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Lucky Fly Charters in Tallahassee, Florida

Guided by TJ Saunders

Flats Inshore Nearshore

About Your Guide

11 Years of Experience
Profile photo of Captain Experiences guide TJ

Captain TJ is fortunate enough to have spent all his life on or around the water. He grew up in a Coast Guard family, and was introduced to the salt at a very young age. As soon as he was old enough to hold a fishing rod, there wasn't much that could break that grip. A child hood spent on the water led to formative years spent cutting his teeth fishing the Florida Keys, fueled a lifelong passion for chasing saltwater fish.

Over the course of his career, Captain TJ has been blessed with the experience of fishing the deepest waters of the Gulf Stream south of Key West, the shallow flats of the lower keys, the grouper grounds of the north Florida Gulf, and the amazing fishery of Florida Bay and the Everglades.

"My passion for the saltwater environment and the fishery is what I aim to share with my anglers." - Captain TJ

Lucky Fly Charters Trips

Fishing in Saint Marks
Fishing in Saint Marks
Fishing in Saint Marks
trip description for "Big Bend" Sight Fishing in Saint Marks

Come fish Captain TJ's home waters of the Big Bend. Captain TJ spends the vast majority of his time out on these waters and knows the area like the back of his hand. He is very comfortable fishing from as far east as St. Marks all the way west to St. George Island and East Point. And this is where the fish are. Throughout the year, Captain TJ travels, as the fish do, to stay on top of the best opportunities for his anglers. Based upon date and time of your charter, and your flexibility, you can work together to get the best opportunity to find fish, bend a rod and tighten the lines. All his trips provide inshore fly fishing and light tackle opportunities from Sight Fishing, to Top-Water action, to Artificials, aboard a no nonsense flats skiff. He chose the Hell’s Bay Professional for its layout, fishibility, and shallow draft. Powered by a 90 HP Yamaha, his 17.8 foot skiff affords anglers a stable, spacious deck to fish from, while being silent on the pole, and skinny. Incredibly skinny. He loves chasing fish into water they drag their bellies its so skinny! *Sight-fishing:* This is Captain TJ's absolute favorite kind of fishing, stalking flats in search of Redfish, Tarpon, Trout (and the occasional Cobia). The goal is to see the fish in enough time and make an accurate cast with a fly. It's like saltwater hunting! *Top-water fishing:*- working flats, edges or shorelines with topwater flies and lures can account for some incredible action from ravenous trout and explosive redfish strikes. *Artificial Fishing:*- A great option if fly fishing isn't your gig, Captain TJ will use jigs, jerk baits, soft plastics to catch redfish, trout, jacks, cobia. If you have a favorite rod, that magical stick you can't imagine fishing without, by all means bring it. Otherwise, Captain TJ has all the equipment you will need to fish the flats of the Big Bend Coast. Captain TJ uses Thomas & Thomas Fly Rods, typically fishing 7 and 8wt rods. For larger species, we of course break out the big guns fishing 9-10wt rods, and 11wt for the Silver King. Captain TJ uses Hatch Premium Fly Reels. These reels have the backing capacity and the drag capability to stop the meanest monsters you can get into. Flylines range from 6wt floating lines, to 12wt intermediate lines, depending on the situation and species you're targeting. Captain TJ prefers Scientific Angler Amplitude Saltwater lines, and has outfitted his arsenal accordingly. Captain TJ uses his own supply of hand tied flies, and these are available for use on board. If you are a fly tyer and have a pattern you have tied and want to fish, bring it and ya'll will put it to the test! Captain TJ's flies are also available for purchase. For conventional tackle, Captain TJ will have you outfitted with G. Loomis spinning rods and Florida Fishing Products reels loaded with 12lb braided line. These combos allow you to deliver a jig or lure with precision accuracy, while providing the backbone needed to win the battle. A must for all sight fishing adventures, Captain TJ thinks it essential that you bring Polarized Sunglasses, your lucky fishing hat, and some sunscreen. He also recommends you bring your camera (to record your adventure. He will also be taking photos which will be text or emailed to you), a light weight jacket/rain gear (it's Florida, you never know), and a Lunch/Snacks/Drinks. Read More

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in Saint Marks

"Big Bend" Sight Fishing

NEW
18 ft 1 - 2 People From $550
Fishing in Eastpoint
Fishing in Eastpoint
Fishing in Eastpoint
trip description for Silver Kings Adventure in Eastpoint

Link up with Captain TJ as he follows the Tarpon Migration in his home waters of the Big Bend. Captain TJ spends the vast majority of his time out on these waters and knows the area like the back of his hand. He is very comfortable fishing from as far east as St. Marks all the way west to St. George Island and East Point and Apalachicola. Targeting Tarpon on Florida's Big Bend up to the Forgotten coast provides a very unique opportunity to catch these freakishly overgrown Minnows. As the Tarpon migrate up past Cedar Key, they meet a stretch of low pressure water. Since Florida's big bend is so scarcely populated these fish go untouched for ~100 miles. This takes fish that have seen a lot of flies, lures, and pressure along SW Florida's popular waters and makes them much more naive and willing to eat your fly! Throughout the year, Captain TJ travels, as the fish do, to stay on top of the best opportunities for his anglers. Based upon date and time of your charter, and your flexibility, you can work together to get the best opportunity to find fish, bend a rod and tighten the lines. All his trips provide inshore fly fishing and light tackle opportunities from Sight Fishing, to Top-Water action, to Artificials, aboard a no nonsense flats skiff. He chose the Hell’s Bay Professional for its layout, fishibility, and shallow draft. Powered by a 90 HP Yamaha, his 17.8 foot skiff affords anglers a stable, spacious deck to fish from, while being silent on the pole, and skinny. Incredibly skinny. He loves chasing fish into water they drag their bellies its so skinny! Captain TJ will break out the big guns for the Silver King and will provide his Thomas & Thomas 11wt Fly Rod. But if you have your own secret weapon your more than welcome to bring your own gear as well! Captain TJ uses Hatch Premium Fly Reels. These reels have the backing capacity and the drag capability to stop the meanest monsters you can get into. Flylines range from 6wt floating lines, to 12wt intermediate lines, depending on the situation and species you're targeting. Captain TJ prefers Scientific Angler Amplitude Saltwater lines, and has outfitted his arsenal accordingly. Captain TJ uses his own supply of hand tied flies, and these are available for use on board. If you are a fly tyer and have a pattern you have tied and want to fish, bring it and ya'll will put it to the test! Captain TJ's flies are also available for purchase. A must for all sight fishing adventures, Captain TJ thinks it essential that you bring Polarized Sunglasses, your lucky fishing hat, and some sunscreen. He also recommends you bring your camera (to record your adventure. He will also be taking photos which will be text or emailed to you), a light weight jacket/rain gear (it's Florida, you never know), and a Lunch/Snacks/Drinks. Read More

Flats, Inshore, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Eastpoint

Silver Kings Adventure

NEW
18 ft 1 - 2 People From $880

Species

Black Drum, Redfish, Speckled Trout, Tarpon

Techniques

Artificial Lure Fishing, Fly Fishing, Light Tackle Fishing, Sight Casting

Types of Fishing

Flats, Inshore, Nearshore

Start Location

Saint Marks, FL, USA | Bodies of water fished: Apalachee Bay, Apalachicola Bay, Saint Joseph Bay

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