Fishing Charters in St. Petersburg, Florida are one of the top things you can do when living in, or visiting the city and surrounding areas of Tampa Bay. Departing from one of the hottest places in the world for deep sea, offshore and inshore fishing, this is a lifetime experience that will last forever.
YACHTFISH Fishing Charters has been serving the west coast of Florida for over 20 years and welcomes all skill levels and ages onboard our private charter trips. Please enjoy this guide to help you decide which type of trip is best for you.
What Type of St. Petersburg Fishing Charter Should I Go On?
Deep Sea Fishing Charters from St. Petersburg, FL
Deep Sea fishing is all about heading out into deeper waters to locate big, hungry monsters! Here in St. Petersburg, we’re lucky to live right next to one of the most abundant fishing populations in the entire Gulf of Mexico. The variety of fish is unsurpassed.
Deep sea trips are fantastic for really escaping everyday life, spending time with your buddies or family and exploring nature in a totally unique way.
Fishing at depths of up to 400 feet you can catch incredible fish that you’ll never see inshore such as Wahoo, Swordfish, Dolphin, huge Gag Groupers, big Sharks, Tarpon, Sailfish, Marlin and the giant Goliath Grouper. These are trophy fish!
Deep sea fishing is the ultimate, multi-hour adventure. Our St. Petersburg fishing charters can take you out onto the Gulf for as long as 8 hours! So if that sounds too intense, consider a shorter inshore trip with Yachtfish Fishing Charters.
Perfect For:
- Longer experiences amongst wildlife
- Escaping everyday life
- Seeing and catching unique, trophy-sized fish!
- Testing your fishing abilities
- Bonding experiences
Offshore Fishing Charters from St. Petersburg, FL
Offshore fishing is very similar to deep sea fishing, as it focuses on trips where you struggle to see land anymore from your fishing location. However, it’s mostly focused on fishing in waters of around 50-200 feet. You may find some St. Petersburg fishing charters interchange the use of ‘deep sea’ and ‘offshore’.
This is where some of the hottest saltwater action happens! You can catch Tarpon, Kingfish, Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack, Redfish, Shark, Tuna and much more on these multi-hour unbelievable experiences!
Inshore Fishing Charters from St. Petersburg, FL
Inshore fishing is all about staying close to shore and hooking up with the fast and frantic fish that swim close to the beaches and piers of St. Petersburg and the surrounding Tampa Bay area.
This is a great option for people looking for near-immediate action and don’t want to travel too far away from life on land.
Although the fish may be smaller than on deep sea trips, you can still get your hands on impressive edible catches. Your heart will be pounding when you see a Silver King (Tarpon) jump out of the water, or when you help your kids pull in their first-ever catch!
Perfect For:
- Action-packed experiences
- Heart pounding fights
- Beginners and children
- Shorter trips
How much are Inshore Fishing Charters from St. Petersburg?
YACHTFISH Fishing Charters from St. Petersburg are available for the following durations and prices for inshore trips. Deep Sea and Offshore trips are priced individually.
| Duration | For 2 People |
| 2 Hours | $350 |
| 4 Hours | $550 |
| 6 Hours | $750 |
| 8 Hours | $1000 |
- Rates are for up to 2 people and $50 for each additional person
- A 4% convenience fee will be applied to all credit/debit transactions
- Gratuity is not included
Private Party Boats in St. Petersburg
Fishing charters in St. Petersburg are not just limited to rods and bait. YACHTFISH Fishing Charters offers boats for private parties too! Tourists and locals alike reserve these trips during the holiday hotspots in advance (such as spring break), so act fast!
YACHTFISH Fishing Charters booze cruises cater to any demands, from day cruises to early evening with a cooler for your drinks and stunning journeys past Dolphins, Manatees and waterfowl while taking in the beautiful scenery.
Does St. Petersburg Have Good Fishing?
Yes! St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach are world-renowned for their fishing hotspots. There are a vast number of fishing grounds here, from St. Pete Beach to the wrecks and offshore reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.
What Fish Are Running in St. Petersburg?
Spring
Spring is a great time for inshore fishing in particular. As the temperatures rise, tons of hungry fish arrive at St. Petersburg’s coastlines. Redfish action really begins around March, in a location considered the capital of the Redfish world. Snook are also very hot and provide an explosive experience.
- Amberjack
- Black Drum
- Redfish
- Trout
- Tripletail
- Snook
- Mackerel
- Grouper
- Jack Crevalle
- Permit
- Tarpon
- Barracuda
- Cobia
- Snapper
Read Related: Spring Break Fishing Trips to Florida
Summer
There are few better places in the world to fish than St. Petersburg during summer. With hot water temperatures, there are countless fish species to catch. Deep sea season hits its peak with Gag Grouper, Tarpon and Shark, some of the very best offerings!
June to August is great for Red Snapper season, where you can try to catch one of the most delicious fish in the Gulf.
- Red Snapper
- Tarpon
- Gag Grouper
- Shark
- Tuna
- Mahi
- Sailfish
- Snook
- Barracuda
- Cobia
- And Many More!
Fall
Fall in St. Petersburg is as good as summer is in many other parts of the world. With temperatures still high, bottom fishing provides great rewards. This is peak Gag Grouper season, which is one of the ultimate deep-sea fishing tests for any angler!
- Gag Grouper
- Snook
- King Mackerel
- Red Fish
- Trout
- Tuna
- Mahi
- Shark
- Sailfish
- Blue Fish
- Jack Crevalle
- And Many More!
Winter
The fishing never stops in St. Petersburg, FL as the winter temperatures here are still high enough for great angling. Red Grouper is always hot, as they move closer inland as the temperatures drop. They can grow up to 2 ft! The delicious Hogfish also put up a great fight around the end of the year.
- Amberjack
- Red Grouper
- Hogfish
- Grouper
- Snook
- Trout
- And Many More!
Can I Take My Kids on a St. Petersburg Fishing Charter?
Yes! YACHTFISH Fishing Charters in St. Petersburg regularly welcomes kids of all ages and skill levels on our boats. We love helping beginners out, educating them on how to fish, about marine life and how to work together as a team.
All our charters are private, so it’s just you and your kids (and our Captain of course). We find these are great chances for kids to learn about self-belief and teamwork.
Read Related: 10 Reasons to Go Fishing with Your Kids This Summer in Florida
Are Fishing Charters Safe?
With our licensed and experienced Captains, YACHTFISH Fishing Charters is very safe. We know how to avoid dangerous weather and how to keep our Guests safe. That said, we always recommend you follow our precautionary advice below:
How to Prepare for a St. Petersburg Fishing Charter:
Spending time out on the open water can be intense on the body, due to the sun’s heat and saltwater. While perfectly safe, we always recommend you pack or wear the following for a St. Petersburg fishing charter:
- Hats
- Sun protection
- Shades
- Towels
- Suitable footwear (non-skid rubber soles shoes are recommended)
- Snacks and drinks (we have a cooler onboard!)
- Light-colored clothing so you do not retain heat on hot days
- Lightweight microfiber long-sleeve shirts to protect arms from the sun
- Short pants when warm, long when cool
- Waterproof windbreaker for possible rain and cool mornings
- Swimsuit, if you want to swim
- Sunscreen and lip balm that protect from UVA and UVB rays
- Seasickness medication if you’re prone to seasickness
- Bug spray for inshore fishing by the mangroves
- Hand sanitizer if you don’t want to smell like bait
- Waterproof bag or backpack for your items
- Camera or smartphone to record your trophy catch
Can I Eat My Catch?
If FWC regulations permit that we can keep the fish you catch, then yes! Our Guests regularly take their fresh fish to nearby restaurants in St. Petersburg. These places love preparing fresh fish for their customers, whether it’s fried, broiled or baked.
Fish like Red Snapper are among the most popular catches. Feel free to ask us on the day of your trip for more information, or check out the FWC regulation page here.
Book your St. Petersburg Fishing Charter Now!
YACHTFISH Charters has enjoyed over 20 years of experience in St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Tampa and Clearwater.
CALL or TEXT: YACHTFISH CHARTERS (727) 433-4200 to book a fishing charter in St. Petersburg today! Or BOOK NOW at www.yachtfish.com
We welcome all ages and all skill levels, from young novices to experienced anglers.
Booking in advance is highly recommended, as demand remains high all year.
YACHTFISH will provide an unforgettable experience second to none with Fishing Charters from St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Tampa and Clearwater.
