Expert 6-Hour BackCountry Fishing in Jacksonville

Jacksonville Inshore Fishing with Capt. Dave

Looking for a top-rated inshore fishing experience in Jacksonville? Capt. Dave's got you covered with 28 years of guiding experience on these waters. This private 2-person charter takes you out on the St. Johns River and surrounding saltmarsh for 6 hours of serious fishing action. You'll launch at 7am sharp aboard his custom 2025 Jettywolf - a 20-foot shallow draft bay boat built specifically for these waters. The early start time isn't just for show - it puts you right in the sweet spot when fish are most active, and you'll work with the tides that change every 6 hours. This isn't some cookie-cutter trip either. Dave reads the water, adjusts to conditions, and puts you where the fish are biting that day.

What to Expect on the Water

This is a hands-on fishing adventure where you'll actually learn something. Dave's not the type of captain who just motors to a spot and drops lines - he's constantly reading conditions, watching baitfish, and positioning the boat for your best shot at hooking up. The Jettywolf's shallow draft design means you'll get into backwater areas that bigger boats can't reach, where redfish love to cruise the flats and seatrout hang around grass beds. You'll be standing and moving around the boat throughout the day, so come ready to be active. The 6-hour timeframe includes travel time, but Dave maximizes every minute on productive water. All your gear is provided - rods, reels, tackle, coolers, ice, and even your fishing license. Just bring drinks, snacks in a grocery bag, and wear sneakers with good grip. Dave's serious about the footwear - no work boots or hard-soled shoes that could damage his custom deck, and open-toed sandals aren't safe when you're handling fish with sharp fins and gill plates.

Techniques & Tackle

Dave switches up techniques based on what's working that day and where the fish are holding. You might be bottom fishing with cut bait around structure, casting jig heads to redfish tailing in shallow water, or drifting slip floats over grass beds where seatrout are feeding. The beauty of inshore fishing in Jacksonville is the variety - one minute you're sight-casting to a school of reds cruising a flat, the next you're working a deep creek bend for black drum. Dave uses a mix of live bait, natural baits, and artificials depending on conditions. Live shrimp is always a winner, but he's not afraid to tie on a topwater plug when fish are busting baitfish on the surface. The spinning tackle setup is perfect for beginners but effective enough that experienced anglers stay busy. You need to be able to cast reasonably well to get the most out of this trip - inshore fishing often means making accurate casts to specific targets, whether that's a downed tree, oyster bar, or patch of grass where fish are hiding.

Customer Stories

"Took the kids 15y and 4yr, both got seasick but Captain Dave not only handled well but with the shorter on open water experience took us up river for sightseeing and a bit of history it was a great end" - Rhonda

Species You'll Want to Hook

Redfish are the stars of Jacksonville's inshore scene, and for good reason. These bronze-backed fighters are available year-round and put up a serious scrap when hooked. You'll find them in 1-4 feet of water around oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths. Reds are ambush predators that cruise slowly until they spot prey, then explode on it. Watch for their copper-colored backs or black-spotted tails when they're feeding shallow. They're not picky eaters - live shrimp, cut mullet, or a well-placed jig head will get their attention. What makes redfish special is how they fight - they use their broad sides like a sail against the current, making multiple powerful runs that'll test your drag system.

Sea Trout are the most cooperative fish you'll encounter, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper grass beds and creek channels. These spotted beauties are masters of structure, relating to anything that provides cover and current breaks. They've got excellent eyesight and will often follow a lure for several feet before deciding to strike. The trout bite really turns on during moving water - incoming and outgoing tides bring baitfish through their feeding zones. They're perfect for anglers learning to read water since they're predictable in their habits. A slow-moving jig bounced along the bottom or a popping cork with live shrimp suspended below rarely fails to produce.

Southern Flounder are the ninjas of the flats - masters of camouflage that lie buried in sand and mud waiting for prey to swim overhead. These flatfish are more active during cooler months and provide some of the best table fare you'll find inshore. They prefer areas where current sweeps baitfish past their ambush points - creek mouths, channel edges, and points where tide flows around structure. Flounder fishing requires patience since they often mouth a bait before fully committing. You'll feel a subtle tap or weight on your line rather than a hard strike. The reward is worth the wait - these pancake-shaped fighters are surprisingly strong and make excellent eating.

Sheepshead are the thieves of the inshore world, notorious for stealing bait with their human-like teeth and incredible precision. They hang around any hard structure - docks, pilings, oyster bars, and bridge supports where barnacles and crustaceans provide steady meals. These black-and-white striped convicts are incredibly smart and require finesse fishing with light tackle and small hooks. They're most active during cooler months and provide some of the most challenging fishing you'll find inshore. When you finally hook one, they make short, powerful runs and use structure to try breaking you off. The payoff is some of the sweetest white meat in the ocean - many consider sheepshead better eating than snapper or grouper.

Time to Book Your Spot

Capt. Dave's 28 years of experience and customer-favorite approach make this one of Jacksonville's most reliable inshore fishing experiences. The full payment upfront system means no awkward money exchanges at the dock after a long day - everything's handled when you book. Dave even offers fish cleaning services on a gratuity basis, so you can head home with fresh fillets ready for the dinner table. His willingness to adapt trips for families, like taking seasick kids up river for sightseeing and local history, shows the kind of captain he is. This world-class inshore fishery produces year-round, but the best action often happens when you least expect it. Don't wait for the perfect weather forecast - some of the most memorable fishing happens when conditions aren't picture-perfect. Call Dave at 904-642-9546 between 8am-8pm to lock in your dates and get ready for some serious Jacksonville inshore action.