5.0(1 Reviews)Half Day Afternoon Fishing in St. Petersburg
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour afternoon charter targeting snook, redfish, and tarponCaptain Andy provides all equipment, licenses, and fish cleaningInshore fishing in calm Tampa Bay waters for all skill levels
There's something special about hitting the water in the afternoon when the sun starts to mellow and the fish get active. This 4-hour inshore charter puts you right in the heart of Tampa Bay's most productive fishing grounds, where Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, and Spotted Seatrout are waiting to test your skills. Captain Andy knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's got everything dialed in – from the tackle to the perfect spots that produce fish when others are striking out. Whether you're new to saltwater fishing or you've been chasing these species for years, this trip delivers the kind of action that keeps you coming back.
You'll meet Captain Andy at the dock in St. Petersburg, where his well-equipped boat is loaded and ready to roll. The beauty of afternoon trips is the flexibility – you can sleep in, grab lunch, and still get prime fishing time when the bite picks up. Tampa Bay's inshore waters are perfect for this kind of fishing, with grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and structure that holds fish year-round. The charter maxes out at two anglers, so you're not fighting for space or dealing with crowded conditions. Captain Andy provides all the rods, reels, bait, and tackle you'll need, plus he handles the fishing license so you can focus on what matters – putting fish in the boat. When you hook up, he's right there with the net and plenty of encouragement. At the end of the trip, he'll clean and fillet your catch so you can take home dinner.
Captain Andy runs quality spinning gear matched to the species you're targeting. For Snook and Redfish, you'll be throwing live bait like pilchards, pinfish, or shrimp around mangrove edges and dock pilings. The technique is all about presentation – letting that bait work naturally in the current while staying ready for the strike. When Tarpon are around, he'll bump up the tackle and switch to larger baits or lures that can handle these silver kings. Spotted Seatrout fishing often means working the grass flats with lighter tackle, where a well-placed cast can put you on multiple fish. The boat is set up with proper rod holders, a good fish box, and all the terminal tackle you'll need. Captain Andy reads the conditions and adjusts the approach – if the fish want live bait, that's what you'll use. If they're hitting artificials, he's got the lures that work in these waters.
"We had a wonderful day of fishing. Captain Andy knew all the right spots, types of fish in the area and hustled the entire trip to keep our lines in the water. We kept pulling fish into the boat one after another. The fresh red snapper were absolutely delicious! Captain Andy is a fantastic fisherman and very professional guide. We were a bit rusty. His patience and guidance were much appreciated." - Eric
Snook are the crown jewel of Florida inshore fishing, and Tampa Bay has some of the best populations in the state. These ambush predators love structure – docks, mangrove overhangs, and bridge pilings where they can dart out to grab an easy meal. They're most active during the warmer months, from spring through fall, though you can find them year-round in the deeper channels. What makes Snook so special is their fight – they'll make long runs, jump, and try every trick to throw the hook. The slot limit keeps the fishery healthy, so you're looking for fish between 28 and 33 inches. When you hook a good Snook, you know it immediately from that head shake and the way they peel drag.
Redfish are the workhorse of the flats, cruising the shallows in search of crabs, shrimp, and small fish. These copper-colored fighters are built like bulldogs and fight just as hard. In Tampa Bay, you'll find them tailing in skinny water, cruising the grass beds, or holding around oyster bars. They're less spooky than Snook, making them perfect for newer anglers, but they'll still test your tackle once hooked. The slot size runs from 18 to 27 inches, and a good Red will give you multiple runs before coming to the boat. Fall is prime time when they school up in bigger numbers, but Tampa Bay produces quality Redfish throughout most of the year.
Tarpon are the ultimate gamefish – pure silver muscle that can grow over 100 pounds and jump clear out of the water when hooked. Tampa Bay is famous for its Tarpon fishing, especially during the spring and early summer migrations. Even smaller juvenile Tarpon in the 20 to 40-pound range will give you a fight you won't forget. These fish are catch and release only, but landing one is a bucket list experience for any angler. They're notorious for throwing hooks with their acrobatic jumps, so keeping steady pressure while letting them run is key. Captain Andy knows the channels and structure where these silver kings hang out.
Spotted Seatrout are the bread and butter of Tampa Bay fishing, schooling over grass flats and providing steady action when other species are finicky. They average 14 to 20 inches, with larger "gator" trout pushing into the mid-20s. These fish hit live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater plugs with equal enthusiasm. The beauty of trout fishing is the numbers – when you find a good school, you can catch them back-to-back until your arms get tired. They're excellent table fare and relatively easy for beginners to catch, making them a perfect confidence builder on trips like this.
This afternoon charter hits the sweet spot for productive fishing without burning your whole day. Captain Andy's local knowledge, quality
Your afternoon fishing adventure starts aboard our reliable 2006 Scout Bay 240, a proven 24-foot bay boat that's built for serious angling in Tampa Bay's productive waters. Powered by a dependable 250 HP Yamaha outboard, this fishing machine gets you to the hotspots quickly while maintaining a smooth, stable ride at cruising speeds up to 35 mph. The boat's shallow draft design lets Captain Andy navigate tight mangrove shorelines and grass flats where snook and redfish love to hide during those prime afternoon feeding windows. Our onboard fish finder takes the guesswork out of locating schools of fish, while the GPS ensures we hit all the best spots efficiently during your 4-hour charter. The spacious deck provides plenty of room for casting without crowding your fellow angler, and the live bait tank keeps your bait fresh and lively throughout the trip. Whether we're drifting oyster bars for redfish or working structure for tarpon, this versatile bay boat handles Tampa Bay's varied fishing conditions with ease, giving you the stable platform you need to land that trophy fish.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish, or red drum, are Tampa Bay's most reliable fighters. They average 18-27 inches (slot size), with bronze-red backs and that signature black spot near the tail. These fish love super shallow water - oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines in 1-4 feet where you'll often see their backs out of water. They bite year-round but fall and winter offer the best action when they school up. Reds are popular because they're aggressive, make powerful runs, and taste great with a mild, sweet flavor. They'll eat almost anything - shrimp, crabs, cut bait, and artificials. Here's what works: use a gold spoon or topwater plug early morning over shallow flats. When you see them tailing or cruising, cast well ahead of the school and work your lure slowly back.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are perfect for anglers wanting steady action. They typically run 14-18 inches with occasional 20+ inch gator trout. These silvery fish with distinct black spots love grass flats and sandy potholes in 2-6 feet of water. Cool weather from fall through early spring concentrates them in deeper holes, while summer finds them scattered across the flats. Trout are popular because they bite consistently, fight well for their size, and make excellent eating with their mild, flaky white meat. They feed heavily on shrimp and small baitfish. A killer technique here is using a popping cork with live shrimp - the noise draws them in from distance, and that distinctive "pop-pop-pause" rhythm triggers aggressive strikes.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of Tampa Bay's most prized catches, typically running 18-24 inches with bigger fish pushing 30+ inches. These golden-sided fighters love structure - mangroves, docks, and grass lines where they ambush shrimp and baitfish. They're extremely temperature sensitive, so warmer months from May through October offer the best action. What makes snook special is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight, plus they're fantastic table fare with firm, white meat. During spawning season (summer), their fins turn bright yellow and they gather near passes and bridges. Here's a local trick: when fishing around docks, cast your live shrimp or jig tight to the pilings and let it sink naturally - snook often hit on the fall.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate bucket-list fish here in St. Pete waters. Most run 50-100 pounds, but we see giants over 150 pounds regularly. They prefer shallow flats and channels, often rolling on the surface in 3-8 feet of water. Late spring through summer brings the best fishing when they migrate through Tampa Bay. What hooks anglers is their raw power and aerial acrobatics - a hooked tarpon can jump 10 feet out of the water. While they're catch-and-release only due to their bony meat and high mercury content, the fight alone is worth it. These prehistoric fish can live 50+ years. My go-to tip: when you see one jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward the water - it prevents the line from breaking on a tight connection during their aerial show.
5.0 out of 5.0We had a wonderful day of fishing. Captain Andy knew all the right spots, types of fish in the area and hustled the entire trip to...
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