Clearwater Flats Fishing

100% (3) Clearwater, FL 1 - 4 People 4 - 8 Hours From $560 Trip #1860


Guide:

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About Your Trip

Water Type

Inshore, Nearshore, Jetty, Flats

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

What’s the difference between a clearwater fishing guide & a charter captain? Anyone can go out and pass a test to get a Charter Captains' license. However, a guide is someone who truly knows how to fish in the area. From having the right equipment, boat, waterway knowledge to knowing what is biting on a summer's morn vs. a winter's eve and what bait to use in each scenario. Captain Craig is a true, ‘Clearwater...

About Your Trip

What’s the difference between a clearwater fishing guide & a charter captain? Anyone can go out and pass a test to get a Charter Captains' license. However, a guide is someone who truly knows how to fish in the area. From having the right equipment, boat, waterway knowledge to knowing what is biting on a summer's morn vs. a winter's eve and what bait to use in each scenario. Captain Craig is a true, ‘Clearwater Fishing Guide’.

From shallow grass flats fishing to the bays, Captain Craig's flats fishing charters are among the best in the area. His flats charters include taking one to 3 persons to areas such as the grass flats, nearshore, backwaters, and bays along Clearwater and Tarpon Springs and even into Tampa Bay. These flats fishing experiences include casting with artificial or live bait along with traditional & fly fishing with no price disparity between any technique or quarry! Expect to catch snook, redfish, tarpon, mackerel, sharks, cobia, threadfin, & more!

You will be fishing aboard Captain Craigs 21' Backcountry Flats boat equipped with a trolling motor and polling platform which allow Captain Craig to sneak you up on the fish to get the best possible look at catching them! This boat can maneuver the skinny water (hence the name of his charter) to chase down the awesome flats fish like tailing Reds, Snook, and even Tarpon!

Captain Craig will provide almost everything for your flats fishing adventure from rods, reels, tackle, bait, fishing licenses, and even fish cleaning though he does encourage catch and release. All you'll need to bring are some snacks and drinks, your sun protection, and your own fly gear if that's your flavor, but Captain Craig will take care of the rest to ensure you have an epic day out on the water!

Feel free to bring your young ones on this family-friendly trip; Captain Craig is great at getting kids hooked on fishing, and kids under 12 come aboard for free!
Amenities

Water Type

Inshore, Nearshore, Jetty, Flats

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Fish Cleaning

This guide will clean your catch for you.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Live Bait

Live bait is included for this trip.

Location

This guide can be flexible with the departure location.

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to kids.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled for a refund up to 3 days before the trip.

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Disability Friendly

This trip is not suited for those with disabilities.

Lunch

Please provide your own food / snacks.

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Pricing Matrix

4 Hours 6 Hours 8 Hours
1 Person
$560.00
$670.00
$800.00
2 People
$560.00
$670.00
$800.00
3 People
$610.00
$720.00
$850.00
4 People
$660.00
$770.00
$900.00
Pay 10% of the price as a deposit today, with the balance due on the day of the trip.
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About Your Guide

Profile photo of Captain Experiences guide Craig

Craig L.

Independent Guide 41 years of exp.
Laid-back
Talkative
Beginner Oriented
Quality
As with most diehard fishermen, Captain Craig started at an early age. Growing up on the Indian Rocks Beach he learned quickly that the “Old-timers” were vast with knowledge. They took me under their wings and shared that much-needed knowledge. In 1985 Hurricane Elena took away my favorite fishing pier, and with it, the informal educational sessions he so enjoyed. He moved to later work as a mate on a commercial fishing vessel, but in...

About Your Guide

Profile photo of Captain Experiences guide Craig

Craig L.

Independent Guide 41 years of exp.
As with most diehard fishermen, Captain Craig started at an early age. Growing up on the Indian Rocks Beach he learned quickly that the “Old-timers” were vast with knowledge.

They took me under their wings and shared that much-needed knowledge. In 1985 Hurricane Elena took away my favorite fishing pier, and with it, the informal educational sessions he so enjoyed. He moved to later work as a mate on a commercial fishing vessel, but in his spare time, you could only find him fishing the piers and the flats.

Then he met an excellent local fisherman who introduced him to a charter. After learning the finer points of fly fishing and light tackle, he was hooked! His charters holds an IGFA World Record on a fly rod and light gear. Clearly, he has made the backwater estuaries his second home.

“I’ve been in the fishing business for 38 years of those, 23 as a full-time guide. This experience, in my eyes, makes me one of the best charter boat captains in the Clearwater / Tampa Bay area. From 1982 thru 1995 I worked with several different captains on many different vessels. Each of which were the best at their craft.” - Captain Craig
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Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?
Tarpon 220lb
If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?
Tarpon 220lb
What’s your favorite band?
Megadeth
What’s your favorite movie?
Perfect Storm
What’s your favorite sports team?
Detroit Lions
What’s your drink of choice?
MTN Dew
How did you get started guiding?
Growing up fishing
What makes you different from other guides?
Came up in 1982 as 15yr old kid starting my fishing career as commercial fisherman.
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Start Location & Lodging Options

Your guide can be flexible with your start location.
You can work with your guide after booking to set a more specific start location in the area.
Clearwater, Florida
Areas Fished
  • Clearwater Beach

About Your Boat

Boat photo for Clearwater Flats Fishing
Boat Type
Center Console
Boat Manufacturer
Tiger craft
Year Built
1998
Boat Length
23'

About Your Boat

Boat Type
Center Console
Boat Manufacturer
Tiger craft
Year Built
1998
Boat Length
23'
Engine Manufacturer
Mercury EFI
Total Horsepower
200
Number of Engines
1
Additional Amenities
trolling motor, bow casting platform, GPS, Fishfinder
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Trip Details & Amenities

Water Type

Inshore, Nearshore, Jetty, Flats

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Fish Cleaning

This guide will clean your catch for you.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Live Bait

Live bait is included for this trip.

Location

This guide can be flexible with the departure location.

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to kids.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled for a refund up to 3 days before the trip.

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Disability Friendly

This trip is not suited for those with disabilities.

Lunch

Please provide your own food / snacks.

Target Species

Color-coded seasonality below is based on .
View Full Species Seasonality Chart »
  • Get it while it's HOT!
  • This species is in play.
  • You might get lucky (as long as things are in-season).
  • Couldn't tell ya! (no data)

Techniques

  • Artificial Lure Fishing
  • Cut Bait Fishing
  • Drift Fishing
  • Fly Fishing
  • Light Tackle Fishing
  • Live Bait Fishing
  • Sight Casting
  • Trolling
  • Topwater Fishing

Everything Else to Know

Snacks and Drinks, Weather Appropriate Gear, Sun Protection, Camera
You're all set! You don't need to buy a license for this trip.
We use a cashless autopay system. We'll send you a boarding pass, and on the day of the trip, your guide will scan your boarding pass to automatically transfer the remaining balance. The only cash needed is to tip your guide (we recommend 20%).
Cancel for free up to 3 days before the trip and receive credit back to your account. Cancelling within 3 of the trip will forfeit your deposit to the guide. Day-of cancellations and no-shows will be charged the full balance of the trip to their card.
In the event of inclement weather you'll be covered by out 100% Weather Guarantee and will not lose your deposit.

Reviews

5.0
based on 3 reviews

Nathan

Verified Review

March 28

He put us on fish despite of the fog because of his more than knowledgeable experience.

Nathan

Verified Review

March 28

He put us on fish despite of the fog because of his more than knowledgeable experience.
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Levi

Verified Review

October 18

Craig was great 👍. He told us about the history of the area and went above and beyond to get us fish and show us a good time. The tide and weather was definitely against us but he made the best of it. We had a great time. I appreciated everything and I recommend him for your inshore fishing trip. Thanks again Craig.

Levi

Verified Review

October 18

Craig was great 👍. He told us about the history of the area and went above and beyond to get us fish and show us a good time. The tide and weather was definitely against us but he made the best of it. We had a great time. I appreciated everything and I recommend him for your inshore fishing trip. Thanks again Craig.
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Liv

Verified Review

February 19

Captain Craig was awesome! It was a slower day for fish biting but he got me on 3 new fish species I’d never caught before.

Liv

Verified Review

February 19

Captain Craig was awesome! It was a slower day for fish biting but he got me on 3 new fish species I’d never caught before.
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First Time Booking with Us?

Captain Experiences is home to 1,600+ quality, vetted fishing and hunting guides across the US and beyond. Our mission is to Unlock the Outdoors by making it quick and easy to book the trip of a lifetime every time with our Damn Good Guides.
We vet our guides and only partner with the best of the best. Our guides do their very best to keep you safe, show you a great time, and send you home with a memorable experience shared with family and friends.
Once you've paid your deposit at checkout, we'll send you a QR Code boarding pass. Just show your guide your boarding pass on the day of the trip, they'll scan it, the remaining balance will transfer automatically, and you'll be all set to get out there. Just make sure you bring a cash tip for the guide!
In the event of inclement weather, our guides will check the conditions and make the final call on whether its safe to go on the trip. If they decide the trip needs to be postponed, we'll work closely with you to reschedule or provide a credit for the full deposit, which can be applied to any of our trips in the US and beyond.
Each trip's price is determined by the guide and reflects all associated costs. A significant factor in pricing is often the type of boat and the corresponding fuel expenses. Additional costs may include leases, marina or slip fees, bait, and the expenses involved in providing and maintaining the necessary gear for your trip.
After booking your trip, we'll connect you directly with your guide to discuss additional details. In the meantime, our team is here to answer any questions via email, text, or phone.