3-Hour Bay/Inshore Trip — Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target redfish and sea trout in Santa Rosa Beach watersLearn inshore fishing techniques with experienced guidesSmall group experience with maximum four guests
Looking for some serious action in the shallow waters of Santa Rosa Beach? This 3-hour inshore fishing trip with Pharmasea Outfitters puts you right where the redfish and sea trout are feeding. Whether you're new to the flats or a seasoned angler wanting to dial in your inshore game, this customer favorite trip delivers the kind of fishing that keeps you coming back for more. With space for up to 4 anglers, you'll have plenty of room to work without bumping elbows, and our local guides know exactly where these fish like to hang out.
We'll be working the productive bay systems and grass flats around Santa Rosa Beach, where the water clarity lets you sight-fish when conditions are right. This isn't your typical offshore grind – inshore fishing is all about reading the water, understanding the tides, and putting your bait where the fish are cruising. You'll learn to spot the subtle signs that give away a redfish's location: nervous water, waking fish, or that telltale bronze flash in the shallows. The guides at Pharmasea Outfitters have been working these waters for years, so they'll position you over the best structure and grass beds where sea trout stack up during different tide phases. Expect to move around and cover water – that's half the fun of inshore fishing.
We'll be fishing with medium-light spinning gear that's perfect for the fight these species put up without overpowering them. Live shrimp under popping corks is always a go-to presentation for both redfish and sea trout, but we'll also throw soft plastics on jig heads when the fish are being picky. Topwater plugs can be absolutely deadly during the early morning or late afternoon when the trout are feeding aggressively in the shallows. The beauty of inshore fishing is the variety – one cast you might be working a suspending twitch bait over a grass bed, the next you're bouncing a gold spoon along a drop-off. Our guides will teach you how to work each lure properly and when to switch up your presentation based on what the fish are telling you.
Sea trout are the bread and butter of inshore fishing around Santa Rosa Beach, and for good reason. These speckled beauties love the grass flats and can be found year-round, though spring through fall offers the most consistent action. They're ambush predators that hold tight to structure, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting baitfish. What makes sea trout so fun to target is their willingness to hit topwater lures – there's nothing quite like watching a 20-inch trout explode on a walking plug in two feet of water. They fight hard for their size, making multiple runs and using their broad sides to leverage against your drag. Most fish run between 14-18 inches, but the big "gator" trout over 20 inches are always a possibility and represent a true trophy in these waters.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing, and the Santa Rosa Beach area holds some serious bulls. These copper-colored fighters are incredibly strong and will test your drag system when they make their signature runs toward deeper water. Reds are creatures of habit, often found cruising the same flats and drop-offs day after day. They're opportunistic feeders that will eat everything from live shrimp to cut bait to artificial lures. What sets redfish apart is their fight – they don't jump like tarpon, but they'll pull drag consistently and use every bit of structure to try and break you off. The slot-size fish (18-27 inches) are perfect for the dinner table, while the oversized bulls over 27 inches provide the kind of arm-burning fights that make for great stories back at the dock.
This top-rated 3-hour trip gives you the perfect taste of what Santa Rosa Beach inshore fishing is all about. You'll come away with a better understanding of how to read the water, when to use different techniques, and most importantly, you'll experience that heart-pounding moment when a big red or trout hammers your lure. The combination of beautiful scenery, productive fishing, and expert guidance makes this a world-class fishing experience that works for everyone from first-timers to experienced anglers looking to learn new water. Don't wait – the best fishing days fill up fast, and you don't want to miss out on the action these inshore waters have to offer.
Step aboard our 23' Pathfinder and get ready to chase redfish and sea trout in the productive waters around Santa Rosa Beach. This shallow-draft boat is built for inshore fishing, letting us slip into those skinny water spots where the big fish hide. The wireless trolling motor keeps us quiet when we're sneaking up on feeding reds, while our GPS and fish finder help us locate the best fishing grounds and structure. Whether you're sight-fishing the flats or working the grass beds, this boat handles it all with room for up to 4 anglers. The Pathfinder's design gives everyone plenty of casting space, so you won't be tangling lines when the action heats up. Perfect for targeting those hard-fighting redfish that'll test your drag and the speckled trout that love to ambush bait around the oyster bars.
Sciaenops OcellatusRed drum are the perfect inshore target, running anywhere from slot-size fish around 18-27 inches up to bull reds over 30 inches that'll test your tackle. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Look for them around oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths in just 1-4 feet of water. They're year-round residents here, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they're feeding heavily. What gets people hooked is watching a red's back wake through shallow water before it crushes your lure on top. They're strong fighters that use their broad shoulders against you. The meat's sweet and firm too. Here's the key: when you see a red tailing or cruising, cast well ahead of where it's going, not where it is. Let your lure settle, then work it slow.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout around here typically run 14-24 inches and fight harder than most folks expect for their size. You'll find them cruising grass flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially around dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring through fall are prime times, but winter can be great too when they school up in deeper channels. What makes them special is that aggressive strike when they hit your lure - they don't hesitate. Plus, they're excellent table fare with mild, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. My go-to tip: work your lure slow and steady over the grass beds. These fish are sight feeders, so if the water's clear, you might even spot their silver flash before they bite. Keep your drag loose - their soft mouths tear easily.
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