Private 5-Hour Morning Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fivehour morning charter targeting redfish, snook, and troutFish prime spots between Skyway Bridge and Gulf watersCaptain Russell guides groups up to five guests
Picture this: you're on the water by 7 AM with Captain Russell, watching the sunrise paint Tampa Bay in golden hues while you head to some of the most productive inshore fishing spots between the iconic Skyway Bridge and the Gulf of Mexico. This isn't just another fishing trip – it's your chance to experience world-class inshore fishing with a captain who knows these waters like the back of his hand. With five hours on the water and room for up to five anglers, you'll have plenty of time to target multiple species while enjoying the camaraderie that makes fishing so special.
Your morning starts early, but trust me, it's worth every minute. Captain Russell will have you rigged and ready as you cruise out from the dock, spending about an hour moving between honey holes that consistently produce fish. The beauty of this charter lies in the variety – we're not locked into one technique or one spot. Depending on the season, tides, and what's biting, you might find yourself sight-fishing shallow flats for tailing redfish, working structure for gag grouper, or drifting live bait near the bridge for monster tarpon. The four hours of actual fishing time gives everyone in your group multiple shots at different species, and Captain Russell's local knowledge means you'll be fishing the right spots at the right time. This top-rated charter accommodates up to five people, making it perfect for families, groups of friends, or corporate outings where everyone wants to get in on the action.
Captain Russell comes equipped with quality spinning and conventional tackle suited for everything from finesse fishing to battling big kings. You'll work with live bait like shrimp, pinfish, and sardines, plus an arsenal of artificial lures including soft plastics, topwater plugs, and jigs. The techniques vary with the target – we might be bouncing jigs along the bottom for flounder, slow-trolling for king mackerel, or working the grass flats with weedless spoons for redfish. Don't worry if you're new to inshore fishing; Captain Russell will get you dialed in on the right presentation and coach you through playing fish. Experienced anglers will appreciate the opportunity to refine their skills in these renowned Tampa Bay waters, where the fishing pressure has made the fish smart and the successful techniques more refined.
Gag grouper are the prized bottom dwellers that make September fishing so exciting around here. These chunky fighters average 18-24 inches and have a serious attitude when hooked. They'll try every trick in the book – diving for structure, shaking their heads, and making powerful runs that test your drag settings. What makes gags special is their seasonal availability and the challenge they present. They're smart fish that require precise presentations around hard bottom and rocky areas near the Gulf, and when you connect with a keeper-sized fish, you'll understand why anglers specifically target them.
Snook are the glamour species of Florida inshore fishing, and for good reason. These silver-sided beauties are year-round residents that can stretch over 30 inches and provide some of the most exciting fights you'll experience. They're ambush predators that love to hide around structure – bridge pilings, mangrove edges, and oyster bars. What gets anglers hooked on snook fishing is their explosive strike and their tendency to jump when hooked. They're also excellent table fare, though many anglers practice catch-and-release to preserve the fishery.
Tarpon fishing is legendary in these waters, particularly during early summer when the big fish move through on their annual migration. We're talking about fish that can exceed 100 pounds and provide fights that last 30 minutes or more. These "silver kings" are pure adrenaline – they jump repeatedly, make screaming runs, and test every piece of equipment you're using. Even smaller tarpon in the 20-40 pound range provide world-class sport fishing action. Most anglers consider hooking a tarpon a bucket-list achievement, and the waters between the Skyway and the Gulf offer some of the best opportunities in Florida.
King mackerel bring speed and aggression to your fishing day, especially during early summer when they move closer to shore. These torpedo-shaped fish can reach 20-40 pounds and are built for speed, making blistering runs that will have your reel screaming. Kings are excellent eating and provide non-stop action when you find a school. They're perfect for anglers who love the excitement of trolling and the anticipation of never knowing when that rod will bend over hard.
Redfish are the bread-and-butter species that make Tampa Bay famous among inshore anglers. These copper-colored bruisers are available year-round and range from schooling rats in the shallows to bull reds that can push 40 inches. What makes redfish so popular is their willingness to eat a variety of baits, their hard-fighting nature, and their beauty – that distinctive spot and bronze coloration is unmistakable. You might sight-fish for them in skinny water or target them around structure, and either way, you're in for a memorable fight.
This customer-favorite charter delivers exactly what serious anglers are looking for – quality time on productive water with a captain who puts fish in the boat. Whether you're chasing your first snook, looking to land a personal-best redfish, or hoping to check tarpon off your bucket list, Captain Russell's local expertise and top-notch equipment give you the best shot at success. The five-hour timeframe lets you experience the changing conditions that make inshore fishing so dynamic, from the early morning bite to the mid-morning patterns that often produce the biggest fish. Don't wait – the best fishing days fill up fast, and you'll want to secure your dates for this world-class Tampa Bay fishing experience.
Your fishing platform for this morning charter is a reliable 2009 Hydra-Sports 23-footer that knows these waters well. The 250HP Yamaha gets you to the hot spots quickly, cruising at 40 knots when you need to cover ground between the Skyway and Gulf waters. This center console setup gives all five anglers room to work the lines without crowding each other. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're stalking redfish in shallow grass flats or working structure for snook. GPS keeps you on the productive spots, while the fish finder shows what's holding below – whether that's winter sheepshead around bridge pilings or spring trout over sandy bottoms. The boat handles both the calm backcountry areas and the choppier Gulf waters with confidence, so you can fish where the action is hottest that particular morning.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisSeptember's our prime time for gag grouper around here. These fish average 20 inches but can hit 4+ feet and 80 pounds. You'll find them hanging around rocky structure, reefs, and wrecks - they love anything that gives them cover to ambush prey. Gags have this unique trait where they all start as females and some change to males as they get bigger. They're strong fighters that'll try to drag your line straight into the rocks, so keep that drag locked tight. The meat's excellent eating with firm white flesh. Here's a local trick: look for stone crab traps when we're out there - gags love hunting crabs and you'll often find them lurking nearby. Use circle hooks with live pinfish or cut bait, and be ready to muscle them up quick before they dive into a hole.
Scomberomorus CavallaEarly summer's when the kings show up, and they're pure speed. These fish typically run 20-30 pounds but can hit 50+ pounds. We find them in 40-150 feet of water, often following baitfish schools. Kings are built for speed - they're one of the fastest fish in the Gulf, and when they hit your bait, you'll know it. They make blistering runs that'll test your drag. The meat's good eating with high oil content, though it's got some mercury so don't overdo it. What makes them tricky is they often bite the back half of your bait with those razor-sharp teeth. Here's my tip: always use a wire leader and rig with two hooks - one through the baitfish's nose, another trailing behind. Live blue runners and pinfish work great, but don't overlook trolling spoons and diving plugs when we're covering water looking for schools.
Sciaenops OcellatusReds are our bread and butter - available year-round in 1-4 feet of water around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangroves. They average 20-28 inches with that distinctive black spot near the tail and copper-bronze color. What's great about redfish is their willingness to eat almost anything - live shrimp, cut bait, topwater plugs, soft plastics. They're strong fighters that make powerful runs in shallow water. The smaller "slot" fish (18-27 inches) are excellent eating with mild, flaky white meat. Reds are actually pretty smart - that black spot tricks predators into attacking the tail instead of the head. Here's a local secret: on low tides, look for redfish "tailing" in super shallow water with their tails sticking up as they root around for crabs and shrimp. A quietly presented live shrimp or gold spoon works magic in these situations.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most popular year-round targets, and for good reason. They're ambush predators with that distinctive black lateral line and golden color. Most run 18-24 inches, but we catch plenty in the 30+ inch range. These fish love structure - docks, mangroves, oyster bars, bridge pilings. They're temperature sensitive, so they move around based on water temps. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight. The meat's fantastic too - firm white flesh that's hard to beat on the table. They actually change from male to female as they mature, so those bigger fish are usually females. My go-to tip: work your lure right along the structure edges where they sit waiting to ambush baitfish. Live shrimp under a popping cork is deadly, but don't overlook topwater plugs at dawn and dusk.
Megalops AtlanticusEarly summer brings the silver kings, and there's nothing quite like a 100+ pound tarpon going airborne. These prehistoric giants average 4-6 feet but can reach 8 feet and 200+ pounds. We find them rolling on the surface in channels and around deeper holes between the flats. They're mainly catch-and-release since the meat's full of bones and not great eating. What guests love is the pure spectacle - watching a massive tarpon launch itself 10 feet out of the water. They're incredibly strong and can swim 35 mph. The fight can last an hour with a big one. Here's the key: when they jump, bow to them by dropping your rod tip toward the fish. This keeps slack in the line so they can't use their weight to throw the hook. Live crabs and large pinfish work best, but artificials like large jigs can be effective too.
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