Family Inshore Fishing in Hernando Beach
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore charter targeting redfish, trout, and black drumCaptain Francisco provides guidance for all skill levels aboardFamilyfriendly fishing experience in Hernando Beach waters
Captain Francisco's 4-hour family fishing charter in Hernando Beach is the perfect blend of serious angling and fun for all ages. This top-rated inshore experience takes you into Florida's Nature Coast waters where redfish, speckled trout, black drum, snook, and cobia cruise the grass flats and shallow structure. Whether you're teaching the kids their first cast or looking to dial in your technique, Francisco tailors every trip to match your crew's skill level. He's got quality gear on board if you need it, but feel free to bring your own favorite rods. The best part? You'll learn proven techniques that'll make you a better angler long after the trip ends.
Hernando Beach sits right in the heart of some of Florida's most productive inshore waters, and Francisco knows every grass flat, oyster bar, and channel where fish love to hang out. Your 4-hour adventure starts early when the bite is hottest, and you'll cover a variety of spots depending on tides, weather, and what's been biting lately. The Nature Coast waters here are incredibly diverse – one minute you're working shallow grass flats in two feet of water, the next you're targeting structure in deeper channels. Francisco's boat is set up perfectly for families, with plenty of room to move around and safety gear for everyone. He's patient with beginners and always excited to share advanced tips with experienced anglers. The atmosphere stays relaxed and fun, but when fish start biting, everyone gets fired up. Don't forget to bring sunscreen, snacks, and drinks – Francisco accepts Venmo and cash for the remaining balance, making checkout simple so you can focus on fishing.
Francisco specializes in two proven techniques that consistently produce fish in these waters: precision jigging across grass flats and dead sticking near productive structure. Jigging involves working soft plastics or jigs with subtle movements as you drift or slowly motor across the flats – it's all about feel and timing. You'll learn to read the bottom, identify grass edges, and recognize when a fish picks up your bait. Dead sticking is the art of patience – dropping live or cut bait near oyster bars, docks, or other structure and letting it sit while fish move in to investigate. Francisco provides quality spinning tackle that's perfect for inshore work, typically medium-action rods paired with reels spooled with 15-20 lb braided line. If you prefer to bring your own gear, that's great too – just make sure you've got a good selection of jig heads, soft plastics, and circle hooks. He'll have live bait when conditions call for it, plus a solid selection of artificial lures that have been proven in these waters. The key is matching your presentation to the conditions, and Francisco excels at reading the water and adjusting tactics throughout the trip.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing in Hernando Beach, and these copper-colored fighters are abundant year-round in the Nature Coast waters. Slot-sized reds typically run 18-27 inches and put up an incredible fight, making long runs and using their broad sides to pull drag. They love shallow grass flats and oyster bars, especially during moving tides. What makes redfish so special is their willingness to eat both live bait and artificials – you might catch one on a live shrimp under a popping cork, then hook another on a gold spoon ten minutes later. Fall and spring offer the best action, but Francisco knows where to find them in every season.
Speckled seatrout are probably the most cooperative fish you'll encounter on this trip, making them perfect for kids and beginners. These beautiful spotted fish average 15-20 inches in local waters and have a delicate mouth that requires a gentle touch. They school up over grass flats and respond well to soft plastics worked slowly along the bottom. Trout bite best during cooler months from fall through early spring, and they're excellent eating if you decide to keep a few for dinner. The strike is often subtle – just a little tick on the line – so Francisco teaches guests to watch their rod tips carefully.
Black drum are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, with fish ranging from schoolie-size juveniles to massive bull drum that can exceed 40 pounds. The smaller drum are fantastic table fare and fight surprisingly hard for their size. They're bottom feeders that love to root around oyster bars and structure, making them perfect targets for dead sticking with cut bait or live shrimp. Black drum bite year-round but seem most active during cooler months. When you hook a big drum, be prepared for a bulldogging fight that'll test your drag and your patience.
Snook are the glamour species of inshore fishing – aggressive predators with a distinctive black lateral line and an attitude to match. These ambush feeders love to hang around structure like docks, mangroves, and bridge pilings, waiting to crush unsuspecting baitfish. Snook are strictly catch-and-release in these waters, but the fight they provide is reward enough. They're known for their gill-rattling jumps and powerful runs toward cover. Summer and fall provide the best snook action, especially around dawn and dusk when they're most active.
Cobia are the wildcards of this fishery – you never know when one might show up. These brown, shark-like fish are curious by nature and often approach the boat to investigate. They're incredible fighters that make long runs and have surprising endurance. Cobia are most common during their spring and fall migrations, when they cruise the flats looking for crabs and baitfish. Landing a cobia is always a highlight of any trip, and their firm white meat makes them one of the best eating fish in the Gulf.
This family-friendly charter with Captain Francisco delivers exactly what inshore fishing should be – productive, educational, and fun for everyone
Your fishing adventure starts aboard this well-equipped 22' Xpress performance boat, built in 2016 and powered by a reliable 175HP Yamaha VMax SHO engine. This sleek fishing machine cuts through Hernando Beach waters with ease, getting you to the productive grass flats and structure where redfish, trout, and black drum feed. The boat's GPS navigation and fish finder help Captain Francisco pinpoint the hotspots, while the spacious layout comfortably accommodates up to 4 anglers. Whether you're perfecting your jigging technique over the shallows or dead sticking near cover, this vessel provides a stable platform for both beginners and experienced fishermen. The captain tailors each trip to your skill level, making it perfect for families looking to learn new techniques while targeting Florida's Nature Coast gamefish.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bulldozers of the flats, averaging 5-15 pounds but capable of reaching 30-plus pounds in our waters. These bottom-feeders cruise oyster beds and muddy flats in 3-10 feet, using their powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. You'll hear them "drumming" underwater during spawning season in spring - that's when they school up and fishing gets hot. What guests love about drum fishing is the steady, powerful fight they put up once hooked. They're not flashy jumpers, but they'll test your drag with long, determined runs. The smaller ones make good eating with sweet, flaky meat, though the big boys are better released. My go-to technique is fresh cut crab on a carolina rig, but here's the key: use just enough weight to hold bottom and keep that bait moving slowly. Drum won't chase a stationary meal.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the bruisers of our inshore waters, averaging 20-40 pounds and reaching up to 6 feet long. These brown, shark-looking fish cruise alone around structure like channel markers, docks, and crab traps in 15-50 feet of water. Spring migration from April through June is prime time when they move through our area heading north. What makes cobia fishing exciting is the sight-fishing aspect - you'll often see them swimming near the surface before casting. They hit hard and fight like freight trains with long, powerful runs. The meat is outstanding too, firm and white like a cross between grouper and mahi. Being solitary fish, you might only get one or two shots per trip, making each encounter special. Here's the key: when you spot one, lead it by several feet with a bucktail jig or live crab, then work it slowly. Cobia are curious and will often circle back for a second look if your first cast spooks them.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our shallow water fishing, ranging from slot-size 18-27 inchers to bruiser bulls over 30 inches. You'll spot them by their copper-bronze coloring and distinctive black spots near the tail. These fish cruise oyster bars, grass flats, and shallow bays in 1-4 feet of water, sometimes with their backs completely exposed. Year-round fishing is good, but fall brings the best action when they school up in big numbers. What makes reds special is their powerful runs and willingness to eat almost anything - from topwater plugs to live shrimp. They're also fantastic on the table with firm, sweet meat. The fight is pure power, especially the big bulls that'll take you into your backing. Here's my local tip: look for "nervous water" or subtle wakes on calm days - that's usually redfish pushing bait in skinny water before you even see the fish themselves.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our grass flats, typically running 12-20 inches with beautiful spotted sides and a soft mouth that requires a gentle touch. These fish patrol seagrass beds in 2-8 feet of water, feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. Fall through spring offers the best action, especially on cooler mornings when they move shallow to feed. Trout are popular with families because they're aggressive biters and relatively easy to catch once you locate them. They make excellent table fare too - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. The key is not fighting them too hard since their mouths are delicate. My favorite setup is a 1/4 oz jig with a soft plastic shrimp, worked slowly along the grass edges. Here's the trick: when you feel that light tap, just lift the rod gently instead of setting the hook hard - you'll land more fish that way.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of the most sought-after fish in our waters, typically running 18-30 inches with that signature black lateral line and golden coloring. They love hanging around mangroves, docks, and structure where they ambush prey with lightning-fast bursts. These fish are cover-oriented, just like bass, so we target them near pilings and oyster bars in 2-6 feet of water. Spring through fall gives us the best action, especially during moving tides around dawn and dusk. What makes snook special is their aggressive strike and strong fight - they'll jump and make powerful runs toward cover. Plus, they're excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Here's a local trick: cast your lure past the structure and work it back parallel to the cover rather than straight away from it. Snook often follow before striking, and this gives them more time to commit.
Florida