Half Day Beginner Fishing Trip in Carrabelle
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Halfday inshore fishing trip targeting redfish and speckled troutBeginnerfriendly experience with licensed captain and quality gear providedSmall group capacity accommodates up to 6 guests comfortably
Carrabelle's waters offer some of the best inshore fishing on Florida's Forgotten Coast, and this half-day trip puts you right in the action. Perfect for beginners and families, you'll fish the shallow bays and grass flats where redfish cruise and speckled trout ambush baitfish. Your licensed captain knows these waters like the back of their hand and will put you on fish while teaching you the ropes. With quality gear provided and a relaxed atmosphere, this is fishing the way it should be - fun, productive, and stress-free. Whether you're brand new to fishing or just want a laid-back morning on the water, this trip delivers.
Your morning starts at the Carrabelle boat ramp where you'll meet your captain and get a quick rundown of the day's game plan. The boat is equipped with everything you need - rods, reels, tackle, and bait are all covered. You'll head out into the protected waters around Carrabelle, targeting the grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths where fish love to hang out. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety - one cast might bring in a hard-fighting redfish, while the next could be a tasty flounder or speckled trout. Your captain will adjust techniques based on conditions and what's biting, so every trip feels fresh. Groups of up to 6 anglers can join, making it perfect for families or small groups of friends who want to share the experience together.
Inshore fishing in Carrabelle is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish want. Your captain will have you fishing with live shrimp, cut bait, and artificial lures depending on the conditions and target species. You might be working a popping cork over grass beds for trout, pitching live bait around structure for redfish, or bouncing jigs along the bottom for flounder. The gear is medium-light spinning tackle that's perfect for beginners - sensitive enough to feel bites but forgiving enough that you won't lose every fish. Your captain will show you how to cast, set the hook, and fight fish properly, so even if you've never held a rod before, you'll be catching fish and having a blast. The shallow water fishing means you can see a lot of the action happening, which makes it even more exciting when fish come to investigate your bait.
Redfish are the stars of the show around Carrabelle, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers love the shallow grass flats and oyster bars, where they cruise looking for crabs and small fish. They typically run 18-27 inches in these waters, with some bigger bulls mixed in during certain times of year. What makes redfish so popular is their fight - they'll make strong runs and use their broad sides to pull drag. Plus, they're beautiful fish with that distinctive black spot near the tail. Fall and winter are prime time, but you can catch them year-round if you know where to look.
Speckled trout are another customer favorite, especially during cooler months when they school up over grass beds. These fish are pure finesse - they have soft mouths and require a gentle touch, but they're incredibly fun on light tackle. Most specks here run 14-20 inches, with some bigger gator trout mixed in. They love live shrimp under popping corks, and when they're feeding, you can catch them one after another. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action, though summer early morning trips can be phenomenal.
Black sea bass might not get the same attention as reds and trout, but they're scrappy fighters that always seem hungry. These bottom dwellers love structure - rocks, oyster bars, and ledges where they can ambush prey. They're great for beginners because they bite aggressively and don't require perfect technique. Most run 10-14 inches, and they're excellent eating. You'll find them year-round, but they're especially active during spring and summer months.
Grey snapper add some variety to the mix, especially around structure and deeper holes. These fish are smart and can be picky, but when you find a school, the action gets fast. They fight harder than their size suggests and make excellent table fare. Summer months bring the best snapper fishing, particularly around full moon periods when they're most active.
Tripletail are the wild card species that can show up anywhere, anytime. These weird-looking fish float on their sides near debris, crab trap floats, or channel markers, looking exactly like floating leaves. When you spot one and make a good cast, they'll usually eat - and then the fun begins. They jump, run, and generally go crazy. Summer and fall offer the best tripletail opportunities, and finding one always feels like hitting the lottery.
Carrabelle's inshore waters provide some of the most consistent and enjoyable fishing on Florida's Gulf Coast. This half-day trip gives you a perfect taste of what makes this area special - diverse species, beautiful scenery, and fishing that's productive for all skill levels. Your captain's local knowledge and quality equipment mean you can focus on the fun part - catching fish and making memories. Whether you're looking to try fishing for the first time, introduce kids to the sport, or just enjoy a relaxing morning on the water, this trip delivers exactly what you're after. Don't wait - prime dates fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons when the fishing is hottest.
Your fishing adventure starts aboard a reliable 2020 Carolina Skiff that's built to handle Carrabelle's inshore waters with ease. This 21-footer runs on a smooth 140HP Suzuki engine that'll get you to the best fishing spots quickly, cruising at speeds up to 40 knots when needed. The boat comfortably holds up to 6 anglers, giving everyone plenty of room to cast lines and fight fish without bumping elbows. GPS navigation keeps you on course to productive waters, while the fish finder helps locate schools of redfish, snapper, and trout hiding in the grass flats and oyster bars. The Carolina Skiff's shallow draft design lets you access those skinny water honey holes where the big reds like to feed, and its stable platform makes it perfect for beginners learning to cast or experienced anglers working topwater lures. Built tough for Florida's saltwater environment, this boat handles choppy conditions well while providing a dry, comfortable ride back to the dock.
Centropristis StriataBlack Sea Bass are chunky members of the grouper family that typically run 1-4 pounds, though bigger ones can hit 8+ pounds. They love hanging around structure - wrecks, jetties, and rocky bottom in 20-120 feet of water. Spring through summer is prime time when they move inshore to spawn. What makes them fun to target is their aggressive strike and solid fight until they break the surface. The meat is excellent - firm, white, and mild. Here's a local trick: when you're fishing structure, drop your bait to the bottom then reel up a foot or two. These fish are bottom huggers, but they don't want to work too hard for their meal. Use squid strips or cut bait on a two-hook rig, and be ready for that hard initial pull.
Lutjanus GriseusGrey Snapper, or Mangrove Snapper as locals call them, are smart fish that'll test your patience. Most run 1-3 pounds inshore, but they can surprise you with bigger ones pushing 4-5 pounds around docks and structure. They love hanging under piers, around mangroves, and near any kind of cover where they can ambush prey. These guys are active at night and opportunistic feeders during the day. What guests love is the challenge - they're finicky biters but put up a scrappy fight. The meat is top-notch, flaky and sweet. My best tip: use a 4J hook with live shrimp hooked through the tail, let it sink to bottom, then reel up just enough to stay off the structure. Patience is key - don't jig it around too much or you'll spook them.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the kings of our shallow water fishing, and you'll know one by those distinctive black spots near the tail. Most run 18-28 inches and 3-8 pounds, though bigger "bull" reds can push 20+ pounds offshore. These copper-colored fighters love super shallow flats, oyster bars, and grass beds - sometimes in water so thin their backs stick out. They're year-round fish here, but fall and spring offer the most action. What guests love is watching them cruise the shallows and that explosive topwater strike. The meat is mild and sweet, great eating in the slot-size fish. My go-to tip: look for "nervous water" where baitfish are getting pushed around. Throw a gold spoon or topwater plug just past the disturbance and work it back slowly. These fish eat almost anything but love the chase.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are one of our most popular inshore targets, usually running 14-24 inches with most around 1-3 pounds. They're perfect for grass flats and shallow waters, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. These fish love shrimp, small crabs, and baitfish, making them great for both live bait and artificial lures. What makes them special is their delicate, flaky white meat that's fantastic on the table. They're also willing biters that put up a decent fight for their size. During winter, they gather in deeper holes around 10-20 feet. Here's a local secret: fish the grass edges at dawn or dusk with a popping cork and live shrimp. The sound draws them in, and that cork disappearing is one of the most exciting bites you'll see.
Lobotes SurinamensisTripletail are one of our most unique catches - they look like floating debris until they move. These fish average 2-5 pounds but can reach 15+ pounds, with their distinctive three-lobed tail and mottled coloration. They're surface dwellers that hang around weed lines, channel markers, and floating structure from spring through fall. What makes them special is their ability to change color and lie on their sides like dead leaves. Guests love the sight-fishing challenge and their surprising fight - they're acrobatic for such a chunky fish. The meat rivals grouper or snapper. Here's the key: approach quietly and cast past them, then work your bait back slowly. They spook easily but once hooked, they'll jump and run. Use live shrimp or small crabs on light tackle for the best action.
Carrabelle