Full Day of Scalloping & Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour combo trip includes fishing and scalloping activitiesMorning targets Redfish in mangroves and Trout offshoreAfternoon scalloping with snorkeling in cooler waters
Looking for the perfect combo trip that gives you the best of both worlds? This full-day charter with Reel Time Outfitters packs serious variety into eight solid hours on the water. You'll start your morning throwing lines in productive mangrove backcountry or heading to open flats for some quality action, then switch gears when the sun gets brutal and cool off hunting scallops in crystal-clear waters. It's the kind of trip that keeps things fresh and gives you stories worth telling when you get back to the dock.
Your day kicks off early with four hours dedicated to serious fishing. We're talking prime morning bite time when the fish are active and the weather's still comfortable. Depending on conditions and what's biting, you might find yourself working the mangrove shorelines with live bait, targeting those bronze-backed redfish that love to ambush prey in the shadows. Or we could run out to grassflats and sand holes where speckled trout cruise looking for an easy meal. The beauty of this trip is the flexibility – your captain reads the water and puts you where the fish want to be that day. Once the sun climbs high and the bite slows down, it's time to shift gears completely. You'll head to the scallop beds where the water's inviting and clear, perfect for snorkeling. Trading your rod for a mask and snorkel bag, you'll spend the afternoon diving down to collect these tasty little mollusks while staying cool in the process. It's hands-on, active, and a completely different kind of fun that balances out your morning perfectly.
For the fishing portion, you'll be working with medium-action spinning gear that's perfect for the species you're targeting. Live shrimp, pinfish, and cut bait are the go-to options, though artificial lures like soft plastics and topwater plugs can absolutely produce when conditions are right. In the mangroves, it's all about precise casting and working your bait along structure – fallen trees, oyster bars, and grass edges where predator fish set up ambush points. Out on the flats, you're covering more water and looking for subtle signs like nervous baitfish, slicks, or birds working. The technique changes completely when scallop time rolls around. You'll be free-diving in relatively shallow water, typically 3 to 8 feet deep, using just mask, snorkel, and a mesh bag. Scallops don't hide – they sit right on top of the grass beds with their shells slightly open, filtering water. The trick is developing an eye for spotting them quickly and being efficient with your dives so you can cover ground and fill your bag within legal limits.
Gag Grouper are the heavyweight champions you'll encounter, especially around structure and ledges. These fish are built like linebackers and fight accordingly, often heading straight for cover the moment they feel the hook. They're most active during cooler months and early mornings, making them perfect targets for the fishing portion of your trip. Gags are prized for their firm, white meat and the serious battle they put up on medium tackle. Black Sea Bass might not have the size of grouper, but they make up for it in numbers and attitude. These scrappy fighters love rocky bottom and structure, and they're incredibly curious fish that often investigate baits quickly. They're excellent table fare and provide steady action when you find a good school. Black Drum are the bulldogs of the flats, using their powerful bodies and stubborn nature to test your drag system. These copper-colored fighters are most active in slightly deeper water and around oyster bars where they root for crabs and shellfish. Larger specimens can push 30-40 pounds and provide arm-burning fights. Sea Trout, or specks as locals call them, are the bread and butter of grass flat fishing. These spotted beauties are aggressive feeders that love live shrimp and small baitfish. They're perfect light-tackle targets that jump when hooked and make excellent eating. Peak activity usually happens during moving tides and low-light periods. Redfish are the poster fish of inshore fishing, with their bronze sides and distinctive spot making them instantly recognizable. These powerful fish love shallow water and structure, often feeding with their backs out of the water in skinny areas. They're notorious for long, drag-screaming runs and their ability to use current and structure to their advantage. Cobia are the wild cards that can show up anywhere and turn a routine day into something special. These brown sharks lookalikes are incredibly strong and curious, often following boats and investigating baits. When a cobia shows up, everything else stops – they're that exciting to catch and absolutely delicious on the table.
This combination trip delivers variety that keeps you engaged all day long while maximizing your time on the water. You're getting quality fishing during prime morning hours when the bite is best, then switching to a completely different activity that lets you cool off and still come home with something for dinner. The two-person capacity means personalized attention and plenty of room to move around, whether you're fighting fish or diving for scallops. It's the kind of charter that works for couples, friends, or anyone who wants to experience multiple sides of what these productive waters offer. Don't wait too long to secure your date – trips like this that combine activities book up quickly, especially during peak scallop season when the water's clear and the weather's perfect.
Pogonias CromisBig, powerful fish that sound like they're talking to you underwater with their drumming calls. These bruisers typically run 5-30 pounds, but monsters over 50 pounds show up regularly. They love shallow, muddy flats around oyster beds and creek mouths where they crush shellfish with those powerful jaws. Spring during spawning season is prime time when they school up and are easier to target. After that, they spread out and get tougher to find. Guests enjoy the strong, steady fight and the unique experience of hearing them drum. Smaller ones under 15 pounds are great eating, but the big ones get tough. Fresh blue crab is the magic bait - it stays on the hook better than other baits and drives them crazy. Keep it right on the bottom where they feed.
Centropristis StriataThese chunky little fighters are perfect for families and make great table fare. Most run 1-4 pounds, though the big males can push 8 pounds and show off that distinctive hump on their heads. You'll find them around structure - wrecks, jetties, and rocky bottom in 20-120 feet of water. Late spring through summer is when they move inshore and fishing gets hot. They're scrappy fighters until they break the surface, then they give up pretty quick. The meat is excellent - firm, white, and mild. Guests love them because they bite well and are easy to catch on bottom rigs with squid or fish strips. Pro tip: use a two-hook rig and don't be afraid to bounce it right on the bottom - these guys are aggressive feeders and will compete for your bait.
Rachycentron CanadumThese brown sharks lookalikes are some of the strongest fighters you'll encounter. Most cobia we see run 30-60 pounds and 4-5 feet long, though 80+ pounders show up every season. They're loners that cruise around structure like buoys, wrecks, and channel markers, usually in 20-50 feet of water. Spring migration and summer months are best when they're moving through and feeding heavy. Guests love them because they fight like a freight train and the meat is outstanding - firm, white, and perfect for grilling. You'll often spot them just under the surface, which makes for exciting sight fishing. Bucktail jigs in 4-8 ounces work great, but here's the key: when you see one, cast well ahead of where it's swimming and work the jig back slowly. They're curious fish and will often follow before committing.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisThese groupers might not win any beauty contests, but they're fighters that guests love targeting. You'll find them around 20 inches on average, though big bulls can hit 50+ inches and 80 pounds. They hang out near rocky structure - reefs, wrecks, and ledges where they can ambush prey like crabs and small fish. Look for them in 30-100 feet of water, often mixed with kingfish and mackerel. Spring and fall are prime times when they're more active and feeding heavy. What makes them special is that fight - once hooked, they'll try everything to get back to their hole in the rocks. The meat is fantastic, firm and white. Here's a tip: keep your drag locked tight and don't give them any line when you hook up, or they'll wrap you around structure every time.
Sciaenops OcellatusThe copper-colored kings of the flats with those signature black spots near the tail. These powerful fish typically run 20-35 inches and 5-25 pounds in our shallow waters. You'll find them cruising oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines in just 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. They're year-round residents but really turn on during cooler months. What makes them special is their willingness to eat almost anything and that bulldogging fight in shallow water. The meat is sweet and firm on smaller fish. They're not spooky like some species, which makes them perfect for newer anglers. My go-to technique: sight-fish them with gold spoons or soft plastics, casting ahead of cruising fish and working the bait slowly past their nose.
Salmo TruttaSpotted trout are one of our most popular inshore targets, and for good reason. These silver beauties average 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, with their distinctive black spots making them easy to identify. You'll find them over grass flats in 2-8 feet of water, especially at dawn, dusk, and night when they're most active. They love cooler months when they school up in deeper holes and channels. The fight is solid with lots of head shaking, and the meat is excellent - white, flaky, and mild. Just don't overcook it or it gets mushy. Guests love how they'll hit topwater plugs and make explosive strikes. Best tip: fish the grass flats with live shrimp under a popping cork, or throw soft plastics that imitate their favorite prey.
Crystal River, FL