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St. Augustine Fishing Charter FAQ
Here are the answers to the questions Capt. Mike gets most often before a trip.
All trips leave from:The Conch House Marina57 Comares Ave St. Augustine, FL 32080Please arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled departure.Park in the north parking lot.As you approach the docks, before reaching the bathrooms, you’ll see a ramp on the left. Go down the ramp and make a right at the bottom.Capt. Mike and the boat will be docked right there.Having trouble finding it?Call or text Capt. Mike at 904-599-2127.
Please arrive about 15 minutes early.Your original booking time may also be adjusted based on the tides.Capt. Mike will contact you ahead of the trip to confirm the best departure time.
No.Your fishing license is included.
No.Capt. Mike provides the tackle needed for your trip.
Standard trips accommodate up to four anglers.For larger groups, contact Capt. Mike directly to discuss scheduling and accommodations.
Absolutely.All ages are welcome, and Capt. Mike enjoys teaching younger and first-time anglers proper fishing techniques.
Bring:Sunglasses Hat Sunscreen lotion Snacks and drinks if you'd likePlease do not bring spray sunscreen.You can bring a small soft cooler or use Capt. Mike’s cooler, which will have ice.Bottled water is provided.
Yes.Capt. Mike will clean and bag your catch when you return to The Conch House after the trip.Fish cleaning is included in the charter price.
The Conch House Marina Resort has a restaurant and bar right where the charter returns.They offer the option to cook your catch, making it easy to go from the boat to a meal without taking fish back to your hotel or vacation rental.Many Island Fishing Charters clients head upstairs after the trip, grab something to drink and eat the fish they just caught.
A $200 deposit holds your fishing date.
Cancel at least two weeks before your fishing date and your deposit will be returned.Cancellations made within two weeks of the trip, as well as no-call/no-shows, forfeit the $200 deposit.
Safety comes first.If Capt. Mike cancels because of weather, he’ll first try to find another time or day that works for your group.If rescheduling isn’t possible, your deposit will be refunded in full.
InshoreRedfish, flounder, trout, black drum, sheepshead and mangrove snapper.NearshoreTarpon, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cobia, jack crevalle, sharks and red snapper, with additional seasonal opportunities.Exactly what Capt. Mike targets depends on the season, tide, weather and current bite.
Ask the captain.
Redfish Fishing in St Augustine
There's no official cutoff, but most anglers call a redfish a bull red once it's pushing 28 inches or bigger, above Florida's slot limit. These are mature, spawning-age fish, and they're what pull hardest on the line, which is exactly why Capt. Mike's trips are built around finding them.
Cut mullet, blue crab pieces and live shrimp are the go-to baits in these creeks and flats, with gold spoons working well when reds are actively feeding. What Capt. Mike ties on depends on the tide and what's showing up in the water that day, not a fixed formula.
Most bull reds go back in the water. Once they're above Florida's legal slot size, you can't keep them anyway, and the bigger, older fish tend to be tougher eating. The smaller, slot-sized reds are the better table fish if you're looking to keep dinner.
Redfish fishing runs strongest from fall through late spring around St. Augustine, with summer the slower stretch. Capt. Mike reads the tides and recent bite to pin down where to target them on any given trip, but fall through late spring is the window to plan a trip around.
Yes, and they change from year to year. Redfish are managed under a slot limit, and flounder, black drum, sheepshead and mangrove snapper each carry their own size and bag limits, all set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Capt. Mike keeps up with the current numbers and follows them on every trip.
The Service Itself
Inshore means the protected creeks, flats and backwaters around St. Augustine, calm and sheltered from wind and swell. Nearshore means fishing just outside the inlet in coastal water; calmer than a true offshore run, but conditions still decide whether it's a good day to go, and Capt. Mike makes that call.
Shark fishing runs strongest from late spring through early fall around St. Augustine, as warmer water brings bait, and the sharks that follow it, closer to the coast. Conditions and what's actively feeding that week still matter, but late spring through early fall is the best window to plan around.
On the Water
Sure, flip-flops are fine out here. Most anglers wear them, or a pair of sandals, without any trouble on the Pathfinder's open deck. Just make sure they'll stay on your feet if you're moving quickly once a fish is on the line.
No, the Pathfinder 2500 doesn't have an onboard head. It's a good idea to use the restroom at the Conch House Marina before we leave the dock. If something comes up mid-trip, Capt. Mike can work with you, but it's best to plan ahead.
Yes. Under Florida law, any child under six must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket anytime the boat is underway. Island Fishing Charters carries kid-sized life jackets on board, so this is covered; just let Capt. Mike know the ages in your group ahead of time so the right sizes are ready.
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