5.0(2 Reviews)Fort Morgan Beginner Inshore Fishing Charter
5.0(2 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour beginner-friendly inshore charter targeting redfish and troutCaptain Eddie provides all gear, licenses, and fish cleaning servicesFamily-oriented trip accommodates up to three guests comfortably
Ready to get your kids hooked on fishing? Captain Eddie's beginner-friendly inshore charter out of Fort Morgan is exactly what families need – no pressure, all action, and fish hitting from the moment you leave the dock. This 4-hour morning trip targets the prime feeding times when redfish and trout are most active in our productive bay waters. Perfect for parents wanting to introduce their kids to fishing without the complexity of deep-sea trips, you'll stay in protected inshore waters where seasickness isn't a concern and the action stays steady.
Captain Eddie runs a different kind of charter – there's no long safety speech or complicated setup. You'll get your rods in hand and lines in the water within minutes of leaving Fort Morgan Boat Launch. This hands-on approach works perfectly for kids and beginners who learn better by doing than listening. The captain provides all tackle, bait, and fishing licenses, plus he'll clean your catch at the end of the trip. Expect to use a variety of live and cut baits including shrimp, crabs, and even live baitfish depending on what the target species are feeding on that day. The boat stays equipped with fish finders to locate structure like submerged chicken coops and barges where game fish love to hang out.
Fort Morgan's inshore waters offer diverse fishing opportunities, from shallow grass flats perfect for sight-fishing redfish to deeper channels holding winter trout. Captain Eddie uses his electronics to mark productive bottom structure and follows working bird flocks – a time-tested method for locating feeding fish. You'll learn basic techniques like bottom fishing with Carolina rigs for flounder, free-lining live bait for redfish around structure, and working soft plastics through grass beds for trout. The captain adjusts techniques based on tides, weather, and what's biting that day. Kids especially love the visual aspect of watching their rod tips bounce when fish are nibbling, and the captain's patient instruction helps everyone understand when to set the hook.
"We had a BLAST. My husband gets sea sick so it was me taking my 13 year old son, 14 year old nephew, and my son's 13 year old friend. It was GO TIME as soon as we left the dock. I expected Captain Eddie to start with explanations, maybe a bit about what to expect... or even boat rules and procedures some sort of speech... bla, bla, bla . (former school teacher here... I did it to all my students ) Nope. Eddie handed the boys rods and they IMMEDIATELY started catching fish. And they never stopped. We had so much fun. And as we fished and talked and fished and talked Captain Eddie attended to the boys non stop (with enthusiasm! Anyone who's ever fished with kids knows it requires a BOAT LOAD of patience )... baiting with stuff I'd never seen or heard of... plus live fish, crabs, and shrimp... he also told us about the lay of the land. We got to see the oil rig workers SWING FROM ROPES onto a giant ship that came by to pick them up off the rig, we saw a hawk carrying a fish land right in front of it and eat it, we saw an 1880 lighthouse, and Captain Eddie used his equipment to find holes (or holds?? I'm still not sure) of secret pockets of fish over top buried chicken coups and barges. I learned a lot and could barely tell my husband about it when we got back to the condo. I was sound asleep shortly after 8:21pm. Huge memory maker. Caught a VARIETY of fish. So much that we stopped for spices and olive oil on our way home. Oh! And the birds!! We followed them. They lead us to find fish. It was a grand adventure... worth every penny. Thank you, Captain Eddie. Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with us! 1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have to serve others." Captain Eddie used his knowledge, his time, his patience, his tools, and genuine kindness to serve us up a lovely fishing trip. Lord willing, we'll be back!! - Emily" - Emily
"great captain on top of everything could not have gone better. caught bunch of big trout !!" - Aaron
Redfish are the crown jewel of Fort Morgan's inshore fishing scene, and these copper-colored bruisers put up fights that get everyone's adrenaline pumping. Ranging from slot-size 16-inchers up to bull reds over 30 inches, they're most active during moving tides around structure and shallow flats. Spring and fall offer the best action when schools of reds cruise the shallows hunting baitfish. What makes redfish special is their willingness to eat almost anything – live shrimp, cut bait, or artificial lures – making them perfect targets for beginners.
Sea trout, locally called speckled trout, are the bread-and-butter species that keep rods bent throughout the trip. These silvery game fish average 12-16 inches but can reach 20+ inches during peak seasons. Trout bite best during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels and around structure. They're aggressive feeders that hit live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater lures with authority. Kids love trout fishing because they bite frequently and fight hard for their size, making for non-stop action.
Southern flounder are the masters of camouflage, lying flat on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush passing prey. These flatfish can reach impressive sizes, with keeper-size fish starting at 12 inches and big ones pushing 20+ inches. Fall months bring the best flounder action as they move toward deeper water. Flounder fishing teaches patience and bottom-fishing skills, as anglers must feel for the subtle tap-tap bite before setting the hook. Their unique
Your fishing adventure starts aboard a brand-new 2023 Robalo center console, perfectly suited for Fort Morgan's inshore waters. This 25-footer runs smooth with its 300HP Yamaha, getting you to the fishing grounds quickly while staying comfortable in bay conditions. The spacious layout gives everyone room to cast without tangling lines, whether you're targeting speckled trout in the grass beds or tracking redfish along the shoreline. Built-in GPS keeps us on the productive spots, while the fish finder helps locate schools and structure where the fish are holding. The center console design makes it easy for Captain Eddie to coach beginners and help with bait rigging from any position on deck. With plenty of storage for tackle and your catch, plus room for up to 6 anglers, this boat handles everything from calm morning bay fishing to slightly choppier gulf waters when conditions are right.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the perfect inshore target, cruising our shallow flats in just 1-4 feet of water where you can often see their copper backs and signature black spots. They typically run 18-27 inches in the slot, with that distinctive red coloration and one or more eyespots near the tail. These fish are year-round residents but really fire up in fall when they school for their spawning runs. What makes them so popular is their bulldogging fight and willingness to eat almost anything - topwater plugs, spoons, live shrimp, or cut bait. They're excellent eating with mild, sweet meat. The key around here is staying quiet in skinny water and making long casts ahead of cruising fish. When you hook one, keep steady pressure - they'll use that broad tail to pull hard toward structure.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing, running 14-20 inches on average with some reaching 5+ pounds during peak season. These spotted beauties love grass flats and drop-offs in 3-8 feet of water, especially around dawn and dusk. Spring through fall provides consistent action, but summer nights can be magic when they move shallow to feed. They hit topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live shrimp with aggressive strikes that'll get your heart pumping. The meat is delicate and flaky - perfect for beginners who want great table fare. They school up in winter in deeper holes, making for some excellent fishing. My local trick: work your lure slowly over grass beds and listen for their distinctive croaking sound when hooked.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convicts of the bay with their black and white stripes, and they're some of the smartest fish you'll target. They average 2-5 pounds around our docks, bridges, and oyster bars, though 8+ pounders show up regularly. These guys have human-like teeth for crunching barnacles and crabs off structure. Spring spawning runs from March through May bring the best numbers, but you can catch them year-round in 5-20 feet around any hard bottom. They're notorious bait thieves with light nibbles, but the payoff is worth it - firm, sweet white meat that rivals snapper. Here's the secret: use the smallest hook you can get away with, keep your bait tight to structure, and when you feel them pecking, resist the urge to set immediately. Let them take it.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise, lying flat on muddy and sandy bottoms in 2-15 feet of water throughout Mobile Bay and the nearshore Gulf. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches, with keepers at 12+ inches providing great table fare. Both eyes sit on their left side, and they'll change color to match the bottom perfectly. Fall through early spring offers the best action when they move into deeper channels and passes. What makes them special is their ambush-style feeding and excellent eating quality - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. My go-to tip: drift slowly with live mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig, and when you feel that subtle tap, wait a second before setting the hook. They like to grab bait sideways first.
Lobotes SurinamensisTripletail are one of our most unique catches, floating on their sides near the surface to mimic debris around channel markers and floating grass lines. These chunky fish average 5-15 pounds and pack a serious punch when hooked, jumping and pulling like fish twice their size. Summer through early fall is prime time when water temps hit 70+ degrees. They're found from the surface down to about 30 feet, often around structure or weed lines in the Gulf passes. The meat rivals grouper or snapper - firm, white, and delicious. What guests love is the sight-fishing aspect and their acrobatic fights. Pro tip: when you spot one floating, cast well past it and work your bait slowly into their strike zone. They spook easily, so keep the boat noise down and make that first cast count.
5.0 out of 5.0We had a BLAST. My husband gets sea sick so it was me taking my 13 year old son, 14 year old nephew, and my son's 13 year old fri...
great captain on top of everything could not have gone better. caught bunch of big trout !!
Fort Morgan