Florida Fishing Charters - Three Lagoon Fishing
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Inshore fishing targeting Redfish, Snook, Spotted Seatrout, and SheepsheadCaptain Tim provides personalized guidance and all fishing gear includedSmall group experience accommodating up to three guests maximum
Captain Tim's been working these Florida inshore waters for years, and he knows exactly where the fish are holding up. When you step aboard with Three Lagoon Fishing Charters, you're getting more than just a boat ride – you're getting a guide who lives and breathes these backwaters. The best part? You'll have up to 3 people on board, so it stays intimate and personal. No crowded boats or fighting for rod space here.
Your day starts with a personal call from Captain Tim before you even hit the water. He'll chat about what you're hoping to catch, your experience level, and what the conditions are looking like. That's how you know you're dealing with a top-rated charter – they actually care about making your trip work for you. Once you're out there, expect to spend serious time with your line in the water. We're talking extended fishing sessions where you can really dial in your technique and work different spots until you find the bite. The inshore waters around Florida's three lagoon system offer incredible variety, from grass flats where redfish cruise to deeper channels where sea trout stack up. Captain Tim provides all your gear and handles the fishing license, so you just need to show up ready to fish.
Inshore fishing is all about adapting to what the fish are doing that day. Captain Tim will walk you through sight fishing techniques when the water's clear and you can actually see redfish tailing in the shallows. When the conditions call for it, you'll learn to work soft plastics around structure where snook like to ambush bait. The beauty of fishing these lagoons is the variety – one minute you're casting topwater plugs for explosive surface strikes, the next you're bouncing jigs along the bottom for flounder. The boat stays in relatively shallow water, usually under 10 feet, which means you're always close to the action. You'll pick up skills in reading water, understanding tides, and matching your presentation to what the fish want. Captain Tim's got the local knowledge to put you on fish, but he'll also teach you the why behind each spot and technique.
Sea trout are the bread and butter of Florida inshore fishing, and for good reason. These spotted beauties love grass flats and are willing biters once you figure out their pattern. They typically run 14-18 inches in these waters, with bigger gator trout mixed in during cooler months. Fall and winter are prime time when they school up in deeper holes, but you can catch them year-round if you know where to look. What makes them so popular with anglers is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials – plus they're excellent table fare when you keep a few within the slot.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing here. These copper-colored bruisers can push 30+ inches and will test your drag system. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially when you find them in schools working bait pods. They're ambush predators that love oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and shallow grass flats. The fight is what keeps people coming back – reds are powerful fish that will make long runs and use their broad sides to battle you all the way to the boat. Plus, they're beautiful fish with that distinctive black spot near the tail.
Ladyfish might not win any beauty contests, but they make up for it with pure energy. These silver torpedoes will absolutely go crazy when hooked, jumping and tail-walking across the surface. They're perfect for getting kids excited about fishing or warming up your arms for bigger fish. You'll find them year-round in these waters, and they're always willing to bite. While most people release them, they're actually decent bait for bigger predators if you're looking to step up your game.
Southern flounder are the masters of disguise, laying flat against sandy bottoms waiting for an easy meal. These flatfish can surprise you with their size – a good flounder will go 18-20 inches and provide excellent eating. Fall is traditionally the best time as they move toward inlets, but you can pick them up throughout the warmer months. They require a different approach than other species, with slow presentations along the bottom being key. When you feel that subtle tap-tap-tap, that's a flounder mouthing your bait.
Bluefish bring the aggression factor to your fishing day. When they're around, you'll know it – they travel in schools and absolutely demolish bait fish. These toothy customers will hit just about anything you throw at them, making them great for non-stop action. They're seasonal visitors to Florida waters, typically showing up when bait fish are thick. Handle them carefully due to those sharp teeth, but enjoy the fast-paced fishing they provide.
Captain Tim's three lagoon fishing charter gives you the real Florida inshore experience without the crowds or cookie-cutter approach. With all gear provided and that personal touch from the initial phone call, you're set up for success from the start. The variety of species keeps things interesting, and the extended fishing time means you'll actually learn something while you're out there. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to explore new waters or someone wanting to get serious about inshore fishing, this charter delivers the goods. The small group size ensures everyone gets plenty of action, and Captain Tim's local knowledge puts you on fish that other boats are still looking for. Don't wait until the best dates are gone – book your Florida inshore fishing adventure today and see why anglers keep coming back to these productive waters.
Captain Tim's 18-foot technical poling skiff is built for serious inshore fishing in Florida's shallow waters. This specialized boat can navigate skinny water where bigger vessels can't go, putting you right where the redfish and snook like to hide. The shallow-draft design lets us slip into backcountry spots and grass flats that hold the best fish. On board, you'll find an icebox to keep your drinks cold and any fish you want to take home fresh. The GPS keeps us on productive fishing grounds, while the fish finder helps locate schools of trout and sheepshead holding near structure. With room for up to 3 anglers, there's plenty of casting space without getting lines tangled. The poling platform lets Captain Tim quietly pole the boat into position for that perfect shot at tailing redfish in inches of water. This boat is all about getting you to the fish in Florida's pristine inshore waters.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive feeders that show up in schools during their seasonal runs. These blue-green torpedoes average 3-8 pounds but can hit 15-plus when the big ones move through. They roam open water, inlet mouths, and surf zones chasing baitfish in feeding frenzies. Spring and fall migrations bring the best action, especially when birds are diving on baitballs. Guests love the hard strikes and bulldogging fights - they don't jump but they pull steady. Fresh bluefish are excellent eating despite what some say, just bleed them right away and keep them cold. When you find feeding blues, almost anything works: spoons, jigs, topwater plugs, or cut bait. My advice: use a wire leader because those razor teeth will slice through mono like butter.
Elops SaurusCalled "poor man's tarpon" for good reason, ladyfish are silver torpedoes that jump like crazy when hooked. They run 12-20 inches typically and school up tight in our estuaries and canals. You'll find them in brackish water around mangroves, bridges, and anywhere baitfish gather. They bite year-round but summer evenings are fantastic when they're feeding on top. While not great eating, they're pure fun on light tackle - kids especially love watching them go airborne. They'll hit just about anything: jigs, spoons, live shrimp, or cut bait. Plus, they make excellent bait for bigger fish like snook. Pro tip: use a short wire leader because those small teeth are razor sharp, and when you hook one, there's usually a whole school around ready to bite.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our inshore trips. These copper-colored beauties average 20-30 inches and pack serious muscle. Look for that distinctive black spot near the tail - it's their signature mark. They cruise super shallow water, sometimes with their backs showing, around oyster bars, mangroves, and grass flats. Fall and spring are prime time when they school up, but we catch them year-round. What guests love most is the fight - they'll make drag-screaming runs and never give up easy. Plus, they're great eating with sweet, firm meat. The key trick is staying quiet and watching for nervous water or tailing fish. When you spot one, cast past them and work your bait back slowly - they spook easily but once hooked, hang on tight.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Seatrout run 14-24 inches and typically weigh 1-5 pounds, though bigger ones show up. They love grass flats and shallow water around the lagoons, especially at night when they're most active. You'll find them cruising oyster bars and drop-offs near structure. Spring through fall gives you the best action, but they bite year-round in Florida waters. What makes them special is that mild, flaky white meat - they're excellent table fare when you don't overcook them. These fish put up a decent scrap on light tackle and make that distinctive drumming sound when hooked. Here's a tip: use a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below. Work it slow over the grass beds right at dawn or dusk when they're feeding up shallow.
Paralichthys LethostigmaFlounder are the masters of disguise, lying flat on sandy or muddy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-18 inches, but we see some pushing 25-plus inches. Both eyes sit on their left side - nature's weird but it works perfectly for bottom living. They hang around inlet mouths, channels, and drop-offs where current brings food to them. Fall and winter are best as they fatten up before moving offshore. What's great about flounder is they're among the finest eating fish in our waters - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. The trick is slow presentation right on the bottom with live bull minnows or mud minnows. Drift the edges of channels and feel for that subtle tap-tap bite, then give them a second to swallow before setting the hook.
St. Augustine