Half Day Morning Fishing in St. Marks
Shared Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour morning trip targets redfish, sea trout, and flounderCaptain provides all tackle and handles fishing licensesSmall group experience accommodates up to four guests maximum
There's something special about being on the water at first light, watching the sun come up over Florida's Forgotten Coast while you're already working the grass flats for redfish and sea trout. Captain Leigh Wills knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on fish during this top-rated 4-hour morning charter. You'll start shallow on the flats where redfish cruise the skinny water, then head out to the Gulf for some bottom fishing action. With all tackle provided and your fishing license handled, all you need to bring is sunscreen and maybe a cooler for your catch.
This isn't your typical dock-to-dock fishing trip. Captain Leigh designs each morning charter around the conditions and what's biting, but you can count on hitting multiple spots during your four hours. The morning starts early on the grass flats where sight fishing for redfish gets your heart pumping - there's nothing quite like watching a red cruise through two feet of crystal-clear water and timing your cast perfectly. The flats around St. Marks are renowned for holding quality fish, especially during the cooler morning hours when they're actively feeding. After working the shallows, you'll transition to deeper water in the Gulf where bottom fishing produces black drum, flounder, and the occasional cobia cruising by. The boat accommodates up to four anglers comfortably, making it perfect for families or small groups who want personalized attention from an experienced captain.
Captain Leigh runs a well-equipped operation with quality spinning gear suited for everything from finicky sea trout to bulldogging black drum. On the flats, you'll likely be throwing soft plastics and topwater lures, learning to read the water and spot fish before they spot you. The captain will coach you on proper presentation - how to lead a moving redfish, when to work your bait slow versus fast, and why that subtle twitch can make all the difference. When you move offshore for bottom fishing, the tackle gets heavier with circle hooks and enough weight to stay connected to the bottom in current. Live bait and fresh cut bait are the go-to options here, and Captain Leigh knows exactly where to anchor up for consistent action. All rods, reels, tackle, and bait are included, plus he'll help you get your Florida saltwater fishing license sorted before the trip.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing around St. Marks, and these copper-colored bruisers fight like freight trains once they feel the hook. They're most active in the early morning hours, cruising the grass flats and oyster bars looking for crabs and baitfish. A good St. Marks red will pull drag and make multiple runs before you get it to the boat. Fall and winter months produce the best action when schools of reds move through the area, though you can find them year-round in the right spots.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as the locals call them, are another world-class species that call these waters home. They're typically found over grass beds in 3-6 feet of water and have a soft mouth that requires a gentle touch. The best sea trout bite happens during cooler months when water temperatures drop below 75 degrees. These spotted beauties make excellent table fare and put up a respectable fight on light tackle. Captain Leigh knows the productive grass beds where quality trout hold, and he'll teach you the subtle techniques needed to consistently hook up.
Black drum might not win any beauty contests, but they're absolute bulldogs when it comes to fighting power. These bottom dwellers love structure like oyster bars and bridge pilings, and they'll test your tackle with powerful runs along the bottom. Spring and fall are prime time for black drum fishing, with fish ranging from 15-30 pounds common in the deeper waters off St. Marks. They're excellent eating when prepared correctly, and landing a big drum is a customer favorite memory from these charters.
Cobia are the wild cards of this fishery - these brown sharks lookalikes cruise the surface and will absolutely destroy a well-placed lure or live bait. Spring migration brings the best cobia action as they move through the area, often following rays or other marine life. A good cobia will peel line off your reel and dive deep, making for one of the most exciting fights in inshore fishing. They're also fantastic on the dinner table with firm, white meat that's perfect for grilling.
Black sea bass round out the target species list and are consistent producers during bottom fishing sessions. These feisty little fighters are found around structure in 20-40 feet of water and will hit cut bait or small jigs. While they don't grow huge, black sea bass are scrappy fighters and make excellent table fare. They're also great confidence builders for kids or novice anglers since they bite readily and are fun to catch on appropriate tackle.
Captain Leigh Wills has built his reputation on putting clients on fish and showing them the best of what St. Marks has to offer. With only four spots available per trip, these morning charters fill up fast, especially during peak season. The early morning timing means you'll beat the heat and the crowds while targeting fish when they're most active. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to explore new water or a family wanting to create lasting memories, this half-day charter delivers consistent action and professional guidance. Don't sleep on this opportunity to fish with one of the area's most knowledgeable captains - book your morning adventure today and get ready to experience why Florida's Forgotten Coast keeps anglers coming back year after year.
Your fishing machine awaits on the waters around St. Marks! This well-equipped motorboat handles everything from shallow grass flats at dawn to deeper Gulf waters where the bigger fish hang out. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're stalking redfish in skinny water, while the fish finder helps locate those productive bottom spots offshore. Stay comfortable with the onboard icebox for your drinks and catch, plus GPS and radar to navigate Florida's Forgotten Coast safely. The VHF radio keeps you connected, and the boat's wheelchair accessible design means everyone can join the action. With room for 4 anglers and Captain Leigh at the helm, you'll have plenty of space to work the flats for sea trout or drop lines for black drum and cobia. This setup is built for serious fishing from sunrise through your 4-hour adventure.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drums are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These are the fish that make those distinctive drumming sounds you hear underwater. You'll find them around oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths in shallow brackish water, though they range from super skinny water to 100 feet deep. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when they're easiest to target. After spawning they scatter and get tougher to find. Guests love the bulldogging fight these fish put up. Keep the smaller ones under 15 pounds for eating - the big ones get tough and lose their flavor. Here's the key: use fresh crab for bait. Crabs stay on the hook better and don't get picked off by catfish like other baits do. Fish it right on the bottom.
Centropristis StriataBlack Sea Bass are chunky, hard-fighting members of the grouper family that most folks catch between 1-4 pounds, though they can push 8+ pounds. You'll find them around structure - wrecks, jetties, rocky bottom - usually in 30-120 feet of water. They're plentiful from late spring through summer when they move closer to shore. What makes them special is they're born female and change to male as they grow, which is pretty wild. They put up a solid scrap until they break the surface, then give up quick. The meat is excellent - sweet and flaky. Best tip I can share: use a two-hook bottom rig with squid or fish strips, and don't be afraid to fish right in the structure where the big males hang out. They're aggressive feeders, so if you're marking fish but not hooking up, try bouncing your bait right off the bottom.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the brown sharks that aren't sharks - their dark coloring and single dorsal fin fool a lot of people at first glance. These are serious fish, averaging 20-50 pounds and capable of reaching 100+ pounds. You'll typically find them around structure like buoys, wrecks, and oil rigs in 30-70 feet, but they also cruise the surface where you can sight fish for them. Spring migration and summer months are prime time. Guests get fired up about cobia because they're aggressive predators that put up a monster fight, and the meat is absolutely top-shelf - firm and delicious. They're curious fish that'll often swim right up to the boat to investigate. Best approach is sight fishing with bucktail jigs in the 4-8 ounce range. When you spot one, get ahead of it and let the jig sink right in front of its nose - they usually can't resist.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish, or Red Drum, are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing here. Most run 18-32 inches with that distinctive copper color and black eyespot near the tail. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. You'll find them on grass flats, around oyster bars, and in marsh creeks, especially during moving tides. They're active year-round in Florida, but fall and spring offer the best action. What guests love most is watching these fish cruise the flats in skinny water - it's sight fishing at its finest. They're also great table fare with mild, sweet meat. The fight is strong and steady without much jumping. Here's my go-to technique: use a gold spoon and make long casts ahead of cruising fish. Let it sink, then retrieve it just fast enough to flash and wobble. That flash drives them crazy and triggers aggressive strikes.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks," are one of our most popular targets, running 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds on average. These silvery beauties with black spots love grass flats and shallow bays, especially around dawn and dusk. They're most active in warmer months and often school up in deeper channels during winter. What makes them special is their delicate, flaky white meat that's fantastic on the table - just don't overcook it or it gets mushy. They're also scrappy fighters that'll jump and make runs. The fish respond well to topwater plugs early in the morning, plastic shrimp, and spoons. Here's a local trick: when you're working the flats at first light, look for nervous water or bait getting pushed around. Throw a topwater plug just past the disturbance and work it back slowly - that's often where the biggest specks are feeding.
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