The single most useful thing to understand before booking is how far out you want to go, because it changes the price, the day and what you catch.
Inshore stays in the bays and flats, is calm, and suits families and beginners. Nearshore runs a few miles out for snapper and mackerel. Offshore heads for the deeper reefs and wrecks, takes most of a day, and is where grouper and the bigger fish live.
Party boats, if you want cheap and social
A headboat charges per person and sails on a schedule, so you are sharing the rail with strangers. It is far and away the cheapest way to fish here.
Hubbard's Marina at John's Pass has been family run since 1928 and runs everything from five-hour trips to multi-day expeditions. Miss Pass-A-Grille runs a 51ft headboat taking up to 41 guests, fishing 15 to 20 miles out.
Private charters, if you want the boat to yourself
A private charter costs more but you pick the target, the timing and who is aboard. For a family with young children this is usually the better call, because you can turn back when they have had enough.
Where the boats leave from
Three places, mostly. John's Pass at Madeira Beach is the biggest concentration. Merry Pier at Pass-a-Grille is the smallest and most photogenic. Blind Pass Marina sits between St Pete Beach and Treasure Island.
Check which one your captain sails from before you book a hotel at the other end of the beach, because the drive at peak season is slower than the map suggests.
Last updated August 8, 2026. Something changed? Tell us.
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