Full Day Fishing Trip in Bokeelia, FL
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday inshore fishing targeting Tarpon, Snook, and RedfishEight hours on water with all gear and licenses includedAccommodates up to four guests with experienced local captain
When you're ready to spend a full day chasing Florida's best inshore species, this 8-hour guided trip out of Bokeelia puts you right in the sweet spot. We're talking about waters that hold serious fish - Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Florida Pompano, Sea Trout, and the elusive Tripletail. Your captain knows these flats, mangroves, and structure like the back of their hand, so you'll hit multiple proven spots throughout the day. Everything's included - rods, reels, tackle, bait, and your fishing license - which means you just show up ready to fish. Whether you're gunning for your first Snook or hoping to land a personal best Tarpon, this trip gives you the time and flexibility to make it happen.
Eight hours on the water means your captain can really show you around. You'll start early, hitting the morning bite when fish are most active, then move through different areas as conditions change throughout the day. Bokeelia sits right on Charlotte Harbor, giving you access to deep channels, shallow grass flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines - each holding different species at different times. Your guide will read the tide, wind, and water temperature to put you on fish all day long. With a maximum of 4 anglers, there's plenty of room to spread out and everyone gets quality fishing time. The boat's equipped with everything you need, from light tackle for Sea Trout to heavy gear if we hook into a big Tarpon. You'll learn local techniques, get tips on reading the water, and have time to really dial in your casting and presentation.
This isn't a one-trick fishing trip. Your captain will switch up techniques based on what's biting and where the fish are holding. Live bait fishing with shrimp, pilchards, and pinfish is a staple - especially when targeting Snook around structure or Redfish on the flats. You'll also throw artificials like soft plastics, topwater plugs, and spoons depending on conditions. The gear varies from light spinning tackle for Sea Trout to medium-heavy setups when Tarpon are rolling. Sight fishing is huge here, especially for Redfish tailing in skinny water or Tripletail hanging around crab floats. Your guide will position the boat for the best shots and coach you through presentations. We'll drift the flats, anchor up on structure, and even do some run-and-gun fishing to cover water. The beauty of an 8-hour trip is having time to try different approaches until we find what's working.
Florida Pompano are the gold standard of table fare, and Bokeelia's waters hold some beauties. These fish love sandy bottoms and are best targeted with jigs tipped with shrimp or small crabs. Spring through fall is prime time, and when you find a school, the action can be fast and furious. They fight way above their weight class and those 2-4 pound fish will surprise you with their strength. Snook are the local favorite - ambush predators that hang around docks, mangroves, and bridge pilings. They're most active during warmer months and put on an amazing fight with their gill-rattling jumps. A slot-size Snook around 28-32 inches is pure gold, and catch-and-release keeps the population strong. Sea Trout are your bread-and-butter fish, abundant year-round and willing to bite on both live bait and artificials. They school up over grass flats and are perfect for anglers wanting consistent action. Redfish are the kings of shallow water, often found tailing in inches of water. These copper-colored bruisers can push 40+ inches and will test your drag system. Tripletail might be the weirdest fish you'll encounter - they float on their sides near structure, looking like debris until they explode on your bait. They're excellent eating and provide a unique sight-fishing opportunity you won't find everywhere.
A full day on Bokeelia's waters with an experienced captain is exactly what serious anglers are looking for. You get the time to really fish different techniques, hit multiple spots, and adapt to changing conditions throughout the day. The variety of species keeps things interesting, and with all gear and licenses included, you're getting serious value. These 8-hour trips book up fast, especially during peak season, so don't wait if you want to get on the calendar. Whether you're visiting Florida or you're a local looking to learn new waters, this trip delivers the goods. The deposit is non-refundable, so make sure your dates work before booking. Trust me - after a full day of pulling on quality fish in some of Florida's best inshore waters, you'll already be planning your next trip.
This 2019 25' Key West Bay Boat cuts through Bokeelia's waters with authority, powered by a single 300HP Evinrude that'll get your crew of 4 to the fishing grounds fast at 35 knots. Built for serious anglers who want to chase everything from backcountry redfish to nearshore pompano and tripletail. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you need to sneak up on spooky fish, while the GPS and fish finder help your captain put you right on top of the action. An icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those long 8-hour days on the water. Whether you're working the shallows for snook or heading out to deeper structure for bigger game, this boat handles both nearshore runs and backcountry exploration with ease. Perfect setup for anglers who want maximum fishing time without sacrificing comfort.
Trachinotus CarolinusFlorida Pompano are one of the most sought-after fish around Bokeelia for good reason. These silver beauties with yellow fins typically run 1-3 pounds, though we occasionally see some pushing 8-9 pounds. They love cruising the Gulf beaches and shallow flats where shrimp and crabs are plentiful. Summer and fall are prime time since they head deeper when it cools off. What makes them special? They're absolute fighters for their size - being part of the jack family, they'll give you a real battle. Plus, their buttery white meat is restaurant-quality. Pro tip: use small hooks since their mouths are tiny, and try bright yellow or orange jigs in clear water. They travel in schools, so where you find one, there's usually more.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are hands-down one of the most exciting fish we target around Bokeelia. These bronze-backed bruisers with their signature black spots run anywhere from slot-size at 18-27 inches up to massive bulls pushing 40+ pounds. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out - around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring are prime time. What makes them special is they eat everything and fight like crazy, peeling drag and making powerful runs. The shallow water sight-fishing is addictive. Here's my tip: when you see them tailing or cruising, cast well ahead and let your bait settle - they spook easily but once hooked, hang on tight.
Salmo TruttaSea Trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are perfect fish for both beginners and seasoned anglers. These spotted beauties typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds with delicate, flaky white meat that's hard to beat on the dinner table. You'll find them over grass flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially around dawn and dusk. They love cooler months when they school up in deeper channels, but we catch them year-round. What makes them fun is they're not shy about hitting topwater plugs and soft plastics, plus they make decent runs when hooked. Night fishing under lights can be outstanding. My go-to tip: work jigs and shrimp imitations slowly over the grass beds - they'll often follow before committing, so patience pays off.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the ultimate inshore game fish around here - they've got attitude and the skills to back it up. These silver torpedoes with the distinctive black lateral line typically run 18-24 inches, but the big gals can stretch over 4 feet. You'll find them lurking around mangroves, docks, and structure in our shallow bays and creeks. They love both salt and fresh water, which gives us plenty of spots to hunt them. May through September is spawning season when their fins turn bright yellow and they get really aggressive. What's not to love? They hit hard, jump, and make blistering runs. Here's the key: they're ambush predators, so work your bait slow around cover and be ready for that explosive strike when they decide to eat.
Lobotes SurinamensisTripletail are one of the coolest fish we encounter - they're like the chameleons of the saltwater world. These chunky, disc-shaped fish average 2-13 pounds but can hit 40+ pounds. You'll spot them floating near the surface around weed lines, crab trap floats, or debris, often lying on their side mimicking floating vegetation. Summer through fall is peak season when they're most active near shore. What's awesome about them is the sight-fishing aspect - you can actually see them before you cast. They're surprisingly acrobatic fighters and their firm, white meat rivals grouper or snapper. Key tip: approach quietly and cast past them, then work your bait back slowly - they're easily spooked but once they commit, it's game on.
Bokeelia