ST. PETE FISHING CHARTERS

The Spanish Sardine Fishing Charter operates from historic O’Neill’s Marina in St. Petersburg, Florida. We offer a variety of chartered fishing trips in and around Tampa Bay for just about any angler. From Half-Day In-Shore fishing trips in Tampa Bay to Full-Day Off-Shore fishing excursions in the Gulf of Mexico, Captain Rios provides reel drag-screamin’ hard-fighting fishing that’s fun for the whole family.

TAMPA BAY FISHING CHARTERS

Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest open-water estuary. It is over 400 square miles and is accessible from Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee Counties. Rather than fresh water coming from a single river, Tampa bay has over a hundred small streams and rivers supplying fresh water. The Hillsborough River is the largest river providing fresh water to Tampa Bay. Fish Species such as Tarpon, Snook, and Redfish as juveniles live in Rivers, Streams and Brackish water until adulthood where they then move to open water such as Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Although Tampa Bay is over 400 Square miles the average depth is only 12 feet. Tampa Bay has a variety of different sea bottoms like sea grass beds, mud flats, and Oyster bars. The Mangrove lined coast and endless water trails and islands makes Tampa Bay the perfect place to fish. More than 200 species of fish are found in the waters of the bay. Most commonly fished species are Redfish, Snook, Trout, Sheepshead, and flounder. Other fish migrate into Tampa Bay during different seasons, such as King Fish, Spanish Mackerel, and Tarpon. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge and channel provide an amazing place for fish usually found in deeper water like Grouper, Triggerfish, and Snapper.

Year-round Fishing
During the cooler months warm-water outfalls from local power plants bordering Tampa Bay, not only does the warm water provide a safe spot for endangered manatees but it is the perfect place for spawning fish. The waters surrounding the Port of manatee are protected waters and are considered a high security zone. In order to fish the area Captain Rios attended a course to receive a permit to fish the shallow fish filled waters surrounding the power plant.

Tampa Bay provides the best habitats for a variety of species. If you want fish to eat or just a day of fun, Tampa bay is an ideal place for your next charter and Captain Rios loves nothing better than fishing in his own backyard.

O’NEILL’S MARINA FISHING CHARTERS

O’Neill’s Marina has been around for over 50 years. They are a full service marina offering bait and tackle store, fuel, boat ramp, dry and wet boat storage and powered lifts. Spanish Sardine Fishing Charters is proud to have O’Neill’s Marina as our home base for our fishing charters in Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

O’Neill’s Marina is close to the best fishing grounds that Tampa Bay and the state of Florida has to offer. I am just a few minutes from Fort De Soto Park, Boca Ciega Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Right in front of our marina we have Indian Key also known as Bird Key. This is one of the Mangrove Island which comprise the Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge. The other islands or keys are Tarpon Key, Little Bird Key, Mule Key, Jackass key, Listen Key and Whale Island. The one key that’s closest for O’Neill’s Marina Fishing Charters that produces the most fish is Tarpon Key. Tarpon key is full of Redfish, while Jackass Key holds big Trout.

GULF OF MEXICO FISHING CHARTERS

Convenient to Tampa Bay Area
A big advantage of booking your charter fishing trip through O’Neill’s Marina is location. Because we are conveniently located in south St. Petersburg near Interstate 275, you won’t have to fight the beach traffic to board Spanish Sardine Fishing Charters. We believe you can catch more fish on the water than sitting in traffic.

Direction to O’Neill’s Marina Fishing Charter

From the North
If you are traveling from Tampa or north Saint Petersburg you take Interstate 275 south to exit 16. Panels Point Drive exit. At the exit 16 stop sign at Pinellas Point Drive, turn right then left into O’Neill’s Marina.

From the South
If you are coming from Sarasota, Anna Maria Island, Ruskin, or points south, you take Interstate 275 north across the beautiful Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Get off on the first exit which is exit 16. Once you arrive at the stop sign you take a left. Once you reach Pinellas Point Drive take another left. Go under the highway and take your left into O’Neill’s Marina.

From the Beaches
If you are coming from the beach you will take Gulf Boulevard south. Take a left on Pinellas Bayway to 31st street south. Turn right. The next light is panels point Drive. Make another right. Drive straight to the end and take a left at O’Neill’s Marina.

BOCA CIEAGA BAY FISHING CHARTERS

The Spanish Sardine Fishing Charters in St. Petersburg, FL offers a variety of chartered fishing trips around Boca Ciega Bay for just about any angler. From Half-Day In-Shore fishing trips in Tampa Bay to Full-Day Off-Shore fishing excursions in the Gulf of Mexico, Captain Rios provides reel drag-screamin’ hard-fighting fishing that’s fun for the whole family.

Boca Ciega Bay Fishing Charters
Boca Ciega Bay offers a variety of fish habitats and spectacular natural resources. Boca Ciega Bay is located on the north side of the mouth of Tampa Bay and is surrounded by the cities of St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Gulfport, Seminole, and Madeira Beach. While going on a Boca Ciega Bay fishing charter, my clients will have the opportunity to catch many different species of fish, including Trout, Redfish Snook, Sheephead, and Mangrove Snapper, with many being large enough to keep for cooking.

The Keys and Islands of Boca Ciega Bay
Boca Ciega Bay holds an abundant amount of fish. The reason for the fish to congregate on this area is due to the amount of keys and islands. A key is a small, low-elevated, sandy island on the surface of a coral reef. That is where we find most of the fish. Some of the keys and islands that I fish in Boca Ciega Bay are Little Bird Key, Dog Leg Key, Gulfport Middle Ground, and Eleanor Island. This are just a few of many located in Boca Ciega. There are plenty of spoil areas and natural mangrove islands that I will keep a secret just for my clients. All of the keys and islands are managed by the Florida Department of Environment. Another great reason to come and fish this area is because of the mangrove shoreline and submerged habitats such as oyster bars, sea grass beds, coral habitat and spring fed caves. If this is not enough to make you want to come fishing Boca Ciega Bay, how about that it has one of the greatest water conditions due to the waterways emptying into the Boca Ciega Bay. Some of those are Cross Bayou, Bear Creek, Clam Bayou and Frenchman’s Creek. We offer half-day and full-day guided fishing charters into Boca Ciega Bay. This area is perfect for artificial baits, Fly fishing, and or live bait. Come on down to the Tampa Bay Area of Florida and catch your limit of delicious Florida seafood.

Guided Fishing Charters
We offer half-day and whole-day guided fishing charters in Tampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay, the Intercoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico. Our charter fishing guides can help you catch plenty of keeper-sized fish including, grouper, snook, trout, amber jack, redfish and mangrove snapper. We also offer gamefish charters that target Tarpon and Shark. You can begin your Fishing Charter Trip from our marina in St. Petersburg, or we can pick you up anywhere in the Tampa Bay area. Capt. Rios has been helping people find fish and catch fish for over 20 years. Call Captain Rafael Rios at (727) 768-5564 to book your charter fishing trip today.

Charter Fishing on Boca Ciega Bay
Guests on the Spanish Sardine Fishing Charter are provided top-of-the-line Star Fishing Rods and Penn Fishing Reels to use during their fishing excursion. This quality equipment assures you the best fishing action while offering reliable and easy operation for every level of angler. You are also welcome to bring your own fishing gear if you’d like. We’ll put you on the fish either way.

FORT DESOTO FISHING CHARTERS

Fishing Fort De Soto Park is one of the most famous places in our area to go fishing. Spanish Sardine Fishing Charters is located at O’Neill’s Marina which is just a few minutes by boat to Fort De Soto Park and the beautiful, fish-filled waters surrounding its islands. The park consist of 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected keys. Keys are a small, low-elevated, sandy island on the surface of a coral reef. The keys that makes Fort De Soto Park are St. Christopher key, Madeline Key, St. Jean Key, Bonne Fortune Key, and the most famous of them all Mullet Key. These keys are home to many different beach plants, lots of mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods and scores of native plants. This makes Fort De Soto a great place to go fishing for Redfish, Snook and Trout. I’ve had plenty of fishing charters to Fort De Soto Park limiting out on Trout and Redfish within a few hours.

Fisherman’s Paradise
This area is great for all kinds of fishing. Here we can go from fly fishing, to artificial lures or just putting just put on a live bait on the hook. If you have never been fishing in the waters around Fort De Soto Park, this should be on every inshore fisherman’s bucket list. There’s lots of fish and the scenery is the best that Florida has to offer. We offer half-day and full-day guided fishing charters into Fort De Soto Park. One of the best things I like about fishing Fort De Soto Park is that no matter the wind conditions there is always a place that is protected on those windy days. If you want to catch fish around Fort De Soto Park with an experienced fishing guide, I have over 20 years of experience in this area. My guests on the Spanish Sardine Fishing Charters are provided top-of-the-line Star Rods and Penn Reels to use during their fishing excursion. You are welcome to bring your own fishing gear if you’d like.

Guided Fishing Charters
The Spanish Sardine Fishing Charters in St. Petersburg, FL offers a variety of chartered fishing trips around the islands of Fort DeSoto Park for just about any angler. From Half-Day In-Shore fishing trips in Tampa Bay to Full-Day Off-Shore fishing excursions in the Gulf of Mexico, Captain Rios provides reel drag-screamin’ hard-fighting fishing that’s fun for the whole family.

We offer half-day and whole-day guided fishing charters in Tampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay, the Intercoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico. Our charter fishing guides can help you catch plenty of keeper-sized fish including, grouper, snook, trout, amber jack, redfish and mangrove snapper. We also offer gamefish charters that target Tarpon and Shark. You can begin your Fishing Charter Trip from our marina in St. Petersburg, or we can pick you up anywhere in the Tampa Bay area. Capt. Rios has been helping people find fish and catch fish for over 20 years. Call Captain Rafael Rios at (727) 768-5564 to book your charter fishing trip today.

JOHN’S PASS FISHING CHARTERS

Johns Pass, or as it’s more frequently misspelled, John’s Pass is a waterway between the Gulf of Mexico and Boca Ciega Bay. This waterway separates Madeira Beach and Treasure Island. This popular destination is one of the most productive fishing areas in Florida. Some of my favorite places for Johns Pass Fishing Charters are Turtle Crawl Point, Dog Leg Key, Little Bird Key, Eleanor Island. Plus, the areas many docks that line the main channel hold many different species of fish we can catch including Redfish, Snook, Trout, Black Drum, Sheephead, Tarpon, and Grouper just to name a few.

Dinner is Waiting on the Dock
Another benefit of charter fishing the Johns Pass area is that many of the area restaurants will cook what you catch. Nearby John’s Pass Fishing Village is a quaint turn-of-the-century fishing village featuring a boardwalk with several seafood restaurants. There is nothing better than to go on a Johns Pass Fishing Charter and catch lots of tasty fish and have it freshly prepared the same day. If you are staying on the nearby hotels, motels or condos, Spanish Sardine Fishing Charters can pick you up right at the docks of John’s Pass Fishing Village for a great fishing experience. John’s Pass Fishing Village, beautiful weather and excellent fishing make Johns Pass make Madeira Beach one of Pinellas County’s best tourist attractions.

Fishing Tackle for Johns Pass Charter Fishing
Guests on the Spanish Sardine Fishing Charters are provided top-of-the-line Star Fishing Rods and Penn Fishing Reels to use during their fishing excursion. This quality equipment assures you the best fishing action while offering reliable and easy operation for every level of angler. You are also welcome to bring your own fishing gear if you’d like. We’ll put you on the fish either way.