8 Hour Inshore Port Orange FL Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour inshore charter targets redfish, grouper, and sharksFull day allows access to remote reefs with less fishing pressureTwoguest maximum ensures personalized attention from experienced captain
When you want to really get after it on the water around Port Orange, this 8-hour inshore charter is where the magic happens. We're talking about a full day of serious fishing with enough time to hit the spots that most quick trips never reach. Less crowded waters, better action, and the kind of fishing that keeps you talking about it for months. With our experienced captain at the helm and top-quality gear ready to go, you'll be chasing redfish, black drum, flounder, gag grouper, and maybe even tangling with a blacktip shark. This isn't just a fishing trip—it's your chance to fill the cooler and make some memories on Florida's legendary inshore waters.
Picture this: sunrise over the Halifax River system, your lines in the water before most folks have had their morning coffee, and eight solid hours to work the best inshore spots around Port Orange. We'll cover a lot of water on this trip, running to productive reefs and structure that shorter charters just can't reach. The extra time means we can be picky about our spots—if one area isn't producing, we've got the luxury to move and find where the fish are feeding. You'll be fishing with quality tackle that can handle everything from finicky flounder to hard-fighting grouper. The boat's equipped with everything you need, and our captain knows these waters like the back of his hand. Between the productive fishing spots around Ponce Inlet and the backcountry areas of the Mosquito Lagoon system, we've got options no matter what conditions Mother Nature throws at us.
We fish smart out here, matching our approach to what the fish want on any given day. Live bait is king for most of our target species—fresh shrimp, pilchards, and pinfish that we'll either catch fresh or pick up from local sources. For the bottom dwellers like black drum and grouper, we're talking about fishing structure with enough weight to get down and stay down, using circle hooks that give you the best shot at a solid hookup. When we're sight fishing for redfish in the shallows, we'll switch to lighter tackle and work the grass flats where these copper-colored bruisers love to cruise. Artificial lures have their place too—soft plastics work wonders around structure, and topwater plugs can create some heart-stopping surface explosions when conditions are right. The boat carries rods ranging from medium-light spinning setups for finesse work to heavier conventional gear when we need to muscle fish away from structure. Everything's maintained and ready to fish, so you can focus on what matters—getting that hook set and fighting fish.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing around Port Orange, and for good reason. These copper-sided fighters average 18-27 inches in our waters and will test your drag system with their powerful runs. Fall and spring are prime time, but we catch reds year-round in the grass flats and around oyster bars. What makes them so special? They're smart, they fight hard, and they taste fantastic on the table. You'll find them tailing in shallow water during moving tides, and the sight of that bronze back breaking the surface never gets old.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're absolute bulldogs when it comes to fighting power. These bottom dwellers can push 20-30 pounds in our area, and they'll use every ounce of that weight to try and bury you in the structure. Winter months are prime time for big drum, and they love to hang around bridges, docks, and deep holes. The fight is all about endurance—they don't jump like a tarpon, but they'll make long, grinding runs that'll have your arms burning. Plus, the smaller ones (under 16 inches) make excellent table fare.
Southern flounder are the masters of disguise in our inshore waters, laying flat against sandy bottoms and ambushing unsuspecting bait fish. They're typically most active during fall months when they're staging for their offshore spawning runs. What's exciting about flounder fishing is the technique—slow, methodical presentations along drop-offs and channel edges. When a flounder hits, it's often just a subtle thump, and setting the hook requires patience since they like to grab bait and sit with it. A good Port Orange flounder runs 16-20 inches and provides some of the best eating you'll find in saltwater.
Gag grouper bring the power game to our inshore reefs and hard bottom areas. These fish are built like tanks and fight like they know it, making blistering runs toward structure the moment they feel the hook. Spring and early summer offer the best action, and a keeper gag (20+ inches) is a real prize. They're ambush predators that hit hard and fast, often inhaling live bait in one aggressive strike. The challenge is stopping their initial run before they can reach their rocky hideouts—lose that battle, and you're probably getting cut off.
Blacktip sharks add serious excitement to any inshore trip, and the waters around Port Orange hold plenty of them. These sleek predators average 3-5 feet and are famous for their aerial displays when hooked. Spring through fall brings the best blacktip action, especially around bait schools and drop-offs. What makes blacktips so memorable isn't just their jumping ability—it's their speed and endurance. They'll peel line off your reel in long runs, and the fight often lasts 15-20 minutes. Catch-and-release is the name of the game with these apex predators, but the fight is something you'll remember forever.
This 8-hour inshore charter represents the best value in Port Orange fishing—enough time to really get after it without the higher costs of offshore trips. With a 2-person capacity,
Step aboard our 24' Carolina Skiff and get ready for some serious fishing action in Port Orange waters. This sweet ride packs twin 135HP Honda engines that'll get you to those honey holes fast, while the wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're sneaking up on spooky redfish in the shallows. We've got dual coolers to keep your catch fresh and drinks cold, plus a fish finder to locate where the gag grouper and black drum are hanging out. The GPS ensures we hit all the best spots during your 8-hour adventure, from productive reefs to backcountry flats that see less pressure. With room for your crew and all the gear, this boat handles Port Orange's inshore waters like a champ. Whether we're chasing flounder over structure or hoping for that blacktip shark surprise, you'll have a stable platform to fish from all day long.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavy hitters of the flats, with fish ranging from 5-30 pounds and occasional giants pushing 50+. These silver-black bruisers cruise shallow oyster bars, muddy flats, and creek mouths where they use their powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring is magic time when they school up for spawning - you can actually hear them drumming underwater. They're not speed demons, but they're pure power, using their broad sides to pull drag and tire you out. The smaller fish (under 15 pounds) are great eating, while the big ones are better released. Black drum are bottom feeders, so fresh crab bait works best. Local trick: when the tide is moving over an oyster bar, drop your crab bait right in the current seam where it breaks around the structure - that's where they stage to feed.
Carcharhinus LimbatusBlacktips are some of the most exciting fish you'll hook on our 8-hour trips. These athletic sharks average 3-5 feet but can reach 6+ feet, and they're famous for their aerial acrobatics - jumping clean out of the water when hooked. We find them around our nearshore reefs and structure in 20-60 feet of water, especially during warmer months when baitfish are thick. They're not great table fare, but the fight is what gets people hooked - fast runs, multiple jumps, and pure adrenaline. Blacktips can be a bit timid around the boat, so we'll chum with cut mackerel or sardines to draw them in. Pro tip: use a steel leader and circle hooks, and when one jumps, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip to give them slack - keeps them from throwing the hook.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag grouper are the bruisers of our reef fishing, and they'll test both your tackle and technique. These gray, mottled fish average 20 inches but can grow to real trophy size - 30+ inches and 15-20 pounds. We target them around our nearshore reefs, wrecks, and rocky bottom in 20-80 feet of water. Spring through fall offers the best shots at them when they're actively feeding. Guests love gags because they're bulldogs - once hooked, they'll try to drag your bait straight back to their hole, making for an arm-burning fight. Plus, they're excellent eating with firm, white meat that's perfect grilled or fried. Here's the key to landing them: the second you feel that thump, lock down your drag and horse them up immediately. Give them any slack and they'll wrap you around the reef structure every time.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our inshore trips here in Port Orange. These copper-colored beauties with their signature black spots near the tail typically run 15-30 inches, though we've caught some real bulls pushing 40+ inches. They love shallow water - we're talking 1-4 feet around oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths where they hunt for crabs and baitfish. Fall and spring offer the best action when they're schooled up and feeding heavy. What makes them special? They fight like crazy, pulling drag and making long runs, plus the smaller ones (slot fish) make fantastic table fare with sweet, flaky meat. Here's a local tip: when you see them tailing in skinny water, cast your bait 10 feet ahead of where they're heading, not where they are right now.
Paralichthys LethostigmaFlounder fishing is like underwater hunting - these masters of disguise bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting to ambush prey. Our local flounder typically run 15-18 inches, though we've landed some doormat-sized fish over 5 pounds. You'll find them on sandy and muddy bottoms around creek mouths, docks, and channel edges in 3-15 feet of water. Fall is prime time when they're fattening up before their offshore spawn. What guests love about flounder is the challenge of feeling that subtle bite, plus they're hands-down some of the best eating fish in these waters - sweet, white, flaky meat that's perfect for the dinner table. My go-to trick is using a light jighead with live mud minnows, bouncing it slowly along the bottom. When you feel that light tap-tap, count to three before setting the hook.
Port Orange