Afternoon Inshore Fishing for Redfish, Trout & Snook
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target redfish, trout, and snook on 4hour afternoon charterAll fishing gear and license included with expert guidanceAccommodates up to 4 guests with flexible departure times
Looking for some solid afternoon action on Tampa Bay's legendary inshore waters? This 4-hour Saint Petersburg fishing charter puts you right in the thick of where redfish cruise the flats, spotted sea trout stack up in the grass beds, and snook ambush bait around mangrove shorelines. Captain and crew from Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charters know these waters like the back of their hand, and they'll put you on fish while the afternoon bite heats up. All your tackle, bait, and fishing license are covered – just bring yourself and up to three buddies for what locals consider some of the most consistent inshore fishing on Florida's west coast.
You'll meet your captain at one of Saint Pete's launch points, where the boat's already rigged and ready with everything you need for a productive afternoon on the flats. The flexible departure times work perfect if you want to sleep in or grab lunch before heading out. Most trips kick off around 1 PM or 2 PM, giving you prime time during the afternoon feeding window when these inshore species really turn on. The shallow water around Tampa Bay stays comfortable year-round, and the protected nature of these inshore spots means you're fishing in calmer conditions than the offshore crowd deals with. Your captain will read the tide, wind, and recent fish activity to pick the hottest spots – maybe working the oyster bars near Fort De Soto, drifting the grass flats around Weedon Island, or sight-casting to tailing reds in the skinny water.
Inshore fishing here is all about versatility and reading the conditions. Your captain will have medium-action spinning rods spooled with 15-20 pound braid, perfect for the structure and grass you'll be working around. Live bait is king in these waters – expect to fish with live shrimp, pinfish, or pilchards depending on what's available and what the fish are keying on. Artificial lures play a huge role too, especially soft plastics like paddle tails and jerk baits that mimic the glass minnows and shrimp these species feed on daily. You'll learn different presentations throughout the trip: maybe bouncing a jig head along the bottom for trout, working a topwater plug around mangrove edges for snook, or sight-casting to cruising redfish with a weedless spoon. The boat's equipped with a shallow-draft hull and quiet trolling motor, letting you sneak into skinny water without spooking fish.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Tampa Bay inshore fishing, and these copper-colored bruisers put up fights that'll test your drag system. Most reds you'll encounter run between 18-27 inches – perfect slot-size fish that are aggressive and great table fare. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, but winter months can produce some monster oversized reds when they school up in deeper channels. What makes redfish so exciting is their willingness to eat just about anything – live shrimp, cut bait, soft plastics, even topwater plugs when they're feeding aggressively. You'll often spot them tailing in shallow water, their bronze backs and distinctive black spot making them easy to identify.
Spotted sea trout might not fight as hard as reds, but they make up for it in numbers and eating quality. These silver-sided fish with distinctive spots love the grass flats around Saint Pete, especially during moving tides when baitfish get pushed around. Most trout you'll catch run 14-18 inches, though bigger "gator trout" over 20 inches show up regularly during cooler months. They're suckers for live shrimp fished under a popping cork, and soft plastic jigs work deadly when you locate schools. Trout bite year-round in Tampa Bay, but spring and fall offer the most consistent action when water temperatures hit that sweet spot.
Snook are the glamour species of inshore fishing – these silver-sided predators with the distinctive black lateral line are pure attitude and explosive strikes. They love ambush points like mangrove shorelines, dock pilings, and bridge structures where they can dart out to nail passing bait. Most snook you'll hook range from 20-28 inches, and their gill-rattling jumps and powerful runs make every hookup memorable. Summer months bring the best snook action when they're actively feeding, though they can be caught year-round if you know where to look. Live pilchards or pinfish work great, but they'll absolutely demolish a well-placed soft plastic or topwater lure when conditions are right.
Saint Petersburg's inshore waters deliver some of Florida's most reliable fishing, and this afternoon charter gives you prime time access to where the fish live. With all gear, bait, and licensing handled, you're looking at a hassle-free trip that lets you focus on what matters – putting fish in the boat. The 4-person capacity keeps things comfortable without overcrowding, and the afternoon schedule works perfect for anyone wanting to make fishing part of a great day rather than the whole day. Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charters has built their reputation on putting clients on fish consistently, and these protected inshore waters fish well in almost any weather condition. Book now and get ready to see why Tampa Bay ranks among the top inshore fishing destinations in the Southeast.
Your afternoon fishing adventure runs on this reliable 24' Carolina Skiff center console, built for serious inshore action in Saint Petersburg's productive waters. The 175HP Suzuki engine gets you to the redfish flats and snook holes quickly, while the shallow draft design lets you chase trout into skinny water where the big fish hide. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're stalking spooky fish, and the fish finder helps locate structure and bait schools. GPS navigation ensures you hit all the hot spots, while radar keeps you safe if afternoon weather rolls in. With room for 4 anglers, there's plenty of space to work your lines without tangling. This 2015 boat delivers the performance and features you need for productive inshore fishing, whether you're sight-casting to cruising reds or working grass flats for spotted trout.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the backbone of our inshore fishing here in St. Pete. These copper-colored bruisers average 20-32 inches and are famous for that distinctive black spot near their tail. You'll find them in super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. They love oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove edges in 1-4 feet of water. Redfish are active year-round in our area, but they really turn on during falling tides when baitfish get pushed off the flats. What guests love most is their bulldogging fight - they don't jump much but they'll peel drag and make powerful runs. Plus they're great eating with sweet, firm meat. The beauty of redfish is they'll eat almost anything when hungry. My favorite technique is sight-fishing with topwater plugs in skinny water. When you see that wake coming at your lure, get ready for an explosive strike that'll get your heart pumping.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are fantastic light-tackle fish that run 14-24 inches on average. You'll find them cruising grass flats and sandy bottoms in 3-12 feet of water, especially around structure changes. They love feeding during moving tides and low-light conditions, making our afternoon trips perfect timing. Trout are exciting because they hit hard and jump when hooked, plus they're some of the best eating fish in these waters - mild, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. During cooler months, they school up in deeper holes and channels, but spring through fall they spread out over the flats. The key to consistent trout fishing is working soft plastics or live shrimp under popping corks. My go-to tip: when you catch one trout, slow down and work that area thoroughly. They often travel in small groups, so where there's one, there's usually more nearby.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most prized inshore targets here in St. Pete waters. These sleek fighters typically run 18-30 inches and love hanging around mangrove shorelines, dock pilings, and creek mouths in 2-8 feet of water. They're super structure-oriented, so we'll work the edges where they ambush baitfish. Best action happens during warmer months, especially around dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and that distinctive black lateral line. They're excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Here's a local trick: when working mangroves, cast your lure past the structure and work it back parallel to the shoreline. Snook position themselves in the shadows waiting to pounce, so that presentation triggers aggressive strikes. During spawning season, look for their fins to turn bright yellow - that's when you know they're fired up and ready to eat.
St. Petersburg, FL