Fishing Charters Everglades | 6 Hour Charter
Private Trip
Backcountry Fishing
Sixhour fly fishing charter targeting five premier speciesCaptain Bella guides trips through Everglades backcountry watersTwoguest maximum ensures personalized fishing experience
Captain Bella and the On Fly Guide Co. team know these waters like the back of their hand, and they're ready to put you on fish in one of Florida's most productive fishing destinations. This 6-hour charter through the Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands isn't your typical day on the water – you'll be sight-casting to redfish cruising the flats, working the mangroves for snook, and maybe even getting a shot at the silver king himself. With only 2 anglers per trip, you get the personalized attention that makes all the difference between coming home with stories and coming home with fish.
Your day starts early, meeting Captain Bella at the dock before the sun gets too high and pushes the fish deep. The Everglades backcountry is a maze of shallow flats, oyster bars, and mangrove creeks that takes years to learn properly – lucky for you, Captain Bella has been running these waters long enough to read them like a book. You'll be fishing from a shallow-draft skiff designed to get into the skinny water where the big fish feel safe. The morning bite is usually the most productive, with redfish tailing on the flats and snook ambushing bait near the mangrove edges. As the day progresses, you'll move between different spots based on the tides and what's biting. The backcountry here changes with every tide cycle, so even if you've fished it before, there's always something new to discover.
This is sight-fishing at its finest – you'll be standing on the bow with your fly rod, watching for fish movement in water so clear you can see their shadows on the bottom. Captain Bella will pole the boat into position while scanning for feeding fish, then give you the shot when everything lines up. The key is being ready when opportunity knocks – redfish don't usually give you a second chance if you blow the first cast. You'll be throwing crab patterns to tailing reds, baitfish imitations to snook holding under the mangroves, and maybe even getting a chance to present a fly to a rolling tarpon. The gear is all top-shelf stuff – balanced outfits that can handle everything from 15-pound reds to 100-pound tarpon. If you're new to the fly game, don't worry – Captain Bella will get you sorted with the basics, but having some saltwater fly experience definitely helps when the fish are picky.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Everglades fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the shallow flats year-round, often in water so skinny their backs are out. Spring and fall are prime time when they school up in big numbers, but even in summer you can find singles and doubles tailing on the flats. What makes them special is how they eat – when a red commits to your fly, there's no doubt about it. They'll crush it and immediately head for the nearest structure, testing your drag and your nerves. Most fish here run between 5 and 15 pounds, perfect for 8-weight gear.
Snook are the locals' favorite for a reason – they're smart, aggressive, and absolutely beautiful fish. These ambush predators love hanging around mangrove edges, dock pilings, and creek mouths where they can surprise passing baitfish. Summer is peak season when they're most active, but you can find them year-round if you know where to look. A good snook will test every knot in your system, making long runs and jumping like a freshwater bass. The slot fish here typically run 18 to 28 inches, and they're notorious for their gill-rattling jumps when hooked.
Sheepshead might not win any beauty contests, but they're some of the craftiest fish in the backcountry. These black-and-white striped convict fish hang around structure like dock pilings and oyster bars, picking crabs and shrimp off the bottom with human-like teeth. They're year-round residents but most active in cooler months. What makes them challenging is their light bite – they'll steal your bait before you know they're there. When you do hook up, they use their pancake-shaped bodies to maximum advantage, bulldogging toward the nearest structure.
Sea trout are perfect for building confidence – they're willing biters that respond well to a variety of presentations. These spotted beauties prefer grass flats and sandy bottoms where they can ambush small baitfish. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially during moving tides. They're not the strongest fighters, but they make up for it in numbers and willingness to eat. Most trout here run 12 to 18 inches, perfect for a quick photo and release.
Tarpon are the holy grail of backcountry fishing – when you get a shot at the silver king, everything else takes a backseat. These prehistoric giants can show up anywhere from the shallow flats to deeper channels, especially during their spring and summer migrations. Juvenile tarpon in the 20 to 40-pound range are year-round residents in the backcountry creeks and canals. What makes them legendary is the fight – explosive jumps, long runs, and enough power to straighten hooks if your drag isn't set right. Even a small tarpon will give you a battle you'll never forget.
The Everglades backcountry delivers world-class fishing in a setting you won't find anywhere else in the world. Captain Bella's local knowledge combined with top-rated equipment and a genuine passion for putting clients on fish makes this charter a customer favorite among serious anglers. Whether you're looking to cross tarpon off your bucket list, sight-cast to tailing redfish, or just spend a day on some
Captain Bella's 16-foot Hell's Bay Waterman cuts through the shallow waters of the Everglades like it was built for this exact purpose. This nimble skiff draws just inches of water, letting you slip into those hard-to-reach backcountry spots where the big redfish and snook love to hide. The 50HP Tugatsu engine pushes you along at a solid 32 knots when you need to cover water quickly, but throttles down whisper-quiet for those stealthy approaches to tailing fish. The shallow draft design means you can pole right up into the mangroves where tarpon roll and sea trout ambush baitfish. GPS keeps you on track through the maze of Ten Thousand Islands channels, though Captain Bella knows these waters like her backyard. With space for just two anglers, you get plenty of casting room on the clean deck without bumping elbows. This 2007 Waterman has been putting anglers on fish for years and handles the skinny water fishing that makes Everglades backcountry so special.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our Everglades fishing - bronze-colored beauties with distinctive black spots near the tail. Most fish run 18-27 inches and love super shallow flats where you'll see their backs out of water. They cruise oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and grass flats year-round, but fall and winter offer the most consistent action. Guests get hooked on sight fishing for reds - spotting that copper flash in skinny water never gets old. They're strong fighters and excellent eating with mild, firm meat. The secret is staying quiet and making long casts ahead of cruising fish. Lead them like ducks and let your fly or lure sink to their level. Once hooked, they'll make powerful runs toward structure, so keep steady pressure.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are perfect for anglers wanting consistent action in our grass flats. They typically run 14-20 inches with beautiful spotted sides and prefer shallow waters 2-6 feet deep over seagrass beds. Dawn and dusk fishing is best, especially during warmer months when they feed actively in the shallows. What guests love about trout is their willingness to hit topwater lures and flies, plus they make good table fare with delicate, flaky meat. They're not the strongest fighters, but they're aggressive and fun on light tackle. Key tip: fish the grass edges where clear water meets murky water. That's where they hunt shrimp and baitfish. Use a popping cork with live shrimp or throw topwater plugs early morning for some exciting surface strikes.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the craftiest fish we target, famous for their human-like teeth and those black prison stripes. Most run 2-5 pounds and hang tight around docks, bridges, and oyster bars where they crunch barnacles and crabs. Winter months from December through March are peak season when they school up for spawning. Guests love the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves with light bites that require quick reflexes. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in these waters, with sweet white meat that's hard to beat. My trick: use a sharp hook and watch your rod tip like a hawk. The moment you feel weight or see the line twitch, set that hook hard. They'll steal your bait every time if you hesitate.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of my favorite fish to target in these waters. Most run 18-30 inches, but we see plenty of slot-sized fish around docks and mangrove shorelines. They love structure - bridge pilings, oyster bars, and creek mouths where they ambush baitfish. Spring through fall gives us the best action, especially on moving water during tide changes. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and that distinctive silver body with the black lateral line. They're also fantastic eating with firm, white meat. Here's the key: cast tight to cover and work your lure slowly. Snook won't chase far, so get that fly or lure within a foot of structure. They're temperature sensitive, so focus on deeper creek bends during cooler months.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the true giants of our backcountry - we regularly see fish from 80-150 pounds rolling in channels and basins throughout the Ten Thousand Islands. They prefer deeper holes around 8-15 feet but come up shallow to feed, especially on falling tides. May through August is prime time when they're most active in our area. What draws people to tarpon isn't just their size - it's those acrobatic jumps that'll get your heart racing. They're pure muscle and can clear the water by six feet. The meat isn't great eating, so we practice catch and release. My advice: when one jumps, bow to the king by dropping your rod tip toward the fish. This keeps tension off and prevents break-offs during those spectacular leaps.
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