5.0(4 Reviews)Inshore Redfish and Sea Trout Fishing Charter
5.0(4 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour inshore charter targets redfish and sea trout.All equipment, licenses, food and drinks included onboard.Expert guides accommodate up to four anglers daily.
Pine Island's backwater flats are where serious inshore anglers come to test their skills against some of Florida's most sought-after game fish. Captain Scott with Thrill Of It All Charters has been working these waters since he was a kid, and his 4-hour fishing charters put you right in the action where redfish cruise the shallows and sea trout stack up around grass beds. This isn't just another boat ride – it's your chance to hook into fish that'll have you talking for months.
Your day starts at 8:00 AM, though afternoon trips work great too if you're not an early bird. Captain Scott keeps his groups small – just four anglers max – so everyone gets plenty of attention and room to cast without tangling lines. The boat's rigged with quality tackle, and all your licenses are covered, plus he throws in food and drinks so you can focus on what matters: putting fish in the boat. Whether you've been fishing your whole life or can barely tie a hook, Scott adjusts the approach to match your crew's experience level. These Pine Island waters hold fish year-round, but Scott knows exactly where they're feeding based on tides, weather, and seasonal patterns.
Inshore fishing around Pine Island means working shallow flats, mangrove shorelines, and grass beds where the fish come to feed. You'll be casting live bait like shrimp and pinfish, plus throwing artificial lures when the fish are aggressive. Scott runs top-shelf spinning gear that can handle everything from schoolie trout to bull redfish pushing 30+ inches. The key here is reading the water – watching for nervous baitfish, bird activity, and subtle changes in water color that signal feeding fish. When you're sight-fishing for reds in two feet of water, presentation matters more than power. Scott teaches proper casting angles to avoid spooking fish and how to work baits naturally with the current. The boat stays positioned upwind or up-current so you can drift baits into prime feeding zones without engine noise scaring everything away.
"Captain Scott showed us an amazing time today fishing off Sanibel. We caught a lot of red fish, trout, snapper and snook. AWESOME time on a nice boat! Thanks, Scott! See you again soon!" - Heather
"My two brothers and brother in law and I booked a fishing trip with Scott while on vacation. I highly recommend Scott because of his intimate knowledge of the fishing areas around Captiva (where we were vacationing). Scott has a lot of experience and shared many stories from his time fishing these waters when he was a kid. The fish were biting the entire time and we had a really good haul by the end of the morning. He is well respected by many of the fellow charter fishermen as evidenced by the convos when we returned to the dock. He's a great guy to talk to and had us laughing through the duration of our trip. If you are looking for a great charter boat captain you won't be disappointed with Scott. Keep up the great work brother, we'll be reaching out next time we visit FL. 🤜🏼💥🤛🏼" - Alex
"I've been on quite a few fishing charters in the area, but Captain Scott is by far the best experience I've had! We had some weather conditions we had to work around but had great communication all throughout the changes. During the charter he was fantastic helping the ladies on the boat and putting us on sheepshead and a few redfish! It was a great experience and we will be booking with Captain Scott the next time we are back in Florida!" - Colton
Redfish are the crown jewel of Pine Island's flats, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers patrol shallow water looking for crabs and baitfish, often with their backs out of the water. Slot-sized reds (18-27 inches) fight like freight trains, making screaming runs toward the nearest mangrove tangle. The best action happens on moving tides when reds push up onto flats to feed. Fall and winter months are prime time as schools of bull reds move through the area during their spawning runs. What makes catching reds so addictive is the visual aspect – you'll often see them before you cast, watching their wakes and tails as they hunt in skinny water.
Sea trout might not have the raw power of redfish, but they make up for it with numbers and willingness to bite. These spotted beauties love grass flats and drop-offs where they ambush shrimp and small fish. Trout fishing peaks during cooler months when they school up in deeper holes and along channel edges. A good trout bite means steady action with fish averaging 15-20 inches, though gator trout over 24 inches show up when conditions align. They're excellent table fare too, making them a favorite target for anglers who like to eat their catch. The key to consistent trout fishing is finding the right depth – usually 3-8 feet – where grass beds meet sand or shell bottom.
Snook represent the ultimate inshore challenge, combining size, strength, and attitude into one package. These silver-sided fighters love structure – docks, mangroves, bridges – anywhere they can pin baitfish against cover. Snook are temperature sensitive, so they're most active when water temps stay above 70 degrees. Spring and summer offer the best shot at hooking a true giant, with fish over 30 inches common around Pine Island's deeper canals and passes. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and their ability to throw hooks with gill-rattling jumps. They're also strictly catch-and-release during closed seasons, adding to their mystique as a true sport fish that tests an angler's skill rather than filling the cooler.
Our 23' Hanson bay boat gets you to the best redfish and sea trout spots around Pine Island's shallow waters. Built in 2018 with a reliable 175HP Suzuki engine, she cruises at 40 knots to cover more fishing ground during your charter. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when working the flats, while the GPS and fish finder help locate those productive holes where the reds like to feed. With room for up to 5 anglers, there's plenty of space to fight fish without tangling lines. This boat handles Pine Island's backcountry perfectly - shallow draft design lets us slip into those skinny water areas where the big sea trout hang out. Whether you're sight fishing the grass beds or working structure for redfish, she's set up to make the most of your 4-hour trip.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the backbone of our Pine Island charters, running anywhere from slot-size 18-27 inchers up to hefty 30+ pound bulls. Look for that copper-bronze coloring and distinctive black spots near the tail. These fish love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. We target them around oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and grass flats in 1-4 feet. They bite year-round here, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action. What makes reds special is their bulldogging fight and willingness to eat topwater lures, creating explosive surface strikes. They're also great eating when kept in regulation. Here's my go-to tip: look for "nervous water" or slight wakes in shallow areas - that's often redfish tailing and feeding.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are a staple around Pine Island's grass flats and shallow bays. Most run 14-20 inches, with their spotted silver sides making them easy to identify. You'll find them cruising seagrass beds in 2-6 feet of water, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper holes. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action. What guests love about trout fishing is the steady bite and excellent eating quality - their flaky white meat is some of the best around. They're not the hardest fighters, but they make up for it in numbers and taste. Pro tip: work your jigs and soft plastics slowly along the grass edges at dawn and dusk. That's when they're most active feeding on shrimp and baitfish.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of Pine Island's premier gamefish, averaging 18-30 inches with that distinctive black lateral line and golden coloring. These ambush predators love hanging around mangroves, docks, and creek mouths in 2-10 feet of water. May through September is prime time when they're spawning and most active. What makes them special is that explosive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll make screaming runs toward cover. Plus, they're excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Here's a local trick: cast your lure past the structure and work it back parallel to the mangrove edge rather than straight at it. Snook are temperature-sensitive, so cooler winter days can slow the bite, but warmer periods keep them feeding aggressively year-round.
5.0 out of 5.0Captain Scott showed us an amazing time today fishing off Sanibel. We caught a lot of red fish, trout, snapper and snook. AWESOME ...
My two brothers and brother in law and I booked a fishing trip with Scott while on vacation. I highly recommend Scott because of h...
Had an awesome experience with the Fam on Scott’s charter. Scott is very professional an knows where to find the fish! Thanks agai...
I’ve been on quite a few fishing charters in the area, but Captain Scott is by far the best experience I’ve had! We had some weath...
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