St Petersburg 10 Hour Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Tenhour private charter accommodates up to four guests maximum.Targets Snook, Redfish, Snapper, Tarpon using multiple fishing techniques.All tackle, bait, licenses included with AprilAugust season.
Get ready for a full day on Tampa Bay's most productive inshore waters. This 10-hour private charter puts you and up to three buddies on prime fishing grounds where snook, redfish, tarpon, and mackerel roam year-round. Running from mid-April through August 1st, this extended trip gives you serious time to work the flats, grass beds, and structure that make St Pete a world-class inshore destination. At $1,200 for your group, you're getting a top-rated guide who knows these waters like the back of his hand, plus all the gear, bait, and licenses you need to make it happen.
This isn't your typical half-day rush job. Ten hours means we can chase the tides, hit multiple spots, and really dial in on what's biting. You'll start early to catch the morning bite, work through the midday lulls with technique adjustments, and finish strong as the evening feed kicks in. The beauty of St Petersburg's inshore scene is the variety - one minute you're sight-casting to tailing redfish in two feet of water, the next you're working a channel edge for snapper or watching tarpon roll in the distance. Your captain will read the conditions and move accordingly, whether that means hitting the shallow grass flats on a rising tide or working deeper structure when the fish go down. The relaxed pace means more time to learn, more shots at quality fish, and way less pressure to produce in a short window.
You'll fish with light tackle that lets you feel every bump and run - typically 15-20 pound spinning gear that's perfect for the mixed bag you're targeting. Depending on what's happening, your guide will set you up with live bait like pilchards, pinfish, or shrimp for the natural presentation that big snook and redfish can't resist. When the bite calls for it, you'll switch to artificials - soft plastics, topwater plugs, and spoons that cover water fast and trigger reaction strikes. Bottom fishing comes into play around structure for snapper, while trolling lets you cover ground and pick off mackerel or surprise tarpon. If conditions are right and you're up for it, fly fishing opportunities pop up regularly, especially when reds are tailing or snook are busting bait in shallow water. Every rod, reel, and piece of terminal tackle is included, along with your Florida fishing license, so you just need to show up ready to learn and catch fish.
Spanish mackerel are the speed demons of the inshore scene here, typically running 1-3 pounds of pure silver lightning. They show up in good numbers from late spring through summer, often found around bait schools in 8-15 feet of water. What makes them special is their willingness to hit just about anything that moves - small spoons, jigs, even flies - and their blistering runs that'll test your drag settings. Snook are the crown jewel of Florida inshore fishing, and St Pete's bridges, mangroves, and passes hold some beautiful fish. These ambush predators can reach 30+ inches and are famous for their gill-rattling jumps and stubborn fights. They're most active during warmer months and love structure, making them perfect targets for this extended charter format.
Grey snapper bring the table fare factor to your trip, typically running 12-18 inches around local structure and offshore patches. They're bottom dwellers with serious attitude - you'll feel every head shake and dive for cover. What's cool about snapper fishing here is the consistency; when you find them, you usually find them in numbers. Tarpon are the holy grail - these silver kings can exceed 100 pounds and are known for aerial displays that'll leave you speechless. St Petersburg's passes and bridges are renowned tarpon waters, especially during migration periods. Even smaller tarpon in the 20-40 pound range provide world-class sport on light tackle.
Redfish complete the inshore slam and are arguably the most exciting to target. These copper-colored bruisers love shallow water, often cruising grass flats and oyster bars where you can sight-cast to them. A good red will pull like a freight train, making long runs and using every bit of available cover. The slot-size fish here typically run 18-27 inches, perfect eating size, while the oversized bulls provide pure sport and photo opportunities.
This 10-hour charter represents serious value for groups who want to experience the best of St Petersburg inshore fishing without feeling rushed. The season runs April 15th through August 1st, hitting prime time for all target species when water temperatures and bait activity peak. At $300 per angler for a full day with a customer favorite guide service, you're getting professional instruction, quality gear, and access to fishing grounds that produce year after year. Sports Coast Fishing has built their reputation on putting clients on fish while teaching techniques that'll make you a better angler long after the trip ends. Remember that deposits are non-refundable, so plan accordingly, but also know you're booking with a outfit that delivers on their promises. Whether you're looking to check species off your bucket list, learn new techniques, or just enjoy a full day away from the grind, this extended inshore adventure gives you the time and expertise to make it happen.
Your fishing platform for this 10-hour St Petersburg adventure is a well-equipped 24' Tidewater bay boat that's built to handle everything from shallow grass flats to nearshore structure. The Yamaha 250 HP engine gets you to the fish quickly, while the wireless trolling motor lets you work the shallows silently when targeting spooky redfish and snook. Quality electronics including GPS and fish finder help locate productive spots, whether you're bottom fishing for snapper or sight-casting to cruising tarpon. The spacious deck gives all four anglers room to work without getting tangled up, and there's plenty of storage for tackle and an icebox to keep your catch fresh. With a multimedia system onboard, you can stay connected or just enjoy some tunes between hookups. This boat handles the diverse inshore waters around St Pete perfectly, from mangrove shorelines to deeper channels where mackerel and larger species roam.
Lutjanus GriseusGrey snapper, or mangrove snapper, are smart, opportunistic fish that usually run 10-14 inches and 1-2 pounds inshore, though bigger ones lurk in deeper water. They love structure - docks, mangroves, oyster bars, and rock piles where they can ambush prey. These copper-colored fish with the dark eye stripe are most active at night but feed throughout our season. What makes them special is their wariness and excellent table fare - sweet, white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. They're nocturnal by nature, so low-light periods often produce the best action. My go-to technique: use a light fluorocarbon leader and let your live shrimp sit still near the bottom. Too much movement spooks these smart fish, so patience pays off.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails, typically running 20-30 inches and 5-15 pounds inshore. They cruise super shallow flats, sometimes with their backs out of the water, feeding around oyster bars, mangroves, and grass beds. Peak season coincides perfectly with our trips when they're most active in warming water. What makes them special is their powerful runs and great table fare - mild, sweet meat that's perfect for blackening. They're sight-fishing favorites, often "tailing" in inches of water while rooting for crabs. Pro tip: approach quietly and cast well ahead of moving fish. Redfish spook easily in shallow water, so keep the boat back and make long, accurate casts with soft plastics or live shrimp.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the crown jewel of inshore fishing here - sleek predators with that distinctive black lateral line and golden color. Most run 18-28 inches, but the big girls can push 40+ inches and really test your drag. They live around mangroves, docks, bridges, and oyster bars in shallow water, ambushing bait with explosive strikes. Our season runs perfectly with their most active feeding period from late spring through summer. What hooks anglers is their powerful runs and acrobatic jumps, plus they're fantastic eating with sweet, white meat. These fish are structure-oriented and spook easily, so quiet approaches work best. Here's the key: when you find one snook, there are usually more nearby, so work the area thoroughly with soft plastics or live shrimp.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are fast, aggressive fish that average 1-2 feet and 3-5 pounds around St. Pete waters. They travel in schools near the surface, making them perfect for light tackle trolling or casting spoons. These silver speedsters with yellow spots are most active during our season from April through August when water temps climb. What makes them great targets is their willingness to hit lures hard and their excellent table fare - mild, flaky meat that grills beautifully. You'll find them around structure, grass flats, and channels where baitfish gather. My tip: when you hook into a school, work fast and keep your lures moving. They'll stay fired up for multiple hookups if you don't spook them with the boat.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate gamefish - silver kings that can reach 4-6 feet and 80-150 pounds in our waters. These prehistoric fish roll and jump like nothing else, often launching 10 feet out of the water when hooked. They migrate through Tampa Bay from late spring through summer, feeding in shallow flats, channels, and around structure. What draws anglers from everywhere is their raw power and aerial displays - pure adrenaline on light tackle. They're catch-and-release only due to their bony meat and conservation status. You'll spot them rolling on the surface or see their massive shadows on shallow flats. Key tip: when a tarpon jumps, bow to the fish by lowering your rod tip toward them - keeps tension off and prevents the hook from pulling out during their spectacular leaps.
Hudson FL