Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral
Inshore Fishing Charters Cocoa Beach, FL
Calm lagoon water, short boat rides and light tackle sized for kids and first-timers. Private inshore trips from $500. Book now or call 321-652-5903.
Cocoa Beach to Titusville, Across the Space Coast
Inshore Fishing Charters on the Indian River Lagoon and Banana River
Fin & Fly runs light tackle fishing Cocoa Beach trips on protected water, launching from Cocoa Beach and reaching Cape Canaveral, Sebastian Inlet, and Titusville. Orlando is about 45 minutes west on FL-528, which makes a morning trip easy to fit into a Central Florida stay. The boat ride is short, the water stays calm, and the tackle is sized for anglers of every age. That combination makes inshore fishing Cocoa Beach families and first-timers can handle, and it is the easiest way to put a child on their first fish.
The waters off Florida’s Space Coast run from Cocoa Beach north to Port Canaveral, and they hold redfish, snook, speckled sea trout, and tarpon within a few minutes of the dock. Backwater fishing charter Florida anglers travel for sits right here, in three lagoons that share a shoreline with the beach.
River fishing and red snapper trips run alongside our inshore charters, so you can pair a lagoon morning with a different kind of day on the water.
The Banana River Lagoon, the Indian River Lagoon, and the Mosquito Lagoon are known as the redfish capital of the world. Fin & Fly is one of a select group of guides licensed to fish the Mosquito Lagoon.
Choose Your Inshore Trip
Three-Quarter Day
- Hours6
- Boat17ft Ranger
- Anglers1 to 2
- RatePrivate, per boat
Additional anglers are $50 each where the boat allows it.
A $200 deposit holds your date.
Four hours suits families and first-timers; six hours gives you more water and more shots at a target species.
Full rates for every boat are on the fishing charter prices page.
Meet Captain Jamie, Your Inshore Guide
Captain Jamie Glasner grew up in Cocoa Beach fishing the Banana River and Mosquito Lagoon. He earned his captain’s license at eighteen and has run charters professionally since 2007. Redfish, snook and trout on the flats are his home water, and he knows how wind, tide and water clarity move them through the year. Meet the rest of the crew on our captains page.
Our Inshore Fishing Charters Include
Every trip runs private, so the boat is yours and the group is only who you brought. A licensed captain runs the day, the tackle is rigged and ready, and the cooler is iced before you step aboard.
- Licensed, full-time professional captains
- Well-maintained boats built for shallow lagoon water
- Rods, reels, and terminal tackle for every angler
- Bait and lures matched to the day
- Cooler with ice
- Photos of your catch, no extra charge
- Fishing licenses
- Park permits
The Redfish Capital of the World
Inshore Fishing Charters in Orlando, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Sebastian Inlet, and Titusville
Florida’s Space Coast sits less than an hour east of Orlando and holds three separate bodies of protected water. Each one fishes differently, and the captain picks the day’s water based on wind, tide, and what is feeding.
Banana River Lagoon
The closest water to the dock and the first stop on most short trips. Shallow grass flats and dock lines hold redfish and trout through most of the year, and the ride out takes minutes rather than an hour.
Indian River Lagoon
The longest of the three and the most varied. Mangrove shorelines, spoil islands, and deeper channels give snook, redfish, and black drum places to sit, which makes an Indian River Lagoon fishing charter a strong choice when wind shuts down the open flats.
Mosquito Lagoon
North toward Titusville, and the water that built the redfish capital reputation. Access is restricted, and Fin & Fly is one of a select group of guides licensed to fish it. Sight casting to tailing redfish on the flats is what brings anglers here.
Sebastian Inlet and the Southern Flats
South of Cocoa Beach, where moving inlet water pulls bait through on the tide. A Sebastian Inlet inshore charter fishes structure and current rather than open flats, and it runs on a tide window rather than a clock.
Running through calm water between them, you pass mangrove shorelines with herons working the edges, and stingrays, dolphins, and manatees moving in the shallows.
What Our Guests Say
“We had a great time catching red fish with Captain Jamie. He knows the area well and put us on the fish. Great trip!”
“He’s a seasoned captain and can coach beginners as well as experienced anglers.”
“Another great day on the water with captain jamie. He always puts us on the fish.”
Read more on our reviews page.
Florida Inshore Fishing Pictures
Book Your Inshore Fishing Charter Today
Whether you have fished the flats for years or are stepping onto a boat for the first time, the crew at Fin & Fly brings the knowledge and the tackle. Three lagoons means a range of species and a wide stretch of natural habitat to work through.
Fin & Fly is rated 5 stars on Tripadvisor, Google, and Facebook, and every trip runs as a full-service guided charter on professional equipment.
Chase tailing schools of redfish across the skinny water flats, or pull snook out of tight mangrove edges. Redfish fishing Cocoa Beach anglers plan whole trips around starts here, and snook fishing Space Coast guides target sits in the same run of water.
Call 321-652-5903 or book online to get your date on the calendar.
Book Your Fishing CharterGuided Fishing Charters Information:
Getting Here
Cocoa Beach sits roughly 45 to 60 minutes east of Orlando on FL-528 E.
Boats are docked at
951 Bali Rd, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
What to Bring:
- Rain gear
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Polarized sunglasses
- Snacks or lunch
- Drinks
- Camera
(if you would rather shoot your own)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is inshore fishing?
Inshore fishing works the protected water close to shore: lagoons, flats, mangrove edges, and inlets rather than open ocean. Boats stay in shallow water, runs are short, and tackle is lighter than what offshore trips use. On the Space Coast that means the Banana River, Indian River, and Mosquito Lagoon.
What fish can you catch inshore in Cocoa Beach?
Redfish, snook, speckled sea trout, black drum, and tarpon. Redfish are the headline species here, which is why these three lagoons carry the redfish capital of the world reputation. What is biting shifts with wind, tide, and water temperature, and the captain calls the target on the day.
How much does an inshore fishing charter cost in Florida?
At Fin & Fly, a half day runs 4 hours at $500 and a three-quarter day runs 6 hours at $600. Both rates cover one to two anglers, with $50 for each additional person. Every charter is private. See the fishing charter prices page for the full rate sheet.
What is the best month for redfish in the Indian River Lagoon?
Redfish are here year round, and the lagoons fish well across all four seasons. Conditions matter more than the calendar: wind direction, tide stage, and whether you are on the water early or late in the day. Call the shop and the captain will tell you what the water has been doing.
Do you need a fishing license on a charter in Florida?
No. Licenses are covered under the charter, along with park permits. Nothing to buy or file before your trip.
How long is an inshore fishing trip?
Four hours for a half day, six hours for a three-quarter day. Four hours suits families and first-timers. Six gives you more water and more shots at a target species.
Is inshore fishing good for kids and beginners?
Yes, and it is what these lagoons do best. The water stays calm, the run from the dock is short, and there is no long offshore ride to sit through. Light tackle is easier for small hands, and the captain rigs and coaches throughout the trip.
How far is Cocoa Beach from Orlando?
Roughly 45 to 60 minutes east on FL-528. That makes a morning charter workable as a day trip from Orlando or from a Port Canaveral cruise.
What is the best month for snook and trout?
Both are here year round, and Captain Jamie picks the water by conditions rather than the calendar: wind direction, tide stage and water clarity decide where snook and trout feed on a given morning. Tell us your dates when you book and the captain will match the trip to what is biting that week.
Can you bring a child under 5?
Inshore trips are the calmest option we run, with short boat rides and no offshore swell, which is why families choose them for young kids. Let us know ages when you book so the captain can bring the right life jackets.
What does a half day inshore trip include?
Four hours on the 17ft Ranger with a licensed captain, rods, reels and tackle, bait and lures matched to the day, a cooler with ice, your fishing licenses and park permits, and photos of your catch. Bring food, drinks, sunscreen and polarized sunglasses.
Which is better for beginners, inshore or nearshore?
Inshore is the easier start. The lagoons stay calm, the run from the dock is short and the tackle is light. Nearshore trips on the Key West 25ft ($650 for 5 hours, $850 for 8) suit beginners who want bigger fish like kingfish and cobia and are comfortable in some open-water chop. If anyone in your group is unsure about the ocean, start inshore.