Full Day St. James City Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full day 8hour inshore fishing adventure with Captain AustinTarget Snook, Redfish, Trout, and Snapper from center console boatAll fishing gear and licenses included for up to 4 guests
When you're ready to experience some of the best inshore fishing Florida has to offer, Captain Austin's full-day charter in St. James City is where serious anglers head. This isn't your typical half-day rush job – we're talking about a solid 8 hours on the water, giving you real time to work the flats, target structure, and put some serious fish in the cooler. St. James City sits right at the heart of Pine Island Sound, where the grass flats meet deeper channels and the fishing stays hot year-round. You'll fish from a top-rated center console that handles up to 4 anglers comfortably, with all your tackle, bait, and licenses handled so you can focus on what matters – hooking up.
This full-day trip starts early when the bite is best and the water's still calm. Captain Austin knows these waters like the back of his hand – from the shallow grass beds where snook ambush baitfish to the deeper holes where gag grouper stack up. You'll cover serious ground in 8 hours, moving between spots based on tide, weather, and where the fish are showing up that day. The center console gives us the versatility to run skinny water for reds and trout, then quickly move to structure for snapper and grouper. Expect to use everything from live shrimp under popping corks to cut bait on the bottom, depending on what we're targeting. This isn't a sit-in-one-spot kind of day – we're constantly adjusting and moving to stay on the bite.
All your tackle comes with the trip, from light spinning gear for trout and reds to heavier conventional setups when we're pulling grouper off the bottom. We'll work live bait when the fish are finicky – nothing beats a frisky shrimp or pinfish when snook are being picky around structure. When the bite is aggressive, we'll throw artificials like soft plastics, spoons, and topwater plugs that really get your heart pumping when fish blow up on them. The boat's rigged with a solid fish box, plenty of rod storage, and all the terminal tackle you'll need. Captain Austin keeps fresh bait on board and knows exactly which presentations work best for each species we're targeting. Whether we're sight-casting to tailing reds or bottom fishing for grouper, you'll learn techniques that'll make you a better angler.
Gag Grouper are the heavyweight champions of this trip, and St. James City's structure holds some real quality fish. These guys live around hard bottom, ledges, and artificial reefs, typically ranging from 15-25 pounds but with plenty of bigger fish in the mix. Spring and fall are prime time for gags when they're feeding heavily before and after spawning season. What makes them so exciting is the fight – they'll immediately try to get back to their hole, so you've got to muscle them up fast. Plus, they're absolutely phenomenal table fare with firm, white meat that's perfect for grouper sandwiches or blackened filets.
Snook are the crown jewel of Florida inshore fishing, and the mangrove shorelines around St. James City hold some real bruisers. These ambush predators love structure – docks, mangrove roots, bridges, anywhere they can hide and attack baitfish. Summer months bring the best snook action when they're most active, though you can catch them year-round here. A big snook hitting a topwater plug is pure adrenaline – they'll explode on the surface, jump, and run hard for cover. They're also one of the smartest fish you'll target, so when you fool a big one, you've really accomplished something.
Tarpon earn their nickname as the "Silver King" and for good reason – these prehistoric fish can reach over 100 pounds and will test every piece of tackle you've got. St. James City's deeper channels and passes see tarpon from spring through fall, with summer being peak season. When you hook a tarpon, everything else stops – these fish jump repeatedly, often completely clearing the water, and their runs can peel hundreds of yards of line in seconds. Even smaller tarpon in the 30-50 pound range will give you a workout you won't forget. Most anglers practice catch and release with tarpon since they're primarily sport fish.
Redfish, or "reds" as locals call them, are the bread and butter of inshore fishing around here. These copper-colored bulldogs cruise the grass flats and oyster bars, often in schools that'll keep you busy for hours. Fall brings some of the best redfish action when they school up in massive numbers. What makes reds special is their willingness to eat almost anything – live bait, artificials, even topwater lures when they're really fired up. A slot-sized red (18-27 inches) makes for phenomenal eating, while the bigger "bull" reds over the slot provide serious tackle-testing fights.
Ladyfish might not win any beauty contests, but these scrappy fighters will keep your rod bent when other species aren't cooperating. They're incredibly acrobatic, jumping and tail-walking across the surface when hooked. Ladyfish school up around structure and bait pods, often indicating that bigger predators are nearby. They hit hard and fight way above their weight class, making them perfect action fish when you want constant bites. Many anglers use them as live bait for tarpon and big snook, but they're entertaining enough on their own to keep things interesting during slower periods.
This full-day fishing adventure gives you the complete St. James City experience – from shallow water sight fishing to deep structure techniques, all with a renowned local captain who knows exactly where to find fish. Eight hours on the water means you're not rushed, you'll learn new techniques, and you'll
This freshly restored 2023 Cobia center console is your ticket to some serious fishing around St. James City's productive waters. At 21 feet with a reliable 200HP Yamaha pushing you along at up to 50 knots, you'll cover plenty of ground chasing snook, redfish, trout, and snapper during your full day out there. The boat comfortably handles 4 anglers and comes loaded with everything you need - GPS to find the hotspots, fish finder to locate the action below, and an icebox to keep your catch fresh and drinks cold. The wireless trolling motor lets Captain Austin position you quietly over structure without spooking the fish. Whether you're targeting inshore species around the mangroves or heading to deeper water for grouper, this setup gives you the range and comfort to make the most of your 8-hour adventure on Florida's gulf coast waters.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag grouper are solid fighters that love hanging around rocky structure and offshore reefs. Most run 20-24 inches, but we see some bruisers up to 50 pounds. They're not the prettiest fish - kind of gray and mottled - but they make up for it with how hard they pull. These guys will try to drag your bait straight back to their hole, so once you hook up, keep that drag tight and don't give them any slack. They hit live pinfish and mullet best, but cut bait works too. Spring through fall is prime time when they're more active. What makes them popular is the steady fight and great table fare - firm, white meat that's perfect for grouper sandwiches. Pro tip: fish near stone crab traps since gags love hanging around crabs.
Elops SaurusLadyfish might not win beauty contests, but they're pure fun on light tackle. These silver torpedoes average 12-20 inches and are related to tarpon - you'll see why once you hook one. They jump and thrash like crazy, earning them the nickname "poor man's tarpon." You'll find them in bays, canals, and along beaches year-round. They're not great eating due to all the small bones, but kids and beginners love catching them because they're aggressive and always willing to bite. They school up and hit just about anything - live shrimp, small jigs, flies, even cut bait. When you find one, there's usually more around. Pro tip: use a wire leader or heavy mono since their small teeth can cut through light line during all that jumping and thrashing.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are perfect for sight fishing in our shallow waters. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches, but the big bulls offshore can hit 40+ inches. You'll spot them by that signature black spot near the tail and copper-bronze coloring. They love super shallow flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines - sometimes in water so thin their backs show. Year-round fishing here, but fall and spring offer the best action when they school up. What's great about reds is they're not picky eaters and fight hard with powerful runs. Plus they're excellent table fare with sweet, firm meat. Live shrimp is deadly, but they'll crush topwater plugs too. Best tip: look for tailing fish in shallow water and make your cast ahead of where they're moving.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most prized inshore gamefish, and for good reason. They average 24-28 inches but can push 40+ inches when conditions are right. These silver-sided beauties with that distinctive black lateral line love structure - docks, mangroves, bridges, anywhere they can ambush baitfish. They're very temperature sensitive, so warmer months from May through September give you the best action. What gets anglers hooked is their explosive topwater strikes and acrobatic jumps once hooked. They're also excellent eating with sweet, flaky white meat. Snook are smart and can be finicky, so live shrimp or pinfish work best. Here's the key: when fishing around structure, keep your bait presentation natural and be ready for that sudden strike.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings of our waters - pure adrenaline on a fishing rod. These giants average 80-100 pounds but can hit 200+ pounds. What makes them special isn't just their size, but those aerial acrobatics when hooked. They'll jump 6-8 feet out of the water trying to throw your hook. We find them in shallow flats, channels, and around bridges, usually in 10-40 feet of water. Late spring through summer is peak season when they migrate through our area. Most anglers practice catch and release since they're not great eating - too many bones and strong flavor. Live crabs and mullet work best for bait. The secret is keeping your rod tip low when they jump - don't try to muscle them or you'll lose them every time.
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