Afternoon Inshore Fishing Charter Sarasota
When you're looking to get on the water for some serious inshore action, Captain Josh Harris knows exactly where the fish are hanging out in Sarasota's productive backwaters. This afternoon charter puts you right in the sweet spot when the tides are moving and the fish are feeding, targeting everything from hard-fighting redfish to sneaky snook that love to ambush bait around the mangroves. You'll be fishing prime inshore spots that locals have been hitting for decades, and with Captain Josh's years of experience reading these waters, you're setting yourself up for some real action.
What to Expect on the Water
This isn't your typical crowded party boat situation – you're getting a personalized fishing experience with just two anglers max, which means more time with lines in the water and better chances at landing quality fish. Captain Josh provides all the tackle you'll need, from light spinning gear perfect for trout to heavier setups when you're working structure for sheepshead and redfish. The boat's rigged with everything from live bait wells to keep your shrimp and pilchards frisky, plus he's got artificial lures that absolutely crush it when the fish are aggressive. You don't need to worry about licenses or cleaning your catch either – that's all handled, so you can focus on fishing.
Techniques & Tactics
Sarasota's inshore fishing is all about reading the water and adapting to what the fish want on any given day. You'll be working shallow flats where sight fishing for tailing redfish gets your heart pumping, drifting grass beds where trout stack up to feed, and casting around dock pilings and mangrove shorelines where snook love to hide. Captain Josh switches between live bait fishing with shrimp under popping corks and throwing artificials like soft plastics and topwater plugs when the fish are fired up. The afternoon bite can be fantastic as the water starts to cool and baitfish become more active, especially during moving tides when predators position themselves to ambush prey.
What Anglers Are Saying
"Wife and I caught a variety of fish...large and small. Temperatures did not cooperate at the start, but the day improved as each hour of our private booking passed. We are looking forward to our next trip to the Sarasota area. Captain Josh even took time to get us to a picture perfect stop for the sunset. Definitely one of our top memories of this trip. Thank you!" - Todd
"Myself and friend had a excellent trip with this guide as first time in salt water myself the guide made it one wonderful experience and I would recommend him to anyone looking for a good excellent guide and experience give him a try ill be useing this guide again" - Joseph Laney
"What an amazing experience. Couldn't of asked for a better day. Josh was awesome. Due to the weather forecast, he was in daily communication with us. He could have easily canceled the trip, but he worked with our schedule and made it happen. I will definitely be coming back. I highly recommend his services." - Joseph Laney
"Captain Josh is very experienced and knowledgeable. Attention to detail, head on a swivel, looking for the next fish. Very comfortable and enjoyable fishing experience!!!" - David
Species You'll Want to Hook
Redfish are the crown jewel of Sarasota's inshore scene, and these copper-colored bruisers will test your drag system every time. They cruise the shallow flats in schools, especially during the cooler months from October through March, and you'll often spot their bronze backs and distinctive black spots as they tail in skinny water. What makes reds so addictive is their power – even a smaller 20-incher will make multiple runs and use every oyster bar and mangrove root to try breaking you off. They're not picky eaters either, crushing live shrimp, cut bait, and soft plastic lures with equal enthusiasm.
Snook are the ultimate ambush predators in these waters, lurking around structure waiting to blow up on unsuspecting baitfish. These silver-sided fighters are most active during the warmer months from April through October, and they've got an attitude that matches their aggressive feeding style. What gets anglers hooked on snook fishing is their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights – they'll jump, gill-rattle, and make powerful runs toward whatever cover they can find. The key is getting your bait right in their face around docks, bridges, and mangrove edges where they set up to feed.
Sea trout might not be the flashiest fighters, but they're consistent biters that'll keep your rod bent throughout the trip. These spotted beauties love grass flats and sandy bottoms, especially during the spring and fall months when they school up in good numbers. Trout are perfect for building confidence if you're new to saltwater fishing – they're willing biters that respond well to both live shrimp and artificial lures. The bigger "gator trout" over 20 inches are prized catches that show up more often during the cooler months.
Sheepshead are the inshore challenge that'll keep you honest with their light bites and structure-hugging habits. These black-and-white striped fish hang around anything with growth on it – docks, bridges, and oyster bars – where they use their human-like teeth to crush crabs and barnacles. They're most active during the winter months from December through March, and catching them requires patience and sensitivity to feel their subtle bite. Once hooked, they're surprisingly strong fighters that'll duck straight back to whatever structure they came from.
Southern flounder are the masters of disguise on Sarasota's sandy bottoms and grass edges, lying perfectly camouflaged until something edible drifts by. These flatfish are most active during the fall months when they're fattening up before their offshore spawning run, and they
5.0(4 Reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sarasota, FL
Target redfish, snook, and trout in Sarasota's productive inshore waters
