Full Day Fishing Trip In Pine Island, Florida
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Target snook, redfish, trout, sheepshead, snapper and pompano speciesFull day offshore fishing adventure accommodates up to four guestsComplimentary refreshments and scenic beach stops included throughout trip
Looking for a fishing charter that delivers variety and consistent action? This Pine Island full-day trip puts you right in the heart of Southwest Florida's most productive inshore waters. We're talking about waters where snook, redfish, trout, sheepshead, snapper, and pompano all call home – and they're hungry year-round. With space for up to four anglers, this is your chance to experience some of Florida's best fishing without the crowds. We'll keep you hydrated with water, Gatorade, and fresh fruit while you work the flats, mangroves, and nearshore structure that make Pine Island a fishing destination locals have been keeping quiet about for decades.
Pine Island sits in the perfect spot where Charlotte Harbor meets the Gulf of Mexico, creating a massive estuary system that's absolutely loaded with fish. We'll start early, hitting the productive spots while the water's still cool and the fish are feeding aggressively. The beauty of this area is the diversity – one minute you're sight-casting to tailing redfish on shallow grass flats, the next you're working live bait around dock pilings for snook. The mangrove shorelines here are thick and productive, offering countless pockets and cuts where gamefish ambush baitfish. As the day progresses and the bite slows, we can cruise past some scenic beaches or find a quiet spot to relax and regroup. The water clarity here is fantastic most of the year, which means you'll often see the fish you're targeting before you cast to them. That visual element adds a whole new level of excitement to the fishing experience.
We'll be using a mix of live bait and artificial lures depending on what the fish are telling us. Live shrimp is always a go-to around here – it's like candy to just about every species we're targeting. We'll also have live pinfish and pilchards when available, especially for the bigger snook and redfish. On the artificial side, we'll work everything from topwater plugs during the morning and evening bite to soft plastics and jigs when we need to get down deeper. The key to success in these waters is reading the conditions and adapting quickly. Tide movement is crucial – moving water brings baitfish, and baitfish bring the predators we're after. We'll time our spots to hit the productive areas during optimal tidal flow. The tackle we use is medium to medium-heavy spinning gear that can handle everything from 14-inch trout to 30-pound snook. Circle hooks are the standard for live bait fishing, and we'll show you the proper technique if you're not familiar with them.
Snook are the crown jewel of Pine Island fishing, and for good reason. These fish are pure muscle with an attitude to match. They love structure – docks, mangrove roots, oyster bars – anywhere they can ambush prey. Spring through fall is prime time, especially during the warmer months when they're most active. A slot-sized snook (28-33 inches) will give you a fight you won't forget, with their signature head-shaking runs and attempts to wrap your line around whatever structure is nearby. What makes them special is their intelligence – they'll study your bait and reject it if something doesn't look right.
Redfish are the workhorses of these flats, and Pine Island has some of the most consistent red fishing in Florida. These copper-colored bruisers are built for shallow water, with their underslung mouths perfect for rooting around oyster bars and grass beds. The best part about reds is they're often visible – you'll see their backs and tails as they feed in skinny water. A typical Pine Island red runs 20-27 inches, and they pull like freight trains. Unlike snook, reds aren't as structure-oriented, so you'll find them cruising open flats, especially during moving tides. Fall is prime time when they school up in massive numbers for their annual spawn.
Sea trout might be the most underrated gamefish in these waters. They're aggressive, willing biters that provide steady action when the bite gets tough. Pine Island's grass flats are perfect trout habitat, and we'll target them around potholes and drop-offs where they ambush shrimp and small baitfish. Most of our trout run 14-20 inches, with the occasional gator trout pushing 24-plus inches. They're excellent eating and great for beginners since they're not as finicky as snook or as powerful as reds. Winter is actually prime time for big trout, when they move into deeper grass beds.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of the bunch – these black-and-white striped fish have small mouths and are notorious bait stealers. But when you figure them out, they're a blast to catch and excellent on the table. We'll target them around structure using small hooks and live shrimp or fiddler crabs. Pine Island's numerous docks, bridges, and oyster bars provide perfect sheepshead habitat. They're most active in cooler months, making them a great winter target when other species slow down.
Pine Island fishing delivers the kind of variety and action that keeps anglers coming back trip after trip. Whether you're a seasoned pro looking to add new species to your list or a family wanting to experience Florida's world-class inshore fishing, this full-day adventure has something for everyone. The combination of productive waters, diverse species, and scenic beauty makes this one of Southwest Florida's top-rated fishing experiences. Remember that deposits are non-refundable, so once you're committed, you're locked in for what's sure to be a memorable day on the water. With space limited to four anglers, these trips fill up fast, especially during peak season. Book now and get ready to experience why Pine Island has been a customer favorite among serious anglers for generations.
Captain Dalton's 22-foot bay boat puts you right where the fish are biting around Pine Island's productive waters. Built for comfort with space for up to 4 anglers, this well-equipped vessel comes loaded with quality rods, reels, and tackle to target snook, redfish, trout, sheepshead, snapper, and pompano. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when stalking shallow water fish, while the GPS and fish finder help locate the hotspots. Stay cool with the onboard icebox for your catch and refreshments - Captain Dalton provides water, Gatorade, and fresh fruit. The flybridge gives you elevated views of the flats and channels. Whether you're sight-fishing the shallows or working deeper structure, this boat handles Pine Island's diverse fishing grounds with ease. Live bait available with advance notice.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of Pine Island shallow water fishing. These copper-colored fish with distinctive black spots near their tails typically run 18-27 inches in our waters, with occasional "bull reds" over 30 inches. They cruise grass flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines in 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs break the surface. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring offer peak action during feeding periods. What makes reds special is their powerful runs and stubborn fights, plus they're great table fare when in the slot. Guests love sight-fishing to tailing reds on shallow flats. Local secret: use gold spoons or topwater plugs during moving tides around oyster bars. When you see them tailing in skinny water, approach quietly and cast well ahead of their direction.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them, are a staple of Pine Island fishing. These beautiful spotted fish typically range 14-20 inches with some nice "gator trout" pushing 24+ inches during cooler months. They love grass flats in 3-8 feet of water, especially around creek mouths and drop-offs. Fall through spring offers the best fishing when they school up in deeper holes during cold fronts. Anglers enjoy their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they make great eating with mild, flaky white meat. They're also perfect for beginners - forgiving fighters that don't require heavy tackle. Best local trick is working soft plastic jigs or live shrimp slowly across grass beds at first light. During winter, look for them in deeper channels where they stack up to stay warm.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of our waters - those black and white stripes make them unmistakable. Most run 2-5 pounds and 14-18 inches, but we regularly see chunky 8-10 pounders around our docks and bridge pilings. They're structure lovers, hugging barnacle-covered pilings, rocks, and oyster bars where they munch on crabs and shellfish with those human-like teeth. Winter and spring are prime time when they're thick around our bridges. Guests love targeting them because they're notorious bait thieves with a delicate bite, making them a real challenge. Once hooked, they fight hard and make great table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's worth the effort to clean. Pro tip: use small hooks with fiddler crabs or shrimp, get tight to structure, and set the hook at the first sign of weight.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of Pine Island's premier gamefish, and for good reason. These sleek, golden fish with that distinctive black lateral line typically run 18-28 inches around here, though we occasionally hook into real bruisers pushing 35+ inches. They love hanging around mangroves, docks, and oyster bars in 2-6 feet of water. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially around new and full moons when they're most active. What makes snook special is their explosive strikes and bulldogging fights - they'll make screaming runs toward structure. Plus, they're fantastic eating with firm, white meat. Here's a local trick: cast live shrimp or pilchards tight to the mangroves at dawn or dusk. Let your bait sink naturally, and when you feel that subtle tap, wait a beat before setting the hook hard.
Pine Island, FL