5.0(4 Reviews)Inshore Redfish and Sea Trout Fishing Charter
5.0(4 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore fishing charter targeting redfish and sea troutAll equipment, licenses, food and drinks included for up to four guestsExpert guidance provided with morning and afternoon departure options available
Pine Island's shallow flats and backcountry waters offer some of Florida's best inshore fishing, and Captain Scott knows exactly where to find the action. This 4-hour charter targets redfish, sea trout, and snook in the pristine waters around Pine Island Sound. Whether you're casting sight fishing to tailing reds or working grass flats for speckled trout, you'll experience world-class fishing in waters that have been producing trophy catches for decades. All your gear, licenses, food, and drinks are covered, so you can focus on what matters most—getting fish in the boat.
Your morning starts at 8:00 am, though afternoon trips are available if you prefer fishing the incoming tide later in the day. Captain Scott runs a well-maintained boat that comfortably handles up to four anglers, giving everyone plenty of room to work without tangling lines. The waters around Pine Island offer incredible variety—one minute you're sight casting to redfish cruising the shallows, the next you're drifting over grass beds where sea trout love to ambush baitfish. The captain's local knowledge really shines here, as he's been fishing these waters since he was a kid and knows every oyster bar, channel edge, and grass flat that holds fish. Expect to move between several productive spots throughout the trip, adjusting tactics based on tide, wind, and what the fish are telling you.
Inshore fishing around Pine Island is all about reading the water and matching your presentation to the conditions. You'll primarily use live bait like shrimp and pinfish, along with artificial lures including soft plastics, topwater plugs, and spoons. When sight fishing for redfish in shallow water, the approach is stealthy—long, accurate casts to fish you can actually see. For sea trout, you'll often work deeper grass flats with jigs and live bait, focusing on structure changes and current breaks where these fish love to feed. The tackle is light and responsive, typically 7-foot medium-action rods paired with spinning reels spooled with 15-20 pound braid. Captain Scott provides all the gear, but if you have favorite rods or reels, feel free to bring them along. The key to success here is understanding how these fish behave in different water depths and cover types.
"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 inshore fishing scene. These copper-colored fighters average 20-28 inches and put up a battle that'll test your drag system. They're most active during moving tides and love to cruise shallow flats looking for crabs and shrimp. The best action often happens when you spot their distinctive black tails breaking the surface as they feed head-down in skinny water. What makes reds so special is the sight fishing aspect—you're not just casting blind, you're hunting specific fish you can see. Fall and spring offer the most consistent action, but these fish are catchable year-round in Southwest Florida waters.
Sea trout, or specks as locals call them, are the bread and butter of inshore fishing around Pine Island. These spotted beauties typically run 14-18 inches, with the occasional gator trout pushing 20-plus inches that'll make your day. They're structure-oriented fish that love grass flats, channel edges, and anywhere baitfish congregate. Trout bite consistently throughout the year, but cooler months often produce the biggest fish as they move into deeper holes and channels. What anglers love about specks is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, making them perfect for experimenting with different techniques.
Snook are the ultimate inshore game fish—aggressive, acrobatic, and absolutely stunning when they come to the boat. These fish love structure like docks, mangrove shorelines, and bridge pilings where they ambush prey. They're highly sensitive to water temperature, so timing is everything. The slot-sized fish you'll target run 20-26 inches and are known for their explosive strikes and gill-rattling jumps. Snook fishing requires precision casting and quick hooksets, but when you connect with one of these silver missiles, you'll understand why they're considered the premier inshore species. Summer months offer the most consistent action, though they can be caught throughout the warmer parts of the year
Step aboard our reliable 23' Hanson bay boat, originally built in 2018 and powered by a robust 175HP Suzuki engine that'll get you to the best redfish and sea trout spots around Pine Island quickly and smoothly. This fishing machine cruises at up to 40 knots, cutting through shallow waters with ease while accommodating up to 5 anglers comfortably. The wireless trolling motor lets us slip quietly into prime fishing zones without spooking the fish, while our GPS navigation system and fish finder help locate schools of redfish and sea trout in the backcountry waters. Whether you're casting into mangrove shorelines or working the grass flats, this bay boat handles Pine Island's inshore waters like a dream, giving you more time with lines in the water and less time getting there.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the backbone of our Pine Island charters, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters with distinctive black spots near their tails average 20-30 inches and put up some serious battles. You'll find them cruising our shallow flats in just 1-4 feet of water, often with their backs showing. Year-round fishing is solid, but spring and fall see the biggest numbers when they school up. Guests love reds because they fight hard, look beautiful, and taste great with their mild, sweet flavor. They're not picky eaters - cut bait, live shrimp, and spoons all work well. Local secret: look for nervous water or "waking" fish in the shallows, especially around oyster bars. Cast ahead of moving fish and let your bait settle naturally.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are perfect for anglers wanting steady action around Pine Island. These silver beauties with black spots typically measure 14-20 inches and love our grass flats in 3-6 feet of water. They're most active during cooler months and low-light periods like dawn and dusk. What guests love about trout is their willingness to bite and their delicate, flaky white meat that's hard to beat on the dinner table. They feed heavily on shrimp and small fish, so soft plastics and live shrimp work best. Pro tip: fish the edges of grass beds where sand meets vegetation - that's where specks ambush their prey. Keep your retrieve slow and steady; they're not as aggressive as snook but they'll reward patience with consistent bites.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most prized catches around Pine Island's mangroves and docks. These golden beauties with the distinctive black lateral line typically run 18-28 inches, though we occasionally hook into bigger ones. They love structure - bridges, pilings, and mangrove edges in 2-8 feet of water. Spring through fall are prime time when they're actively feeding on shrimp, crabs, and baitfish. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and bulldogging fight, plus they're excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Here's a local trick: work your lure slowly past structure, then give it a sharp twitch - snook can't resist that wounded baitfish action. Just remember to keep your drag loose; they'll wrap you up in the mangroves faster than you can blink.
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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