Everglades City Fly Fishing: 8-Hour Charter
Private Trip
Backcountry Fishing
8hour fly fishing charter targeting redfish, snook, and tarponExpert Captain Bella guides through Everglades backcountry watersMaximum 2 guests ensures personalized fishing experience
Looking for some of the best fly fishing Florida has to offer? Captain Bella's got you covered with full-day charters through the legendary Everglades backcountry. This isn't your typical fishing trip – we're talking about eight solid hours exploring the maze of mangrove islands, crystal-clear flats, and hidden creeks that make up the Ten Thousand Islands. With just two anglers max per trip, you'll get the personal attention that makes all the difference between a good day and one you'll be bragging about for years.
Your day starts early in Everglades City, where Captain Bella will have the skiff rigged and ready to roll. We'll cruise out into some of the most pristine fishing waters left in Florida, where the shallow flats and mangrove shorelines hold some seriously impressive fish. The beauty of an 8-hour charter is we can cover a lot of ground – when the redfish aren't cooperating on the morning flats, we can slide into the backcountry creeks for snook, or head to the deeper cuts where the tarpon roll. Every trip is different because we're chasing whatever's biting best that day. The Everglades ecosystem is constantly changing with the tides, weather, and seasons, so your guide's local knowledge becomes everything. You'll learn to read the water, spot fish movement, and understand why certain areas produce at different times. Don't worry about experience level – Captain Bella works with everyone from first-time fly casters to tournament anglers, adjusting techniques and locations to match your skills.
Fly fishing the Everglades is sight fishing at its finest. We're talking about spotting fish in skinny water, making accurate casts to moving targets, and dealing with wind that can change everything in minutes. The boat stays in the deeper channels while you wade the flats, or we'll pole into position for shots at cruising fish. Your fly selection matters here – we'll be switching between streamers for snook in the shadows, crab patterns for redfish on the flats, and topwater poppers when the sea trout are blowing up baitfish. The gear setup is crucial too. We're using 8 to 10-weight rods most of the time, with floating lines for the flats and intermediate lines for deeper structure. The guides provide all the tackle, but if you've got your own setup, bring it along. Wind is always a factor in the Everglades, so being able to cast accurately in 15-20 mph gusts separates the good days from the great ones. Captain Bella will coach you through the techniques that work best in these conditions, from double-hauling into the wind to reading fish behavior in different water depths.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Everglades fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the shallow flats in schools, tailing and pushing water as they hunt for crabs and shrimp. Fall through spring offers the best action, when cooler water temperatures stack them up in predictable areas. A 25-inch red on fly tackle will test your drag system and your patience – they're notorious for making long runs into the mangroves. What makes reds special here is their willingness to eat flies in water so shallow their backs are showing.
Snook are the ultimate backcountry prize, ambushing baitfish from mangrove overhangs and creek mouths. These fish have attitude – they'll follow your fly for 20 feet before deciding whether to crush it or turn away. Summer months bring the biggest snook out of the deeper channels to feed on the flats, especially during dawn and dusk periods. A 30-inch snook will jump, run, and generally do everything possible to wrap your line around the nearest oyster bar. They're finicky about presentation but absolutely explosive when they commit to the fly.
Tarpon show up in good numbers during the warmer months, rolling in the deeper cuts and backcountry basins. While we're not targeting the massive fish you'll find offshore, backcountry tarpon in the 40-80 pound range provide some of the most exciting fly fishing anywhere. These fish will test every aspect of your tackle and technique, from the hookset to the final leader check. When a tarpon goes airborne in shallow water, there's nothing quite like it in the fishing world.
Sea trout are often underestimated, but the Everglades produces some legitimate gator trout that'll surprise you. These spotted beauties love grass flats and drop-offs, especially during moving tides. They're aggressive feeders and will often save a slow day when the other species aren't cooperating. A 5-pound trout on an 8-weight is pure fun, and they're excellent eating if you decide to keep a few for dinner.
Sheepshead might be the trickiest fish on our target list, but they're also one of the most rewarding to catch on fly. These black-and-white striped fish hang around structure, picking crabs and barnacles off pilings and rocks. They have incredible eyesight and will inspect your fly like they're shopping for groceries. When you do hook one, their initial run is surprisingly strong for a fish that looks like it should be easy to catch. Winter months are prime time for sheepshead, when they school up in deeper water near bridges and channels.
Eight hours with Captain Bella exploring the Everglades backcountry isn't just a fishing trip – it's a masterclass in one of Florida's most unique fisheries. With only two anglers per charter, you're getting personalized instruction, prime fishing spots, and the kind of local knowledge that takes decades to develop. The combination of multiple species, changing conditions, and world-class fly fishing opportunities makes this a trip
Jump aboard our 16-foot Hell's Bay Waterman and get ready to chase some serious fish through the Everglades backcountry. This sleek shallow-water machine runs on a reliable 50HP Tugatsu engine that'll cruise you at 32 knots to the best fishing spots in Ten Thousand Islands. Built for two anglers max, you'll have plenty of room to cast and fight those trophy redfish, snook, and tarpon that call these waters home. The GPS keeps us on track to the honey holes where sea trout and sheepshead love to hang out. Captain Bella knows these backwaters like the back of her hand, and this boat's shallow draft gets us into places the big boats can't reach. Whether you're working the mangrove edges or poling the flats, this Hell's Bay handles it all. Perfect for fly fishing enthusiasts and spin tackle anglers alike - just bring your game face because these Everglades fish don't mess around.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our Everglades fishing, running 20-32 inches with that distinctive copper coloring and black spot near the tail. They love super shallow water - often so shallow their backs show above the surface while they root around oyster bars and mangrove edges. Year-round fishing is solid here, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they school up on the flats. What makes reds special is their power and stubborn fight in shallow water, plus they're not easily spooked, making them perfect for fly fishing practice. They're also excellent eating in the slot size range. The explosive strikes on topwater plugs and poppers never get old. Local trick: when you spot tailing reds in skinny water, cast well ahead of where they're moving and let your fly sink to the bottom. Then give it one sharp strip when they get close - that puff of sand and movement triggers aggressive strikes almost every time.
Salmo TruttaSea trout, or speckled trout, are a staple of our Everglades flats fishing. Most run 14-20 inches and 1-3 pounds, with their spotted silver sides making them easy to identify. They cruise grass flats and sandy potholes in 2-8 feet of water, feeding heavily on shrimp and small baitfish. Fall through spring offers the most consistent action, especially on cooler mornings and evenings when they move shallow to feed. Anglers appreciate their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, making them great for beginners while still challenging experienced fly fishermen. They're excellent table fare too - mild, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. During winter, they school up in deeper channels, but here's a guide secret: look for nervous bait dimpling the surface over grass beds at dawn and dusk. That's where the trout are feeding, and a well-placed fly or soft plastic will get hammered.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of the flats, easily recognized by their black and white stripes and eerily human-like teeth. Most run 2-5 pounds and 14-18 inches, though we occasionally see 8-pounders around structure. They stick close to dock pilings, bridge supports, and oyster bars where they crush barnacles and crabs with those powerful jaws. Winter months are prime time when they school up heavily before spawning. Guests love targeting them because they're notorious bait thieves - it becomes a game of wits. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish we catch, with sweet white meat that's worth the effort to clean around those tough scales. Here's the key to success: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, keep your bait right against the structure, and set the hook hard the moment you feel weight. They're light biters but fight surprisingly hard once hooked.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most prized inshore targets, running 18-30 inches on average with that signature black lateral line and golden coloring. They love hanging around mangrove shorelines, creek mouths, and dock pilings in 2-6 feet of water. These fish are ambush predators that'll explode on topwater plugs and flies, making them perfect for sight fishing. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around the new and full moons when they're most active. What makes snook special is their incredible fight - they'll jump, run, and try every trick to throw your hook. They're also fantastic table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. Here's a local tip: when you see one following your fly, don't stop stripping. Keep that fly moving right to the boat - snook often strike at the last second when they think their meal is getting away.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate fly fishing challenge - these silver giants average 4-6 feet and 80-150 pounds around here. You'll find them rolling in deeper channels, around bridges, and over the grass flats in 6-15 feet of water. They migrate through our area from late spring through early fall, with peak action in summer months. What draws anglers from around the world is their aerial show - when hooked, tarpon launch themselves 6-8 feet out of the water in spectacular jumps. While they're not good eating due to their bony structure, the fight alone makes them a bucket-list species. Each fish can live 50+ years, so we practice strict catch and release. Pro tip from years of guiding: when a tarpon jumps, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them. This keeps tension off the line and prevents them from throwing the hook during their acrobatic display.
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