Fun for the Whole Family
Choctawhatchee Bay Fishing Charters
Choctawhatchee Bay is one of the most productive and protected inshore fisheries on Florida's Emerald Coast, and it's the water Capt. Kyler Clark has fished for years. A Choctawhatchee Bay fishing charter with South Walton Guide Service puts you on redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and more in calm, shallow water — usually within a 5 to 10 minute run of the dock. No long offshore ride, no rough water, no wasted time. We launch from Grady Brown Park at 20940 US-331, Freeport, FL 32439, on the Freeport side of the bay, and we're fishing within minutes of leaving the ramp.
Most of our fishing happens in water between 1.5 and 18 feet deep — over grass flats where trout feed, along the dock lines and bridge pilings that hold redfish and mangrove snapper, and back in the quiet bayous where you can fish completely undeveloped shoreline with no condos and no crowds. Fresh live bait is loaded and ready before you step aboard, so the line is in the water 10 to 15 minutes after we leave the dock.
Why Choctawhatchee Bay fishes so well
The bay covers a lot of different water in a small area, which is exactly why it stays productive across the seasons. From the open basin near the Mid-Bay Bridge to tucked-away backwater creeks, the variety means there's almost always a pattern working somewhere. The water is protected from the Gulf, so conditions stay fishable on days when offshore boats are stuck at the dock — one of the biggest practical advantages of fishing inshore here. For families, beginners, and anyone who would rather spend the day catching than riding, that protection is the whole point.
What you'll catch on the bay
Choctawhatchee Bay is a year-round fishery. Here's what's biting and when:
| Season | What's Biting |
|---|---|
| Spring | Prime speckled trout as they move onto the warming flats; redfish active around docks and structure. |
| Summer | Mangrove snapper thick around bridges and docks; Spanish mackerel push through chasing bait. Calm mornings, great for families. |
| Fall | Bull reds — big schools of adult redfish flood the bay and push bait to the surface. Trout still strong early. |
| Winter | Quieter and laid-back; redfish stay active in the shallows on sunny days, trout hold in deeper holes and channels. |
The species you're most likely to put in the cooler are redfish and speckled trout — those are the bread and butter of the bay. Depending on the season you may also run into flounder, black drum, mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, and hard-fighting jack crevalle. (See our species guides linked below for how we target each one.)
Trips on the bay
Every trip launches from Grady Brown Park in Freeport and is customized to your group — whether you want to fill the cooler, chase a specific species, keep steady bites going for the kids, or leave it to the captain's call.
| Trip | Length | From | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay & Inshore Fishing | 3–6 hrs | $600 | The core trip — families, anglers, anyone. 4 hrs is the sweet spot. |
| Kids Fishing Trip | 2 hrs | $450 | Catch-and-release, high-action, built for young first-timers. |
| Sunset Cruise | 2 hrs | $300 | A relaxed evening on the bay — wildlife, dolphins, and the sunset. |
What's included
-
- All rods, reels, and tackle
- All bait, including fresh live bait
- Florida fishing license (no need to buy your own)
- All safety equipment
- Cooler with ice and bottled water
- Your catch cleaned and bagged at the end of the trip
You bring food, any drinks other than water, sunscreen (no spray), sun protection, and polarized sunglasses. A customary 20% gratuity for the captain is appreciated.
Your captain and boat
Capt. Kyler Clark has 9 years of experience on this water and runs charters year-round. He's spent time fishing both offshore and inshore around 30A, but inshore is where his focus is — and it shows in how he runs a trip, which is built around getting you on fish and making the day work for whoever is on the boat. The boat is a 22' Pathfinder: big enough to handle the chop the bay can kick up, small enough to get into the skinny water where the fish actually are. It carries up to 6 passengers, with all safety equipment aboard.
Frequently asked questions
Every trip launches from Grady Brown Park in Freeport and is customized to your group — whether you want to fill the cooler, chase a specific species, keep steady bites going for the kids, or leave it to the captain's call.
The majority of our trips launch out of Grady Brown Park at 20940 US-331, Freeport, FL 32439.