Full Day Redfish Inshore Trip Homosassa FL

Full Day Fishing Trip in Homosassa, Florida

When you want to fish Florida's legendary inshore waters the right way, you need time – real time to work the flats, hit multiple spots, and dial in on what's biting. Captain Quintin Valls gets that, which is why his 8-hour private fishing trip out of Homosassa gives you the full treatment. Starting at 7:00 AM from MacRea's of Homosassa, you'll have the entire day to chase redfish, sea trout, snook, sheepshead, and flounder across some of the most productive inshore waters on Florida's Nature Coast. This isn't a rushed half-day deal – it's a proper fishing adventure where you can settle into the rhythm of the water and really learn what makes these fish tick.

What to Expect on the Water

Captain Quintin runs a 24-foot Tremblay that's built for Florida's inshore game. With space for up to four anglers, the boat handles both shallow grass flats and deeper channels with ease. The beauty of an 8-hour trip is the flexibility – if the redfish are crushing baits on the morning tide, you can stay put and capitalize. If conditions shift and the trout move to deeper water after lunch, you've got time to relocate and adapt. The pace stays relaxed but focused, giving you plenty of hands-on fishing time without feeling rushed between spots. Captain Quintin knows these waters like his backyard, and he'll share insights about tides, structure, and fish behavior that you can take to other fishing adventures. The trip includes all tackle and bait, so you just need to bring your Florida fishing license, some snacks, and plenty of water for the day.

Techniques & Tackle Breakdown

Homosassa's inshore fishing is all about reading water and matching your approach to conditions. You'll work everything from shallow grass flats where redfish tail in two feet of water to oyster bars where sheepshead stack up like cordwood. Live bait rules here – shrimp, pinfish, and pilchards are the go-to options, but artificial lures shine when fish are aggressive. Captain Quintin keeps the tackle varied but appropriate: medium spinning gear for most situations, with lighter setups when the trout get finicky and stouter rigs when big snook are lurking around structure. You'll learn to read the signs – nervous baitfish, working birds, color changes in the water – that tip you off to feeding fish. The techniques range from sight fishing in skinny water to bottom fishing around structure, with plenty of casting practice if you want to improve your accuracy. The captain adjusts the approach based on your skill level, so beginners get solid fundamentals while experienced anglers can push their technique.

Species You'll Want to Hook

Redfish are the crown jewel of Homosassa's inshore scene, and for good reason. These copper-colored bulldogs range from schoolie-sized 18-inchers to bruiser bulls pushing 30-plus pounds. Spring through fall offers the best action, with fish feeding heavily in the shallows during moving tides. What makes reds so special is their attitude – they're aggressive, they fight hard, and they're not shy about crushing a well-placed bait. You'll find them tailing in grass beds, cruising oyster bars, and ambushing prey around mangrove shorelines.

Sea trout might be the most underrated fish in these waters. These spotted beauties are abundant year-round, with the best fishing during cooler months when they school up in deeper grass beds and channels. Trout are perfect for learning proper technique since they're willing biters but require a gentle touch – they have soft mouths that tear easily if you horse them. The satisfaction of a clean hookset and smooth fight on a quality gator trout is hard to beat, plus they're excellent table fare when you want to take a few home.

Snook are the glamour species that keep anglers coming back. These silver-sided ambush predators love structure – docks, mangrove roots, channel edges – anywhere they can pin baitfish against cover. Summer months see the best snook action around Homosassa, with fish ranging from skinny 20-inchers to thick-bodied 35-inch specimens. Snook are notorious for their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights, often clearing the water multiple times before you get them to the boat. They're catch-and-release only, which keeps the population healthy and the fishing consistently good.

Sheepshead are the technical challenge that separates good anglers from great ones. These black-and-white striped convicts have human-like teeth designed for crushing barnacles and crabs, which makes them notorious bait thieves. They school heavily around oyster bars and structure during cooler months, and once you dial in the technique, you can catch them steadily. The key is feeling the subtle bite and setting the hook before they strip your bait clean. Sheepshead are also fantastic eating, with firm white meat that's perfect for the dinner table.

Summer flounder round out the target species list with their unique flat-bodied appeal. These masters of camouflage bury themselves in sandy bottom areas and ambush passing baitfish with lightning-fast strikes. Flounder fishing requires patience and proper technique – you need to let them fully commit to the bait before setting the hook, since they often grab prey sideways before turning to swallow it. The summer months offer the best flounder action in Homosassa's waters, with fish ranging from keeper-sized 15-inchers to doormat specimens over 20 inches.

Time to Book Your Spot

This full-day fishing trip with Captain Quintin represents everything that's great about Florida inshore fishing. You get the time to really fish, not just sample spots between rushing to the next location. The variety of target species means constant action and learning opportunities, while the relaxed pace lets you soak up the knowledge