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5hr Extended Inshore Charter Clearwater Bay FL
Clearwater, FLWhat you will be catching:
Redfish
Sea Trout
Sheepshead
Spanish Mackerel
Tripletail
- 5-hour inshore charter targeting redfish, snook, trout, and snapper
- 22-foot Tidewater bay boat with live bait and quality tackle provided
- All gear, licenses, bait, and refreshments included in charter package
Trip Pricing and Availabilities:
Trip pricing information is temporarily unavailable.
Extended Clearwater Inshore Fishing Charter
If you're serious about inshore fishing in Florida, this 5-hour charter is your ticket to the best fishing Clearwater Bay has to offer. Captain and crew at Wish Upon A Fish Charters know these waters like the back of their hand, and they've designed this extended trip for anglers who want more than your typical half-day on the water. You'll be fishing from a well-equipped 22' Tidewater bay boat that's perfect for navigating the shallow flats and deeper channels where redfish, snook, and trout love to hang out. Whether you're a weekend warrior or someone who's never held a rod, this charter works for everyone - the captain adjusts techniques and spots based on your experience level.
What to Expect on the Water
This isn't your rushed 4-hour trip where you barely get warmed up before heading back to the dock. With 5 hours on the water, you'll have time to really get into the rhythm of inshore fishing and explore multiple spots around Clearwater Bay. Your captain will start by reading the conditions - tide, wind, water clarity - then map out a game plan that might take you from shallow grass flats in the morning to deeper mangrove shorelines as the day progresses. The beauty of this extended charter is flexibility; if the redfish are crushing bait on one flat, you can stay and capitalize instead of rushing off to hit every spot on a checklist. You'll fish both morning and afternoon bite windows, which often means more fish and better action. The boat comes loaded with quality spinning and baitcasting gear, plus a well-stocked tackle box and fresh live bait that gets the best results in these waters.
Techniques and Prime Spots
Clearwater Bay offers incredible variety, and your captain will mix up techniques to keep things interesting and productive. You'll likely start with live shrimp under popping corks around grass beds and oyster bars - this setup is deadly for trout and redfish. As you move to different areas, expect to throw soft plastics on jig heads along mangrove shorelines where snook like to ambush prey. The deeper channels and dock pilings are perfect for free-lining live pinfish for bigger snook and the occasional mangrove snapper. Your captain knows the seasonal patterns here - where fish stack up during different tide phases, which flats produce during summer versus winter, and how weather affects fish behavior. The 22' Tidewater is ideal for this type of fishing since it draws minimal water but handles chop well, letting you access skinny water spots that bigger boats can't reach while staying comfortable when you need to run between areas.
Top Catches This Season
Redfish are the bread and butter of Clearwater Bay, and these copper-colored fighters are what most anglers dream about. These fish range from slot-sized 18-24 inchers up to bull reds that'll test your drag system. Spring through fall sees the most consistent action, with fish often tailing in shallow water where you can sight-fish them - there's nothing like watching a red turn on your bait in 2 feet of crystal clear water. They fight harder than almost any inshore fish their size, making long runs and using their broad sides to pull drag. Spanish Mackerel show up in good numbers during warmer months, usually hanging around bait schools in slightly deeper water. They're fast, aggressive biters that hit hard and make screaming runs - perfect for lighter tackle. These silver bullets typically run 1-3 pounds and are fantastic table fare when prepared fresh. Sheepshead are the trickiest customers you'll encounter, known for their light bites and ability to steal bait. They hang around structure like docks, bridges, and oyster bars, especially during cooler months. Once you get the hang of detecting their subtle taps, they're rewarding fish that can reach 3-5 pounds and make excellent eating. Sea Trout, or speckled trout, are abundant year-round and perfect for building confidence. They school up over grass flats and hit a variety of baits aggressively. These spotted beauties typically run 14-20 inches and are great fighters on light tackle. Tripletail are the wild card - these odd-looking fish float near structure and debris, often mistaken for floating trash until they swim away. They're excellent table fare and provide a unique fishing experience since you're essentially sight-fishing for them around crab trap floats and channel markers.
Time to Book Your Spot
This extended inshore charter gives you the best shot at experiencing everything Clearwater Bay has to offer. With 5 hours on the water, quality gear, live bait, and a captain who knows where the fish are biting, you're set up for success whether you're looking to fill the cooler or just enjoy a day of solid fishing action. The trip includes everything you need - Florida fishing license, tackle, bait, and refreshments - so you just need to bring yourself, polarized sunglasses, and some non-spray sunscreen. Both morning and afternoon departures are available, and with only 2 anglers max, you'll get personalized attention and plenty of room to fish comfortably. Book your charter with Wish Upon A Fish Charters and get ready to see why Clearwater Bay is considered some of the best inshore fishing in Florida.
Learn more about the species
Redfish
Redfish are the ultimate sight fishing target with that distinctive black spot near the tail and copper-bronze coloring. They average 20-30 inches but can push 40+ inches and 30 pounds in our waters. These fish love super shallow flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines - sometimes in water so skinny their backs show. Fall and spring are hot seasons, but they bite year-round here. What gets people fired up is watching them cruise the flats, tailing in inches of water, then seeing that massive topwater explosion. They're bulldogs that'll peel drag and make long runs. The meat is firm with a mild, slightly sweet flavor that's perfect on the grill. My secret: look for nervous baitfish and mullet jumping - redfish are usually pushing them around. When you spot one, cast past it and work your bait back into their path.
Sea Trout
Spotted Seatrout are our bread-and-butter inshore fish, running 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds with those distinctive black spots all over their silver sides. They love grass flats, oyster bars, and shallow bay waters, especially areas with good current flow and structure nearby. Spring through fall are prime, but they school up in deeper channels during cold snaps. What makes them special is that soft strike and the way they'll absolutely hammer topwater lures at dawn and dusk. The meat is white, flaky, and delicious - just don't overcook it or it gets mushy. Guests enjoy how willing they are to bite and the variety of techniques that work. Early morning with a popping cork and live shrimp over grass flats is money, but here's the kicker - fish the edges where the grass meets sand. That's where they ambush baitfish.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are the "convict fish" with their black and white stripes, but they're famous for those human-like teeth they use to crush barnacles and crabs. Most run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, though we occasionally see 20-pounders around deeper structure. They're always hugging hard cover - docks, pilings, bridges, oyster bars - basically anywhere there's something to eat. Winter and early spring are peak times when they school up for spawning. Guests get hooked on the challenge because these guys are notorious bait thieves with light bites, but once you hook up, they fight hard with that deep body. The white, flaky meat is outstanding table fare. My tip: get your bait right against the structure and keep a tight line. The second you feel weight, set that hook hard because they'll spit it faster than you think.
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish Mackerel are silver speedsters with yellow spots scattered along their sides, usually running 1-2 feet long and 8-11 pounds. They're some of the fastest swimmers out here, hitting 5.5 meters per second, and they travel in massive schools that can stretch for miles. We typically find them near the surface around structures, grass flats, and channel edges. Spring through fall are prime times when they're feeding heavily on sardines, anchovies, and shrimp. Guests love them for their blistering runs and acrobatic jumps - they'll test your drag for sure. The meat is excellent eating too, with that mild flavor that grills up perfect. Pro tip: when you see birds diving, that's usually Spanish Mackerel busting bait underneath. Cast a small spoon or jig right into the commotion and hold on tight.
Tripletail
Tripletail are one of our most unique targets - they look like floating debris until you get close and see that chunky, mottled body with three distinct fins at the back. Most run 18 inches and 2-13 pounds, but 20+ pounders show up regularly. They're surface cruisers, often laying on their sides near floating grass, channel markers, or any structure that provides shade. Summer through early fall is prime time when water temps stay above 70 degrees. What makes them special is the sight fishing - you're literally casting to fish you can see floating like logs. When hooked, they're surprisingly acrobatic for such a heavy-bodied fish. The meat rivals grouper or snapper - firm, white, and sweet. Here's the trick: cast well past them and slowly work your bait into their strike zone. Get too close and they'll spook instantly.
About the Wish Upon A Fish
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Vehicle Guest Capacity: 6
Manufacturer Name: Yamaha
Maximum Cruising Speed: 45
Number of Engines: 1
Horsepower per Engine: 200
