5.0(7 Reviews)Inshore Fishing Adventures in Cape Canaveral
5.0(7 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Top Rated
Three-hour nearshore charter targeting Snook, Redfish, and TarponAll tackle, licenses, and water provided for seamless experienceExpert guides accommodate beginners through experienced anglers
Cape Canaveral's nearshore waters offer some of Florida's most consistent fishing action, and ShayJay Fishing Charters knows exactly where to find it. This 3-hour inshore trip takes you to the productive waters around the jetties, beaches, and up to 5 miles offshore where redfish, snook, and tarpon call home. Captain Jason and his experienced crew have been working these waters for years, reading the tides and structure like a favorite fishing magazine. With tackle, licenses, and bottled water all included, you just need to show up ready to fish.
Your morning starts at Port Canaveral, where you'll meet Captain Jason and his crew aboard their professionally maintained vessel. The boat's designed for inshore work – stable, comfortable, and equipped with everything you need for a successful day. You'll fish a variety of spots depending on conditions: the rock jetties where sheepshead love to hide, sandy flats perfect for redfish, and deeper channels where snook ambush baitfish. The beauty of nearshore fishing is the diversity – one cast you're working structure, the next you're sight-fishing in clear water. The crew adjusts techniques throughout the trip based on what's biting, whether that's live bait fishing around pilings or casting lures along the surf line. Water depth ranges from just a few feet on the flats to about 20 feet in the channels, giving you a taste of different fishing styles in one outing.
ShayJay runs a mix of live bait and artificial lure fishing depending on conditions and target species. You'll work with medium-action spinning rods perfect for the variety of fish in these waters – sensitive enough to feel a sheepshead's nibble but with enough backbone to handle a bull redfish. Live shrimp is the go-to bait around structure, while finger mullet works great for snook and tarpon. When the fish are active, the crew switches to lures like soft plastics, spoons, and topwater plugs that let you cover more water quickly. Circle hooks are standard for live bait to ensure good hooksets and fish survival. The boat carries a full selection of weights and rigs for different depths and current conditions. You'll learn to read the water – looking for bait schools, working birds, and structure changes that hold fish. The crew teaches proper casting techniques for different situations, from pitching baits under docks to making long casts along the beach.
"Captain Jason did what he could to try and get everyone in my family onto a fish. Not an easy task this day, since mother nature wasn't at her best today. But by the end of it, we all caught a fish. Overall it was a fun trip, few fish, a few pictures, and a few laughs. Jason and Randy were great guys, nice equipment, and a professionaly kept boat. I hope to come down and get in the boat again some day. Thanks fellas, a highlight of our vacation." - Terry. "I booked this trip as a birthday present for my boyfriend. He loved it! We had to pull into the docks at one point because of lightning, but we went back out after a few minutes to let some of it pass. Mother nature does what she wants haha, so we didn't mind. My boyfriend caught lots of fish and our Captain kindly prepared one of the snappers that my boyfriend caught. We had a wonderful adventure despite the inclement weather." - Brenna. "Jason and his father "the first mate" were awesome! My five year old and myself booked a fun inshore trip. We caught fish all day, had one keeper to take home for dinner! They were hooking fish and helping my 5 year old reel them in so he didn't miss out on any of the action! I will definitely give them a call when I come back into town!!" - Austin.
Spanish Mackerel are speed demons that'll test your reflexes and provide non-stop action when they're schooled up. These silver rockets typically run 1-3 pounds and are most active during cooler months from fall through early spring. They're drawn to fast-moving lures and small spoons, often hitting so aggressively they'll jump clear out of the water. What makes them exciting is their willingness to bite – when you find a school, you can catch them one after another until your arms are tired. They're also excellent table fare when prepared fresh.
Southern Flounder are the masters of disguise, lying perfectly camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting for an easy meal. These flatfish can reach impressive sizes, with doormat flounder over 5 pounds not uncommon in Cape Canaveral's waters. Fall and winter months offer the best action as they move toward inlets preparing for their offshore spawn. The thrill comes from the surprise – flounder hits often feel like you're snagged on bottom until suddenly your "snag" starts swimming away. They're ambush predators that require patience and the right presentation.
Snook are Florida's signature inshore gamefish, known for their aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights. These silver-sided fighters love structure – docks, mangroves, jetties, and bridges where they ambush passing baitfish. Peak season runs from spring through fall, with summer offering the most consistent action. What makes snook special is their attitude – they hit hard, jump high, and use every trick in the book to throw your hook. A slot-sized snook between 28-33 inches makes for both great sport and an outstanding dinner.
Grey Snapper, or mangrove snapper as locals call them, are the thinking angler's fish. These copper-colored fighters are notoriously finicky, requiring light tackle and perfect presentations to fool them consistently. They school around structure in 10-30 feet of water, particularly productive during summer months. The challenge is what makes them addictive – one minute they're crushing every b
Hit the productive waters around Cape Canaveral aboard our well-equipped 22' Bulls Bay motorboat. This nimble vessel handles the nearshore fishing grounds with ease, taking you to prime spots along the jetties and beaches where Snook, Redfish, and Tarpon cruise the shallows. The wireless trolling motor lets us slip into fishing holes without spooking the fish, while the fish finder helps locate schools and structure below. Keep your catch fresh in the onboard icebox and stay connected with marine VHF radio. GPS navigation ensures we hit all the best fishing spots within 5 miles of shore. Whether you're targeting Black Drum around the pilings or casting for Jack Crevalle in open water, this boat gets you there comfortably and puts you on the fish.
Lutjanus GriseusGrey snappers, also called mangrove snappers, are smart little fighters that keep you on your toes around Cape Canaveral's structure. They typically run 10-14 inches and 1-3 pounds, with greyish-red coloration and that distinctive dark stripe through their eye. You'll find them around docks, jetties, reefs, and any hard bottom structure where they can ambush small fish and crustaceans. They're most active at night but can be caught during the day year-round in our waters. What guests love is their scrappy fight for their size and excellent white, flaky meat that's perfect for fish tacos or grilling. These fish are notorious bait thieves though - they'll nibble and test your offering before committing. The trick is to use small hooks with fresh shrimp or small live baits, and when you feel those subtle taps, resist the urge to set immediately. Let them take it.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of our waters - easy to spot with their black and white prison stripes and human-like teeth. They typically weigh 2-8 pounds and run 14-20 inches, though we see some real slabs pushing 15+ pounds around the jetties. These fish live around any structure with barnacles, oysters, or crabs - docks, pilings, jetties, and wrecks are prime spots. Spring is peak season when they spawn around inlet mouths and offshore structure. Guests enjoy them because they're challenging to hook, fight hard for their size, and make some of the best eating fish in the ocean with sweet, white meat. The secret is getting your bait tight to structure where they feed on barnacles and crabs. Use small hooks with fresh shrimp, fiddler crabs, or barnacles, and when you feel that subtle pick-pick-pick, set the hook hard - their powerful jaws crush shells easily.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing here at Cape Canaveral. These sleek predators average 18-28 inches with that distinctive black lateral line running down their golden sides. You'll find them around mangroves, docks, jetties, and structure in shallow water where they ambush baitfish, shrimp, and crabs. They're most active during warmer months and love moving water around inlet mouths and bridges. What makes snook special is their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights - they'll jump, run, and test your drag like few other fish. The meat is outstanding too, with firm white fillets that are perfect for the grill. Here's the key: snook are structure-oriented and spook easily, so approach quietly and cast right into the shadows under docks or mangroves where they hide. Live shrimp or small jigs work great, but keep it subtle.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy and muddy bottoms around Cape Canaveral. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches and 2-5 pounds, with both eyes on their left side and the ability to change color to match the bottom. They bury themselves in sand near jetties, inlet mouths, and shallow flats, waiting to ambush passing baitfish, shrimp, and crabs. Fall and winter are prime time when they're moving through our waters to spawn offshore. Anglers enjoy them because they're a unique species to catch and make excellent eating with sweet, white meat that's hard to beat fried or baked. The trick with flounder is patience - they'll often mouth your bait before committing, so when you feel that subtle tap-tap, give them a few seconds before setting the hook. Drift fishing with live shrimp or mud minnows near structure works best.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are sleek, fast-moving fish that show up in schools around Cape Canaveral's nearshore waters. They're typically 1-2 feet long and weigh 2-4 pounds, with silvery sides covered in yellow spots that make them easy to identify. You'll find them cruising the surface near jetties, reefs, and open water structure, especially during warmer months from spring through fall. They're incredibly fast swimmers - some of the quickest in the ocean - which makes for exciting fights on light tackle. Guests love targeting them because they hit hard, fight well, and make outstanding table fare with their mild, flaky white meat that's perfect grilled or blackened. Pro tip: when you spot a school feeding on the surface, cast small spoons or jigs just ahead of where they're moving and retrieve fast - their speed means you need to keep pace.
5.0 out of 5.0Awesome trip! Super friendly and knowledgeable, we can’t wait to come back for an offshore trip!
Captain Jason did what he could to try and get everyone in my family onto a fish. Not an easy task this day, since mother nature ...
I booked this trip as a birthday present for my boyfriend. He loved it! We had to pull into the docks at one point because of ligh...
Jason and his father “the first mate” were awesome! My five year old and myself booked a fun inshore trip. We caught fish all day,...
Worked hard to get us to the right spots. Overall, we had fun.
Great!!
Port Canaveral