Private 6 Hour Inshore Fishing Trip In St. Augustine
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore fishing trip targeting Redfish, Trout, and SheepsheadUSCG Licensed Captain guides guests through Intracoastal Waterway watersPrivate charter accommodates up to three guests in calm marsh areas
St. Augustine's inshore waters offer some of the finest fishing on Florida's east coast, and this 6-hour private charter puts you right in the heart of the action. You'll be working the Intracoastal Waterway and salt marshes with a USCG licensed captain who knows these waters like the back of their hand. Whether you're a weekend warrior looking to dial in your technique or bringing the family for their first taste of saltwater fishing, this trip gives you plenty of time to get into fish without the pressure of a crowded boat. The calm, protected waters around St. Augustine are perfect for anglers who want productive fishing without dealing with rough seas or long runs to the fishing grounds.
Your captain will pick the spots based on tide, weather, and what's been biting lately. The beauty of inshore fishing around St. Augustine is the variety – one minute you're sight fishing for reds cruising the flats, the next you're bouncing bottom rigs around structure for sheepshead and black drum. The trip accommodates up to three anglers, so you've got plenty of room to spread out and fish comfortably. Your guide will handle the boat positioning and give you the inside scoop on reading the water, but don't expect them to do all the work – half the fun is learning to feel the bite and work the fish yourself. The Intracoastal here is loaded with docks, oyster bars, and grass flats that hold fish year-round, and six hours gives you time to hit multiple spots and adjust tactics as conditions change.
Your captain will have the boat rigged with quality spinning gear matched to the target species, typically medium-action rods spooled with 15-20 pound braid. Depending on what's happening, you might be throwing live shrimp under popping corks for trout, pitching jigs to redfish in skinny water, or dropping fiddler crabs around structure for sheepshead. The guide will provide all tackle and bait, but feel free to bring your own rods if you've got favorites you like to fish with. Live bait is king in these waters – shrimp, mud minnows, and fiddler crabs are the go-to options, though artificial lures like soft plastics and spoons can be deadly when fish are active. You'll learn to read the water signs: nervous baitfish, birds working, and that telltale wake of a big red pushing through shallow water.
Redfish are the crown jewel of St. Augustine inshore fishing. These copper-colored bruisers love the shallow grass flats and oyster bars throughout the area. Spring and fall are prime time when reds school up in impressive numbers, but you can find them year-round if you know where to look. A slot-sized red (18-27 inches) puts up an amazing fight on medium tackle, making long runs and using its broad body to bulldoze through the water. What makes reds special here is the sight fishing opportunities – watching a 25-inch fish cruise the flats in two feet of water and getting your bait in front of it never gets old.
Spotted seatrout are abundant in the grass beds and around structure, especially during the warmer months from April through October. These fish are cooperative biters and excellent on the table, making them perfect for families and newer anglers. Trout in the 15-20 inch range are common, with occasional gator trout over 25 inches showing up to make your day. They're suckers for live shrimp under a popping cork, and the bite is often aggressive enough that you'll know when you're hooked up.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of the bunch. These black-and-white striped fish hang around docks, pilings, and oyster bars, but they're notorious bait stealers with their small mouths and quick bites. Catching sheepshead consistently takes patience and skill, but they're worth the effort – few fish fight harder pound-for-pound, and they're outstanding eating. Peak season runs from late fall through early spring when they move inshore to spawn.
Black drum show up around structure and deeper holes, particularly during cooler months. These bottom dwellers can range from schoolie-sized fish perfect for the cooler to monster bulls over 30 pounds that will test your tackle and technique. They're not the prettiest fish, but they make up for it with pure power and a willingness to bite when other species are finicky.
Summer flounder add variety to the mixed bag, especially around sandy bottoms and channel edges. These flatfish are ambush predators that bury in the bottom and wait for baitfish to swim by. A quality flounder in the 16-20 inch range is prime table fare, and they fight with surprising strength for a flatfish. The bite can be subtle, so staying in touch with your bait and feeling for that telltale tap-tap is key to hooking up consistently.
This 6-hour private charter gives you the perfect amount of time to experience the best inshore fishing St. Augustine has to offer without feeling rushed or worn out. Your USCG licensed captain knows these waters intimately and will put you on fish while sharing the local knowledge that makes the difference between a good day and a great day on the water. With only three anglers max, you'll get personalized attention and plenty of room to fish comfortably. The calm, scenic waters of the Intracoastal provide the perfect backdrop for creating fishing memories that'll last a lifetime. Don't wait – the best fishing dates fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons. Book your trip now and get ready to experience why St. Augustine's inshore waters have earned their reputation as some of Florida's finest fishing grounds.
Your fishing adventure awaits aboard the Xpress H20 Bay Redfish SS Edition, a purpose-built 20-foot flats boat designed to get you into those productive shallow waters where the fish hide. This 2015 model handles St. Augustine's backcountry like a dream, powered by a dependable 115HP Yamaha that'll cruise you to the hotspots at up to 45 knots. The wireless trolling motor keeps things whisper-quiet when you're working structure, while the GPS and fish finder help locate those schools of redfish, trout, and sheepshead in the salt marshes. With space for up to 3 anglers and an icebox to keep your drinks cold between bites, you'll have everything needed for a successful day targeting St. Augustine's inshore gamefish. The shallow draft lets your captain access those skinny water honey holes that bigger boats can't reach.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 10-30 pounds but capable of hitting 50+ pounds. These gray-black bruisers love hanging around oyster bars, bridge pilings, and muddy flats where they crunch shellfish with their powerful jaws. Spring is peak season when they school up for spawning, making them easier to target in the ICW and shallow bays. What draws anglers is their bulldogging fight - they'll pull drag steadily and use their bulk against you. Smaller fish under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. The key to success is getting your bait on the bottom using fresh crab or cut bait. Here's the trick: listen for their distinctive drumming sounds - when you hear that rumbling, you know you're in the right spot.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive feeders that show up in our waters during warmer months, typically running 3-15 pounds with some reaching 20+ pounds. These silver-blue predators love to school up and attack baitfish in feeding frenzies that'll churn the water white. You'll find them cruising open water near inlets, over grass flats, and around structure where they chase schools of menhaden and sardines. Fall fishing is prime time when they're fattening up for their winter migration south. What makes them special is their fierce fight - they'll make powerful runs and jump when hooked. The meat is excellent if you bleed them right away and keep them cold. Pro tip: when you see diving birds working bait, get there fast - bluefish are usually underneath causing all the commotion.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore waters, easily recognized by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black spots near the tail. Most run 18-27 inches and 3-8 pounds, though bull reds over 27 inches can push 20+ pounds. They love super shallow water - grass flats, oyster bars, and marsh edges in 1-4 feet where you'll often see their backs out of water. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they school up. What hooks anglers is their powerful fight and that heart-stopping moment when they crush a topwater lure in skinny water. They're also excellent table fare when kept in slot. The trick is being quiet and making long casts with gold spoons or topwater plugs. Watch for nervous water and tailing fish - that's your money shot right there.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of our waters with their black and white stripes and human-like teeth. These 2-8 pound specialists hang tight to structure - dock pilings, bridges, and oyster bars where they feed on barnacles and crabs. Winter through early spring is prime time when they move shallow to spawn around our inlets and passes. What makes them fun is the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves with a light bite that'll clean your hook before you know it. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in these waters with sweet, flaky meat. Use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, and get as close to structure as possible without spooking them. Here's the key: when you feel that subtle tap-tap, set the hook hard immediately - hesitate and they'll steal your bait every time.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are master ambush predators that lie buried in sandy bottoms waiting for prey to swim by. These flatfish typically run 15-20 inches and 2-5 pounds, though doormat-sized fish over 8 pounds are possible. You'll find them on sand and mud flats, channel edges, and around inlet mouths in 5-30 feet of water. Fall is prime time from September through November when they're feeding heavily before moving offshore. Anglers love them for their excellent table fare - sweet, white fillets that are hard to beat. They fight with surprising power once hooked, making strong runs along the bottom. The secret is using a slow drift with live minnows or bucktail jigs tipped with squid strips. Keep your bait moving just off bottom - these fish won't chase far from their sandy hideouts.
St. Augustine