Full Day Pine Island Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full 8hour inshore fishing adventure in Pine Island SoundTarget redfish, trout, sheepshead, and snook with provided gearAccommodates up to 4 guests with customizable fishing techniques
Pine Island Sound is hands down one of Southwest Florida's most productive inshore fisheries, and there's no better way to experience it than spending a full day on the water with Captain Dalton Bryant. This 8-hour charter gives you the luxury of time—something most half-day trips just can't offer. You'll cover more ground, try different techniques, and have real shots at the bigger fish that make Pine Island Sound famous. With space for up to 4 anglers, this trip works perfectly whether you're bringing the family, a group of buddies, or looking to treat clients to a top-rated fishing experience they won't forget.
Captain Dalton designs each trip around what's biting and what you want to catch. Some days that means starting early on the flats for tailing Redfish, then moving to deeper structure for Sheepshead when the sun gets high. Other trips focus on working the mangrove shorelines for Snook or drifting the grass beds where Sea Trout love to ambush baitfish. The beauty of a full day charter is flexibility—if one spot isn't producing, you've got plenty of time to adjust and find the action. Pine Island Sound's maze of creeks, oyster bars, and grass flats means there's always somewhere new to try, and Captain Dalton knows them all.
All your tackle comes included, from light spinning gear perfect for sight-casting to Redfish up to heavier setups for wrestling big Snook out of the mangroves. You'll likely use a mix of live bait and artificials depending on conditions and target species. Live shrimp and pinfish are Pine Island classics that consistently produce, while soft plastics and topwater plugs can create some of the most exciting action you'll see. Captain Dalton will have you rigged and ready, whether that's free-lining baits around structure, working jigs through the grass, or making precision casts to cruising fish on the flats. The boat's equipped with everything needed for a comfortable day, including a cooler for your catch and drinks.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Pine Island Sound and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers average 18-27 inches and fight like they're twice that size. Spring and fall offer the best action when schools of reds cruise the shallow flats, often with their backs and tails visible above the water. There's nothing quite like sight-casting to a tailing red and watching it crush your bait in two feet of water. They're year-round residents here, making them a reliable target no matter when you visit.
Sea Trout might not have the glamour of Snook or the power of Redfish, but they're Pine Island's most consistent biters and absolute table fare champions. The grass beds throughout the Sound hold good numbers of 14-20 inch Trout, with occasional gator Trout pushing 24+ inches showing up around deeper edges and channels. They're most active during cooler months and low-light periods, making them perfect targets for early morning or late afternoon fishing.
Snook are the ultimate Pine Island challenge and reward rolled into one. These ambush predators lurk around mangrove overhangs, docks, and creek mouths, where they'll absolutely demolish a well-placed bait. Summer months bring the best Snook action when they're most active and aggressive. Landing a slot-sized Snook (28-33 inches) requires skill, patience, and a little luck—they're notorious for their gill-rattling jumps and ability to cut you off in structure.
Sheepshead are Pine Island's structure specialists, hanging around oyster bars, docks, and bridges where they pick off crabs and barnacles with their human-like teeth. These black-striped fighters are most active in cooler months and provide some of the most technical fishing you'll encounter. They're notorious bait thieves, but once hooked, they pull hard and taste even better. Most Sheepshead here run 12-16 inches, with trophy fish over 20 inches always a possibility around the right structure.
A full day on Pine Island Sound with Captain Dalton gives you everything a world-class inshore fishing trip should deliver—variety, action, and the chance at some truly memorable fish. Whether you're after your first Redfish, looking to improve your Snook game, or just want to spend quality time on some of Florida's best fishing waters, this charter delivers. The combination of Captain Dalton's local knowledge, Pine Island's incredible fishery, and having a full 8 hours to work with creates opportunities you simply won't find on shorter trips. Book your dates early, especially during peak season—the best fishing days fill up fast, and you don't want to miss your chance at Pine Island's legendary inshore action.
Captain Dalton's 22-foot bay boat is built for serious inshore fishing in Pine Island Sound's productive waters. This comfortable vessel handles up to 4 anglers with plenty of room to cast and fight fish. The wireless trolling motor keeps you moving quietly through the shallows where redfish and snook hide, while the fish finder helps locate schools of trout in deeper pockets. GPS navigation means more time fishing and less time searching for productive spots. The flybridge gives Captain Dalton a clear view of the flats ahead, perfect for sight-fishing redfish tailing in skinny water. An icebox keeps your drinks cold during those long 8-hour days, and all the fishing gear is already rigged and ready - from spinning rods for trout to heavier tackle for big snook. Live bait can be arranged ahead of time for anglers who prefer the real thing over artificials.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the ultimate sight-fishing target on Pine Island's flats, with that copper-red back and distinctive black eyespot near the tail. They range from slot-size 18-27 inchers to big bulls over 30 pounds, cruising in water so shallow their backs show. Look for them around oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and grass flats year-round - they're homebodies that stick to their territory. What gets people hooked is watching them tail in knee-deep water and that bulldogging fight once hooked. They're also great eating in the slot size with mild, sweet meat. My best tip: watch for nervous water and wakes, then cast ahead of moving fish with a gold spoon or soft plastic - they'll usually eat if you don't spook them first.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks," are a staple around Pine Island's grass flats, running 14-24 inches with beautiful spots covering their silver sides. They cruise shallow flats and deeper holes in 3-12 feet, feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring through fall offers consistent action, but they really turn on during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. Anglers love their willing bite and decent fight, plus they're excellent table fare with tender, flaky meat. The trick is not to overcook them since they're softer than other fish. Best approach is working soft plastics or live shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds - the sound draws them in from a distance, and they'll often hit aggressively.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their black and gray stripes, typically running 1-8 pounds around Pine Island's docks and bridges. They've got human-like teeth for crushing barnacles and crabs off structure. Find them hugging pilings, rocks, and any hard bottom in 5-20 feet of water year-round, but spring brings the best action when they're spawning. Guests love the challenge - they're notorious bait stealers with light, nibbling bites that'll test your reflexes. The payoff is some of the best table fare in the Sound with sweet, flaky white meat. Here's the key: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, keep your bait right on the bottom near structure, and set the hook hard the moment you feel weight.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of Florida's premier gamefish, averaging 1-3 feet with that distinctive black lateral line and golden coloring. They hang around mangroves, docks, and creek mouths in 2-8 feet of water, ambushing prey with lightning-fast strikes. Best fishing happens during warmer months when water temps stay above 70°F - they're very temperature sensitive. What makes them special is their explosive fight and acrobatic jumps, plus they're fantastic eating with firm, white meat. They spawn around new and full moons from May through September, when their fins turn bright yellow. My go-to tip: cast tight to structure and work your bait slowly - snook are cover-oriented and won't chase far from their hideouts.
Pine Island, FL