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Crystal River · flats to 40 miles

Inshore & Nearshore Fishing Charters

Private inshore and nearshore charters out of Crystal River on a 27' AmeraCat: redfish and trout on the flats, or bottom fishing up to 40 miles out. Kids, first-timers and seniors welcome.

The Native Charters 27-foot AmeraCat catamaran on calm blue Gulf water with five anglers fishing from the deck

What's the difference between inshore and nearshore?

Inshore is the flats, rivers and backcountry around Crystal River, fishing shallow water for redfish and spotted seatrout. Nearshore means running 15 to 40 miles into the Gulf to bottom fish rock and ledges for mangrove snapper, hogfish and grouper. Both run on the 27' AmeraCat, and both start at 8:00 AM.

Trips & prices

Inshore & nearshore trips

Eight private trips on the 27' AmeraCat, all starting at 8:00 AM, up to 6 guests: flats, nearshore bottom fishing, a combo, and seasonal gag and sheepshead trips. Prices are per boat, not per person; each card shows what the base price covers and the extra-guest rate.

Compare all rates
A woman and a man kneel on the bow of a boat holding three spotted seatrout on an overcast day 27 ft Families with kids

Inshore Fishing — Half Day

Five hours on the Crystal River flats for redfish and spotted seatrout.

5 hours Inshore — Crystal River flats and rivers Up to 6 on board
From$695for up to 2 · +$75/person
Book Details
Angler in a yellow hoodie holding a redfish on a lip gripper over calm inshore water 27 ft Families

Inshore Fishing — Full Day

Seven to eight hours inshore, with time to follow the tide and change spots.

7–8 hours Inshore — Crystal River flats and rivers Up to 6 on board
From$795for up to 2 · +$75/person
Book Details
Smiling angler holding two mangrove snapper under the Native Fishing Charters sign, with red snapper on the table below 27 ft First-timers to Gulf fishing

15–20 Mile Bottom Fishing — Half Day

A half day of bottom fishing on the nearshore rock piles, 15 to 20 miles out of Crystal River.

Half day 15–20 miles out Up to 6 on board
From$995for up to 4 · +$50/person
Book Details
Two couples under the Native Fishing Charters sign with mangrove snapper and spotted seatrout on the cleaning table 27 ft Mixed groups

Inshore & Offshore Combo

One 7-hour trip, two kinds of fishing: nearshore bottom fishing plus redfish and trout inshore.

7 hours Inshore plus nearshore structure Up to 6 on board
From$1,095for up to 4 · +$75/person
Book Details
Angler in a Ranger cap holding a hogfish on a lip gripper aboard a Native Charters boat 27 ft Groups who've done inshore and want more

30 Mile Max — Nearshore on the Catamaran

Hogfish, mangrove snapper and grunts on the 30-mile grounds, aboard the 27' AmeraCat.

6–8 hours Up to 30 miles out Up to 6 on board
From$1,495for up to 4 · +$100/person
Book Details
Man in red shorts holding a hogfish on a fish grip aboard a boat, Gulf water behind 27 ft Anglers who want grouper on the list

40 Mile Max — Nearshore on the Catamaran

Our longest run on the 27' AmeraCat: deeper structure for mangrove snapper, hogfish and grouper.

6–8 hours Up to 40 miles out Up to 6 on board
From$1,595for up to 4 · +$100/person
Book Details
Angler holding a large gag grouper on a lip gripper next to the outboard on a Native Charters boat Seasonal 27 ft Anglers who want gag without the offshore run

Inshore Gag Grouper (Seasonal)

Gag grouper on the nearshore ledges during the short fall season, without the long offshore run.

Nearshore structure (call for details) Up to 6 on board
From$1,400for up to 4 · +$75/person
Book Details
Young woman holding a large sheepshead on a Boga grip at the stern of a boat 27 ft Seniors

Sheepshead — Full Day (Seasonal)

A full day on the nearshore rock piles when big sheepshead stack up to spawn, late winter into spring.

Full day Nearshore rock piles Up to 6 on board
From$1,200for up to 4 · +$75/person
Book Details
The Native Charters 27-foot AmeraCat catamaran on calm blue Gulf water with five anglers fishing from the deck

Your boat

27' AmeraCat Catamaran

Inshore, nearshore and scalloping out of Crystal River

  • Ideal for kids, families, first-time anglers and seniors
  • Half-day and full-day options
  • Fully equipped for runs to 50 miles; our longest 27’ trip is the 40 Mile Max
  • Live bait and artificial lures
  • Big dive ladder for scalloping

Inshore fishing around Crystal River means the grass flats, oyster bars, rock piles and river mouths of the Nature Coast. It’s shallow water close to the launch, and it suits kids, beginners and seniors. Redfish and spotted seatrout are the everyday targets, with snook, flounder and black drum showing up by tide and season.

Nearshore is the same boat pointed west, 15 to 40 miles out over rock and ledges for mangrove snapper, hogfish, grunts and grouper. Trips range from a half-day bottom-fishing run to the 30 and 40 Mile Max. If your group can’t decide, the Inshore & Offshore Combo does both in one 7-hour day.

Two trips run only in season. The Inshore Gag Grouper trip works the nearshore ledges and rock piles while gag season is open (Sept 1–30 in 2026; NOAA and FWC set the dates each year, so check before booking). The Sheepshead Full Day runs in late winter into early spring around the spawn; call for this year’s dates.

The 27′ AmeraCat catamaran is the boat we recommend for kids, families, beginners and seniors, and it’s fully equipped for trips up to 50 miles out. The inshore half day is 5 hours, the full day 7 to 8, and every trip starts at 8:00 AM.

Tackle, bait, ice, water and fish cleaning are included. Our FWC charter license covers everyone on board, so nobody needs a fishing license.

Target species

What you'll be catching

Redfish and spotted seatrout inshore; mangrove snapper, hogfish and grouper nearshore; sheepshead and gag grouper in their seasons. Gag dates are set yearly — see the gag grouper season guide.

All fish we catch
Man in a peach shirt holding a red grouper on a fish grip under a boat hardtop

Grouper

Red grouper year-round in state waters (federal Feb 1–Mar 31 closure); gag Sept 1–30, 2026

What to expect

How an inshore or nearshore day goes

  1. 1
    Meet at our private launch

    Every inshore and nearshore trip starts at 8:00 AM. We send the launch location before your trip date, and there's a clean guest bathroom on site before you board.

  2. 2
    Short run to the fish

    Our launch sits right on the river channel, so inshore trips don't spend long running. Nearshore trips head 15 to 40 miles into the Gulf.

  3. 3
    Fish

    We fish whatever the tide and conditions favor: redfish or trout on the flats, snapper and hogfish over nearshore rock. Rods, reels, tackle and bait are on board, and we coach anyone who's new.

  4. 4
    Head home

    The inshore half day is 5 hours, the full day 7 to 8, and the 30 and 40 Mile Max trips 6 to 8. The captain makes any weather call; bring food, drinks, sunscreen and non-skid shoes.

  5. 5
    Fish cleaned and bagged

    We clean and bag your catch at the cleaning station at the launch, and we take pictures along the way. Bring a small cooler to leave in your vehicle for the ride home.

Questions

Questions about inshore & nearshore fishing charters

All FAQs

No. Native Charters FL is an FWC-licensed charter, and that license covers every guest on board. You do not need your own Florida saltwater fishing license or the State Reef Fish Angler designation. The same coverage applies to scalloping. Just bring a valid ID.

Everything you need to fish: rods, reels, tackle, bait, ice and water, plus fishing license coverage for everyone on board. At the dock we clean and bag your catch, and on inshore and scalloping trips we take pictures for you. Scalloping trips add snorkel, mask, fins and a cooler.

The Overnight Middle Grounds charter also includes food and snacks. On every other trip, you bring your own food, drinks and sun protection.

Yes, children are welcome, and the 27' AmeraCat in particular is set up for kids, families, first-time anglers and seniors. On the 27' catamaran, children under 6 years old or 60 pounds or less must wear a life jacket at all times. On the 35', we ask that kids be 4 or older.

For long offshore runs on the 35', call us first so we can talk through your child's age and the length of the day.

Redfish and spotted seatrout most days, plus snook, flounder, black drum, Spanish mackerel and sheepshead depending on tide and season. We fish whatever the tide favors, usually redfish or trout first, with live bait and jigs over the flats, rock piles, oyster bars and river mouths around Crystal River. Sheepshead get their own seasonal full-day trip in late winter and early spring, around the spawn.

Half day is 5 hours and full day is 7–8 hours, both starting at 8:00 AM. A half day is enough for most inshore species and is the right pick for families and anyone new to fishing. Go full day to fish more of the tide and cover more water. Both run on the 27' AmeraCat: from $695 for up to 2 anglers on the half day, from $795 on the full day, plus $75 per extra person.

From our own private launch in Crystal River: no public ramp, no waiting behind trailers, no fighting for parking before sunrise. Your captain provides the location details before your trip date.

The launch has a clean guest bathroom for before and after the trip, and a proper fish cleaning station, so you leave with bagged fillets. It sits right on the river channel, which keeps the run to the fishing grounds short.

Man at the helm of a white center console boat with twin Yamaha outboards on calm water

Book an inshore or nearshore trip

Book online or call 352-770-2520 between 5 AM and 9 PM. Not sure whether to go half day, full day or nearshore? Tell us who's coming and we'll help you pick.