St Petersburg Florida Fishing Charters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Five-hour inshore fishing charter targeting redfish, seatrout, and snook.Professional captain provides all equipment, live bait, and lures included.Small group experience accommodating up to two guests maximum.
Picture this: you're standing on the bow at sunrise, watching the calm inshore waters of Tampa Bay come alive with baitfish dimpling the surface. That's what you get with our 5-hour morning fishing charter out of St. Petersburg. This isn't some cookie-cutter boat ride – we're talking about serious fishing in some of Florida's most productive waters. With TD Guides Services, you'll fish the grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and structure that holds everything from massive tarpon to trophy snook. Your captain knows these waters like his own backyard, and with top-rated equipment plus fresh live bait, you're set up for success from the moment you step aboard.
Your morning starts early – that's when the fish are most active and the water's like glass. We'll launch from one of St. Pete's premier marinas and head straight to where the action is. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety. One minute you're sight-fishing redfish cruising the shallow flats, the next you're working a mangrove edge for snook. Your captain reads the water, weather, and tides to put you on fish. We keep the boat load light with just 2 anglers max, so you get personalized attention and plenty of room to work. The 5-hour window gives us time to hit multiple spots – if one area's slow, we're already heading to the next honey hole. Don't worry about gear; we've got quality rods, reels, and a full selection of lures plus live bait to match whatever's biting.
Inshore fishing around St. Petersburg is all about reading the signs and adapting your approach. We'll use everything from topwater plugs at dawn to live shrimp under popping corks over grass beds. When we're sight-fishing the flats, it's about stealth and precision – quietly poling into position for that perfect cast to a cruising red. For the mangrove lines, we'll pitch jigs and live bait tight to the structure where snook and tarpon ambush prey. The deeper edges and passes call for different tactics – maybe live pinfish on the bottom for cobia or working the current with artificials for sea trout. Your captain handles the boat positioning and reads the water, while coaching you on presentation and technique. We run a clean, well-maintained flats boat that can get skinny when needed but handles the open bay with ease.
Tarpon are the undisputed kings of Tampa Bay, and St. Pete puts you right in their migration path. These silver giants show up in good numbers from April through July, with fish ranging from 80 to 200+ pounds. What makes tarpon fishing so addictive isn't just their size – it's the aerial show they put on. When a hundred-pound fish comes completely out of the water, gill plates rattling, it's a sight that stays with you forever. We target them with live crabs, pinfish, and threadfins around the deeper channels and bridge structures. King Mackerel patrol the deeper waters and structure just offshore of the inshore grounds. These speed demons hit hard and fast, making smoking runs that test your drag and reflexes. Kings in the 20-40 pound range are common, with the occasional monster pushing 50+. We typically find them around artificial reefs, wrecks, and temperature breaks using live bait or fast-trolled spoons. Sea Trout, or spotted seatrout as they're properly called, are the bread and butter of Tampa Bay fishing. These beautiful fish with their distinctive spots are found year-round over grass flats and sandy bottoms. They're perfect for light tackle fishing, taking everything from live shrimp to soft plastics with enthusiasm. A good day might see you land a dozen or more, with keeper-sized fish running 15-20 inches. Permit are the holy grail for many inshore anglers – they're notoriously spooky and selective, but when you connect, it's pure gold. These silvery, disc-shaped fish cruise the flats and around structure, often mixing with other species. They're most active during warmer months and require patience and skill to hook consistently. Cobia are like the golden retrievers of the fishing world – curious, aggressive, and always ready to eat. These brown sharks (as locals sometimes call them) cruise around structure, following rays, and even approaching the boat out of curiosity. They fight hard and grow big, with fish over 40 pounds not uncommon in these waters.
St. Petersburg's inshore waters offer some of Florida's most consistent fishing, and with an experienced captain who knows every flat, channel, and structure, you're in for a world-class day on the water. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to add new species to your list or someone just getting into saltwater fishing, this charter delivers. The 5-hour format gives you serious fishing time without burning the whole day, and with all gear and bait included, you just need to show up ready to fish. These morning trips book up fast, especially during prime season when the tarpon are rolling and the bite is hot. Don't wait – secure your spot with TD Guides Services and get ready for some of the best inshore fishing the Gulf Coast has to offer.
Jump aboard our beautifully restored 22' Aquasport for your St. Petersburg inshore fishing adventure. This classic 1997 boat got a complete makeover in 2021 and runs like new with a powerful 2023 200HP Suzuki engine that'll get you to the fishing grounds fast at up to 45 knots. Perfect for targeting redfish, spotted seatrout, and snook in the shallow waters around St. Pete, this boat comes equipped with everything you need including an icebox for your catch and cold drinks, wireless trolling motor for sneaking up on fish quietly, GPS to hit all the best spots, and a fish finder to locate where they're holding. With space for up to 4 anglers but limited to 2 guests for this charter, you'll have plenty of room to cast and fight fish without getting tangled up. Whether you're working the mangrove shorelines, grass flats, or oyster bars, this reliable fishing machine will get you there comfortably and safely for a productive day on the water.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are like the bulldogs of inshore fishing - powerful, aggressive, and built for a fight. These brown, shark-looking fish typically run 30-50 pounds and can reach 6 feet long. You'll find them around structure like buoys, wrecks, and channel markers in 20-100 feet of water, often cruising just under the surface. Spring migration brings the best action, but they're around most of the warm months. What makes cobia special is they're sight fishing targets with incredible table quality - firm, white meat that rivals any fish in our waters. They're usually solo travelers, not schooled up. Best technique is spotting them visually and dropping a bucktail jig or live bait right in front of them. They're curious fish that'll often come check out the boat.
Scomberomorus CavallaKings are speed demons that'll test your reflexes and drag system. These torpedo-shaped fighters typically run 20-30 pounds in our waters, though 50+ pounders show up regularly. You'll find them in 40-150 feet around structure, wrecks, and temperature breaks where baitfish concentrate. Spring through fall gives you the best action when they're feeding heavily during their migration. What makes kings popular is that blazing first run - they'll peel line like nothing else - plus they're fantastic eating with firm, flaky meat. The key is running two hooks on a wire leader: one through the bait's nose, another trailing behind. Kings love to hit the back half of your bait first.
Trachinotus FalcatusPermit are the holy grail of flats fishing - beautiful, challenging, and incredibly rewarding when you connect. These disc-shaped fish average 10-20 pounds with that distinctive tall profile and forked tail. You'll spot them tailing on shallow grass flats in just 2-4 feet of water, though bigger fish hang around deeper structure and wrecks. Spring through fall offers the best opportunities when they're most active. What draws anglers is the challenge - permit are extremely spooky with 360-degree vision and will test every bit of your skill. They're decent eating but most go back for the next angler. Live blue crabs are the gold standard bait, but here's the secret: present it well ahead of cruising fish and let them find it naturally.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout are our bread-and-butter inshore fish, perfect for anglers wanting steady action and great table fare. Most run 14-20 inches around the grass flats, though winter brings bigger "gator trout" up to 5+ pounds. Look for them over seagrass beds in 2-8 feet of water, especially near potholes and drop-offs. They bite year-round but really turn on during cooler months when they school up. Trout are popular because they're cooperative biters and have delicate, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. The trick is fishing light - they have soft mouths, so medium tackle and a gentle hookset work best. Focus on dawn and dusk when they're most active feeding.
Megalops AtlanticusThe "Silver King" is what bucket list fishing dreams are made of. These prehistoric giants average 80-100 pounds around St. Pete, but we've seen them push 200+. What makes tarpon special isn't just their size - it's watching a 6-foot fish launch itself completely out of the water when hooked. They cruise our inshore waters, bridges, and channels year-round, but late spring through summer gives you the best shot when they're most active. Tarpon don't make good table fare, so it's all about the fight and that once-in-a-lifetime photo. Pro tip: keep steady pressure but bow to the fish when it jumps - that slack prevents the hook from tearing out during those aerial acrobatics.
Gulfport, FL