St. Petersburg's Premier Night Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Night fishing adventure starting at 7:30pm through St. Petersburg canalsTarget Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Trout, Jack, and Ladyfish speciesSmall group experience accommodating up to 2 guests maximum
When the sun goes down in St. Pete, the real action begins. This top-rated night fishing charter takes you through the heart of the city's residential canal system, where dock lights create the perfect stage for some seriously good angling. Starting at 7:30pm, you'll spend your evening sight fishing for some of Tampa Bay's most sought-after species. With a maximum of two anglers, this intimate charter gives you the personalized attention and prime fishing spots that make all the difference between a good night and a legendary one.
Picture this: cruising through St. Petersburg's quiet residential waterways as the city lights start to flicker on. Your captain knows these canals like the back of his hand, positioning you at the hottest dock lights where gamefish come to feed. The beauty of night fishing here is the sight fishing opportunities - you'll actually see fish moving in the illuminated water before making your cast. Tarpon roll just feet from the boat, snook ambush baitfish under bridge lights, and redfish cruise the shallows in water so clear you can count their spots. The urban setting might surprise you, but these residential canals hold some of the most consistent fishing in all of Tampa Bay. You'll work structure like docks, seawalls, and bridge pilings where these predators set up to ambush prey. The whole experience has this cool, almost secretive vibe - like you're discovering the city's best-kept fishing secret.
Night fishing around dock lights is all about stealth and precision. Your captain will position the boat in the shadows, just outside the light's reach, letting you cast into the illuminated zones where baitfish gather. We're talking about live bait fishing with pilchards, shrimp, and pinfish, plus throwing artificial lures like DOA shrimp, paddle tails, and topwater plugs. The key is reading the water - watching for nervous bait, swirls, and flashes that give away a feeding fish's location. You'll learn to cast beyond your target and work the bait back through the strike zone, keeping your retrieve natural and enticing. The shallow water means light tackle is the name of the game - spinning gear with 20-pound braid and fluorocarbon leaders. When a big tarpon shows up under the lights, you'll need quick reflexes and smooth drag settings. The residential canals offer protected water, so even when it's breezy outside, you're fishing in calm conditions that let you focus on technique rather than fighting the elements.
Snook are the kings of dock light fishing, and St. Pete's canals are loaded with them. These ambush predators post up in the shadows, waiting to crush anything that swims by. They're most active from spring through fall, with the bigger fish - we're talking 28 to 35-inch brutes - showing up consistently around structure. What makes snook so addictive is their explosive strike and the way they'll try to cut you off on dock pilings or oyster bars. They're smart, too - spook one and it might take 20 minutes before it settles back down to feed.
Tarpon turn these night trips into pure magic. St. Petersburg's residential waters see consistent tarpon action from April through October, with fish ranging from 20-pound juveniles to 100-pound silver kings. Under the dock lights, you'll watch these prehistoric giants roll and gulp air just feet from your lures. When one eats, get ready for the fight of your life - jumping, gill-rattling, line-screaming chaos that'll have you questioning your drag settings. Even the smaller tarpon will test your skills, and landing one under the lights creates memories that last a lifetime.
Sea trout might not get the glory of tarpon and snook, but they're steady producers that keep the action going all night long. These speckled beauties love the grass flats adjacent to the canals and respond well to both live shrimp and soft plastics. The bigger gator trout - anything over 20 inches - are cunning and require finesse, but they're absolutely beautiful fish with those distinctive canine teeth and spotted patterns.
Redfish bring that signature copper flash and bulldogging fight that inshore anglers crave. In St. Pete's shallow canals, you'll often see them tailing or cruising in less than three feet of water. They're year-round residents, but fall and winter offer the best action when they school up in impressive numbers. A slot-sized red on light tackle will test your patience and skill, making long runs and using every bit of structure to try and break free.
Ladyfish are the wildcards that keep things interesting when the bigger fish are being finicky. These acrobatic fighters jump like miniature tarpon and hit lures with reckless abandon. They're perfect for warming up your reflexes and often show up in schools, meaning multiple hookups and nonstop action. While they might not be the target species, landing a few ladyfish on light tackle is genuinely fun fishing.
St. Petersburg's night fishing scene offers something you won't find anywhere else - world-class angling right in the heart of the city. This charter combines the excitement of sight fishing with the productivity of one of Florida's best inshore fisheries. With only two spots available per trip, you're guaranteed the personalized experience and prime fishing time that separates good charters from great ones. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to add some variety to your fishing or someone wanting to experience Tampa Bay's legendary inshore action, this night charter delivers the goods. The combination of multiple species, protected waters, and expert local knowledge makes this a customer favorite for good reason. Don't wait - these evening slots fill up fast, especially during peak season.
This restored 22' Skeeter cuts through St. Pete's nighttime waters with authority, powered by a reliable 200HP Suzuki that'll get you to the hottest fishing spots fast. The wireless trolling motor keeps things whisper-quiet when you're stalking tarpon and snook around those glowing dock lights in the residential canals. With GPS to mark your productive spots and a fish finder to locate the action below, you'll have every advantage when targeting redfish, trout, jack, and ladyfish after dark. The VHF radio keeps you connected while you're out there sight fishing. Built for serious anglers, this boat handles two guests comfortably while maintaining the stealth and speed needed for productive night fishing in St. Petersburg's inshore waters.
Elops SaurusLadyfish are what we call "poor man's tarpon" - they're smaller cousins that put on quite a show when hooked. Most run 12-20 inches and fight way above their weight class with wild jumps and surface thrashing. These silver torpedoes are found throughout our canals, bays, and near-shore waters year-round. They're not picky eaters and will hit live bait, jigs, or flies aggressively. While they're not great table fare, they make fantastic cut bait for snook and are a blast on light tackle. Kids love them because they bite readily and put up such an acrobatic fight. They can tolerate varying salinity levels, so you'll find them everywhere from brackish canals to open bay waters. When targeting them at dock lights, use a heavy mono leader - those small, sharp teeth will cut through regular line quickly. They're abundant and always ready to bite, making them perfect action fillers between bigger fish.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our shallow water fishing here in St. Pete. These copper-colored beauties typically run 20-28 inches and 3-8 pounds, with that famous black eyespot near the tail. They love super shallow water - sometimes their backs stick right out - around oyster bars, mangroves, and grass flats. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring offer peak action when they school up. What makes reds special is their strong, steady fight and willingness to eat just about anything. Plus they're excellent table fare with firm, slightly sweet meat. These fish are smart and spooky in shallow water, so stealth matters. They can live 40 years and stay close to home their whole lives. Best tip for our dock light fishing: use a gold spoon or jig and work it slow along the bottom - reds are opportunistic feeders that won't pass up an easy meal.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout, as we call them locally, are perfect for light tackle action in our shallow grass flats. Most run 12-16 inches and 1-3 pounds, making them ideal for kids and beginners, though bigger ones can reach 5+ pounds. They're beautiful silver fish covered in distinct black spots. You'll find them cruising grass beds in 2-8 feet of water, especially during cooler months when they school up. Spring through fall offers the best action, with winter producing some of the biggest fish in deeper channels. What guests love is their willingness to bite and their decent table fare - white, flaky meat that's perfect fried or grilled. They're not the hardest fighters, but they're consistent and fun to catch. Key trick: use a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below. The noise attracts them from a distance, and that natural presentation seals the deal.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most popular targets here in St. Pete's canals. These sleek, golden fish typically run 18-24 inches, though bigger ones push 30+ inches and really test your drag. You'll spot them by that distinctive black lateral line and their ambush-style feeding around docks, mangroves, and canal edges. They love structure - pilings, sea walls, anywhere with current breaks. Best action happens during warmer months, especially around dawn and dusk when they hunt aggressively. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and dogged fight - they'll make powerful runs and try to cut you off on structure. The meat is excellent too, flaky white flesh that's hard to beat. Pro tip: when fishing dock lights at night, let your bait drift naturally with the current rather than working it too hard - snook like an easy meal.
Megalops AtlanticusThe silver king is what we call bucket-list fishing around Tampa Bay. These giants average 4-6 feet and 80-150 pounds, but the real monsters can hit 200+. What sets tarpon apart is their amazing jumping ability - they'll leap 8 feet out of the water trying to throw your hook. We find them in channels, around bridges, and along grass flats, especially during their peak season from April through July. They're not great eating because of all the bones, but nobody cares - it's all about the fight. These fish have been around for 125 million years and can live over 50 years. They're also air breathers, which helps them survive in low-oxygen areas. When you hook one, keep your rod tip down during their jumps to avoid getting thrown. The fight can last an hour, but every second is worth it for this ultimate game fish experience.
St. Petersburg, FL