St Marks Inshore Fishing With Captain Matt
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore charter targeting redfish and spotted seatroutCaptain Matt Roberts provides toptier equipment and local expertiseMaximum four guests for personalized St Marks fishing experience
Looking for some solid inshore action around St Marks? Captain Matt Roberts has been running these waters for years, and he knows exactly where the redfish like to cruise and where those speckled trout hang out waiting for an easy meal. This four-hour charter gives you plenty of time to work the flats, grass beds, and oyster bars that make this stretch of Florida's Big Bend so productive. Whether you pick the morning bite or prefer an afternoon session, you'll be fishing with top-notch gear and a captain who genuinely wants to put fish in the boat. The charter handles up to four anglers, so bring your fishing buddies or make it a family outing. St Marks has that old Florida vibe - no high-rises blocking the horizon, just miles of productive water and fish that haven't seen every lure in the tackle box.
Captain Matt runs a well-equipped boat that's perfect for working St Marks' shallow inshore waters. You'll launch from the historic St Marks area and head out into the maze of grass flats, creek mouths, and structure that holds fish year-round. The boat comes rigged with quality rods, reels, and tackle - no need to worry about bringing your own gear unless you've got a lucky rod you can't fish without. These four-hour trips give you real fishing time, not just a quick ride around the bay. Morning charters usually start around sunrise when the water's calm and the fish are active, while afternoon trips let you sleep in and still get some great fishing. The shallow water here means you'll sight-fish a lot, watching redfish tailing in inches of water or spotting trout busting bait in the grass beds. Captain Matt knows how to read the conditions - wind, tide, water temperature - and adjust the game plan to keep you on fish.
Inshore fishing around St Marks is all about versatility. Some days you'll be throwing soft plastics on jig heads, working them slow through the grass for trout. Other times you might be pitching live shrimp under mangroves for redfish or casting topwater plugs at first light when everything's feeding shallow. The water here ranges from super skinny flats where you can see bottom in two feet of water to deeper grass beds and oyster bars where bigger fish like to ambush prey. Captain Matt stocks the boat with a variety of baits and lures - paddle tails, spoons, topwater plugs, and live bait when conditions call for it. The key to success here is staying quiet and making accurate casts. Redfish spook easily in shallow water, and trout can be picky about presentation. You'll learn to work structure, read water color changes, and time your retrieves to match what the fish want. The tackle is light enough to feel every bite but strong enough to pull fish out of heavy cover when needed.
Redfish are the bread and butter of St Marks inshore fishing, and these copper-colored fighters never disappoint. They cruise the grass flats in schools, especially during cooler months, and you'll often spot their backs or tails breaking the surface as they root around for crabs and shrimp. A good St Marks red runs anywhere from 18 to 30 inches, with some real bulls pushing the slot limit. They hit hard and make long runs, especially in shallow water where they can use their broad tails for leverage. Spring and fall are prime time, but summer mornings and winter warm spells can produce some epic redfish action. What makes catching them so addictive is the visual aspect - you'll actually see the fish before you cast, then watch them track down your lure.
Spotted seatrout, or "specks" as locals call them, are the other main target around St Marks. These silvery fish with distinctive black spots love the grass beds and deeper potholes throughout the area. Trout are more temperature sensitive than reds, so they move around with the seasons, but when you find them, they're usually in good numbers. A typical St Marks trout runs 14 to 20 inches, with bigger gator trout possible during cooler months. They're fun to catch because they jump when hooked and have a soft mouth that keeps you honest with your drag setting. Trout bite best during moving water, especially around creek mouths and channel edges where baitfish get swept along with the current.
Sheepshead are the wildcard species that keeps things interesting around St Marks' abundant oyster bars and dock pilings. These black-and-white striped fish are notorious bait stealers with human-like teeth that can crunch through crabs and barnacles. They're incredibly structure-oriented, so you'll find them tight to pilings, rock piles, and oyster beds. Sheepshead average 12 to 16 inches around St Marks, but the bigger ones can push 4 to 5 pounds and provide a serious fight on light tackle. They're excellent table fare with firm, white meat that tastes similar to snapper. The challenge with sheepshead is detecting their subtle bite - they're masters at stealing bait without moving your rod tip.
St Marks offers some of the most consistent inshore fishing on Florida's Gulf Coast, and Captain Matt Roberts knows how to make the most of every trip. Whether you're an experienced angler looking to explore new water or a family wanting to introduce kids to saltwater fishing, this four-hour charter delivers the goods. The combination of multiple target species, beautiful scenery, and a captain who genuinely cares about your success makes this a top-rated fishing experience. Morning and afternoon slots fill up quickly, especially during prime season, so don't wait to secure your dates. Captain Matt provides all the gear, knows where the fish are biting, and has the local knowledge that separates a good trip from a great one. Book your St Marks inshore adventure today and see why ang
Captain Matt Roberts' 2001 Carolina Skiff is your ticket to St. Marks' best inshore fishing spots. This reliable 20-footer packs serious fishing power with its Yamaha 115HP engine that'll get you to the redfish and spotted seatrout quickly, cruising at up to 38 knots. Perfect for up to 4 anglers, the skiff's shallow draft design lets you sneak into those backwater honey holes where the big fish hide. You'll appreciate the wireless trolling motor for silent approaches when sight-fishing, plus the fish finder helps locate schools in deeper pockets. The GPS keeps you on productive water, while the onboard icebox ensures your catch stays fresh and your drinks stay cold during the 4-hour trip. Built tough for Florida's inshore waters, this skiff handles everything from grass flats to oyster bars where trophy reds love to feed.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our St Marks flats fishing. These copper-colored bruisers typically run 18-27 inches, with some slot fish pushing 8-10 pounds. You'll find them cruising grass flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines in 1-4 feet of water. They're year-round fish, but fall and spring offer the best action when they're most active. What makes reds special is their powerful runs and that distinctive black spot near their tail. They're also fantastic eating with mild, sweet meat. The fight is pure muscle - they'll make long, steady runs that test your drag. Pro tip: watch for their backs or tails breaking the surface while they're feeding. When you spot one, cast ahead of their path with a gold spoon or soft plastic - they can't resist it.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout are one of our most reliable inshore targets here in St Marks. They average 14-18 inches, with plenty of 2-3 pounders mixed in. Look for them over grass flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially during dawn and dusk. They love structure edges and drop-offs near the flats. Spring and fall are peak seasons, but they bite year-round when you find the right depth. What guests love is their willingness to hit topwater lures - nothing beats that explosive strike at sunrise. The fight is steady with some good runs, and they're excellent table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. My go-to tip: work a soft plastic shrimp slowly along the bottom of grass edges. When you feel that subtle tap, set the hook quick - they'll spit it fast.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are easy to spot with their black and white stripes - we call them convict fish around here. Most run 1-3 pounds, but you might hook into a 6-8 pounder if you're lucky. They hang tight around any structure - docks, bridges, oyster bars. Those human-like teeth aren't just for show - they crush barnacles and crabs all day. Spring through fall are prime time, especially when the water's warming up. What makes them fun is they're sneaky bait thieves, so you've got to stay sharp. The meat is sweet and flaky, perfect for the dinner table. Here's the trick: get your fiddler crab or shrimp right against the pilings. They won't chase bait far from cover, so tight casts pay off.
St Marks