Expert Guided Inshore Fishing Adventures Santa Rosa Beach
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
4hour morning inshore fishing targeting Redfish and Speckled TroutProfessional captain provides seasonal bait selection and fish cleaning serviceUp to 5 guests experience Santa Rosa Beach waters
Nothing beats the rush of feeling that first tug on your line when you're out on the emerald waters of Santa Rosa Beach. Our 4-hour morning inshore fishing trips are designed for anglers who want to maximize their time on the water without spending the entire day. You'll be targeting some of the Gulf Coast's most sought-after species in the shallow flats and grass beds where these fish love to feed. With up to 5 anglers per boat, there's plenty of room to spread out and everyone gets their shot at landing that keeper-sized redfish or speckled trout.
We launch early to beat the heat and catch the fish during their most active feeding periods. The inshore waters around Santa Rosa Beach offer some of the most productive fishing on Florida's Emerald Coast, and our captains know every oyster bar, grass flat, and drop-off where these fish congregate. You'll be fishing in water depths ranging from 2 to 15 feet, which means you can actually see the bottom and watch your bait work. The boat stays in protected waters, so even if it's a bit choppy offshore, we're still fishing comfortably. Your captain will have all the tackle ready to go, and we'll adjust our bait selection based on what's working best that particular morning - could be live shrimp under popping corks, soft plastics on jig heads, or topwater plugs if the fish are aggressive.
Inshore fishing here is all about finesse and reading the water. We use medium-light spinning tackle that gives you the perfect balance of sensitivity and fighting power. Most of our fishing happens with artificial lures like paddle tails, spoons, and topwater baits, but we always have live and cut bait ready when the fish get picky. You'll learn to work a soft plastic through the grass, how to present a shrimp under a popping cork near structure, and when to throw that topwater plug over a school of feeding trout. The key to success in these shallow waters is stealth - we use a trolling motor to position quietly and make accurate casts to specific targets like oyster bars, dock pilings, and grass edges where predator fish ambush their prey.
Spanish Mackerel are speed demons that'll test your reflexes and drag system. These chrome rockets typically show up in good numbers during the warmer months, especially around bait schools near the beaches and passes. They're suckers for fast-moving spoons and small jigs, and when you hook one, get ready for some serious line-peeling runs. Most Spanish mackerel here run 1-3 pounds, but their aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights make them a blast on light tackle. They're also fantastic table fare when prepared fresh, with firm white meat that's perfect for the grill.
Grey Snapper, or mangrove snapper as the locals call them, are the ultimate structure fish around Santa Rosa Beach. These guys hang tight to oyster bars, dock pilings, and any hard bottom they can find. They're notorious bait stealers with excellent eyesight, so you need to use light leaders and small hooks to fool them consistently. Most of the snapper we catch run 12-16 inches, though keeper-sized fish over 10 inches are common around the better structure. They're incredibly smart fish that will test your patience, but landing a nice mangrove snapper feels like solving a puzzle - and they're absolutely delicious.
Sea Trout, specifically speckled trout, are the bread and butter of inshore fishing here. These beautiful fish with their distinctive spots love the grass flats and can be caught year-round, though spring and fall offer the most consistent action. Specks are ambush predators that rely on their excellent camouflage, and they'll hit everything from topwater plugs at dawn to soft plastics bounced along the bottom. The average fish runs 14-18 inches, with plenty of slot-sized keepers mixed in. What makes trout fishing so addictive is their willingness to bite artificial lures and their reputation as one of the best eating fish in the Gulf.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing, and the Santa Rosa Beach area consistently produces quality reds. These copper-colored bruisers can be found tailing in skinny water or cruising the grass flats in small schools. Bull reds over 27 inches provide heart-stopping fights, while the slot-sized fish between 18-27 inches are perfect for the dinner table. Redfish are incredibly strong fighters that will use their broad shoulders and powerful tails to test your equipment. They're also year-round residents, so whether you're fishing in January or July, there's always a chance of hooking into a red. The sight of a big redfish's bronze back breaking the surface as it crashes your topwater plug is something every angler should experience.
Crevalle Jack might not win any beauty contests, but these fish will humble even experienced anglers with their raw power. Jacks are pure muscle wrapped in silver, and when you hook one, it's going to be a dogfight from start to finish. They travel in schools and can show up anywhere from shallow flats to deeper channels. Most crevalle jack around here run 3-8 pounds, but their fighting ability far exceeds their size. They're perfect for anglers who want to feel their tackle get pushed to the limit, and kids especially love the non-stop action when we find a school of hungry jacks.
South Walton Guide Service has built a reputation for putting clients on fish while showing them the natural beauty of Santa Rosa Beach's inshore waters. Our captains know these waters like their own backyard and adapt to changing conditions to give you the best shot at success. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to target specific species or a family wanting to
This 22' Pathfinder bay boat is your ticket to some serious inshore action along Santa Rosa Beach. Built in 2006 with a reliable 200HP Yamaha engine, she'll cruise at 45 knots to get you to the fish fast. The spacious deck handles up to 5 anglers comfortably while you target redfish and speckled trout in the shallow waters. An onboard fish finder helps locate the hotspots, while the wireless trolling motor lets you sneak up on wary fish without spooking them. The icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh during the 4-hour trip. GPS navigation ensures you hit all the productive spots along Florida's emerald coast. Whether you're casting for bull reds in the grass flats or working structure for sheephead, this proven bay boat delivers the perfect platform for inshore fishing success.
Caranx HipposJack Crevalle are the bulldogs of our waters - powerful, aggressive fish that average 12-24 inches and 3-5 pounds, though they can get much bigger. These brassy-green fighters with bright yellow tails are found both inshore around grass flats and offshore near structure. They school up and hunt aggressively, especially during warmer months. Guests love jacks because they fight like fish twice their size, pulling drag and testing your tackle. While they're not the best eating, they're pure fun to catch. Look for diving birds - jacks push baitfish to the surface where birds attack from above. Silver spoons, topwater plugs, and fast-moving jigs work great. Local tip: when you find a school, cast past them and retrieve fast - these bullies love the chase and won't hesitate to hammer a lure moving at high speed.
Lutjanus GriseusGrey Snappers, also called Mangrove Snappers, are smart, structure-loving fish that usually run 10-14 inches and 1-2 pounds inshore, though bigger ones lurk in deeper water. They're greyish-red with a dark stripe through the eye and hang around docks, mangroves, oyster bars, and any cover they can find. These guys are most active at night and during moving tides. Guests love them because they're excellent eating - white, flaky meat that's hard to beat - and they're challenging to catch due to their cautious nature. They're opportunistic feeders but can be finicky. My go-to trick is to use live shrimp hooked through the tail on a 4J hook, let it sink to the bottom, then reel up just a foot or two. Keep it still - too much movement spooks them. Patience pays off with these tasty fish.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our inshore fishing, easily recognized by their copper-red backs and distinctive black spots near the tail. They typically run 18-27 inches and 3-8 pounds, with "bull reds" reaching much larger sizes. These fish love shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out - around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangroves. They're year-round residents but fish best in spring and fall. Guests love redfish because they fight hard, make great table fare with mild, sweet meat, and are fun to sight-fish in skinny water. They'll eat almost anything - live shrimp, cut bait, spoons, topwater plugs, and soft plastics. Here's a local secret: look for nervous water or tailing fish on calm mornings. Approach quietly and cast beyond them, then work your bait back slowly. Redfish spook easily in shallow water.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are one of our most popular inshore targets, typically measuring 14-20 inches and weighing 1-3 pounds. These spotted beauties have soft, white meat that's delicious but delicate - don't overcook it or it gets mushy. They love grass flats, shallow bays, and drop-offs where they ambush shrimp and small fish. Spring through fall are prime times, especially around dawn and dusk. Trout are great fighters with explosive strikes and acrobatic jumps. They respond well to artificial lures like soft plastics, topwater plugs, and spoons. During warmer months, work the grass flats in 2-4 feet of water. In winter, they move to deeper channels and holes. Pro tip: when using live shrimp under a popping cork, let it drift naturally with the current - trout hate anything that looks unnatural.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish Mackerel are sleek, fast-moving fish that typically run 12-20 inches and 1-3 pounds in our waters. You'll spot them by their silver sides with yellow spots scattered across their body. They love warm water and show up consistently from late spring through fall, often schooling near the surface around structure or following bait schools. These speed demons put up a great fight for their size and make excellent table fare - mild, flaky meat that's perfect grilled or blackened. They feed aggressively on small fish, shrimp, and squid. Here's a local trick: when you see diving birds working, get your small spoons or jigs ready and cast just outside the commotion. Spanish Mackerel will often be underneath feeding on the same baitfish the birds are hitting.
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