Kids First Fishing Trip at Santa Rosa Beach
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Kidfriendly inshore fishing designed for ages 12 and underTwohour private charter accommodates up to four guestsProfessional crew provides safe educational fishing experience
Looking to get your little ones hooked on fishing? Hog Town Bayou Lane in Santa Rosa Beach is the perfect spot to introduce kids to the sport they'll love for life. Strictly Business Fishing Charters runs these specially designed 2-hour trips for children 12 and under, keeping things fun, educational, and safe on the water. The shallow inshore waters around Santa Rosa Beach are ideal for young anglers - calm enough to keep everyone comfortable while still packed with fish that love to bite. Your crew knows exactly how to work with kids, keeping their attention with action-packed fishing while teaching them the basics they need to know.
This isn't your typical fishing charter - it's designed from the ground up for kids. The trip starts right from Hog Town Bayou Lane, where you'll meet your captain and get the kids set up with properly sized gear. The boat heads out into the protected inshore waters where the conditions stay manageable and the fish are plentiful. Your captain will find spots where the action comes fast and steady, perfect for keeping young attention spans engaged. The crew handles all the technical stuff like finding fish and setting up rigs, so parents can focus on helping their kids and capturing those priceless first-fish moments. With a maximum of 4 guests, there's plenty of room for everyone to fish comfortably without feeling crowded.
The beauty of inshore fishing for kids lies in its simplicity. Light spinning tackle makes it easy for small hands to manage, while the fish in these waters fight hard enough to get kids excited without overpowering them. Your crew uses proven techniques like bottom fishing with live and cut bait, which produces steady action perfect for beginners. They'll set up simple but effective rigs - usually a Carolina rig or fish finder setup that lets kids feel every bite. The shallow grass flats, oyster bars, and channel edges around Santa Rosa Beach hold different species throughout the day, so there's always somewhere productive to try. Kids learn basic casting, how to feel for bites, and proper fish handling techniques that'll serve them well for years to come.
Redfish are the bread and butter of inshore fishing around Santa Rosa Beach, and kids love them for good reason. These copper-colored fighters typically run 16-24 inches in the shallows, perfect for young anglers to handle. They feed aggressively in the grass flats year-round, though spring and fall offer the most consistent action. When a redfish takes the bait, it makes that distinctive run that gets kids shouting with excitement. They're also forgiving fish - they bite well during the day and aren't too finicky about presentation.
Spanish Mackerel show up in good numbers during the warmer months, usually from late spring through early fall. These silver speedsters rarely exceed 2 pounds but make up for size with pure energy. Kids get a kick out of their lightning-fast strikes and the way they jump and dart around the boat. They school up around baitfish, so when you find one, you'll often catch several. The key is using small baits and keeping them moving - something that teaches kids about varying their retrieve.
Cobia are the surprise stars of these trips when they show up. These brown sharks look-alikes can appear anytime from spring through fall, often following stingrays in the shallows. While most cobia caught inshore run 20-40 pounds, smaller ones occasionally bite, and even a 15-pounder feels like a monster to a 10-year-old. They're curious fish that sometimes come right up to the boat to investigate, giving kids a close-up look at one of the Gulf's most exciting species.
Black Drum provide steady action throughout the year, especially around structure like oyster bars and bridge pilings. These dark-colored bottom dwellers use their pharyngeal teeth to crush oysters and crabs, so they bite best on natural baits. They typically range from 12-20 inches around Santa Rosa Beach, making them perfect for kids to handle. Their slow, steady pull teaches young anglers patience and proper fish-fighting technique. Plus, they're excellent eating when prepared right.
Red Snapper season brings special excitement to these waters, though the season timing changes yearly based on regulations. When open, these crimson beauties provide some of the most memorable catches for kids. They inhabit deeper structure and artificial reefs accessible from Santa Rosa Beach, typically running 12-16 inches for the ones kids can keep. Their bright red color and excellent table fare make them a favorite target. They bite well on live and dead bait, and their fight combines power with dogged determination that teaches kids persistence.
Getting kids started in fishing creates memories that last a lifetime, and there's no better way to do it than with experienced guides who know how to work with young anglers. This 2-hour trip gives kids enough time on the water to really get into the rhythm of fishing without wearing them out. The protected inshore waters around Hog Town Bayou Lane offer perfect conditions for learning, while the variety of species keeps things interesting throughout the trip. Remember to bring hats, sunscreen, water, and snacks to keep the little ones comfortable, and dress them for the weather conditions. Strictly Business Fishing Charters has the experience and patience to make your child's introduction to fishing something they'll want to do again and again. Book this top-rated kids fishing adventure and watch your young angler fall in love with the sport.
Jump aboard our freshly restored 23-foot Cape Horn center console and watch your kids discover the magic of fishing in Hog Town Bayou's calm waters. This bay boat is built tough for families, with room for up to 4 guests and all the gear you need for a successful day on the water. The Yamaha 225HP engine gets us to the fish quickly, while our fish finder helps locate where they're biting. Kids love watching the sonar screen light up! Our spacious deck gives young anglers plenty of room to cast and reel in their catch, plus the built-in icebox keeps drinks cold and holds your fresh fish. The GPS keeps us on course through the maze of channels and grass flats where redfish and trout love to hide. Perfect for introducing children 12 and under to the basics of fishing - from baiting hooks to landing their first fish. Captain and crew focus on making this educational and fun, teaching proper techniques while ensuring everyone stays safe. Bring hats, sunscreen, snacks, and get ready for some serious bragging rights when the kids start catching fish!
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the bulldozers of our shallow waters. These gray-black fish with chin whiskers range from 5-30 pounds and have jaws strong enough to crush oysters. You'll find them on muddy bottoms, oyster beds, and around creek mouths in 2-15 feet of water. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. What's cool about drum fishing is it's all about the bottom game with crabs or cut bait, and when they hit, it's a steady, powerful fight. Smaller ones under 15 pounds are good eating. My best advice: use fresh blue crab and fish the tide changes around oyster bars - the sound of them crunching shells will tell you they're there.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the loners of our waters - big, brown, and often mistaken for sharks at first glance. These fish average 20-40 pounds but can push 100 pounds if you get lucky. You'll find them around structure like buoys, wrecks, and channel markers, usually in 30-70 feet of water. Spring migration from March to May is prime time when they're moving through our area to spawn. What guests love is the sight fishing - spotting these fish cruising just under the surface, then watching them absolutely demolish a jig. They fight hard and make great table fare with firm, white meat. Pro tip: when you see one, look for more - they sometimes travel in small groups during migration season.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed Snapper are the crown jewel of bottom fishing out here. These bright red fighters typically run 2-4 pounds, though bigger ones lurk in deeper water. You'll find them on hard bottom, reefs, and wrecks in 60-200 feet of water. Summer months during open season are your best bet - they're structure-oriented and love hanging around anything on the seafloor. Guests go crazy for the fight they put up, diving straight for cover when hooked. Plus, there's no better eating fish in the Gulf with that sweet, firm meat. The key is getting your bait right to the bottom fast - use enough weight to beat the current, and don't be surprised when they hit hard on the drop.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the perfect shallow water target around here. These copper-colored beauties with their distinctive black spots hang out in 1-4 feet of water around oyster bars, grass flats, and dock pilings. Most run 20-30 inches, but you'll occasionally hook into a real bruiser. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially on moving tides. What makes them special is that explosive strike in skinny water - you'll see their backs out of the water when they're feeding. They're also fantastic eating with that mild, sweet flavor. My go-to trick is using live shrimp under a popping cork near structure. The sound draws them in, and that float going under is pure magic for kids.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish Mackerel are speed demons that make our inshore trips exciting. These silvery fish with yellow spots typically run 1-3 pounds and travel in large schools. Look for them near the surface around grass flats, piers, and channel edges in 10-30 feet of water. Spring through fall they're active, especially when baitfish are thick. Kids love them because they hit hard and fight fast - pure adrenaline on light tackle. They're also excellent eating with a mild flavor that's perfect grilled or smoked. The secret is small, fast-moving lures like spoons or tiny jigs. When you find a school, work quickly - they move constantly and you might only get a few casts before they're gone.
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