Get ready to wet a line and make some memories on the stunning waters of Englewood, Florida. Captain Tim of MM Charters is your ticket to an epic day of inshore fishing, whether you're looking to bend a rod for a few hours or settle in for a full day on the flats. With a mix of hot spots from backcountry hideaways to nearshore honey holes, this trip is perfect for anglers of all skill levels. Bring your A-game and let's see what's biting!
Your adventure kicks off bright and early at the Englewood marina, where Captain Tim will greet you with a smile and a game plan for the day. We'll load up the boat with top-notch gear, some cold drinks, and plenty of bait before heading out to where the fish are biting. Whether you choose the 4-hour quickie or the 8-hour full-day experience, get ready for non-stop action as we target everything from hard-fighting redfish to line-screaming king mackerel. The beauty of Englewood's waters is the variety – one minute you might be sight-casting to tailing reds in skinny water, the next you could be battling a bruiser snook around the mangroves. And keep your eyes peeled for our local dolphin pods – they love to put on a show!
We'll use a mix of tried-and-true techniques to put you on the fish. For the flats, we'll often start with live bait under a popping cork – it's like ringing the dinner bell for seatrout and redfish. When we spot those copper-colored tails waving in the shallows, we'll switch to sight-casting with artificial lures for an extra challenge. If the nearshore bite is on, we might run out to some structure and drop live pinfish for grouper or troll for Spanish mackerel. Captain Tim knows these waters like the back of his hand, so we'll hit the local hotspots while adapting to what the fish are doing that day. From the grass flats of Lemon Bay to the rocky bottoms off Manasota Key, we've got options to keep the rods bent all day long.
"It was a very fun and easy going journey. He was eager to share his knowledge of the waterways and the fish in the area. The day featured good music and good times. We were able to catch a wide variety of fish which was exciting for my sons and I as we are new to open water ocean fishing. He was very patient with my two youngest sons ages 8 and 10 with rebating hooks after they had their bait skinned every now and then." - Seth
"My brother and I just had a great trip with Captain Tim, caught a lot of fish, learned a lot and enjoyed a bunch of laughs. Will definitely do it again. Thanks again Captain Tim!!" - Michael
Gag Grouper: These bottom-dwelling brutes are the reason you brought your heavy tackle. Gags love to hang around structure and put up a serious fight when hooked. They're most active in cooler months, typically October through December. Landing a big gag is always a thrill – they can grow over 50 pounds and make for some of the best fish tacos you'll ever taste.
Snook: The crown jewel of inshore fishing, snook are as crafty as they are delicious. These ambush predators love to lurk around mangrove shorelines and bridge pilings, ready to pounce on passing baitfish. We target them year-round, but the bite really heats up in the warmer months. Pound-for-pound, snook are some of the hardest fighting fish in these waters, known for their spectacular jumps and blistering runs.
Goliath Grouper: True to their name, these gentle giants can grow to mammoth proportions – we're talking fish over 400 pounds! While we practice catch-and-release with goliaths (they're protected), hooking into one of these behemoths is an experience you'll never forget. They tend to hang around deeper structure, so we might encounter them if we venture to some nearshore wrecks.
Sea Trout: The bread and butter of Englewood's flats fishing, seatrout are abundant and eager to bite. These spotted beauties school up over grass flats and are a blast on light tackle. We can target them year-round, but the bite is especially good in the cooler months. Don't let their size fool you – a big "gator" trout can put up a surprisingly good fight!
Redfish: With their copper scales and characteristic spot near the tail, redfish are a favorite target for many anglers. We find them tailing in shallow water, often giving themselves away as they root around for crabs and shrimp. Fall is prime time for big bull reds, but we catch them year-round. There's nothing quite like the thrill of watching a red track down your lure in clear, shallow water.
Whether you're looking to put some fish in the cooler or just want to experience the thrill of Englewood's inshore fishery, Captain Tim has you covered. With room for up to 4 anglers, it's perfect for a family outing or a day out with your fishing buddies. Remember, the early bird gets the worm (or in this case, the fish), so don't wait to lock in your date. Give MM Charters a call and let's get you out on the water for a day of rod-bending action. Just be warned – once you experience Englewood fishing, you might find yourself planning your next trip before you even get back to the dock!
June 19, 2025
My brother and I just had a great trip with Captain Tim, caught a lot of fish, learned a lot and enjoyed a bunch of laughs. Will definitely do it again. Thanks again Captain Tim!!
June 18, 2025
Gag Grouper are a popular target around Englewood, usually hanging out near reefs and rocky bottoms in 60-250 feet of water. These fish can grow up to 50-60 pounds, though most are in the 10-30 pound range. They're aggressive feeders and put up a great fight, making them fun to catch. Late spring through fall is prime time, with spawning aggregations in summer. Live bait like pinfish or squirrelfish works well, but you can also use jigs or large swimming plugs. When you hook one, get it away from structure fast or it'll try to dive back in and break you off. Gag Grouper make excellent table fare too, with firm white meat that's great grilled or fried. One local trick: bounce your bait off the bottom to create some commotion and attract their attention.
Goliath Grouper are true giants of the Gulf, with some topping 800 pounds. These massive fish hang around reefs, wrecks, and other structure in 20-150 feet of water. While harvest is prohibited, catch-and-release fishing is allowed and can be an incredible experience. Spring through fall is prime time to encounter them. They're opportunistic feeders, so large live baits like jacks or ladyfish work well. Make sure you're geared up - we're talking 80-130 class reels spooled with 200 pound test minimum. When you hook up, it's less of a fight and more of a tug-of-war. These fish are powerful enough to pull you right off the boat if you're not careful. While we can't keep them, just seeing and releasing one of these prehistoric-looking behemoths is unforgettable.
Redfish are a favorite target in Englewood's shallow waters. You'll find them tailing on grass flats in as little as a foot of water, especially on high tides. Most reds run 5-10 pounds, but bulls over 30 pounds show up in deeper water. Fall is prime time as big schools move through, but you can catch them year-round. Sight fishing for tailing reds is exciting - nothing beats watching a big red track down your lure. They're not speed demons, but they pull hard and can test light tackle. Redfish are also excellent eating, with a sweet, mild flavor. One local tip: look for pushing water or "muds" stirred up by feeding reds in shallow areas. Cast ahead of the disturbance and hold on tight!
Sea trout, also called speckled trout, are a staple of inshore fishing here in Englewood. You'll find them on grass flats and around oyster bars in 2-6 feet of water. Most run 1-3 pounds, but gator trout over 5 pounds aren't uncommon. They're active year-round but really turn on in spring and fall. Sea trout will hit a variety of lures, but it's hard to beat a live shrimp under a popping cork. These fish aren't known for long runs, but they put up a good fight on light tackle with lots of head shakes. They're also one of the best eating fish in the area - mild, flaky, and great on the grill. One local trick: fish the edges of grass flats on a falling tide for your best shot at a trophy trout.
Snook are one of the most sought-after inshore species here in Englewood. These sleek, powerful fish hang around mangroves, docks, and other structure in the bays and backwaters. Most run 5-15 pounds, but trophy fish over 30 pounds aren't unheard of. Spring and fall are prime seasons as snook move between their summer and winter haunts. They're ambush predators, so working lures or live bait around structure is key. Nothing beats the excitement of a big snook exploding on a topwater plug at dawn. They're also known for their spirited fights, often leaping clear out of the water. While snook are catch-and-release most of the year, there's a short harvest season. If you're lucky enough to keep one, they're excellent eating. Pro tip: use circle hooks when live baiting to improve hookups and make releases easier.
Vehicle Guest Capacity: 6
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It was a very fun and easy going journey. He was eager to share his knowledge of the waterways and the fish in the area. The day featured good music and good times. We were able to catch a wide variety of fish which was exciting for my sons and I as we are new to open water ocean fishing. He was very patient with my two youngest sons ages 8 and 10 with rebating hooks after they had their bait skinned every now and then.