes this area famous. Your captain handles all the details - bait, tackle, and licenses are covered - so you can concentrate on what matters most: putting fish in the boat.
The St Augustine flats create the perfect playground for sight fishing, with crystal-clear shallow waters that let you spot fish before you cast. You'll be working grass beds, oyster bars, and sandy potholes where redfish love to cruise and feed. The calm conditions make this trip ideal for anglers of all skill levels - beginners get plenty of coaching while experienced fishermen can fine-tune their flats techniques. The scenery here is something special too, with historic Castillo de San Marcos visible in the distance and dolphins often joining you for part of the journey. Morning trips typically offer the best visibility and fish activity, though afternoon charters can produce excellent results when the tide is right.
Sight fishing on the flats is all about stealth and precision. You'll be using light tackle and live bait or carefully selected artificials, making quiet approaches to avoid spooking fish in the shallow water. The captain will pole or use the trolling motor to position the boat, keeping noise to a minimum while scanning for tailing redfish, nervous water, or the telltale signs of feeding activity. Casting accuracy becomes crucial - you want your bait landing softly in the strike zone without disturbing the surrounding water. Live shrimp and finger mullet are go-to baits here, but don't be surprised if your guide breaks out some topwater plugs or soft plastics when the fish are actively feeding. The key is reading the water and adapting your approach based on tide, wind, and fish behavior.
Redfish are the stars of these flats, typically running 18 to 28 inches with plenty of slot-sized fish that make for excellent table fare. These copper-colored fighters love the shallow grass beds and oyster bars, often found tailing in water so shallow their backs break the surface. They're aggressive feeders and put up a solid fight, making long runs when hooked. Spring and fall see the biggest concentrations, though you'll find fish here year-round.
Southern flounder provide a different kind of challenge, lying camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. These flatfish can reach impressive sizes in local waters, with doormat flounder over 20 inches not uncommon. They're masters of disguise, so it takes a trained eye to spot them. Once hooked, they fight with surprising strength for a flatfish.
Black drum often show up in decent numbers, particularly around oyster bars where they root for crabs and shellfish. These bottom feeders can grow quite large, with fish over 30 inches regularly caught in these waters. They're not the flashiest fighters, but their size and power make them memorable catches. Winter months often produce the best black drum action.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of the group, with their notorious bait-stealing abilities testing even experienced anglers. These convict-striped fish have human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs. They require patience and quick hook-sets, but their excellent table quality makes the effort worthwhile. Look for them around any structure, especially during cooler months.
Sea trout add speed and acrobatics to your fishing day, often hitting topwater lures with spectacular strikes. These spotted beauties love grass flats and can be incredibly aggressive when feeding. They're excellent on light tackle, making impressive runs and occasional jumps. Spring and summer produce the most consistent trout action, though they can be caught throughout the year.
This St Augustine flats experience delivers exactly what serious anglers want - productive fishing in beautiful surroundings with personalized attention from an experienced guide. The combination of multiple target species, stunning scenery, and intimate group size creates the perfect day on the water. Whether you're looking to introduce someone new to flats fishing or want to improve your own shallow water skills, this charter provides the ideal platform. The waters around St Augustine consistently produce fish, and the techniques you'll learn here translate to flats fishing anywhere. Don't wait - the best fishing days book up quickly, especially during peak seasons when the fish are most active.
Your ride for stalking the St Augustine flats is a 2008 Beavertail flats boat that knows these shallow waters like the back of your hand. This 16-footer runs on a reliable 60HP Exciter Evinrude that'll push you to 33 knots when you need to cover ground quickly between fishing spots. What makes this boat perfect for sight fishing is the wireless trolling motor – lets you ghost up on redfish without spooking them with engine noise. The GPS keeps you on productive water while the fish finder helps locate schools of trout holding in deeper pockets. Keep your catch fresh in the onboard ice box as you work the grass flats and oyster bars where snook and tarpon cruise. Built specifically for skinny water fishing, this Beavertail drafts shallow enough to reach those back-country spots where the big fish feel safe. The open layout gives you plenty of casting room and clear sight lines for spotting tailing reds in the shallows.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our flats, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of reaching 90 pounds. These gray-black fish are famous for the drumming sounds they make, especially during spring spawning season when they school up in shallow water. You'll find them around oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths where they use their powerful jaws to crush shellfish and crabs. Spring is prime time when they gather to spawn, making them easier to target. What guests love is the steady, powerful fight they put up - no flashy jumps, just pure muscle. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. My go-to tip: use fresh crab for bait and fish it right on the bottom. When you hear that drumming sound underwater, you know you're in the right spot.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our shallow water flats, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black spot near the tail. They range from schooling juveniles around 20 inches to bruiser bulls over 40 inches and 30+ pounds. These fish thrive in water so shallow their backs show above the surface, cruising oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring offer the best action when they school up. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights, plus they're excellent eating at keeper size. They'll hit everything from topwater plugs to live shrimp. Here's the key: when you spot one tailing in skinny water, cast well ahead of where it's moving and work your bait slowly into its path. Spook one redfish and you'll often blow out the whole school.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are spotted silver beauties that average 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds. These grass bed specialists love shallow flats, especially around submerged vegetation where they ambush shrimp and small baitfish. They're most active during cooler months and at dawn or dusk when they move into the shallows to feed. In summer, look for them in slightly deeper holes and channels. What guests enjoy is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they make excellent table fare with delicate, flaky white meat. The key is not overcooking them since the meat is softer than other inshore species. My best tip for specks: work your lure slowly through the grass beds with a popping cork and live shrimp, or try a soft plastic under a cork. They're gentle biters, so stay alert for that subtle tick.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of our waters with their distinctive black and white stripes and eerily human-like teeth. They typically run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, though 20-pounders are out there. These fish live around any structure - docks, bridges, pilings - where they feed on barnacles, crabs, and shrimp. Winter through early spring is peak season when they spawn near structures and jetties. What makes them popular is their excellent table fare - sweet, white meat that's worth the effort to clean. They're also notorious bait thieves with lightning-fast reflexes. The trick is getting your bait right against the structure where they hide. Use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, and when you feel that subtle nibble, set the hook hard and fast. They have tough mouths, so don't hesitate.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are the masters of disguise on our flats. These flatfish average 15-18 inches but can reach up to 33 inches. What makes them unique is having both eyes on one side of their head and their ability to change color to match the bottom. They ambush prey from sandy or muddy bottoms, feeding on shrimp, crabs, and small fish. You'll find them in shallow coastal waters, bays, and estuaries where they bury themselves in sand waiting for a meal to swim by. Fall and winter are prime times when they move into the shallows to feed. Guests love the challenge of sight fishing for these camouflaged fighters. Here's a local tip: when you feel that subtle tap, don't set the hook immediately. Let them take it and swim off a bit first - they're notorious for just mouthing the bait before committing.
St. Augustine, FL