Full Day Pro Fishing Trip in Chokoloskee
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eight-hour guided trip targeting tarpon, snook, redfish, and troutExpert captain with premium boats designed for shallow watersProfessional-level fishing in Chokoloskee and Everglades National Park
If you're serious about fishing the legendary waters of Chokoloskee and Everglades National Park, Captain Ward Michaels has got you covered. This isn't your typical half-day charter – we're talking eight solid hours targeting the big four: Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, and Sea Trout. At $850 for two anglers, this top-rated fishing experience puts you in premium boats with a captain who knows every oyster bar, creek mouth, and backcountry honey hole from Flamingo to the Ten Thousand Islands.
Captain Ward runs this operation like clockwork, maximizing every minute of your day with strategic moves based on tides, weather, and seasonal patterns. You'll fish from world-class shallow water boats – either a 21-foot Hewes Redfisher, 17.8-foot Hells Bay, or 16-foot Lowe Roughneck – all rigged specifically for the skinny water challenges of Southwest Florida. These aren't tourist boats; they're serious fishing machines built to get you into places other captains can't reach. The trip accommodates up to four anglers total, but two is the sweet spot for maximum fishing time and personalized instruction. Don't expect any fancy meals – this is about putting fish in the boat, not dining. Pack your own snacks and drinks because we'll be moving water all day long, following the bite wherever it takes us.
The Everglades backcountry demands specialized techniques, and Captain Ward has them dialed in. We're talking sight fishing with live bait, precision casting to structure, and reading water like a roadmap. The Hewes Redfisher gives us the platform for poling skinny flats where big reds cruise, while the Hells Bay lets us slip into mangrove creeks where snook ambush prey. All boats come equipped with top-shelf tackle, from spinning gear for trout to heavy baitcasters for tarpon battles. You'll learn to work the tide changes, target specific structure like dock pilings and oyster bars, and master the art of presenting baits in current. The captain provides everything from circle hooks to wire leaders, but serious anglers often bring their favorite rods. Live bait is the name of the game here – pilchards, pinfish, and shrimp sourced fresh and kept lively in aerated wells. Artificial lures have their place too, especially topwater plugs at dawn and dusk when the action gets hot.
Tarpon are the undisputed kings of these waters, and Chokoloskee sits right in their migration highway. From March through July, silver kings stack up in the backcountry, with fish ranging from 40-pound juveniles to 150-pound giants that'll test every knot and drag setting. What makes tarpon special isn't just their size – it's their aerial acrobatics. These fish launch themselves completely out of the water, gill plates flaring, trying to throw your hook with violent head shakes. The fights are legendary, often lasting 30 minutes or more, and the photo opportunities are world-class.
Snook are the ultimate ambush predators, lurking around mangrove shorelines, dock pilings, and creek mouths throughout the year. These fish have serious attitude and the shoulders to back it up, with slot-sized fish averaging 24 to 28 inches and heavyweight specimens pushing 35 inches or better. Peak season runs from spring through fall, when they're actively feeding and more aggressive. What hooks anglers on snook is their explosive strike – they'll crush a live pilchard or slam a topwater plug with zero hesitation, then immediately head for the nearest structure to cut you off.
Redfish patrol these flats year-round, and sight fishing for them is pure addiction. Picture copper-colored backs cruising turtle grass beds in two feet of water, tails waving as they root for crabs and shrimp. Reds in the 18 to 27-inch slot are common, but the real prizes are those bull reds over 30 inches that'll strip line against a locked drag. Fall and winter months are prime time when big schools push into the backcountry. These fish are bulldogs – no fancy jumps, just raw power and determination to reach deep water.
Sea Trout might not have the glamour of tarpon, but they're customer favorites for good reason. These spotted beauties are excellent table fare and willing biters, especially during cooler months from October through March. Most fish run 14 to 20 inches, perfect for the dinner table, but gator trout over 25 inches show up regularly in deeper grass beds. They're also great confidence builders for newer anglers – trout will eat live shrimp under a popping cork all day long, and their soft mouths mean you need to keep steady pressure during the fight.
Captain Ward's reputation speaks for itself – this is exactly the kind of fishing experience that separates the serious anglers from the weekend warriors. Eight hours on the water with premium gear, local expertise, and access to some of Florida's most productive fishing grounds doesn't come around every day. The $850 investment gets you two spots on a world-class charter that consistently puts clients on fish. Whether you're looking to check tarpon off your bucket list, photograph a giant redfish, or just enjoy a day of steady action with multiple species, this trip delivers. The boats book up fast, especially during peak seasons, so don't wait around thinking about it. Get your dates locked in and start planning what's going to be one of the best fishing days of your year.
The 21' Hewes Redfisher cuts through Chokoloskee's shallow backcountry like it was built for these exact waters—because it was. With a reliable Yamaha 250 pushing you across the flats, you'll cover serious ground between fishing spots without spooking anything in the skinny water. This boat's low profile and quiet operation let you slip into those tight mangrove pockets where the big snook and redfish hang out. The stable platform gives you room to work your fly rod or make those long casts to cruising fish without fighting the boat. Built tough for Florida's backcountry fishing, it handles everything from open water runs to navigating the maze of channels in Everglades National Park. Perfect setup for serious anglers who want to fish hard all day.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our bread and butter around these shallow flats and mangrove shorelines. Most reds we catch range 20-30 inches, with slot-size fish being perfect for eating. Look for them in 1-4 feet of water around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove cuts. They're year-round residents but fish best during cooler months when they're more active in the shallows. What guests love about redfish is their powerful runs and that distinctive copper color with the black spot near their tail. They're also fantastic table fare with sweet, firm meat. Here's my go-to technique: cast a gold spoon or soft plastic shrimp ahead of cruising fish on the flats - let it sink and twitch it slowly along the bottom.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are perfect for anglers who want consistent action and great eating. These speckled fish typically run 14-20 inches and love grass flats in 2-6 feet of water. They're active year-round here, but fall and winter months offer the best fishing when they school up in deeper holes and channels. What makes trout fishing fun is their willingness to bite - they'll hit topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live shrimp with enthusiasm. The meat is flaky and mild, making them a favorite for the dinner table. Just don't overcook them or they'll get mushy. Local secret: work the edges of grass beds during moving water, especially early morning and late evening when they're most aggressive.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most popular targets around Chokoloskee's mangroves and creeks. These golden, sleek fish average 18-30 inches but can push 4 feet. You'll find them hugging structure - docks, mangrove roots, creek mouths - in both salt and brackish water. They're temperature sensitive, so warmer months from May through September are prime time, especially around new and full moons when they spawn. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and bulldogging fight. They're excellent table fare too, with firm white meat. Here's a local tip: when working mangroves, cast your lure past the structure and retrieve it right along the edge - snook ambush from cover and won't chase far into open water.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings of these waters, and landing one is a lifetime memory. Most fish we encounter run 80-150 pounds, though giants over 200 show up. They cruise shallow flats, deeper channels around keys, and backcountry areas in 3-15 feet of water. Best fishing runs May through July when they migrate through, especially on moving tides. What hooks anglers is their raw power - they'll jump 8 feet out of the water and make blistering runs that test your drag and patience. We practice catch-and-release since they're not great eating. Pro tip: when a tarpon jumps, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them - it gives slack and prevents them from throwing the hook on those spectacular leaps.
Chokoloskee, FL