Inshore Fishing Escapes: Santa Rosa FL
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour private inshore fishing adventure for up to four guestsProfessional equipment and center console boats ensure efficient fishingSpacious coolers provided for personal drinks and snacks storage
When you're looking for a top-rated inshore fishing adventure along Florida's Emerald Coast, Strictly Business Fishing Charters delivers the real deal. Our 6-hour private trips put you right where the action is – in the productive backcountry waters around Santa Rosa, where Spanish mackerel, redfish, and sea trout are biting year-round. We keep groups small at just 4 anglers max, so you'll get personalized attention and plenty of room to fish comfortably. Our center console boats are built for these waters, giving us the speed to cover ground and the shallow draft to get into those honey holes where the fish stack up.
Your day starts early with a meet-up at the dock, where you'll step aboard one of our clean, well-maintained center consoles rigged with everything you need. We're talking quality rods and reels matched to the species we're targeting, plus all the safety gear required by the Coast Guard. The boat's spacious coolers keep your drinks and snacks cold all day – just bring whatever you want to munch on between fish. Don't forget the basics like a good hat, polarized sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen. The Florida sun reflects hard off the water, and you'll be out there for six solid hours. We'll cruise out to the first spot while going over the game plan, and from there it's all about putting fish in the cooler. These aren't rush trips – six hours gives us time to work multiple areas and adjust tactics based on what the fish are doing.
Inshore fishing around Santa Rosa is all about reading the water and adapting your approach. We'll be working grass flats, oyster bars, and deeper channels where baitfish congregate and predators follow. Live bait is king out here – we'll rig up with shrimp, pinfish, and cut bait depending on what we're after. For redfish, we might sight-cast to tailing fish in skinny water, while sea trout often require a more finesse approach with soft plastics bounced along the bottom. Spanish mackerel love fast-moving spoons and small jigs, especially when we find them busting bait on the surface. The beauty of these center console boats is versatility – we can fish structure in 15 feet of water, then quickly move to shallow flats less than 3 feet deep. Our fish finder and GPS keep us on productive bottom, but local knowledge is what really makes the difference. After years of fishing these waters, we know which spots produce during different tides, seasons, and weather conditions.
Spanish mackerel are the speed demons of the inshore world, hitting baits with aggressive strikes that'll wake you up fast. These fish typically run 1-3 pounds around Santa Rosa, with the occasional 4-pounder that'll really bend your rod. They're most active during warmer months from late spring through early fall, often found near structure or chasing baitfish in open water. What makes them exciting is their fighting style – they'll make blistering runs and jump clear out of the water. Plus, they're excellent table fare when prepared fresh.
Black drum are the bulldogs of the flats, using their powerful bodies and strong tails to test your drag system. These fish can range from 5-pound "puppy drum" up to 30-pound brutes that'll give you a serious workout. They're year-round residents but really turn on during cooler months when they school up around oyster bars and deeper holes. Black drum are bottom feeders with excellent noses, so fresh shrimp and crab are top baits. The fight is all about power – they don't jump, but they'll pull steady and hard, making multiple runs toward structure.
Sheepshead are the pickpockets of the inshore world, known for stealing bait with surgical precision. These black-and-white striped fish average 2-4 pounds but can reach 8 pounds or more. They're structure-oriented, hanging around pilings, docks, and oyster bars where they feed on barnacles, crabs, and shrimp. Winter and early spring are prime time for sheepshead fishing, when they move shallow to spawn. They require finesse and patience – light tackle, small hooks, and the ability to detect subtle bites. Once hooked, they'll try to cut you off in the structure they call home.
Sea trout are the bread-and-butter species of inshore fishing, reliable biters that respond well to both live and artificial baits. These spotted beauties typically run 1-3 pounds, with occasional "gator trout" pushing 5 pounds or better. They prefer grass flats and sandy bottoms, especially areas with good water flow. Spring and fall are peak times, though you can catch them year-round in Florida waters. Sea trout have soft mouths, so steady pressure rather than aggressive hook-sets is key. They're also one of the best eating fish in the Gulf, with white, flaky meat that's perfect for the dinner table.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore angling, combining size, fight, and beauty in one bronze package. These copper-colored bruisers average 5-15 pounds but can exceed 30 pounds when we find the big schools. They're most active in fall and winter, though Santa Rosa's year-round fishery means there's always a chance. Reds are ambush predators that love shallow water, often feeding in just inches of depth. When hooked, they make powerful runs and use their broad sides to fight in the current. The sight of a big red's back out of the water while feeding is something every angler should experience.
This customer-favorite charter combines world-class inshore fishing with the personalized service that keeps anglers coming back season after season. Six hours
Hit the waters of Santa Rosa in our restored 23ft Cape Horn center console, your ticket to prime fishing spots along Florida's Emerald Coast. This bay boat packs a Yamaha 225HP punch, cutting through the Gulf at speeds up to 45 knots to get you on the fish fast. Built for up to 4 anglers, she's loaded with everything you need – GPS to navigate the flats, fish finder to locate the action, and a roomy icebox for your catch and cold drinks. The center console design gives everyone plenty of casting room while keeping you stable in choppy conditions. Recently restored in 2020, this reliable fishing machine handles both shallow inshore waters and nearshore runs with ease. We've got the rods, reels, and safety gear covered, so just bring your appetite for redfish, trout, and whatever else is biting in these productive Gulf waters.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweight champions of the inshore scene, commonly running 10-30 pounds with monsters pushing 50+ pounds. These gray-black bruisers have powerful crushing jaws and love hanging around oyster bars, muddy flats, and bridge pilings. Spring is prime time when they school up to spawn - February through May gives you the best shot at multiple hookups. They're bottom feeders, so you'll be fishing right on the deck with cut crab, shrimp, or clams. What guests love is the pure pulling power - these fish will test your arms and drag system. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are great table fare with firm white meat, while the big ones are better released. Here's the key: use circle hooks and fresh crab bait. When you feel that subtle tap-tap, don't set the hook hard - just start reeling steady and let that circle hook do its job.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the copper-colored kings of our shallow flats, easily spotted by that signature black spot near the tail. Most run 18-27 inches and 3-8 pounds, with bigger "bull" reds offshore. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Look for them around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines. Fall is prime time when they school up and get aggressive, though we catch them year-round. What guests love is their power and attitude - they'll make screaming runs and never give up easy. Plus, the slot-sized ones are fantastic eating with mild, firm meat. Here's my bread-and-butter technique: sight fishing with gold spoons in 1-3 feet of water. Cast past a cruising fish and retrieve across their path. When they eat it, hold on tight - they're going to make a run for deep water every single time.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are beautiful silver fish with distinctive black spots running 14-20 inches and 1-4 pounds. They're grass flat specialists, cruising shallow bays and around creek mouths where shrimp and baitfish gather. Fall and spring offer the most consistent action, though summer nights can be magic under the lights. What makes trout special is their willingness to hit topwater lures - nothing beats that explosive surface strike at dawn. They're also excellent table fare with delicate, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. The key is not overcooking them. Here's my local secret: focus on moving water around grass flats during tide changes. Use soft plastics like DOA shrimp under popping corks, and work them slow. When you hook one, others are usually nearby, so stay put and work the area thoroughly.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of our inshore waters with those distinctive black stripes and human-like teeth. Most run 2-8 pounds and 14-18 inches, though we see some thick 10+ pounders around deep structure. They're structure junkies - any dock piling, bridge, or oyster bar covered in barnacles is prime real estate. Winter and early spring are money time when they stack up to spawn. What makes them challenging and fun is they're notorious bait thieves with incredible bite detection. They'll clean your hook without you feeling a thing. The payoff is some of the sweetest white meat you'll ever taste. My go-to trick: use small hooks, fresh fiddler crabs, and keep your bait tight to the structure. When you feel that subtle nibble, don't hesitate - set the hook immediately before they steal your lunch.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish Mackerel are fast, silver torpedoes that typically run 1-3 pounds and 14-20 inches, though bigger ones hit 5+ pounds. You'll spot them by their yellow oval spots and that distinctive greenish back. They love cruising near the surface in large schools, especially around structure and baitfish. Spring through fall is prime time here on the Emerald Coast - they follow the bait inshore when waters warm up. What makes them fun is that explosive strike and their speed - they'll test your drag for sure. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish we catch - perfect for grilling with that mild, flaky white meat. Pro tip: when you see diving birds or surface action, get there fast but don't motor right through the school. Cut the engine about 100 yards out and drift into casting range with small spoons or live bait.
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