Private 4 Hour Morning Inshore Fishing Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour morning inshore fishing trip targeting redfish and troutExplore salt marshes, bridges, and jetties in historic St. AugustineLicensed captain provides equipment and saltwater fishing license included
There's something special about getting on the water early in St. Augustine when the morning bite is hot and the fish are hungry. This private 4-hour inshore charter puts you right in the middle of some of Florida's best saltwater action, targeting prime spots along the Intracoastal Waterway and around the historic bridges where fish love to hang out. You'll have the boat to yourself and up to two buddies, giving you plenty of room to work without crowding. Captain's got your saltwater license covered under his FWC Charter License, so you can focus on what matters – getting your line wet and bringing dinner home.
Your morning starts early when the fish are most active and before the boat traffic picks up. We'll cruise through St. Augustine's famous Intracoastal Waterway, sliding into those productive salt marshes where redfish patrol the grass flats and spotted sea trout ambush baitfish. The captain knows exactly where to find the deeper holes and oyster bars that hold fish, plus he's got the local knowledge of tide changes that can make or break your day. Depending on conditions, you might work the jetties where the current brings in all kinds of species, or focus around the bridge pilings where sheepshead and black drum like to hide. Every trip's different based on what the fish are doing, but that's what keeps it interesting. The boat's equipped with quality tackle and bait, though you're welcome to bring your own gear if you've got favorites you like to fish with.
Inshore fishing around St. Augustine means adapting your approach to match what the fish want on any given day. We'll be using live bait like shrimp and mullet when the bite's tough, switching to artificial lures when the fish are aggressive and chasing anything that moves. You'll learn to work the grass beds with soft plastics, bouncing jigs off oyster bars, and reading the water for signs of feeding fish. The salt marshes here are like highways for redfish – they cruise these channels looking for crabs and baitfish, especially on moving water. Around the bridges, it's all about getting your bait down to where the bigger fish hold in the shade and current breaks. The jetties offer a completely different game, with structure fishing and the chance for some surprise catches when pelagic species push close to shore. Captain will teach you how to feel the bottom, work different depths, and adjust your technique based on what's working.
Redfish are the stars of the show in these waters, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters average 18 to 27 inches in our area and put up a serious scrap once hooked. They're most active during moving tides, especially early morning when they cruise the flats looking for crabs and shrimp. What makes reds so exciting is their attitude – they'll hit hard and make blistering runs toward whatever cover they can find. Plus, they're excellent table fare when kept within slot limits.
Sea Trout, or "specks" as locals call them, are another top target that keeps anglers coming back. These spotted beauties typically run 14 to 20 inches around St. Augustine and are absolute suckers for live shrimp fished under a popping cork. They school up over grass beds and sandy potholes, making them perfect for light tackle fishing. Trout bite best in cooler months but can be found year-round if you know where to look. They're also some of the best eating fish you'll find inshore.
Black Drum are the bulldozers of the inshore world, and St. Augustine's bridges and oyster bars are loaded with them. These bottom-huggers can range from keeper-sized 16-inchers up to massive 30-pound slobs that'll test your tackle and your patience. They're particularly active in spring and fall, and once you hook into a big drum, you'll know it – they just put their heads down and pull like a freight train. Fiddler crabs and cut bait are their weakness.
Bluefish show up in schools and turn the water into a feeding frenzy when they're around. These toothy predators hit hard and fight dirty, making spectacular jumps and long runs. They're seasonal visitors but when they're here, usually in cooler months, they provide nonstop action. Blues will hit just about anything that moves, making them perfect for anglers who want bent rods and screaming drags.
Crevalle Jack might not win any beauty contests, but they're pound-for-pound some of the strongest fish in these waters. These yellow-tailed bruisers average 3 to 8 pounds locally and fight like fish twice their size. They travel in schools and when you find one, you've usually found a bunch. Jacks are year-round residents and will absolutely punish light tackle, making them a favorite of anglers who love a good fight over a pretty fish.
St. Augustine's inshore fishing scene is world-class, and this private morning charter gives you the best shot at experiencing it right. You're getting a top-rated captain with local knowledge, quality gear, and access to productive waters that consistently produce fish. The 4-hour timeframe hits the prime morning bite without eating up your whole day, leaving time for exploring the historic city afterward. With only 3 anglers max, everyone gets plenty of shots and personalized instruction. Whether you're looking to put dinner on the table or just want to feel that rod bend, this trip delivers the goods. Morning slots fill up fast, especially during peak season, so don't wait too long to secure your date on the water.
Your fishing adventure awaits aboard the 2015 Xpress H20 Bay Redfish SS Edition, a purpose-built 20-foot flats boat designed to get you into those shallow backwaters where the big redfish hide. This sleek bay boat cuts through St. Augustine's winding creeks and marshes with its reliable 115HP Yamaha engine, reaching speeds up to 45 knots to maximize your fishing time on the water. Built for serious anglers, she's equipped with everything you need for a successful morning on the flats. The onboard fish finder helps locate schools of trout and redfish, while the wireless trolling motor lets you sneak up on spooky fish in skinny water without spooking them. GPS navigation ensures we hit all the productive spots around the Intracoastal Waterway and salt marshes. The spacious deck accommodates up to 3 anglers comfortably, giving everyone room to cast and fight fish. An icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh during the 4-hour trip. Whether we're working the jetties for variety species, targeting sheepshead around the bridges, or poling the grass flats for trophy redfish, this versatile boat handles it all with ease in St. Augustine's diverse fishing grounds.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 15-40 pounds around St. Augustine's oyster bars and bridge pilings. These powerful bottom-feeders have crushing jaws built for cracking shellfish and make that distinctive drumming sound you can actually hear underwater. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning in our shallow flats and creek mouths. What makes them special is the pure brute strength - they'll test your drag and arms with bulldogging runs. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent eating with sweet, flaky meat, while the big bulls are better released. You'll find them in 3-20 feet around structure where crabs and oysters are plentiful. Here's my go-to trick: use fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig and fish it right on the bottom. They're sucker for that natural presentation.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive predators that show up in St. Augustine waters during warmer months, typically running 3-15 pounds with occasional larger fish. These silver-blue fighters have razor-sharp teeth and feed voraciously on baitfish like sardines and mullet. You'll find them around the jetties and nearshore waters where they hunt in schools. When they're feeding, the water literally churns like a washing machine - we call it a "bluefish blitz." They're fantastic table fare when prepared fresh, with flaky white meat that's mild and delicious. These fish fight hard and fast, making drag-screaming runs that get everyone excited. My tip: use wire leaders because their teeth will cut through mono in a heartbeat. Silver spoons and cut bait work great, but keep your fingers away from those chompers when landing them.
Caranx HipposCrevalle jacks are the bulldogs of our inshore waters - pure muscle and aggression in a 15-30 pound package. These brassy-gold fighters show up year-round but really stack up during summer months around our jetties and nearshore reefs. When you spot diving birds working baitfish, there's usually a school of jacks underneath pushing everything to the surface. They're not great table fare, but man do they fight - long, powerful runs that'll test your tackle and endurance. What makes them fun is their willingness to hit almost anything moving fast. They live around structure but also cruise the flats hunting in packs. Here's the trick: when you find a school feeding on top, cast past them and rip your lure back as fast as you can retrieve it. Silver spoons and topwater plugs work great - these fish love the chase and rarely turn down a fast-moving target.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our shallow water fishing, easily spotted by their copper-bronze backs and distinctive black spots near the tail. These bruisers typically run 18-27 inches in our area and are famous for their hard-pulling fights in skinny water. You'll find them cruising the salt marshes, oyster bars, and grass flats in just 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. They're year-round residents but really turn on during fall and spring when the water temps are perfect. What guests love most is sight-fishing to them in crystal clear water and watching that explosive strike. They're also fantastic eating with firm, sweet meat. The key here is being quiet and making accurate casts ahead of cruising fish. My favorite setup is a gold spoon or live shrimp on a jig head - just don't spook them with heavy footsteps in the boat.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are the bread and butter of our grass flats fishing. These beautiful fish average 12-20 inches with distinctive black spots scattered across their silvery sides. They love the shallow grass beds throughout our ICW system, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. What makes them special is their delicate strike and the way they'll absolutely crush a well-placed lure. They're excellent table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. Early morning and evening are prime time when they're feeding actively on shrimp and small baitfish. My local secret: work a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork around the grass edges during moving water. The subtle action drives them crazy, and you can often catch several from the same spot.
St. Augustine