Full Day Beginner-Friendly Fishing in Fort Myers
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday inshore fishing trip designed for beginners and familiesTarget Snook, Redfish, Sea Trout, Sheepshead, and seasonal TarponAll gear, bait, and safety equipment provided with expert coaching
Ready to get your lines wet in some of Florida's best inshore waters? This full-day fishing trip with Ya Gotta Want It Fishing Charters is built from the ground up for folks who are new to saltwater fishing or want a relaxed day learning proper techniques. We're talking 8 solid hours on Fort Myers' productive flats and backcountry, where you'll master the fundamentals while targeting some seriously fun fish. Whether you've never held a rod or you're bringing the family for their first taste of inshore action, this trip delivers hands-on coaching in a laid-back setting that keeps everyone engaged.
Your day kicks off at 8:00 AM aboard our fully rigged 50' HydraSports – plenty of room for up to 6 anglers to spread out and fish comfortably. This isn't a rush-job tourist trip where you're handed a rod and told to figure it out. We start slow, covering casting basics, how to read water movement, and proper bait presentation before we even make our first drift. The Fort Myers area gives us tons of options depending on conditions – shallow grass flats for sight fishing, mangrove shorelines for structure fishing, and deeper cuts where bigger fish cruise. Everything's provided: rods, reels, tackle, bait, and all safety gear. The pace stays relaxed throughout the day, with plenty of time for questions, retying rigs, and celebrating each fish that comes aboard. We adjust techniques and locations based on your comfort level, so nobody feels rushed or left behind.
Fort Myers inshore fishing revolves around understanding tides, structure, and bait movement – and we'll teach you to read all three. You'll learn live bait fishing with shrimp and pilchards, which is deadly effective and easy for beginners to master. We'll show you how to rig Carolina rigs for bottom fishing around docks and bridges, plus basic jigging techniques for working grass flats where redfish and trout hang out. Casting gets plenty of attention too – proper form, timing, and accuracy make a huge difference when you're trying to drop baits near mangrove roots or oyster bars. The 50' boat gives us stability for teaching, with enough deck space to practice different casting angles without tangling lines. All tackle is sized appropriately for inshore species – medium-action spinning rods that won't wear you out, but have enough backbone to handle a good-sized snook or redfish. Circle hooks keep fish mortality low, and we'll explain why conservation matters in these productive waters.
Snook are the kings of Fort Myers inshore fishing, and for good reason. These ambush predators love hanging around mangrove edges, dock pilings, and bridge shadows where they can dart out to crush baitfish. They're incredibly aggressive when hooked, making multiple jumps and long runs that'll get your heart pumping. Best action typically happens during moving water – incoming or outgoing tides when baitfish get pushed around. What makes snook special is their intelligence; they study your bait before committing, so presentation matters. Plus, they're just beautiful fish with that distinctive black lateral line and golden sides.
Redfish might be the perfect beginner species because they're aggressive, fight hard, and are relatively easy to hook. These copper-colored bulldogs patrol grass flats and oyster bars in schools, often with their backs out of water as they root around for crabs and shrimp. Fort Myers reds typically run 18-28 inches, perfect table fare size, and they'll absolutely smoke drag when they feel the hook. Fall and winter months are prime time as water temperatures cool and reds feed heavily. They're not picky eaters either – live shrimp, cut bait, or artificial lures all work when you find a school.
Sea Trout are scattered throughout our grass flats year-round, making them reliable targets when other species get finicky. They're excellent for practicing different retrieval speeds with jigs and soft plastics. Trout have soft mouths, so they teach you proper drag settings and steady pressure – great lessons for any angler. Spring and summer bring the biggest fish as they move shallow to spawn. They're also one of the best eating fish in these waters, with white, flaky meat that's perfect for beginners who want to take their catch home.
Sheepshead earn respect for their incredible bait-stealing abilities and crushing bite strength. These black-and-white striped fish hang around structure like barnacle-covered pilings and rocky areas, using their human-like teeth to crush crabs and barnacles. They're notorious for stealing bait without getting hooked, which makes landing one feel like a real accomplishment. Winter months bring the biggest sheepshead as they move inshore to spawn. They're phenomenal table fare and provide excellent practice for detecting subtle bites.
Tarpon represent the ultimate inshore challenge, even for experienced anglers. Fort Myers waters host juvenile tarpon year-round, with fish ranging from 10-50 pounds that provide world-class action on lighter tackle. These silver bullets are pure aerial acrobats, often jumping 6-8 times during a fight. Summer months bring the best tarpon action as water temperatures rise. What makes them special is their prehistoric appearance and incredible fighting ability – they're like hooking into a chrome torpedo. Most tarpon are catch-and-release, so you're fishing for the experience rather than the dinner table.
This beginner-friendly full-day trip strikes the perfect balance between learning and actually catching fish in Fort Myers' top-rated inshore waters. You're getting 8 hours of hands-on coaching, all gear and bait included, plus the chance to target five different species that'll test various techniques. The 50' HydraSports provides comfort and stability while our relaxed pace ensures everyone stays engaged and confident throughout
Step aboard this impressive 50-foot HydraSports center console for your Fort Myers fishing adventure. Built in 2020, this sport fishing machine packs serious power with four Mercury 400 engines that can cruise up to 70 mph, getting you to the best inshore spots quickly. The spacious center console design gives your group of up to 6 anglers plenty of room to cast, fight fish, and move around comfortably during the full 8-hour trip. Whether you're targeting snook around the mangroves or working the grass flats for redfish and sea trout, this boat's shallow draft and maneuverability make it perfect for navigating Fort Myers' productive inshore waters. The stable platform and ample deck space are ideal for beginners learning to cast and handle fish, while the smooth ride ensures everyone stays comfortable throughout the day.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails - they're built for shallow water power fishing. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches, but the big bulls offshore can hit 40+ inches and 30 pounds. These fish love skinny water from 1-4 feet deep around oyster bars, mangrove edges, and grass flats. They're catchable year-round, but fall and winter offer the best opportunities when they school up. What makes reds special is their willingness to eat almost anything and their bulldogging fight - no jumping, just pure pulling power. The table fare is excellent with firm, sweet meat that grills perfectly. They're also great sight-fishing targets since you can often spot their backs or tails in shallow water. My go-to trick: use gold spoons or topwater plugs early morning over shallow flats, and watch for nervous water where they're feeding.
Salmo TruttaSea trout, or specks as we call them, are beautiful spotted fish that make up the bread and butter of our inshore fishing. They typically run 14-18 inches and 1-2 pounds, with the occasional "gator trout" pushing 4+ pounds. You'll find them over grass flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially around drop-offs and sandy potholes. They're active year-round here, but spring and fall offer the most consistent action. What guests love about trout is they're willing biters that hit both live bait and artificials, making them perfect for beginners. The fight is steady rather than explosive, and they're excellent table fare with tender, flaky white meat. Dawn and dusk are prime times, and they often feed in schools, so where you catch one, there's usually more. Here's a tip: use a popping cork with live shrimp over the grass beds - the noise draws them in from a distance.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convicts of the fish world with their black and white stripes, and they've got human-like teeth that'll surprise you. Most run 1-3 pounds and 14-18 inches, perfect eating size. These guys live around any hard structure - docks, bridges, rock piles - where they munch on barnacles and crabs. Winter months (December through March) are prime time when they school up for spawning. What makes sheepshead fun is they're notorious bait thieves with light, nibbling bites that'll test your hook-setting skills. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in these waters - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They're also great for kids since you can usually find them around docks and piers. My secret: use small hooks with fresh shrimp and keep your bait tight to the pilings. Feel that subtle tap-tap? Set the hook hard and fast.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most popular targets around Fort Myers - they're beautiful golden fish with that signature black lateral line running down their sides. Most of what we catch runs 18-24 inches, but the bigger females can push 3+ feet and really test your drag. You'll find them hugging mangrove shorelines, around docks, and in creek mouths where they ambush baitfish. Spring through fall gives us the best action, especially around dawn and dusk. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight - they'll jump and make powerful runs toward cover. The meat is excellent too, flaky white fillets that taste great grilled. Here's the key: when you hook one near structure, keep steady pressure and try to turn their head away from the mangroves fast, or they'll wrap you up and break off every time.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate bucket list fish - we're talking about silver giants that can reach 6+ feet and 200 pounds, though most we encounter run 50-100 pounds. These prehistoric beauties love our deeper channels, around bridges, and near passes where they roll and gulp air at the surface. Peak season runs May through September when they migrate through our waters. What draws people to tarpon isn't the eating (they're bony and not great table fare) - it's the fight. When hooked, they launch themselves completely out of the water in spectacular jumps that'll get your heart racing. The battle can last an hour or more with a big fish. Most folks practice catch and release since they're such magnificent creatures. Pro tip: when they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip - it reduces tension and prevents them from throwing the hook during their aerial show.
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