5.0(1 Reviews)Half Day Guided Fishing Trip In Fort Myers Beach
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Halfday charter targets redfish, seatrout, and grouper inshoreAll gear, licenses, and catch cleaning included with tripFamilyfriendly experience accommodates up to four guests
Fort Myers Beach sits right in the heart of some of Florida's most productive inshore waters, and this half-day charter with Shallow Action Fishing Charters puts you right in the action. Captain Brent knows these flats, mangrove shorelines, and grass beds like the back of his hand, and he's got the track record to prove it. This 4-5 hour trip gives you serious time to work the water without eating up your whole day—perfect for families, first-timers, or seasoned anglers who want to sample what Southwest Florida's got to offer. You'll be fishing waters that hold everything from hard-fighting redfish to the prized peacock bass, and with all gear, licenses, and even fish cleaning included, you just need to show up ready to cast.
Your morning starts early, meeting Captain Brent at the dock while the water's still glass-calm and the fish are actively feeding. This charter accommodates up to four anglers, so you're not crowded—everyone gets plenty of room to work their lines and plenty of personal attention from the captain. The boat's rigged with quality rods, reels, and tackle suited for the species you'll be targeting, from light spinning gear for trout to heavier setups when you're sight-casting to big reds in skinny water. Captain Brent reads the conditions daily—tide, wind, water temperature—and adjusts the game plan accordingly. Some days that means working the mangrove edges for snook, other days it's drifting grass flats for trout, or maybe stalking the shallows where redfish cruise with their backs out of water. The beauty of a half-day trip is the flexibility; you can cover a lot of ground and try different techniques without the fatigue that comes with longer charters.
Inshore fishing around Fort Myers Beach is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish are doing. Captain Brent runs a variety of techniques depending on conditions and target species. You might start the day sight-fishing with live shrimp or pinfish, watching for redfish tails or the wake of a cruising tarpon. When the fish are scattered or holding deeper, you'll switch to drift fishing over grass beds using soft plastics or live bait under popping corks. The tackle selection covers everything from 2500-series spinning reels spooled with 10-pound braid for finesse work, up to heavier conventional setups when you're targeting bigger fish around structure. All the terminal tackle—hooks, weights, leaders—comes with the trip, and Captain Brent carries a good selection of artificials plus fresh live bait when available. The boat's equipped with a shallow-draft hull that can get into those skinny-water honey holes where the bigger fish like to feed, places you simply can't reach from shore or with deeper-draft boats.
"Captain Brent was fantastic—what an incredible day out on the water! He really went the extra mile to make sure we found the fish, and thanks to his effort, we landed our very first peacock bass!" - Jacob
Sheepshead are some of the craftiest fish swimming these waters, and they're absolute masters at stealing bait without getting hooked. These black-and-white striped convicts hang around any kind of structure—docks, bridges, rock piles—where they can pick barnacles and crabs off the pilings. They've got human-like teeth that can crush shellfish, and they use that same crushing power to snap light leaders if you're not careful. The best sheepshead fishing happens during their winter spawning runs from December through March, when they stack up in good numbers and feed more aggressively. What makes them so rewarding to catch is the challenge—you need perfect timing on the hookset, and once you've got one on, they fight with surprising strength for their size. Most run 2-4 pounds, but the big "convicts" can push 8 pounds or more.
Sea trout are the bread-and-butter species of Fort Myers Beach inshore fishing, and for good reason. These spotted beauties are aggressive predators that hit everything from live shrimp to artificial lures, making them perfect for anglers of any skill level. They love grass flats in 3-8 feet of water, especially areas where the bottom transitions from sand to grass or where potholes break up the vegetation. Spotted seatrout feed most actively during moving tides, particularly the first two hours of an incoming tide when baitfish get pushed up onto the flats. They're year-round residents, though the bigger "gator" trout—fish over 20 inches—show up more consistently in cooler months. What anglers love about trout fishing is the variety of techniques that work: you can drift with live bait, work topwater plugs at dawn, or cast soft plastics to likely spots. Plus, they're excellent table fare when handled properly.
Redfish are the poster children of inshore fishing in Southwest Florida, and these copper-colored bruisers never fail to get anglers' hearts racing. What makes reds so special is their willingness to feed in super-shallow water—sometimes with their backs and tails completely out of the water—which creates some of the most visual and exciting fishing you'll find anywhere. During warmer months, big schools of slot-sized reds (18-27 inches) cruise the shallows looking for crabs, shrimp, and small fish. They're not particularly spooky, but they can be picky about presentations, especially in clear, calm conditions. The fight is what really sets redfish apart—they make long, powerful runs and use their broad tails to bulldoze toward any available structure. Year-round fishing is good, but fall months are absolutely prime time when cooler water temperatures trigger feeding binges. A 5-pound red fights like it weighs twice that much.
This 22-foot bay boat is built to handle whatever Fort Myers Beach waters throw your way. With room for up to 4 anglers, she's got everything you need to chase redfish, seatrout, and whatever else is biting. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're sneaking up on shallow water targets, while the fish finder helps locate structure and schools below. GPS navigation keeps you on productive spots, and the onboard icebox ensures your drinks stay cold and your catch stays fresh. The shallow draft design lets you access those skinny water honey holes where the big reds like to feed. Whether you're working the mangroves or drifting the flats, this setup handles it all smoothly. Perfect for families too - there's plenty of deck space for everyone to cast without tangling lines, and the stable platform makes it easy for kids to land their first fish.
Cichla OcellarisPeacock bass aren't native to Fort Myers Beach, but these colorful fighters have made themselves at home in our freshwater canals and lakes. These aggressive predators typically measure 12-18 inches with vibrant yellows, greens, and that distinctive peacock "eye" spot on their tail. You'll find them in warm freshwater areas - canals, residential ponds, and backwaters with structure like downed trees or bridges. Spring through fall gives the best action when water temps stay above 70 degrees. What guests love is their aggressive nature and acrobatic fight - they'll jump and run like a largemouth bass but with more attitude. They hit topwater lures hard and fast, making for exciting visual strikes. The meat is decent eating too. One key tip: unlike other bass, skip the plastic worms - these guys want live shiners or flashy lures that trigger their predatory instincts.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our Fort Myers Beach flats fishing. These copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails typically run 18-32 inches and really know how to fight. You'll find them cruising shallow flats in 1-4 feet of water, often with their backs showing above the surface. They love oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and grass flats where they hunt for crabs and shrimp. Year-round fishing is solid here, but fall and winter months are prime when they school up in larger numbers. What makes them special is that explosive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll test your drag for sure. The meat is firm and mild, perfect for the dinner table. Pro tip: when you spot one tailing in shallow water, cast past it and work your bait slowly into their path - they spook easily if you land right on them.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout are one of our bread-and-butter species around Fort Myers Beach. These silver beauties with black spots typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, though bigger ones show up occasionally. You'll find them over grass flats in 2-8 feet of water, especially around dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding on shrimp and baitfish. Fall through spring gives us the most consistent action, with winter being prime time when they school up in deeper channels. Guests love them because they fight well for their size and make excellent table fare with white, flaky meat. They're also great for kids since they bite readily on live shrimp. One local trick: work the edges of grass flats where sand meets the grass - that's where they ambush prey and you'll get the most strikes.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are some of the smartest fish you'll target around Fort Myers Beach. These gray and black striped "convict fish" typically run 1-8 pounds, but we occasionally hook into 20-pounders near bridges and docks. They love munching on barnacles around any structure - pilings, bridges, even our artificial reefs. Winter through spring gives us the best action when they school up for spawning. What makes them fun is they're notorious bait thieves with those human-like teeth, so you need to stay sharp and set the hook fast. The meat is sweet and flaky, though those tough scales make cleaning a chore. Pro tip: get your bait tight to the structure and watch your rod tip closely - they'll nibble before they bite, so when you feel weight, set that hook hard.
Lobotes SurinamensisTripletail are one of our more unique targets around Fort Myers Beach - they're like floating leaves until they explode on your bait. These odd-shaped fish typically run 18 inches and 2-13 pounds, with some reaching over 20 pounds. You'll spot them floating near the surface around weed lines, crab trap floats, or any debris where they mimic dead vegetation. Summer through fall is prime time when they cruise our nearshore waters. What makes them special is that sneaky ambush strike and surprising fight for such a weird-looking fish. The meat rivals snapper or grouper - firm, white, and tasty. They're becoming popular with fly fishers because of their surface-feeding habits. Pro tip: when you spot one, don't cast directly at it - they spook easily. Instead, cast well past and slowly work your bait into their zone. Patience pays off with these crafty fish.
5.0 out of 5.0Captain Brent was fantastic—what an incredible day out on the water! He really went the extra mile to make sure we found the fish,...
Fort Myers Beach