Saint Petersburg Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour midday charter targeting redfish, trout, and snookAll fishing gear and licenses provided for up to four guestsFlexible departure times with experienced Pocket Change Charters
Saint Petersburg's inshore waters are some of Florida's most productive fishing grounds, and this 4-hour midday charter puts you right in the action. Captain and crew from Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charters know exactly where the redfish, trout, and snook are holding, and they'll get you hooked up with the best inshore species Tampa Bay has to offer. With all gear and licenses included, you just need to bring your appetite for adventure and maybe some snacks for the ride.
This midday departure works perfectly for anglers who want to skip the early morning alarm but still get in some serious fishing time. The flexible start times mean you can grab breakfast, get your bearings, and hit the water when conditions are prime. You'll be fishing the productive flats, mangrove shorelines, and grass beds where Tampa Bay's top inshore species love to feed. The boat accommodates up to 4 anglers comfortably, so whether you're bringing the family or a few fishing buddies, everyone gets plenty of elbow room to work their lines. Captain provides all the tackle, bait, and local knowledge you'll need – just bring your Florida fishing license or let them handle that too.
Inshore fishing around Saint Petersburg means adapting your approach based on what the fish are doing. You'll likely be using light spinning tackle with live bait like shrimp, pilchards, or pinfish – whatever's working best that day. Artificial lures are always in play too, especially soft plastics rigged weedless for working around structure. The captain will have you casting into mangrove pockets, drifting grass flats, and working oyster bars where these inshore species ambush their prey. Expect to use anywhere from 15-25 lb test line depending on conditions and target species. The beauty of inshore fishing is the variety – one cast you might be sight-fishing a cruising redfish in 2 feet of water, the next you're bouncing bottom for trout in a deeper channel.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Tampa Bay inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers average 18-27 inches in our waters, with plenty of slot-sized fish and the occasional over-slot bull that'll test your drag system. Redfish feed aggressively year-round here, but fall and winter months see them schooling up in impressive numbers along the flats. What makes them so exciting is their fight – they'll make long, powerful runs and use their broad sides to bulldoze through the water. Plus, they're not picky eaters, taking everything from live shrimp to gold spoons with equal enthusiasm.
Spotted sea trout are another Saint Petersburg favorite, and these guys are pure fun on light tackle. Most trout you'll catch run 14-20 inches, perfect eating size, with occasional "gator trout" pushing 24+ inches that become real trophy fish. They're most active during cooler months from October through March, often found over grass beds in 3-8 feet of water. Trout have soft mouths, so the fight is more about finesse than power, but their aggressive strikes and acrobatic jumps make every hookup exciting. They're also one of the best eating fish in the bay when prepared fresh.
Snook are the crown jewel of Florida inshore fishing, and Tampa Bay holds some beautiful fish. These ambush predators love structure – docks, mangroves, bridges, anywhere they can hide and strike. Snook are incredibly seasonal, with summer being prime time when they're most active and aggressive. They average 20-28 inches in our waters, and anything over 30 inches is a real trophy. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and gill-rattling jumps. They're also notorious for their ability to cut you off on structure, so landing a nice snook requires skill and a little luck. The satisfaction of fooling a picky snook with the perfect presentation is what keeps anglers coming back.
Saint Petersburg's inshore fishing scene delivers year-round action, and this midday charter format gives you flexibility that dawn patrol trips can't match. Whether you're a local angler looking to learn new spots or a visitor wanting to experience Florida's world-class inshore fishing, Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charters has the local knowledge and equipment to make it happen. The 4-hour window gives you plenty of time to work different areas and techniques while keeping things manageable for anglers of all experience levels. Book your trip and get ready to see why Tampa Bay is considered one of the top inshore fishing destinations on the Gulf Coast.
Your fishing adventure starts aboard this well-equipped 24' Carolina Skiff center console, built for serious inshore action in Saint Petersburg's productive waters. The 175HP Suzuki engine gets you to the fish fast, hitting speeds up to 45 knots when you need to chase moving schools or beat other boats to the hotspots. This 2015 vessel comfortably handles up to 4 anglers with plenty of deck space for casting and fighting fish. The wireless trolling motor lets you work shallow flats silently without spooking wary redfish and snook, while the GPS keeps you on productive spots and the fish finder reveals what's swimming below. When morning fog rolls in or afternoon storms threaten, the radar keeps you safe and fishing. Whether you're sight-casting to tailing reds in knee-deep grass beds or working oyster bars for trout, this center console gives you the platform and tools to make the most of Tampa Bay's world-class inshore fishery.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our bread-and-butter species here in St. Pete, typically running 20-30 inches with that copper-bronze color and signature black spot near the tail. They cruise shallow flats in just 1-4 feet of water, often with their backs showing, plus hang around oyster bars and mangrove shorelines. Fall and winter offer the most consistent action when they school up, but you can target them year-round. Reds are bulldogs that make long, powerful runs and rarely give up easy - plus they're great on the table with mild, sweet meat. Local secret: look for "muds" where they're rooting around in shallow water stirring up sediment. Pitch a gold spoon or soft plastic right into the disturbance and hold on tight.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, typically run 14-20 inches and are covered in distinctive black spots. They love grass flats in 3-8 feet of water, especially around Tampa Bay's abundant seagrass beds. Best fishing happens during cooler months when they school up in deeper holes, though you can catch them year-round. Trout are scrappy fighters with a soft mouth, so keep steady pressure without horsing them. They make excellent eating with delicate, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. Pro tip: use a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below - the noise attracts them from a distance, and that natural presentation in the grass is hard to beat.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are Tampa Bay's premier inshore gamefish, running 18-28 inches on average with that signature black lateral line and golden color. You'll find them around mangroves, docks, and structure in 2-10 feet of water where they ambush baitfish. They're temperature sensitive, so spring through fall gives you the best action - they really turn on during summer evenings. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and powerful runs that'll test your drag. Plus, they're excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Here's a local trick: cast your lure past the structure, then work it back parallel to the cover rather than straight out - snook often follow before striking, and that parallel retrieve keeps them interested longer.
St. Petersburg, FL