Tampa Fishing Charters
Tampa Charter Details at a Glance
O’Neill’s Marina
6701 Sunshine Skyway Ln S
St. Petersburg, FL 33711
Inshore half day or 3/4 day
Offshore 4, 6, 8, or 10 hours
Boat and trip dependent
Private charter, never shared
$250 deposit
Online, phone, or text
Why Does a St. Petersburg Departure Make Sense for Tampa Anglers?
A charter marketed to Tampa can mean two very different days. Boats leaving from farther inside Tampa Bay must travel through more bay water before reaching Gulf passes. Reel Coquina launches near the Sunshine Skyway in south St. Petersburg, so Tampa guests drive across the bay first and begin the charter closer to both productive bay structure and the Gulf.
Access grass flats, mangroves, bridges, passes, channels, docks, and Skyway-area structure without committing to a long offshore run.
Start south of downtown St. Petersburg with an efficient route toward Gulf reefs, wrecks, ledges, and hard bottom when conditions allow.
Important: this is not a downtown Tampa pickup. Confirm your drive time and arrive at the St. Petersburg marina at the time provided by Captain Pablo.
Should You Book Inshore or Offshore?
Choose Inshore
- You want shorter rides and generally more protected water
- Children, beginners, or mixed-skill guests are joining
- You want light-tackle fishing for snook, redfish, trout, or seasonal tarpon
- You prefer flats, mangroves, docks, bridges, passes, and bay structure
Choose Offshore
- You want Gulf fishing over reefs, wrecks, ledges, and hard bottom
- You are interested in grouper, snapper, hogfish, kingfish, cobia, or other seasonal Gulf species
- Your group is comfortable with open water and additional run time
- You want more range and flexibility by choosing a longer trip
How Much Does a Private Tampa Fishing Charter Cost?
Reel Coquina’s published prices are for the private trip, not an individual seat. Current website rates are shown below; use the live pricing page when booking in case options change.
Inshore
Half day: $600
3/4 day: $800
Calmer water, shorter runs, and bay fishing.
Orion 29 Offshore
4 hours: $900
6 hours: $1,250
8 hours: $1,600
10 hours: $1,900
A $250 deposit secures your date and time. Gratuity is not included; 20% cash is customary. Review current availability and terms before checkout.
What Can You Catch Around Tampa Bay and the Gulf?
Species depend on the season, tide, water temperature, bait, weather, regulations, trip length, and whether you fish inshore or offshore. Captain Pablo builds the plan around the best legal opportunity available that day. No ethical captain can promise a particular fish.
Inshore Targets
Snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, tarpon, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, black drum, pompano, flounder, sharks, jacks, and Spanish mackerel may be available depending on conditions.
Offshore Targets
Grouper, mangrove and vermilion snapper, hogfish, kingfish, cobia, amberjack, sharks, Spanish mackerel, and seasonal opportunities such as red snapper, tuna, mahi mahi, or African pompano.
Seasonal Planning
Tarpon, kingfish, red snapper, and regulated reef species have seasonal patterns or harvest rules. Ask what has been active for your travel dates and confirm whether your goal requires a longer trip.
Which Reel Coquina Boat Fits Your Tampa Trip?
Dedicated shallow-water platform for flats, mangroves, bays, passes, and inshore Tampa Bay fishing.
Reel Coquina's versatile offshore platform for Gulf trips ranging from four to ten hours.
Who Will Run Your Tampa Fishing Charter?
Captain Pablo Koch-Schick has operated Reel Coquina since 2015 and has completed more than 1,500 trips. He is USCG licensed, holds required federal permits for reef and pelagic fishing, and has been featured in Florida Sport Fishing Magazine.
He plans each charter around the forecast, tide, current, season, bait, target species, and your group’s experience. Beginners receive direct instruction, while experienced anglers can discuss specific techniques and goals. Captain Pablo speaks English, Spanish, and German.
What Is Included, and What Should You Bring?
Reel Coquina Provides
- Florida charter fishing license coverage
- Rods, reels, tackle, and bait
- Required safety equipment and life jackets
- Ice and cooler space for your food and drinks
- Hands-on setup, instruction, and fish-fighting help
- Cleaning and filleting of legal keeper fish
Bring With You
- Food, water, and drinks for the trip length, no glass
- Reef-safe sunscreen, hat, and polarized sunglasses
- Non-slip shoes and weather-appropriate layers
- Towel and a protected phone or camera
- Motion-sickness medication taken as directed before departure if needed
- Cash gratuity for good service
What Should First-Time Guests Expect?
Share your group size, ages, experience, target interests, and comfort needs before the trip.
Use the confirmed marina meeting instructions and allow enough drive time from Tampa.
Captain Pablo covers safety, gear, bait, technique, and fish handling before and during the trip.
The route and technique can change with wind, tide, current, bait, and real-time fishing conditions.
Tampa Fishing Charter FAQs
No. Reel Coquina departs from O’Neill’s Marina at 6701 Sunshine Skyway Ln S in St. Petersburg. Tampa guests reach the marina by driving across I-275 toward the Sunshine Skyway area.
Yes. The boat is reserved for your group. You are not assigned individual seats or combined with strangers.
No separate recreational saltwater license is normally required for guests fishing aboard Reel Coquina’s properly licensed charter vessel. License coverage is included.
Inshore or shorter trips are often the easiest choice because rides are shorter and water is generally more protected. Share children’s ages and boating experience before booking.
Choose inshore or four hours for a simpler day. Six hours adds flexibility. Eight or ten hours suits anglers prioritizing offshore range and time, subject to conditions.
Tarpon fishing is seasonal and conditions matter. Ask Captain Pablo about the timing of your visit and whether a focused tarpon plan is realistic.
Legal keeper fish may be retained within current seasons, size limits, and bag limits. The crew cleans and fillets appropriate keeper fish after the trip.
Yes, alcohol is allowed in moderation. Do not bring glass containers.
Captain Pablo makes the safety decision. Reel Coquina will work to reschedule or refund the deposit according to its stated weather policy.
Non-weather cancellations are refundable until two weeks before the trip. The published policy states that cancellations within 24 hours incur a 50% trip charge.
No. Reel Coquina states that a 20% cash gratuity is customary for good service.
Book online, call, or text Captain Pablo. A $250 deposit secures the date and time.
Plan the Right Tampa Fishing Charter
Tell Captain Pablo where you are staying, your group size, ages, experience, preferred date, and whether you want inshore action or a longer Gulf day. He will help match the trip, boat, and expectations to current conditions.