4.4(8 Reviews)Expert Guided Inshore Fishing Adventures in Bayport Waters
4.4(8 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target grouper, snook, cobia, and redfish in Bayport watersFullday inshore charter accommodates up to two anglersEquipment and fishing licenses provided by experienced Captain Gary
Looking for some serious action on Florida's Gulf Coast? Captain Gary's got you covered with his guided inshore fishing trips right out of Bayport. This isn't your typical touristy fishing experience – we're talking about real deal fishing where you'll target some of the most sought-after species in these waters. From hard-fighting redfish to trophy snook, these productive flats and nearshore waters consistently deliver the goods. With all gear and licenses included for up to two anglers, you can focus on what matters most: landing fish and having a blast doing it.
Captain Gary knows these Bayport waters like the back of his hand, and it shows in his fish-finding abilities. You'll spend your day working the grass flats, oyster bars, and structure where these fish love to hang out. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – one minute you might be sight-casting to a cruising redfish in two feet of water, and the next you could be battling a bull gag grouper around some rocky bottom. Gary's approach is all about reading the conditions and adapting throughout the day. Tide, weather, and seasonal patterns all play into where you'll fish and what techniques work best. Don't worry if you're new to this – he'll walk you through everything from proper casting techniques to fighting fish effectively.
The gear setup varies depending on what we're targeting, but you can expect to use medium to medium-heavy spinning tackle most of the time. For redfish and snook, we'll often throw live bait like pinfish or shrimp around structure, or work artificial lures like soft plastics and topwater plugs when the bite calls for it. Grouper fishing means switching to heavier tackle and dropping fresh cut bait or live bait down to the bottom around ledges and hard structure. Captain Gary keeps his boat stocked with quality rods, reels, and terminal tackle, so you're always fishing with gear that's up to the task. The key to success in these waters is staying mobile and being ready to change tactics when the fish dictate it.
"Capt. Gary is a great fisherman and a wicked boat captain I have never seen anyone drive a boat with so much confidence!!! If you're looking for a good time on the water or catching fish check him out!!!" - Deacon
"Been out with captain.gary always puts us on fish,went out few days ago we caught our limit if you are looking for a fishing charters this the one to get" - Kenneth
"Gary provided an excellent trip for myself and grandson. Fishing was great as he worked to get us on fish. I highly recommend and will go with him again!" - Dee
Redfish are the bread and butter of Bayport inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers average 20-30 inches and put up one heck of a fight in shallow water. They're most active during moving tides, especially around oyster bars and grass flats. What makes reds so special is their year-round availability and their willingness to eat both live and artificial baits. When you hook into a slot red in three feet of water, get ready for some serious drag-screaming runs.
Crevalle Jack might not win any beauty contests, but they'll test your tackle like few other fish can. These silver torpedoes average 15-25 pounds around Bayport and fight way above their weight class. They school up heavily during warmer months and will absolutely demolish topwater lures and live bait. Jack fishing is pure adrenaline – when you find a school, the action can be non-stop until your arms give out.
Cobia are the wild cards of these waters, showing up when you least expect them but delivering some of the most memorable fights you'll ever experience. These brown sharks (as some folks call them) can push 40-50 inches and have an attitude to match their size. Spring and fall are prime time for cobia, especially around structure and crab traps. They're curious fish that will often come up to investigate the boat, giving you shot at sight-casting to them.
Gag Grouper represent the bottom-dwelling heavy hitters in this fishery. These guys live around hard bottom, ledges, and structure, typically in 20-60 feet of water. A good gag will go 5-15 pounds and immediately try to get back to the rocks when hooked. The trick is getting them up and away from structure before they can cut you off. Gag season runs through winter months, making them a prime target during cooler weather trips.
Snook are probably the most prized catch in these waters, and Bayport's mangrove shorelines and creek mouths provide perfect habitat. These ambush predators love structure and moving water, making them a challenging but rewarding target. Slot-size snook (28-33 inches) are what we're after, and they'll test your skills with their acrobatic jumps and powerful runs. Summer months offer the best snook action, especially during dawn and dusk periods when they're most active.
Captain Gary's reputation for putting clients on fish speaks for itself, and his local knowledge of these Bayport waters gives you the best shot at a successful trip. With everything provided and a captain who knows how to adapt to changing conditions, you're set up for success from the moment you step on the boat. These inshore waters offer some of Florida's most consistent fishing, and there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of landing quality fish in shallow water where you can see every move they make. Don't let this opportunity slip by – book your charter with Captain Gary and get ready to experience why anglers keep coming back to fish these productive Bayport
Set out on Bayport's productive waters aboard this well-equipped 22-foot Renegade flats boat. The 2006 vessel runs on a reliable Mercury 115HP outboard that'll cruise you to the best fishing spots at speeds up to 40 knots. Perfect for targeting grouper, snook, redfish, and cobia in the shallow flats and nearshore waters around Bayport. The boat comes rigged with GPS navigation to find those honey holes and a fish finder to locate structure where the big ones hang out. You'll have a bait tank to keep your live bait fresh and frisky, plus a first mate to help net your catches and keep the lines organized. The shallow-draft design lets you get into those skinny water spots where snook love to ambush baitfish. With room for up to 4 anglers, there's plenty of space to cast without tangling lines, whether you're sight-fishing the grass flats or dropping baits around structure for grouper.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the gentle giants of our waters, often mistaken for sharks with their dark brown color and single dorsal fin. These fish average around 30-40 pounds but can easily hit 60-plus. Spring and early summer are prime time when they migrate through our area, usually found around structure like reefs, wrecks, and even floating debris in 20-50 feet of water. What makes cobia fishing special is they're often sight-fished - you'll actually see them cruising just under the surface. They're curious fish that'll come right up to the boat. The meat is outstanding too - firm and white, making them prized table fare. Here's my go-to technique: when you spot one, cast a bucktail jig or live bait well ahead of their path and let them find it. Don't cast directly at them or they'll spook every time.
Caranx HipposJack Crevalle are the bulldogs of our waters here in Bayport - pure muscle and attitude packed into 12-24 inch frames that'll average 3-5 pounds. These brassy-colored fighters hang around both inshore grass flats and offshore structure, but the real action happens when you spot diving birds. That's your signal that jacks are pushing baitfish to the surface. They're aggressive year-round, but summer brings the best opportunities when they school up heavily. What guests love most is their no-quit fight - these fish will bend your rod in half and never give up. They're not great table fare, but the battle more than makes up for it. Pro tip: when you find a feeding school, cast silver spoons or swimbaits past them and burn it back fast - jacks can't resist that aggressive retrieve.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag grouper are the bread and butter of our bottom fishing here in Bayport. These mottled gray fighters typically run 20-25 inches around our local reefs and rocky bottom in 40-80 feet of water. Peak season runs spring through fall when they're most active. What makes gags fun to target is their ambush style - they'll hammer your bait and immediately try to drag it back into the rocks. The fight is all about the first few seconds; let them get to structure and you're done. They're also some of the best eating fish in the Gulf with sweet, flaky white meat. My advice: once you hook one, lock down that drag and horse them up immediately. Don't give them an inch or they'll dive straight into a hole and cut you off on the rocks every time.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are one of my favorite species to target around Bayport's shallow flats and grass beds. These copper-colored fighters typically run 20-30 inches and are famous for that distinctive black spot near their tail. You'll find them cruising in just 1-4 feet of water around oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and grass flats. Spring through fall offers the best action when they're actively feeding on shrimp and crabs. What makes redfish special is their powerful runs and stubborn fight - they'll head straight for structure trying to break you off. Plus, they're excellent table fare with firm, flaky meat. My local tip: look for "tailing" fish with their backs exposed while feeding head-down in super shallow water - that's when you know they're focused on food and more likely to bite.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the ultimate inshore game fish around Bayport's mangrove shorelines and creek mouths. These silver-sided beauties with their distinctive black lateral line typically range 18-28 inches and put up fights that'll surprise you. They love structure - docks, mangrove roots, and bridge pilings in 2-15 feet of water. Warmer months from May through September offer peak action, especially around new and full moons when they spawn. What makes snook special is their explosive strikes and acrobatic jumps - they'll clear the water multiple times during a fight. They're also excellent table fare when in season. The key to success is getting your lure tight to cover - snook are ambush predators that won't chase far. Cast soft plastics or topwater plugs right into the mangroves and work them slowly back out.
4.4 out of 5.0Capt. Gary is a great fisherman and a wicked boat captain I have never seen anyone drive a boat with so much confidence!!! If you’...
Been out with captain.gary always puts us on fish,went out few days ago we caught our limit if you are looking for a fishing chart...
Gary provided an excellent trip for myself and grandson. Fishing was great as he worked to get us on fish. I highly recommend and...
Had a great first experience. Booked the second time he cancelled both charters and still to this day never received my deposit ba...
Captain Gary worked really hard and showed up some great fishing spots. Gear was good and we caught some nice fish!
All around a great guy! Highly Recommend
Had a great time out on the water. Caught a lot of fish different species was a blast as usual.
He canceled out on both bookings and never returned my deposit
Bayport, FL