Your Captain
Captain Paul
Identity Verified
Tightlines Fishing Charters runs private, family-friendly to expert-level trips on Florida’s Gulf Coast, launching from Seminole Street Boat Ramp (Clearwater) and Turtle Cove Marina (Tarpon Springs). Our sweet spot is inshore and nearshore fishing around Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, and St. Joseph Sound—fast runs, flexible plans, and a captain who reads tide, wind, and water clarity to put you where the bite is best. Every charter is private for your group (up to 6 guests) and tailored to your goals, whether that’s first-time fun with the kids or dialing in advanced tactics for trophy opportunities.What’s included: all fishing licenses, premium Shimano spinning gear, quality tackle, live bait, ice, and water. We keep the boat organized, shaded, and photo-ready. You bring the crew, sun protection, and any snacks or drinks; we handle the coaching and the fish-finding.2-Hour Quick Trip — A fast, close-to-home session designed for families, first-timers, and short schedules. Minimal run times mean maximum lines-in, working sheltered flats, mangrove edges, docks, and current seams for steady action and smiles. Perfect “toe-in-the-water” charter or a sunrise/sunset add-on to your beach day.4-Hour Inshore (Half Day) — Our most popular charter. Four efficient hours to fish the mangroves, flats, oyster bars, bridges, and passes for seasonal targets like snook, redfish, speckled trout, and mangrove snapper. Great balance of travel time, coaching, and catching—ideal for mixed-experience groups.6-Hour Nearshore/Inshore Combo — Stretch your range to nearshore reefs and wrecks (conditions permitting) while keeping an inshore option on the table. This window opens up Spanish mackerel, cobia, tripletail, and grouper/snapper when currents and water clarity line up. A versatile choice when you want variety.8-Hour Full Day — Max time on the water and full flexibility. Start with a sunrise inshore bite, slide outside for a nearshore feed, and pivot with the tide to stay on fish. Best pick for anglers who want to learn the area, chase multiple species, or simply make a full day of it. Seasonal highlights: spring and fall snook surges on edges and points; year-round redfish opportunities around structure; winter trout and mangrove snapper in protected water; powerful mackerel/bonito blitzes and cobia/tripletail on nearshore structure; and, in season, classic tarpon shots when conditions allow. We fish live bait and artificials, and we’re happy to run artificial-only
What's Included
Transportation to and from the trip location.
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This guide offers trips that you are able to take home your catch.
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Your Guide has some important details about your trip with them.
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Read about the licensing details that is / is not covered in the below trips.
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This guide offers trips with nature and wildlife views.
When you book your fishing trip, you will need to first put down a deposit to hold the reservation.
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What's Included
Transportation to and from the trip location.
Show More
This guide offers trips that you are able to take home your catch.
Show More
Your Guide has some important details about your trip with them.
Show More
Read about the licensing details that is / is not covered in the below trips.
Show More
This guide offers trips with nature and wildlife views.
When you book your fishing trip, you will need to first put down a deposit to hold the reservation.
Show More
Our most booked charter. Fish from Clearwater Beach to Tarpon Springs for snook, redfish, speckled trout, mangrove snapper, and—when conditions allow—hit nearshore wrecks/reefs for grouper and more. Comfortable family-friendly boat, shaded seating, and premium Shimano gear. Perfect for families.
This 4-hour fishing charter is the sweet spot for anglers who want time to explore multiple spots and capitalize on the best part of the tide. We’ll work grass flats, mangrove shorelines, oyster bars, passes, and jetties around Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs, targeting snook, redfish, speckled trout, and mangrove snapper. When seas are friendly, we can run to nearshore wrecks or reefs for grouper and additional variety.
Why this trip:
- Most popular: ideal balance of time-on-fish and budget
- More spots, more techniques: live bait, jigs, and topwater when the bite is right
- Species mix: snook • redfish • trout • mangrove snapper • (nearshore) grouper
- Family-friendly: roomy 25’ boat with shade and cushioned seating
- Quality gear: premium Shimano spinning rods & reels
What’s included:
All licenses, bait, and tackle, ice/cooler, professional instruction, photos and videos. Every guest enjoys a safe, patient experience—great for kids, beginners, and mixed-skill groups.
What to bring:
- Polarized sunglasses, sun-protective clothing, non-spray sunscreen, snacks/drinks, and your camera. We’ll handle the rest.
Pro tip: Want extra time for nearshore wrecks or to work a second tide window? Consider upgrading to our 6-hour or 8-hour trips for even more action.
Service area & pickup options:
Trips available around Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Hudson, and New Port Richey. We’ll choose the best launch based on wind, tide, and where the bite is hottest.
Ready to book?
Lock in your preferred date and time—this 4-hour half day fills fastest during peak seasons.
Pick Your Date
Fast, fun, and family-friendly. We’ll fish the Clearwater/Dunedin flats and mangroves for redfish, snook, trout, and mangrove snapper using premium Shimano gear on our roomy 25’ boat. Perfect for kids, first-timers, or tight schedules. Licenses, bait, and tackle included—just show up and fish.
Short on time but want big smiles and bent rods? This action-packed 2-hour inshore charter is a great introduction to Clearwater’s shallow-water fishing. We’ll work nearby flats, mangrove shorelines, and oyster bars for redfish, snook, speckled trout, and mangrove snapper, keeping you close to the bite and maximizing time with lines in the water.
What to expect:
- A quick safety brief, as we head through the no wake zone, then we’re off to productive spots minutes from the dock.
- Light-tackle fun with Shimano spinning combos—easy for first-timers but ready for experts.
- Steady action targeting in-season species around Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs.
- Patient coaching on casting, hook-sets, and fish handling.
- Photos of your catches; quick release for larger breeders when appropriate.
Who it’s perfect for:
- Families with kids and beginners who want a relaxed, confidence-building trip.
- Travelers on a tight schedule or anyone wanting a taste of inshore fishing before booking a longer charter.
- Early morning or late-afternoon anglers looking for cooler temps and active fish.
What’s included:
- All tackle, bait, and Florida fishing licenses
- Comfortable 25’ boat with shade and cushioned seating
- Ice/cooler on board, professional instruction, and fish handling
What to bring:
- Polarized sunglasses, sun-safe clothing, non-spray sunscreen, snacks/drinks, and your camera.
Pro tip:
Love the quick trip but want more time to explore reefs or chase bigger fish? Consider upgrading to a 4-hour half day or 6-hour charter to hit additional tides and spots.
Ready to go?
Choose your date/time, and we’ll tailor the plan to the day’s tide and conditions—so you spend less time running and more time catching.
Pick Your Date
Sea Pro 248
Boat Type:
Boat Guest Capacity:
6
Boat Length:
25 ft
Manufacturer Name:
Sea Pro
Model Year:
2019
Engine Manufacturer Name:
Suzuki
# of Engines:
1
Horsepower Per Engine:
350
Maximum Cruising Speed:
50
Features: Bait Tank Ice-Box Trolling Motor Fish Finder GPS VHF Radio
The Sea Pro 248 DLX is an incredible fishing boat. Perfect for families or sight fishing experts. Easily fits groups of 6 clients with shade and comfortable seating.
Sea Pro 248
Boat Type:
Boat Guest Capacity:
6
Boat Length:
25 ft
Vehicle Details
Snook season kicked off strong and this week the inshore mix of snook and redfish stayed reliable from Clearwater Harbor up through St. Joseph Sound. With bait thick on markers and windward edges at daylight, we’re starting tight to structure and riding moving water along mangrove points, docks, seawalls, and bridge fenders. If you’ve been waiting for the green light to book an inshore mission, this is it. Conditions Snapshot: - Bait: Easy whitebait/pilchards at first light; pinfish on grass edges; glass minnows in the troughs. - Water: Late-summer clarity; best windows on clean incoming or the first of the outgoing. - Tide/Timing: Sunrise and the first 90 minutes of moving water = prime. A second bump later with the stronger tide push. - Launch points: Seminole Street Boat Ramp (Clearwater) and Turtle Cove Marina (Tarpon Springs) for short runs. Snook: How We’re Getting Bit - Setup: Position up-tide of ambush spots—dock corners, seawall shade lines, and the up-current sides of bridge fenders. - Live bait: Free-line pilchards on 1/0–3/0 circle hooks with 30–40 lb fluoro; keep casts past the target and swim baits through the seam. - Artificial: Walk-the-dog topwaters at gray light, then 3–5" paddletails or jerk shads on 1/8–1/4 oz jigheads as the sun rises. - Boat handling: Short, quiet moves. Let current do the work; don’t bomb long casts that spook the zone. Redfish: Where & What They’re Eating - Edges that matter: Oyster bars, mangrove points, and shallow grass/sand transitions with a little flow. - Live bait: Pinfish or cut bait placed up-tide so it settles naturally on the edge. - Lures: Gold spoon for covering ground; switch to a paddletail or weedless jerk shad when you find a school. - Tide note: Reds love a creeping flood tide that slides them higher into the bushes—plan accurate pitches into pockets and prop-wash eddies. Tackle We’re Running (Simple & Effective) - Rods/Reels: Medium to med-heavy Shimano 3000–4000 class. - Line/Leader: 20–30 lb braid, 30–40 lb fluoro for snook around structure; drop to 25–30 lb leader on flats for reds when it’s clear. - Hooks/Jigs: 1/0–3/0 circles; 1/8–1/4 oz jigheads; a couple spoon sizes to match depth/wind. Best Trips to Book This Week (Inshore): 2-Hour Quick Trip — $300: Sunrise snook/redfish sampler; minimal run, maximum lines-in. 4-Hour Inshore — $550 (most popular): Work docks, mangroves, and bridge shade on the prime tide. 6-Hour Inshore — $800: Add time to revisit a productive tide window or switch zones without rushing. 8-Hour Inshore — $1,050: Full flexibility to fish both tide swings and multiple structures. Small Tweaks = More Bites - Leader checks: Snook will sandpaper you—re-tie early, not after the heartbreak. - Angles > distance: Cast past the target and work with the flow; most takes happen when the bait crosses the seam. - Steady pressure: Circles do the work—avoid the home-run hookset on live bait. - Quiet feet, quiet hatches: Especially on skinny water redfish. Where We Focused (This Week’s Pattern): - Clearwater Harbor seawalls and dock lines at first light for snook. - Oyster edges and mangrove points north toward St. Joseph Sound for reds as the tide creeps up. - Pass corners only when current speed aligns—short windows but worth a look on the stronger moon. What We Provide - All licenses, premium Shimano gear, bait/tackle, ice, water, and coaching for every experience level. You bring sun protection, snacks, and a small cooler for your car if you plan to take fish home (when allowed). Next Week’s Preview We’ll stay inshore with snook on structure and redfish sliding higher on the flood. Expect even more consistent dock and mangrove bites as bait continues to pile up and days shorten. If snook or reds are on your list, a sunrise 4-hour remains the most efficient ticket.
Great trip out with some new clients down in St. Pete. Clean water and big fish. saw some 35"+ snook up on the sand banks. Got to love this time of year!
The skook are fired up! Smashing white NLBN's and Gulp shrimp. Caught them shallow on points and deeper on structure.
Always great getting suprised by a nice bass while Tarpon fishing.
Creeping to the next spot! Book your Clearwater Fishing Charters!
Ratings & Reviews Summary
October 3, 2025
Enjoyed a great day of fishing on a rainy day where we had a ball. We especially enjoyed going for the redfish !
October 3, 2025
Had an incredible day on the water. We caught redfish, snook, and mangrove snapper. Captain Paul had us on the bite all day!
October 3, 2025
Captain Paul was awesome! We had so much fun it was a great day fishing caught a ton of fish! Don’t think just book it now!
October 3, 2025
Had a terrific time and learned a lot about fishing in the flats. Excellent, friendly and knowledgeable guide!! Highly recommend Tampa Bay Fishing Charters!
October 3, 2025
Great trip! Captain Paul put my wife and I on the fish, he was very knowledgeable and got me on my personal best trout
October 3, 2025
An expert guide who knows how to find the fish for you!