Half Day Inshore Private Fishing Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore fishing adventure in St. Joe Bay watersArtificial lures and live bait options for all skill levelsSmall group experience with maximum two guests per trip
Looking for a solid fishing trip that won't eat up your whole day? Phil's Charter Service has you covered with this 4-hour inshore adventure that puts you right in the thick of some of Florida's best fishing action. We're talking about St. Joe Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway – two spots that consistently produce fish and keep anglers coming back for more. With departure times at 8AM and 1:00 PM, you can pick what works best for your schedule. This isn't some cattle-boat operation either – we keep it intimate with just 2 guests max, so you're getting the personal attention that makes all the difference between a good day and a great day on the water.
St. Joe Bay is one of those places that just feels right when you're holding a rod. The water stays relatively calm, which means you can focus on fishing instead of fighting seasickness. The bay connects seamlessly with the Intracoastal Waterway, giving us access to a variety of structure and depths that different species call home. You'll be fishing from a well-maintained boat with all the gear you need, whether you're a fly fishing purist or someone who just wants to soak some bait and see what happens. The shallow flats here are perfect for sight fishing when conditions are right, and the deeper channels hold fish year-round. Captain Phil knows these waters like the back of his hand, so you're not just getting a boat ride – you're getting decades of local knowledge that can't be bought anywhere else.
We fish both artificials and live bait depending on what the fish are telling us. Some days they want a perfectly presented shrimp bounced along the bottom, other days they'll hammer a topwater plug like it owes them money. The artificial game here is strong – soft plastics rigged weedless work great in the grass flats, while spoons and jigs shine around the deeper structure. When we're running live bait, we're talking about premium stuff – live shrimp, finger mullet, and sometimes pinfish when we can get them. The key is reading the water and adapting. Tidal movement plays a huge role in these waters, and timing your presentation with the current can make the difference between a slow pick and a bent rod every cast. We'll teach you how to feel the bottom, work different retrieve speeds, and recognize the subtle taps that turn into screaming drags.
Southern Flounder are the masters of disguise in these waters, lying perfectly camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting for an easy meal. These flatfish can reach impressive sizes – a 3 to 5 pounder is a solid fish, but don't be surprised if you tangle with something pushing 8 pounds or more. Fall and winter are prime time for flounder, when they're staging for their offshore spawn. They hit with a distinctive thump that you'll learn to recognize, and once hooked, they put up a surprisingly strong fight for a flat fish. The trick is keeping your bait moving along the bottom – they rarely chase, so you've got to bring the meal right to their front door.
Sheepshead are the convict-striped characters that will test both your patience and your hook-setting skills. These guys have teeth that can crush barnacles and crabs, which means they can easily steal your bait if you're not paying attention. They love structure – docks, pilings, rocks, anywhere they can find their preferred menu of crustaceans and shellfish. A 2 to 4 pound sheepshead is typical, but the occasional 6 pounder will remind you why they're called the "convict fish." Winter months are peak season when they school up heavily around structure. The bite is subtle – often feeling like you're just dragging bottom until you set the hook and realize you're connected to something with serious pulling power.
Sea Trout are the bread and butter of inshore fishing, and St. Joe Bay holds some beautiful specimens. These spotted beauties are aggressive feeders that will hit both artificials and live bait with equal enthusiasm. A typical trout runs 14 to 18 inches, but the bay consistently produces "gator trout" over 20 inches that provide memorable fights on light tackle. They're most active during moving water, especially around grass beds and drop-offs. Spring and fall see the biggest concentrations, though you can catch them year-round. What makes trout special is their willingness to eat – they're not particularly finicky, which makes them perfect for anglers still learning to read the water.
Redfish are the copper-colored bulldozers that turn every angler into a believer. These fish embody everything great about inshore fishing – they're aggressive, they fight hard, and they're absolutely beautiful. Reds in these waters typically run 18 to 27 inches, which is the slot size that fights the hardest and tastes the best. They love shallow water where you can actually see them cruising and tailing, creating heart-pounding sight fishing opportunities. Summer months see them schooling in deeper water, while fall brings them shallow to feed heavily before winter. When a redfish eats your bait, there's no question about it – they hit hard and immediately try to find the nearest structure to break you off.
This half-day trip delivers exactly what serious anglers want – quality fishing time without the commitment of a full day charter. Phil's Charter Service has built a reputation on putting clients on fish while sharing the kind of local knowledge that turns good anglers into great ones. Whether you're looking to learn new techniques, introduce someone to inshore fishing, or just get your line wet in some productive waters, this 4-hour adventure hits all the marks. The intimate 2-person capacity means you're getting a truly personalized experience, not fighting for rod space with a crowd. Don't let another season slip by – book
Your fishing adventure awaits aboard our 23-foot Ranger 2300 Bay boat, the perfect vessel for exploring St. Joe Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway. This center console is built tough for these shallow waters, powered by a reliable 300HP Suzuki that'll get you to the fishing spots quickly and smoothly. The boat's designed with serious anglers in mind - you'll have plenty of deck space to work your lines, whether you're casting artificials or soaking live bait. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're sneaking up on those spooky redfish and trout in the shallows. Our GPS and fish finder take the guesswork out of finding structure and baitfish, so you spend more time with your line in the water. Keep your catch fresh in the onboard icebox, along with cold drinks for the ride. This boat handles these protected waters like a dream - stable enough for comfortable fishing but nimble enough to chase schools when they're moving. Perfect for up to 2 anglers looking to target the abundant inshore species that call these waters home.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the copper-colored bruisers of the flats, easily identified by those black eyespots near their tails. Most inshore fish run 18-27 inches, but we see plenty of slot-sized fish around 20-30 pounds in deeper water. They love super shallow flats, oyster bars, and grass beds - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out of the water. Year-round fishing is solid here, but fall and spring are peak times when they school up and feed aggressively. What makes them special is that powerful fight - they'll make long runs and really test your drag. Plus, smaller slot fish are fantastic eating with mild, sweet meat. They're not picky eaters either, hitting everything from live shrimp to topwater plugs. My go-to trick: look for nervous water or mud trails on shallow flats during moving tides - that's usually a redfish rooting around for crabs and making an easy target for a well-placed cast.
Salmo TruttaSea trout, or speckled trout, are one of our most popular targets with their silver sides covered in distinctive black spots. They typically range 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, though bigger ones lurk in deeper water during winter months. You'll find them over grass flats, around oyster bars, and in shallow bays where they hunt shrimp and small baitfish. They're most active during moving tides, especially early morning and evening. Spring through fall offers the best action in our area. Anglers love them because they fight hard for their size, jumping and making great runs. The meat is delicate and sweet - perfect for the dinner table. They're also willing biters on both live bait and artificials. Pro tip: work topwater plugs over grass flats at dawn and dusk during warmer months - the explosive strikes will get your heart pumping every time.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with those distinctive black and white stripes and human-like teeth that can crush barnacles and crabs. Most run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, but the occasional 20-pounder shows up around structure. They're always hugging docks, bridge pilings, and oyster bars where they feed on barnacles and small crustaceans. Spring spawning season from February through April is when they're most aggressive and numerous around our local structures. What makes them special is they're excellent table fare with sweet, flaky white meat, and they're notorious bait thieves that'll test your patience and skill. The fight isn't spectacular, but outsmarting them is the real challenge. Here's the key: get your bait right against the structure and set the hook hard the moment you feel weight - they'll steal your bait clean off the hook if you hesitate.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise, lying flat on sandy and muddy bottoms where they blend in perfectly. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches and about 5 pounds, though we've seen some push 20+ pounds. Both eyes sit on their left side, which makes them pretty unique to target. They're ambush predators that bury themselves in sand waiting for shrimp, crabs, and small baitfish to pass by. Fall through early spring is prime time when they're most active in our shallow bays and grass flats. Guests love the challenge since they don't fight like other fish - it's more about the hunt and finding them. Plus, they're fantastic eating with sweet, white meat. My tip: work your bait slow along the bottom and feel for that subtle tap - they're notorious for stealing bait without you even knowing it.
Panama City