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Tampa Bay Inshore Fishing Run And Gun Charters
Tampa BayWhat you will be catching:
Red Snapper
Redfish
Sea Trout
Sheepshead
Snook
Trip Pricing and Availabilities:
Trip pricing information is temporarily unavailable.
Full Day Tampa Bay Fishing with Captain Guy
When you're looking for a solid day on the water in Tampa Bay, Captain Guy's got you covered. This isn't some cookie-cutter charter operation – we're talking about a seasoned local who's been working these flats and structure for decades. His 8-hour inshore trips give you plenty of time to really get into the fish without feeling rushed. Whether you're bringing the kids for their first taste of saltwater fishing or you're a weekend warrior looking to dial in your technique, this trip works for everyone. The 26-foot Gause-built boat handles Tampa Bay's varying conditions like a dream, and with only four guests max, you're not fighting for deck space or Captain Guy's attention.
What to Expect on the Water
Your day starts at 6326 S Richard Ave in Tampa, where you'll meet Captain Guy and get a quick rundown of the game plan. Tampa Bay's got so many productive spots that no two trips are exactly alike – one day you might be working the grass flats near the Skyway, the next you could be picking apart structure in the shipping channels. Captain Guy reads the conditions and adjusts accordingly, which is exactly what you want in a guide. The boat comes loaded with all the tackle you'll need, from live bait rigs for snook to bottom rigs for sheepshead. Don't worry about bringing anything except your Florida fishing license and maybe some snacks – everything else is handled. The family-friendly approach means everyone gets hands-on instruction, but experienced anglers will appreciate the local knowledge that only comes from years of working the same waters day in and day out.
Techniques and Tackle Setup
Tampa Bay inshore fishing is all about matching your presentation to the fish you're after and the structure you're working. Captain Guy runs a mix of techniques depending on what's biting – you might start the morning drift fishing with live shrimp over grass beds for trout and redfish, then switch to casting jigs around dock pilings for snook as the sun gets higher. The beauty of an 8-hour trip is having time to really work different techniques. When the snapper are holding on hard bottom, you'll drop down with circle hooks and cut bait. For sheepshead around the bridges, it's all about fresh shrimp on small hooks and feeling for that subtle tap. Captain Guy's tackle selection covers all the bases – medium spinning gear for most situations, with heavier setups ready when you hook into something that wants to head for the structure. The key to Tampa Bay success is staying mobile and adapting to what the fish are telling you, and that's where Captain Guy's local expertise really shines.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Red Snapper are the crown jewel of Tampa Bay fishing when they're in season. These guys live around hard bottom and structure in 15-40 feet of water, and they fight like fish twice their size. Most of the snapper you'll encounter run 12-20 inches, perfect for the dinner table. Summer months are prime time, and when you find them, they're usually grouped up tight. The bite can be fast and furious – Captain Guy knows the productive spots that consistently hold fish. What makes snapper so exciting is their aggressive nature once you locate them, plus they're absolutely delicious.
Redfish are Tampa Bay legends, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the flats year-round, with fall being absolutely prime time when they school up in massive numbers. You'll target them in 2-6 feet of water around oyster bars and grass edges. A decent Tampa Bay red runs 18-27 inches, and they'll give you that classic head-shaking bulldogging fight that redfish are famous for. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, though winter can produce some true giants. The sight-fishing opportunities for reds in Tampa Bay are world-class when conditions align.
Sea Trout are your bread-and-butter Tampa Bay fish – they're here year-round and always ready to eat. These spotted beauties love grass flats and drop-offs, typically in 3-8 feet of water. Spring and fall produce the best numbers, with fish averaging 14-18 inches. Trout are perfect for teaching beginners since they're aggressive and fight well on light tackle. The key is working the grass edges during moving tides. Captain Guy knows exactly where the trout hold in different seasons and tide stages.
Sheepshead are Tampa Bay's most technical fish to catch, which makes them incredibly rewarding when you dial in the technique. These black-and-white convicts live around any hard structure – bridges, docks, rock piles. Winter through early spring is peak season when they move shallow to spawn. They're notorious bait stealers with their human-like teeth, so the bite detection has to be on point. A good Tampa Bay sheepshead runs 12-16 inches, and they're fantastic table fare. The challenge and the payoff make them a favorite among experienced anglers.
Snook are Tampa Bay's most prized gamefish, and Captain Guy knows their patterns inside and out. These ambush predators love structure – docks, mangroves, bridges, anywhere they can pin baitfish. Summer is prime time, though they're catchable year-round if you know where to look. Tampa Bay snook average 20-28 inches, and their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights make them unforgettable. They're currently catch-and-release only, which has kept the population strong. The learning curve for consistently catching snook is steep, but that's what makes them so special when everything clicks.
Time to Book Your Spot
Captain Guy's full-day Tampa Bay trips deliver exactly what serious anglers and families are looking for – genuine local expertise, quality equipment, and access to some of Florida's best inshore fishing. Eight hours gives you the time to really learn the water and put together a memorable day of fishing. The small group size means personalized instruction and more fish per person. Tampa Bay's year
Learn more about the species
Red Snapper
Red Snapper are one of Tampa Bay's most prized catches, typically running 1-2 feet and 3-10 pounds, though we occasionally hook into real bruisers pushing 20+ pounds. These beautiful pink-red fish live around structure in 30-60 feet of water - think wrecks, ledges, and hard bottom areas. They're aggressive fighters that'll test your drag and try to cut you off on cover. Spring through fall gives us the best action when water temps are in that sweet 60-70 degree range. What makes them so popular? They fight hard, look great in photos, and the meat is absolutely fantastic - mild, nutty flavor that's perfect for the dinner table. Here's a local tip: when you feel that telltale thump-thump bite, don't hesitate. Set the hook hard and keep steady pressure to pull them away from structure before they wrap you up.
Redfish
Redfish are Tampa Bay icons with that copper-bronze color and distinctive black spot near the tail. Most slot fish run 18-27 inches and 3-8 pounds, perfect eating size. These bruisers love super shallow water - oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove edges in 1-4 feet where you'll often see their backs breaking the surface. Fall and winter are peak seasons when they school up in big numbers. What makes reds so popular? They're hard fighters that make long runs, they're great for sight fishing in shallow water, and the meat has a mild, sweet flavor that's hard to beat. Plus, they're pretty forgiving for beginners but still challenging enough for seasoned anglers. Here's my favorite approach: look for them "tailing" in shallow water during moving tides. Cast a gold spoon or live shrimp just past them and work it back slowly. When they eat, hold on tight.
Sea Trout
Sea Trout, or "Speckled Trout" as we call them locally, are Tampa Bay's bread and butter fish. These silver beauties with dark spots typically run 12-20 inches and 1-3 pounds, with some nice "gator trout" pushing 4-6 pounds. They love grass flats, sandy bottoms, and drop-offs in 3-15 feet of water. Cool mornings and evenings are prime time, especially during fall and winter months when they school up. Trout are perfect for families - they bite readily, fight well for their size, and are forgiving for beginners learning to set hooks. The meat is delicate and flaky, great for a fish fry. They're also excellent on light tackle, making every fish feel bigger. Here's a technique that works consistently: fish live shrimp under a popping cork over grass flats. That popping sound draws them in from a distance, and the natural presentation seals the deal.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are Tampa Bay's notorious "convict fish" with those black and white stripes and famous human-like teeth. Most run 1-3 pounds and 14-18 inches, though we get some nice 5-8 pounders around the better structure. These guys live around anything with barnacles - docks, bridges, pilings, and rock piles where they scrape off their favorite food. Winter and early spring are prime time as they school up for spawning. What draws anglers to sheepshead? They're sneaky, challenging fish that require finesse and quick reflexes. They're also some of the best eating fish in the bay with sweet, white meat. The challenge is they're incredible bait thieves with those crushing jaws. My go-to trick: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, keep your bait tight to structure, and when you feel them pecking, don't wait - they'll clean your hook in seconds. Set that hook at the first solid thump.
Snook
Snook are Tampa Bay's ultimate ambush predators, typically running 1-3 feet long with that distinctive black lateral line and golden color. These guys love structure - mangrove shorelines, docks, bridges, and creek mouths where they can hide and strike. They're temperature sensitive, so our best fishing runs from late spring through early fall when waters warm up. What makes snook so special? They're absolutely explosive fighters with powerful runs and gill-rattling jumps that'll get your heart pumping. Plus, they're sight fishing opportunities around shallow structure make for some truly exciting moments. The meat is excellent too - firm white flesh that's perfect on the grill. Here's something I've learned over the years: snook are very cover-oriented, so get your bait right against that structure. They rarely venture far from their hideouts, so precision casting pays off big time.
About the Gause Built 26'
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Vehicle Guest Capacity: 6
Manufacturer Name: Yamaha
Maximum Cruising Speed: 32
Number of Engines: 1
Horsepower per Engine: 300
