Night Light Fishing Tour - St. Augustine, FL
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Historic St. Augustine holiday lights walking tour experienceSmall group tours with maximum 6 guests includedProfessional guides share local history and seasonal stories
There's something magical about fishing under the glow of St. Augustine's famous holiday lights display. Our Night Light Tour combines the best of both worlds - productive inshore fishing and front-row seats to one of Florida's most spectacular light shows. You'll cast lines in the historic waters around the Ancient City while the coastline sparkles with thousands of twinkling lights. It's a fishing experience unlike any other, where the backdrop changes everything and the fish seem to bite better under the festive glow.
This top-rated evening trip takes you through St. Augustine's inshore waters during the peak of the Nights of Lights season. We launch just as the sun sets and the city begins to light up, giving you prime time fishing conditions plus the best viewing angles of the historic district's light display. The tour accommodates up to 6 anglers with a 3-person minimum, making it perfect for small groups who want a more intimate fishing experience. At $75 per person, you're getting world-class fishing combined with a unique sightseeing opportunity that most visitors never experience from the water. The calm inshore waters around Matanzas Bay and the Intracoastal provide excellent fishing grounds while keeping you close enough to take in the stunning light show along the historic waterfront.
We focus on light tackle inshore techniques that work best in these protected waters during evening hours. You'll be using live bait and artificial lures targeting structure around docks, oyster bars, and grass flats where fish feed actively as darkness falls. The holiday lights actually create an advantage - they illuminate the water just enough to help spot baitfish activity and feeding zones without spooking the larger predators we're after. We provide all rods, reels, tackle, and bait, so you just need to bring your fishing license and enthusiasm. The technique varies based on conditions, but expect to do a mix of bottom fishing with shrimp and cut bait, plus some light casting with soft plastics and spoons. The boat stays in calm inshore areas, so even beginners feel comfortable while experienced anglers appreciate the tactical approach needed for these pressured waters.
The inshore waters around St. Augustine during winter months offer some fantastic fishing opportunities that many anglers overlook. Redfish remain active year-round in these waters and actually become more predictable during cooler months as they concentrate in deeper holes and around warm-water discharges. These copper-colored fighters typically run 18-27 inches in local waters and provide that classic drag-screaming fight that makes inshore fishing so addictive. Look for them around oyster bars and dock pilings where they ambush crabs and shrimp. The holiday season coincides perfectly with prime redfish feeding times, and the lower fishing pressure during tourist season means they're less spooky than summer months.
Black drum show up in good numbers during the cooler months, especially around structure in 6-12 feet of water. These bruisers can reach 20-40 pounds in local waters and provide the kind of rod-bending fight that tests your tackle and patience. They're bottom feeders that love shrimp and crab, making them perfect targets for our live bait presentations. While they're not the fastest fish in the water, their bulldogging power and tendency to head straight for the nearest piling makes every hookup a real battle. The best part about drum fishing during the lights tour is they bite well after dark, so you're often fighting fish while surrounded by the twinkling cityscape.
Spotted seatrout remain catchable throughout the winter months in St. Augustine's grass flats and deeper channels. These beautiful spotted fish typically run 14-20 inches and provide excellent table fare for those looking to take dinner home. They respond well to both live shrimp and artificial lures, making them great targets for anglers wanting to practice different techniques during the trip. Trout fishing during evening hours can be particularly productive as they move shallow to feed, and the lights from shore actually help create the ambush points they prefer.
This customer favorite trip books up fast during the Nights of Lights season, and for good reason - you won't find another fishing charter that combines productive inshore action with such a unique sightseeing experience. Whether you're a local angler looking for a different perspective on familiar waters or a visitor wanting to experience St. Augustine from the water, this trip delivers something special. The small group size ensures personalized attention from your guide while the evening timing means you'll avoid the daytime boat traffic and enjoy some of the most peaceful fishing conditions available. Don't miss your chance to cast lines under the glow of America's oldest city's most beautiful holiday tradition.
St. Augustine