Whole Day Private Fishing Adventure
Looking for a full-day fishing trip that puts you right in the action? Phil's Charter Service has you covered with our top-rated private inshore adventure through St. Joe Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway. This isn't your typical half-day rush job – we're talking eight solid hours on some of Florida's most productive shallow waters, targeting redfish, sea trout, flounder, and sheepshead with both artificial lures and live bait options. Perfect for couples, fishing buddies, or anyone who wants the undivided attention of an experienced captain without sharing the boat with strangers.
What to Expect on the Water
We kick off at 8:00 AM sharp, giving us the prime morning bite when fish are most active in the cooler temperatures. St. Joe Bay offers some of the clearest, most pristine inshore waters on Florida's Pancoast, with grass flats, oyster bars, and deep channels that hold fish year-round. The Intracoastal Waterway adds variety to our day with its mangrove shorelines, dock structures, and tidal creeks where predator fish love to ambush baitfish. You'll have plenty of time to work different spots without feeling rushed – if the bite slows in one area, we simply move to the next honey hole. The shallow draft boat lets us access backwater spots that bigger vessels can't reach, putting you on fish that rarely see pressure from other anglers. Expect a relaxed pace with serious fishing opportunities, plus time to enjoy the scenery and wildlife that make this area special.
Tackle and Techniques
We run both artificial lures and live bait depending on conditions and what the fish are telling us. Artificial presentations include soft plastics on jig heads for working grass flats, topwater plugs for early morning surface action, and suspending twitch baits around structure. Live bait fishing involves freelining shrimp in shallow water, using popping corks over grass beds, and bottom fishing with cut bait around oyster bars and channels. All tackle is provided, from light spinning gear perfect for speckled trout to medium-heavy setups that can handle bull redfish. We'll match the technique to the target species and conditions – sight fishing in clear, shallow water when we can see the fish, or blind casting to likely holding spots when visibility is limited. The beauty of a full day is having time to try different approaches and really dial in what's working best.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Redfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishery, with fish ranging from keeper-sized "rat reds" around 18-27 inches up to oversized bulls that can stretch past 40 inches. These copper-colored bruisers love shallow grass flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines where they cruise looking for crabs and shrimp. Fall through spring offers the most consistent action, though summer fishing can be world-class in early morning hours. What makes reds so exciting is their aggressive strikes and bulldog fighting ability – they'll make screaming runs that test your drag system and stamina.
Sea Trout, or "specks" as locals call them, are abundant throughout our fishing grounds and provide consistent action for anglers of all skill levels. These silvery gamefish with distinctive black spots typically run 14-20 inches, though gator trout over 5 pounds show up regularly in deeper grass beds and channel edges. They're most active during cooler months from October through April, feeding heavily on shrimp and small baitfish. Speckled trout are notorious for their soft mouths, making them a great species for practicing proper hookset technique and fish-fighting skills.
Southern Flounder are the ultimate ambush predators, lying buried in sandy bottoms near grass bed edges, channel drop-offs, and around structure waiting for unsuspecting prey. These flatfish can reach impressive sizes in our waters, with fish over 20 inches providing excellent table fare. They're most active during warmer months and moving tides when baitfish are pushed through their feeding areas. Landing a nice flounder always feels like a bonus catch, and their unique appearance makes for great photos.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of our target species, with small mouths and incredible bait-stealing abilities that have earned them the nickname "convict fish" for their black and white stripes. These structure-oriented fish hang around oyster bars, docks, and bridges where they feed on barnacles, crabs, and shrimp. Winter months from December through March offer the best sheepshead action when they school up for spawning. They're renowned for their excellent eating quality and provide a fun change of pace from the more aggressive redfish and trout.
Time to Book Your Spot
This private full-day adventure gives you everything serious anglers want – productive waters, varied fishing opportunities, quality time on the water, and the expertise of a local captain who knows where the fish live. With a maximum of just two guests, you'll get personalized instruction, prime fishing spots, and the flexibility to target whatever species are biting best. St. Joe Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway consistently rank among Florida's top inshore fishing destinations, and a full day gives you the best shot at experiencing everything these waters have to offer. Don't settle for crowded party boats or rushed half-day trips when you can have the whole boat and captain's attention for a full eight hours of fishing action.