5.0(1 Reviews)Inshore Fishing with Reel Adventures
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target redfish, spotted sea trout, flounder, and blackdrum inshoreAll fishing gear and equipment provided for groupsProfessional charter accommodates up to five guests comfortably
Want to get into some serious inshore action without the long boat ride? Captain Ryan and the crew at Reel Adventures Fishing Charters have you covered with their top-rated inshore trips around Jacksonville. Whether you're a weekend warrior looking to bend some rods or a family wanting to introduce the kids to fishing, this charter puts you right where the fish are feeding. With all gear provided and a captain who knows these waters like the back of his hand, you'll spend more time fighting fish and less time wondering if you're in the right spot.
Your day starts with Captain Ryan going over the game plan based on what's been biting and the conditions. These inshore trips focus on the productive flats, grass beds, and structure where redfish, spotted sea trout, and flounder love to hang out. The boat handles up to 5 anglers, so you've got plenty of elbow room to work your lines without getting tangled up with your buddies. Don't worry about bringing tackle – everything from rods and reels to bait and terminal tackle is included. Ryan keeps his gear in top shape and knows exactly what presentations work best for each species. The beauty of inshore fishing is you're usually working in calmer waters, making it perfect for anglers of all skill levels. You'll be casting to visible structure, working the edges of grass flats, and maybe even sight-fishing when conditions are right.
Inshore fishing is all about reading the water and adapting your approach. Captain Ryan runs a mix of live bait and artificial lures depending on what the fish are showing interest in. You'll likely be throwing soft plastics on jig heads around structure for flounder, working topwater plugs over grass beds for trout, and maybe even sight-casting to tailing redfish in shallow water. The tackle setup is medium-light to medium spinning gear that gives you the sensitivity to feel those subtle bites but still has enough backbone to turn a bull red away from cover. When the bite is hot, you might find yourself switching between different techniques throughout the day – that's the beauty of inshore fishing. One minute you're bouncing a jig along the bottom for flounder, the next you're working a spoon through a school of feeding trout. Captain Ryan will walk you through each technique and make sure you're confident with the presentation before you start fishing.
"Captain Ryan was amazing! In fact he made our experience so much fun my son insisted we book again 2 days later! We spent half of our vacation with Captain Ryan! He is very knowledgeable and even though the weather was not cooperating he did his best to find those hidden spots for kingfish. I have been on other Charters but they don't come close to Captain Ryan! I highly recommend him and we will be going again our next time there!" - Tracy Sisti. "Had an amazing time. Captain Ryan was excellent and very knowledgeable. Was a great experience and would definitely recommend. Even tho I didn't catch very many fish he made it a great first experience and also showing me and teaching me by letting me do hands on!" - mathieu smith. "Capt. Ryan keep us on the fish all day and he was great company! I would highly recommend Capt. Ryan and Reel Adventures Fishing Charters!!!" - chris hazlett.
Southern Flounder are the masters of camouflage and one of the most rewarding inshore targets. These flatfish can grow to impressive sizes, with doormat flounder over 20 inches being real trophy catches. They're most active during moving tides when they position themselves along drop-offs and structure to ambush baitfish. Fall months are prime time for flounder as they start their migration to deeper water, and that's when you'll find the biggest fish. What makes flounder fishing so addictive is the subtle bite – you need to stay in tune with your rod tip because they'll often just pick up your bait and sit there. Once you set the hook on a good flounder, they'll make a strong run and put up a surprising fight for a flatfish.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the inshore flats, and when you hook into a big one, you'll know it immediately. These fish can push 30+ pounds and will test your drag system and your arms. They're bottom feeders with powerful pharyngeal teeth that crush crabs and shellfish, so you'll typically target them with cut bait or live crabs around oyster bars and structure. Spring and fall are peak seasons for black drum, and the bigger fish often travel in small schools. What anglers love about drum fishing is the power – these fish will make long, steady runs that'll have you wondering if you hooked the bottom. The fight is all about endurance, and landing a trophy black drum is something you'll be talking about for years.
Tarpon are the silver kings of inshore fishing, and summer is when these incredible fish show up in Jacksonville waters. Even juvenile tarpon in the 20-40 pound range will put on an aerial show that'll get your heart pumping. These fish are pure muscle and attitude – once hooked, they'll jump repeatedly, shake their heads, and make blistering runs that'll test every knot in your rig. Tarpon fishing requires heavier tackle and a lot of patience, but when you finally get one to the boat for a quick photo, you'll understand why they're considered the ultimate inshore gamefish. The key to tarpon success is live bait presentation and being ready for that explosive strike.
Sea Trout, or spotted seatrout, are the bread and butter of inshore fishing and perfect for anglers wanting consistent action. These fish are aggressive feeders and will hit everything from live shrimp to artificial lures. The bigger "gator" trout over 20 inches are the ones that get your attention – they'll absolutely crush a topwater plug early in the morning or late in the
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some giants pushing 90 pounds. These powerful fish cruise oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow estuaries where they crunch up crabs and shellfish with their crusher teeth. Spring around spawning season is your best bet when they school up in predictable spots. You'll hear them "drumming" underwater during mating season - it's wild. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make fantastic eating with firm, white meat, but the big ones get tough and wormy. They're strong fighters that'll test your drag. Pro tip: fresh blue crab or cut mullet on a fish-finder rig works best. Keep your bait right on the bottom and be patient - they're not speed demons.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are reliable year-round targets that love our grass flats and shallow waters. Most fish run 14-18 inches and 1-3 pounds, with some keeper-sized fish pushing 5+ pounds. Look for them over seagrass beds, around oyster bars, and in 3-8 feet of water. They're more active during cooler months and low-light periods like dawn and dusk. What makes them popular? They're scrappy fighters with great table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They also make that distinctive croaking sound when you land them. Winter months they school up in deeper holes, making them easier to target in numbers. Best tip: use a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below. The cork's noise draws them in from a distance.
Paralichthys LethostigmaThese flatfish are masters of disguise, burying themselves in sandy and muddy bottoms where they ambush prey like shrimp and small baitfish. Most run 15-18 inches and weigh around 5 pounds, though we've seen some push over 20 pounds. You'll find them in shallow bays, estuaries, and around structure in 2-15 feet of water. Fall and winter are prime time when they move toward deeper channels. What makes them special? They're excellent table fare with sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. Plus, watching both eyes migrate to one side as juveniles is pretty wild. My go-to tip: use a Carolina rig with live mud minnows or shrimp, and fish it slow along bottom transitions where sand meets grass or mud.
Megalops AtlanticusThe silver king is pure adrenaline on a fishing line. These prehistoric giants average 80-100 pounds and 4-6 feet, but can push 200+ pounds. They cruise shallow flats, channels, and around bridges in 3-20 feet of water. Summer months bring the best action when they migrate through our waters. What sets them apart? Those explosive jumps - they can launch 10 feet out of the water and swim 35 mph. We practice strict catch and release since they're not great eating and take years to mature. The fight is what you're after anyway. They'll test every knot and your stamina. Key trick: when they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them. This keeps tension off the line and prevents them from throwing the hook during their acrobatics.
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