6 Hour Afternoon Fishing Trip - Choctawhatchee Bay
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore fishing trip targeting multiple bay speciesCaptainguided experience covers grass flats and oyster bedsAll tackle provided with techniques for every skill level
If you're looking to really put some time in on the water and experience what Choctawhatchee Bay has to offer, this 6-hour afternoon trip with Captain Dalton Spitzer is exactly what you need. Departing from Freeport, FL, you'll spend a solid half-day fishing some of the most productive inshore waters along Florida's 30A region. This isn't a quick sampler trip – you're getting real time to work different spots, try various techniques, and adapt as conditions change throughout the afternoon. The bay's calm waters make it perfect for anglers of all experience levels, and with Spitzer Outfitters providing all the gear, you just need to show up ready to fish.
Choctawhatchee Bay is a massive estuary system that stays relatively protected, which means you're not dealing with the rough seas that can mess up offshore trips. Captain Dalton knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll move you around to hit grass flats, oyster beds, and structure where fish like to hang out. The 6-hour window gives you a real advantage – instead of rushing from spot to spot, you can take time to work an area properly, especially when the bite gets hot. You'll cover way more ground than shorter trips, and that extra time means better odds of finding cooperative fish. The afternoon timing works great too, as you'll fish through different light conditions and potentially hit an evening bite that can be absolutely lights-out. With up to 4 anglers on board, there's plenty of room to spread out and everyone gets quality fishing time without feeling crowded.
You'll be fishing with light tackle setups that are perfect for the inshore species that call this bay home. Captain Dalton will have you working with spinning gear loaded with braided line and fluorocarbon leaders – the kind of setup that gives you great sensitivity to feel those subtle bites while still having enough backbone to handle bigger fish. Depending on what's biting and where you're fishing, you might be throwing soft plastics around structure, working topwater plugs over grass flats, or bouncing jigs along the bottom for black drum and flounder. The beauty of having 6 hours is that you can really dial in different techniques instead of just sticking with one approach. You'll learn how to read the water, understand why fish position themselves in certain areas, and pick up skills that'll make you a better angler long after the trip ends. All the tackle is included, from rods and reels to a full selection of lures and baits.
The target species list for this Choctawhatchee Bay trip reads like a who's who of premier inshore gamefish. Redfish are the bread and butter here – these copper-colored bruisers love the shallow flats and oyster bars throughout the bay. They're aggressive feeders and put up a serious fight on light tackle, often making powerful runs that'll test your drag system. Sea trout (speckled trout) are another staple, and they're absolutely delicious table fare if you decide to keep a few for dinner. These fish are structure-oriented and love grass beds where they can ambush baitfish. Black drum are the heavyweights of the group, with mature fish capable of reaching 20+ pounds and providing arm-burning battles. Spanish mackerel bring the speed factor – these silvery rockets will absolutely smoke your drag when they hit, and they're known for their acrobatic jumps. Finally, flounder are the masters of camouflage, lying flat on sandy bottoms and providing excellent eating for those looking to take home a meal.
Redfish are hands down one of the most popular inshore species in the Gulf Coast, and Choctawhatchee Bay holds plenty of them year-round. These fish typically range from 18 to 30 inches in this system, with the occasional oversized bull red that'll really test your skills. They're most active during moving tides and love to cruise shallow flats looking for crabs and shrimp. What makes reds so exciting is their aggressive nature – when they eat, they eat hard, and the initial run can be absolutely explosive on light tackle.
Sea trout are the perfect target species for this bay system, thriving in the grass beds and slightly deeper pockets throughout the area. These fish are most active during cooler months but can be caught year-round with the right approach. They typically run 14 to 20 inches here, with occasional specimens pushing into the 5-pound range. Trout have excellent eyesight and can be finicky, making them a great species for learning proper lure presentation and retrieve techniques.
Black drum are the workhorses of the bay, often found around oyster bars and hard bottom areas where they root around for shellfish and crabs. These fish can live for decades and grow quite large, with fish over 40 inches not uncommon in these waters. They're strongest during spring months but provide consistent action throughout most of the year. The fight they provide on light tackle is methodical and powerful – less flashy than a redfish but absolutely relentless.
Spanish mackerel bring pure excitement to any inshore trip, especially during their seasonal runs through the bay. These fish are built for speed, with razor-sharp teeth and an attitude to match. They typically range from 12 to 20 inches and are most abundant during warmer months when baitfish are plentiful. When a school of Spanish mackerel moves through, the action can be absolutely non-stop, with multiple hookups and fish jumping all over the place.
This 6-hour afternoon trip represents some of the best value fishing you'll find in the Freeport area. You're getting extended time on productive water with an experienced local captain who
This 2007 Ranger 23' bay boat is your ticket to some serious fishing action on Choctawhatchee Bay. Powered by a reliable Yamaha 250hp engine, she cuts through the water smooth and steady, getting you to the fish fast and keeping you comfortable during those long 6-hour trips. The 23-foot frame gives you plenty of room to move around while fighting redfish and speckled trout, with space for up to 4 anglers to spread out without bumping elbows. The onboard fish finder helps locate schools hanging around grass flats and oyster beds, while GPS keeps you on the productive spots. An icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh during those hot Florida afternoons. Built specifically for bay and inshore waters, this boat handles the shallows where the big drum and flounder like to hide, giving you access to prime fishing grounds other boats can't reach.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of the bay, averaging 10-25 pounds with some bruisers pushing 40+. They cruise shallow oyster beds and muddy flats using their powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - you'll actually hear them drumming underwater. These fish are pure muscle and will test your tackle with bulldogging runs. Smaller ones under 15 pounds make great table fare with firm white meat. The big ones are better released since the meat gets tough. Here's the trick: use fresh blue crab on a circle hook and fish it right on the bottom near oyster bars. Be patient - they take their time inspecting bait before committing.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the signature catch of our shallow waters, averaging 18-27 inches with that distinctive black spot and copper-bronze color. They cruise oyster bars, grass flats, and shallow shorelines in just 1-4 feet - sometimes so shallow their backs show above water. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and winter bring the best numbers when they school up. These fish fight like trucks, making powerful runs and using their broad sides to pull drag. The meat on slot-sized fish is sweet and mild, perfect for blackening. What guests love most is sight-fishing to tailing reds in skinny water. Local secret: look for nervous water over oyster beds during moving tides and pitch a gold spoon just past the disturbance.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our bay fishing, typically running 12-20 inches with some nice gator trout hitting 4-5 pounds. They love grass flats in 3-8 feet of water, especially around drop-offs and potholes. Cool weather from fall through early spring brings the best action when they school up tight. These fish are scrappy fighters with a soft mouth, so keep steady pressure without horsing them. The white, flaky meat is some of the best eating you'll find - just don't overcook it. Pro tip: work a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork over the grass beds during moving tides. The popping sound draws them in from a distance, and that slow fall gets them every time.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are fast, schooling fish that average 1-3 pounds and run in large groups near the surface. You'll spot their silvery bodies with yellow spots cutting through the water around grass flats and drop-offs in 10-30 feet. They're most active during warmer months when bait schools move through the bay. What makes them special is their speed - they hit hard and make screaming runs that'll test your drag. The meat is excellent eating with a mild flavor that's perfect grilled or smoked. My tip: when you see birds working or bait jumping, get there fast and cast small spoons or jigs ahead of the school. Don't motor right into them or you'll scatter the whole bunch.
Choctawhatchee Bay