6 Hour Naples Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore charter targeting redfish, snook, and tarponAll equipment, tackle, bait, and licenses included onboardAccommodates up to four guests with flexible location adjustments
Picture this: you're cruising Southwest Florida's pristine inshore waters at 8 AM with your coffee still warm, watching the sun climb over mangrove shorelines while your captain scouts prime fishing spots. This extended 6-hour charter gives you serious time to work Naples' legendary backcountry flats and cuts, where redfish cruise shallow waters and snook ambush bait in the shadows. With room for up to four anglers, you'll have plenty of space to cast without bumping elbows, and the extra hours mean your captain can adapt to changing tides and fish movements throughout the morning. Everything's handled for you – rods, reels, tackle, bait, even your fishing license – so you can focus on what matters: putting fish in the boat.
Your day starts early when the fish are most active and the water's still calm. The captain knows these Naples waters like the back of his hand, from the grass flats near Rookery Bay to the deeper cuts around Keewaydin Island. You'll spend time working different structures and depths as conditions change throughout the morning. The beauty of a 6-hour trip is flexibility – if the redfish aren't cooperating on the flats, you can move to deeper water for snook or try your luck around docks and mangroves. The boat's set up specifically for inshore work, with a shallow draft that lets you get into those skinny-water honey holes where big fish hide. Expect to cover some serious water and try multiple techniques depending on what's biting. Don't forget to bring snacks, drinks, and serious sun protection – Naples sunshine can be intense even in the morning hours.
Inshore fishing around Naples is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish want. Your captain will set you up with live bait like shrimp, pinfish, or pilchards for the heavy hitters, plus artificial lures for when fish are being picky. You'll learn to work the grass flats with soft plastics, bounce jigs along mangrove edges, and maybe even get into some sight fishing if conditions are right. The gear's perfectly matched to Southwest Florida's inshore game – medium-action spinning rods that can handle a 30-inch redfish but won't overpower a tricky snook. Circle hooks keep fish healthy for release, and the tackle box is stocked with everything from DOA shrimp to gold spoons that flash perfectly in these tannin-stained waters. Six hours gives you time to really dial in your technique, whether you're learning to feel the subtle bite of a spotted seatrout or mastering the art of working a topwater plug at first light.
Snook are the crown jewel of Southwest Florida inshore fishing, and Naples waters hold some absolute giants. These ambush predators love structure – docks, mangrove overhangs, and bridge pilings where they can dart out to nail unsuspecting baitfish. Snook are incredibly temperature sensitive, so they're most active during warmer months from spring through fall. What makes them special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight – a big snook will jump, run, and use every trick in the book to throw your hook. The slot limit keeps the fishery healthy, and most anglers agree that catching a keeper snook in these waters is pure magic.
Redfish are the backbone of any good Naples inshore trip, cruising the grass flats in schools that can number in the hundreds during peak season. These copper-colored bruisers are year-round residents, but fall brings the best action when they school up for their spawning runs. A slot red will peel drag and make multiple runs, using their broad tail and stocky build to bulldoze through the water. They're not picky eaters either – live shrimp, cut bait, or a well-placed soft plastic will all draw strikes. The sight of a red's broad back breaking the surface in skinny water gets every angler's heart racing.
Tarpon earn their "silver king" nickname through sheer power and aerial displays that leave anglers speechless. Naples waters see both juvenile tarpon year-round and massive adults during their spring and summer migration. Even a 20-pound juvenile will jump repeatedly and test your tackle to its limits. Adult tarpon can exceed 100 pounds and provide fights that last an hour or more. The key with tarpon is patience – they have bony mouths that require perfect hook sets, and their jumps can throw hooks if you don't know when to bow to the king. Most tarpon are released to fight another day, making them a true catch-and-release trophy species.
Grey snapper might not be the flashiest fish in Naples waters, but they're incredibly rewarding to catch and absolutely delicious on the table. These smart fish hang around structure in deeper water, often mixed with other species like grouper and jacks. Summer months bring the best snapper action when they move shallow to spawn. They're notorious bait stealers with sharp teeth and quick reflexes, so successful snapper fishing requires finesse and the right tackle. A cooler full of keeper-sized grey snapper means fresh fish dinners for weeks, and their white, flaky meat is considered among the best eating in Southwest Florida waters.
Black drum are the gentle giants of the inshore world, often overlooked but incredibly fun to catch on light tackle. These bottom dwellers cruise the flats and deeper holes, using their pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring brings the best black drum fishing when they gather to spawn in large schools. They're powerful fighters that use their size and strength rather than speed, making long, steady runs that test an angler's patience. Black drum are excellent table fare when kept within slot limits, with firm white meat that's perfect for blackening or grilling. Their distinctive barbels and ability to make drumming sounds with their swim bladders make them one of Southwest Florida's most unique catches.
This 26' Sea Chaser bay boat is your perfect fishing platform for exploring Naples' productive inshore waters. Built for both comfort and performance, she's powered by a reliable 250 HP Yamaha that'll get you to the fish quickly and quietly. The spacious deck gives all four anglers plenty of room to cast and fight fish without getting tangled up. Cushioned seating keeps everyone comfortable during the full 6-hour trip while you target redfish, snook, spotted seatrout, and tarpon in the backcountry and nearshore waters. The wireless trolling motor lets your captain position the boat silently over shallow grass flats and around structure where big fish hide. Modern electronics including GPS and fish finder help locate the best spots and mark productive areas. An onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold and any keeper fish fresh. The boat's stable design handles Southwest Florida's varying conditions smoothly, whether you're drifting live bait or working lures around mangrove shorelines.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweight bruisers of our inshore waters, typically weighing 10-30 pounds around Naples. These dark, powerful fish cruise shallow mudflats and oyster beds using their strong jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. You'll find them in 2-8 feet of water around structure, especially during spring spawning season when they school up and make that distinctive drumming sound. They're tough fighters that use their bulk and strong tails for long, steady runs rather than flashy jumps. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make good eating, but the bigger fish get tough and are better released. Best fishing is during spring tides around oyster bars and grass flats. Here's the key: use fresh cut crab or live shrimp on the bottom with just enough weight to hold. Black drum are bottom feeders, so keep your bait down and be patient - when they bite, it's usually a solid pull, not a tap.
Lutjanus GriseusAlso called mangrove snapper, these copper-red fish are some of the smartest fighters you'll encounter in Naples waters. Most run 12-16 inches inshore, though bigger ones push 3-4 pounds around deeper structure. They hang around docks, mangrove roots, and oyster bars, usually in 4-15 feet of water. Best fishing happens during warmer months when they're more active, especially around moving tides. What guests love about grey snapper is their wariness - they'll test your skills - and their excellent table fare. The white, flaky meat is among the best eating fish we target. They're opportunistic feeders but very cautious. My go-to trick is using a 4J hook with live shrimp hooked through the tail, letting it sink to the bottom near structure, then barely lifting it off. Keep movement minimal - too much action spooks them. Once you feel the bite, don't jerk - just steady pressure to set the hook.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of Naples inshore fishing, typically running 18-27 inches with those distinctive black spots near their tails. They love super shallow water - often so shallow their backs show above the surface. You'll find them tailing on grass flats, around oyster bars, and in backwater areas from 6 inches to 4 feet deep. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and winter offer the most consistent action when they school up. Redfish are aggressive feeders that hit topwater lures, live shrimp, and cut bait with authority. They fight hard with strong runs and are excellent table fare with mild, sweet meat. The key to consistent redfish is fishing the edges where shallow flats drop into slightly deeper water. Look for nervous baitfish or actual fish tailing in the shallows. A weedless gold spoon worked slowly over grass beds is deadly, but don't retrieve too fast - let them catch up to it.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of Southwest Florida's most prized gamefish, usually running 18-30 inches around Naples waters. You'll find them hanging around mangrove shorelines, docks, and creek mouths in 2-6 feet of water. They love structure and ambush their prey with lightning-fast strikes. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding. What makes snook special is their aggressive fight and acrobatic jumps - plus they're temperature sensitive, so cooler months push them into warmer backwater areas where they stack up. The meat is excellent eating with a clean, mild flavor. Here's a local tip: when you see snook cruising the shallows, cast your live shrimp or lure well ahead of them and let it drift naturally into their path. They spook easily if you land it too close.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate bucket-list fish - these silver kings average 80-120 pounds in Naples waters and can reach 6 feet long. They roll and jump in shallow channels, around bridges, and near passes, usually in 5-20 feet of water. Best season runs May through August when they migrate through our area following baitfish. What makes tarpon legendary is their acrobatics - they'll jump 8-10 feet out of the water and fight for 30-45 minutes. They're strictly catch-and-release since the meat isn't great, but landing one is a lifetime achievement. You'll spot them rolling on the surface during calmer mornings or evenings. We typically use live crabs, pinfish, or large shrimp on circle hooks. Pro tip: when a tarpon jumps, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them. This keeps tension off the line during their aerial show and prevents them from throwing the hook. Most tarpon are lost during those spectacular jumps.
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