Expert Guided Inshore Fishing Adventures in St Petersburg
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore charter targeting snook, redfish, and trout.Professional Captain Bryan Foley guides all skill levels.Tampa Bay fishing with stunning St. Petersburg scenery.
Tampa Bay's inshore waters are calling, and Captain Bryan Foley knows exactly where the fish are biting. This 6-hour charter puts you right in the heart of some of Florida's best shallow water fishing, where snook, redfish, and trout cruise the flats and mangrove edges. Whether you're a first-timer getting your feet wet or a seasoned angler looking to dial in your technique, this trip delivers the goods. You'll fish the productive waters around St. Petersburg while soaking up those famous Gulf Coast views that make every cast feel special. The price covers two anglers, with room for additional folks at $50 per person - perfect for couples, buddies, or anyone wanting a more intimate fishing experience.
Captain Bryan runs a tight ship and knows Tampa Bay like the back of his hand. You'll launch early to beat the crowds and hit the prime feeding windows when fish are most active. The boat stays in protected inshore waters, so you won't deal with the big swells of offshore fishing - just steady, comfortable fishing in depths ranging from 2 to 15 feet. Expect to move around quite a bit as Bryan reads the conditions, tides, and fish movement throughout the day. Some spots might be slow, others will have you bent over with fish after fish. That's inshore fishing - it's all about adapting and staying on the bite. The 6-hour timeframe gives you plenty of chances to hit multiple spots and really dial in what's working. Don't worry about bringing tackle - Bryan's got everything rigged and ready, from live bait rigs to artificial lures that these inshore species can't resist.
Inshore fishing around St. Petersburg means working structure - oyster bars, grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and dock pilings where baitfish congregate and predators follow. You'll use a mix of live shrimp, pinfish, and artificial baits depending on what the fish want that day. Captain Bryan switches between drift fishing over grass beds, sight casting to cruising fish, and working the edges where deeper water meets shallow flats. The key is staying quiet and making accurate casts - these inshore fish are spooky in skinny water and will bolt if you bang around too much. You might find yourself pitching jigs under mangroves, working topwater plugs at sunrise, or free-lining live bait along channel edges. The boat's shallow draft lets Bryan get into spots bigger vessels can't reach, putting you on fish that haven't seen much pressure. Tide movement is everything here - when it's moving, fish feed actively, and Bryan times the trip to hit the best tidal windows.
Snook are the crown jewel of Tampa Bay inshore fishing, and these ambush predators know how to fight. They'll hit live shrimp around structure or smash a well-placed topwater plug near mangroves. Snook are highly seasonal - they're most active in warmer months from late spring through early fall, when water temperatures stay above 60 degrees. What makes them special is their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights. They'll jump, run toward structure, and test your drag like few other fish. Most snook you'll encounter range from 18 to 28 inches, with bigger specimens always possible. The slot limit keeps the fishery healthy, so you'll likely practice catch and release, but the fight alone makes every snook worth celebrating.
Redfish cruise these flats year-round and offer some of the most consistent action you'll find. These copper-colored bruisers average 18 to 27 inches and fight with bulldogging power that'll surprise you. They're not acrobatic like snook, but they'll pull drag and make long, determined runs. Redfish feed aggressively on crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish, making them perfect targets for both live bait and artificials. Fall and winter months are prime time when big schools of reds move through the area, but you can catch them any time of year. Their willingness to eat and spirited fights make them a favorite among anglers of all skill levels.
Sea trout, or spotted seatrout, are the bread and butter of Tampa Bay fishing. These beautiful fish with distinctive spots along their sides are abundant and aggressive feeders. They range from 14 to 20 inches typically, with some reaching trophy size over 24 inches. Trout love grass flats and will readily hit live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater lures. They're most active during cooler months when they school up in deeper holes and channels. What anglers love about trout is their willingness to bite and their excellent table fare - they're one of the best eating fish in these waters.
Tripletail are the wild card species that can make any trip memorable. These odd-looking fish float near structure like crab traps, channel markers, and debris, often mistaken for floating leaves. They're not as common as the other species, but when you find them, they offer a unique fishing experience. Tripletail average 3 to 8 pounds and fight with surprising strength for their size. They're mostly a warm weather fish, showing up from late spring through early fall. Sight fishing for tripletail requires patience and stealth, but hooking one is always a highlight of the day.
Six hours on Tampa Bay's premier inshore waters with a captain who knows where to find the fish - that's what separates a good day from a great day of fishing. Captain Bryan's local knowledge and commitment to putting you on fish makes this charter a solid choice for anyone wanting to experience Florida's world-class inshore fishing. The intimate setting with just two anglers means personalized instruction, more time with fish on, and the flexibility to adjust techniques based on what you want to learn. Remember, gratuity isn't included in the trip price
Our Coastal Bay motorboat is your ticket to productive inshore waters around St. Petersburg. This roomy vessel easily handles up to 4 anglers while you target snook, redfish, and trout in Tampa Bay's prime fishing spots. The boat comes equipped with GPS navigation to keep you on the best structure and a quality fish finder to locate schools holding in deeper pockets. Captain Bryan Foley knows these waters inside and out, positioning you over grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and oyster bars where the fish are biting. The spacious deck gives everyone room to cast without tangling lines, whether you're working topwater plugs at first light or bouncing jigs along the bottom. Perfect for both newcomers learning the ropes and experienced anglers looking to put more fish in the box during your 6-hour charter on the bay.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Tampa Bay's most sought-after inshore species, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers typically run 18-27 inches in the shallows, with that distinctive black spot near their tail. You'll find them in 1-4 feet of water around oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and grass flats - sometimes so shallow their backs are showing. They bite year-round but fall and winter bring the best action when they school up. What makes reds special is their powerful, drag-screaming runs and how they use their broad tail to fight in shallow water. They're also excellent eating with sweet, firm meat. My go-to technique is sight fishing with gold spoons or live shrimp, but here's the secret: when you spot a red, cast well ahead of where it's going, not where it is. Let them find the bait naturally for the best hookup.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are Tampa Bay's most cooperative game fish. They average 14-20 inches and love our shallow grass flats and sandy holes in 3-8 feet of water. These speckled beauties are active year-round but really turn on during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. Trout are perfect for beginners since they're aggressive feeders and not too picky about lures. They fight with quick head shakes and make great table fare with their flaky white meat. The key to consistent trout fishing here is matching the hatch - if you see baitfish dimpling the surface, throw a topwater plug. When it's calm, try a soft plastic under a popping cork over the grass beds. They'll often hit multiple times, so don't set the hook on the first tap.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the crown jewel of Tampa Bay fishing. These golden, sleek predators usually run 18-28 inches, though we've landed some pushing 4 feet. They love hanging around mangroves, docks, and structure in 2-6 feet of water where they ambush baitfish with lightning speed. Best fishing happens during warmer months from spring through fall, especially around dawn and dusk. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll make multiple runs and jump clean out of the water. Plus, they're temperature sensitive, so you won't find many other places to target them. Here's a local trick: cast your lure past the structure and work it back parallel to the cover. Snook hit from the side, not head-on, so that sideways presentation is key to getting bit.
Lobotes SurinamensisTripletail are one of our most unique catches - they look like floating debris until they turn sideways and you see that distinctive three-tail silhouette. These chunky fish average 2-8 pounds and can reach 20+ pounds. They're surface dwellers, often found floating near weed lines, channel markers, or any floating structure from spring through fall. What makes tripletail fishing special is the sight-casting aspect - you can actually see them lying on their sides mimicking leaves or trash. They're surprisingly acrobatic fighters for their bulky build and taste incredible, often compared to grouper or snapper. The trick with tripletail is stealth - they spook easily. Cast your shrimp or jig well past them and slowly work it back. Don't cast directly at them or you'll send them diving. Patience pays off with these odd-looking but delicious fish.
Saint Petersburg, FL