5.0(2 Reviews)St Petersburg 4-Hour Inshore Fishing Adventure
5.0(2 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
4-hour inshore fishing aboard 25ft center console boatTarget grouper, snapper, redfish, shark, and snook speciesFall tripletail sight fishing with experienced local guides
Captain Joseph and his crew know these St Petersburg waters like the back of their hand, and they're ready to put you on fish that'll have you talking for months. This isn't your typical charter – we're talking about a genuine fishing experience aboard the Reel Lucky Too, a solid 25-foot center console that's built for serious angling. Whether you're a weekend warrior or someone who's never held a rod, this 4-hour trip delivers the kind of action that keeps folks coming back season after season. Fall's here, which means cooler temps and some of the best fishing St Pete has to offer. Plus, it's Tripletail season – if you've never sight-fished for these oddball fighters, you're in for a real treat.
The Reel Lucky Too isn't just another boat – she's a purpose-built fishing machine designed to get you where the fish are biting. With space for up to 6 anglers but perfectly comfortable for smaller groups, you'll have plenty of elbow room to work your lines. Captain Joseph runs a tight ship, always on time and ready to adapt when the fish have other plans. The boat's setup lets you target everything from shallow-water redfish to nearshore grouper without missing a beat. You'll be working both inshore flats and nearshore structure, depending on what's biting best that day. The crew brings all the gear you need, but feel free to bring your lucky rod if you've got one. Batman and Bandit, the boat's four-legged crew members, add their own special charm to the mix – these pups know their way around a fishing trip.
This trip covers serious ground, from sight-fishing the flats to working structure in deeper water. When we're targeting redfish and snook in the shallows, you'll be casting to specific fish you can actually see – talk about getting your heart pumping. For the nearshore action, we're talking about bottom fishing for grouper and snapper, plus the chance to tangle with some serious sharks. The crew sets you up with the right tackle for each species, switching between light tackle for the inshore stuff and heavier gear when we're going after bottom fish. Live bait, cut bait, and artificials all have their place depending on what we're chasing. The captain reads the water conditions, tides, and fish behavior to keep you in the action all four hours. Don't worry if you're new to this – the first mate will get you rigged up and show you the ropes.
"We had an absolutely unforgettable day on the water with Captain Joseph and First Mate Jonathan! While the blackfin tuna weren't biting, these guys didn't miss a beat. Their ability to pivot and put us on an incredible variety of fish was seriously impressive—we hooked into powerful amberjack, beautiful Bonita, a monster mangrove snapper, a massive dusky shark, and limited out on giant red snapper! Captain Joseph's knowledge and Jonathan's hustle made the whole experience fun, smooth, and exciting from start to finish. And we can't forget their awesome boat dogs, Batman and Bandit—they made the trip even more fun! It's important to remember that fishing is unpredictable, but with a crew like this, you're guaranteed an amazing day. Highly recommend—we'll definitely be back!" - Kristi
"Always amazing trips with Captain Joe and his adorable dog Batman. We always catch more than we can eat for sure. His first mate Christopher is top notch! He is so polite and helpful. Captain Joe has never been late and always professional, patient and will see to it you have a great time. Been out on both boats they are both clean and meticulously maintained. If you haven't been out with him yet your missing out!" - Heather
Redfish are the bread and butter of inshore fishing around St Pete, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers love the shallow grass flats and mangrove shorelines, especially during moving tides. Fall brings some of the best redfish action of the year as they school up before their winter patterns kick in. You'll spot them cruising in just a few feet of water, their backs sometimes breaking the surface. A good red will peel drag and put up a fight that'll test your skills. They hit live shrimp, cut bait, and well-presented artificials with equal enthusiasm.
Bonnethead sharks might not be the biggest sharks in the gulf, but they're pure fun on light tackle. These smaller cousins of the hammerhead cruise the grass flats looking for crabs and shrimp. They're active year-round but really turn on during the warmer months extending into fall. What makes them special is their willingness to take bait in shallow water where you can watch the whole fight unfold. They're also one of the few sharks that are actually good eating, with meat that's surprisingly sweet and firm.
Red snapper are the crown jewel of nearshore fishing, and when they're biting, there's nothing quite like it. These beautiful fish live around hard bottom, rocks, and artificial reefs in 30-60 feet of water. During open season, they're aggressive biters that hit live and dead baits with authority. A good-sized snapper will make multiple runs toward the bottom, testing both your drag and your patience. Their bright red color and excellent table fare make them a customer favorite. The bite is usually best during slack tide periods when the current isn't too strong.
Gag grouper are the heavyweights of the nearshore scene, and they fight like fish twice their size. These ambush predators hang around structure and ledges, waiting to inhale anything that looks like an easy meal. They're notorious for trying to get back to their holes once hooked, which means you need to put the pressure on right from the hookset. Fall and winter
Meet the Reel Lucky Too, our custom 25-foot C Hawk center console that's been putting anglers on fish since 2019. This beauty runs on a reliable 250HP Suzuki engine that'll get you to the hotspots at 35 knots, whether we're chasing redfish in the shallows or heading out for some nearshore grouper action. The spacious layout comfortably handles up to 6 anglers, giving everyone room to work their lines without getting tangled up. We've got her rigged with all the essentials - a quality fish finder to locate those schools, GPS to hit the productive spots, radar for those foggy mornings, and an icebox to keep your catch fresh and drinks cold. Perfect for St Petersburg's diverse fishing opportunities, from sight-casting to tripletail during fall season to battling snook around the mangroves. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just getting your feet wet, this boat delivers the stability and performance you need for a successful day on Tampa Bay waters.
Sphyrna TiburoBonnetheads are the small hammerheads you'll encounter in our shallow waters - they're completely harmless and actually pretty shy. Most run 3-4 feet long with that distinctive shovel-shaped head. You'll find them cruising grass flats and sandy bottoms in 3-10 feet of water, often in small schools. Summer and fall are best when they're feeding heavily on crabs and shrimp before heading south. Guests love them because they put up a scrappy fight and that unique head shape makes for great photos. They're also one of the few sharks that's safe to handle for a quick release. My go-to setup is fresh cut blue crab on a circle hook - slip it through a leg and let it sit on the bottom. They can't resist it.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag grouper are the most common grouper we target on our nearshore structure fishing. They average 20-24 inches but can grow to impressive 40+ pound fish. You'll find them around rocky bottom, ledges, and wrecks in 40-100 feet of water. The younger fish hang closer to shore while the big ones stay deep. Fall and winter are peak seasons when they're most active. What makes them exciting is that immediate fight for the rocks once hooked - it's a tug-of-war from the start. Plus they're table fare that's hard to beat. Here's the deal: keep your drag locked tight and don't give them an inch, or they'll dive straight into a hole and you'll never get them out. Live pinfish or large shrimp work great.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed snapper are the prize of our nearshore trips, running 15-25 miles out to the hard bottom and wrecks. These bright red beauties average 2-5 pounds, but the big ones can push 15-20 pounds. They live around structure in 60-120 feet - rocky ledges, artificial reefs, and shipwrecks where they school up tight. Summer months are prime time when the season's open. What draws people back is that bulldogging fight straight down to the bottom, plus they're hands-down one of the best eating fish in the Gulf. The meat is sweet and flaky with zero fishy taste. Here's the key: once you hook up, crank hard and fast to get them off the bottom before they wrap you around the structure. Fresh sardines or cigar minnows work best.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are one of our most popular targets here in St Pete waters. These copper-colored beauties with their distinctive black spots average 20-28 inches, though we catch plenty in the slot. They love super shallow flats where you'll see their backs breaking the surface. Fall and winter are prime time when they school up in the backcountry. What makes them special is that explosive topwater strike - nothing beats watching a red blow up on a walk-the-dog lure in 2 feet of water. They fight hard and taste great with that mild, sweet flavor. Pro tip: when you hook one, keep steady pressure and don't let them get to the oyster bars where they'll cut you off on the sharp shells.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the crown jewel of inshore fishing here in Tampa Bay. These silver-sided fighters with the black lateral line average 24-30 inches and are pure ambush predators. They love structure - docks, mangroves, bridges, and oyster bars in 2-8 feet of water. Fall through spring are best since they're temperature sensitive and move deeper when it gets cold. What hooks people is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight, plus they're catch-and-release only so it's all about the thrill. The meat is outstanding when the season's open. Key tip: fish the moving water during tide changes around structure. They position themselves to ambush baitfish in the current. Soft plastics and topwater plugs are money, but don't horse them - they have soft mouths.
5.0 out of 5.0We had an absolutely unforgettable day on the water with Captain Joseph and First Mate Jonathan! While the blackfin tuna weren’t b...
Always amazing trips with Captain Joe and his adorable dog Batman. We always catch more than we can eat for sure. His first mate C...
St. Petersburg, FL