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Learn Everglades Fishing with Top-Rated Guide
- Published Date: August 19, 2025
- Fishing
- Everglades
- Updated Date: January 12, 2026
Summary
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Backcountry Fishing Action
Full Day Beginner Everglades Fishing Adventure
Picture yourself gliding through mirror-calm flats surrounded by endless sawgrass and ancient mangroves, rod in hand, learning to read the water like a pro. This full-day guided trip with Mark Cherney transforms complete novices into confident anglers while exploring one of America's most unique fishing destinations. The Everglades offers something magical—a chance to disconnect from the world and connect with nature while chasing some of Florida's most sought-after gamefish. Whether you've never held a fishing rod or just want to master new techniques, this 8-hour adventure gives you the time and expert guidance to build real skills in an absolutely stunning setting.
What to Expect on the Water
Mark keeps things relaxed and educational, perfect for anyone feeling intimidated by the sport. You'll start early to beat the heat and make the most of prime fishing conditions, heading out into the vast network of shallow bays and backcountry channels that make the Everglades legendary among anglers. The pace is unhurried—this isn't about rushing from spot to spot, but really learning to fish properly. Mark covers everything from reading water and understanding tides to proper casting technique and fish handling. You'll try both fly fishing and light tackle spinning gear, giving you a taste of different approaches. The shallow water means you can actually see fish moving and feeding, which makes learning so much more exciting than fishing blind. Plus, with just two guests max, you get plenty of personal attention and hands-on instruction.
Techniques & Tackle Breakdown
The beauty of Everglades fishing lies in its variety—you'll learn sight fishing on shallow flats where fish cruise in just a few feet of water, plus working deeper cuts and mangrove edges where bigger predators lurk. Mark provides top-quality gear including both fly rods and spinning setups, so you can discover what feels most natural. Light tackle spinning is incredibly beginner-friendly and lets you focus on learning fish behavior and presentation rather than wrestling with complicated casting. For those ready to try fly fishing, the calm conditions here are perfect for practicing your cast without fighting wind or current. You'll use live bait like shrimp and pinfish, plus learn to work artificial lures that mimic the small fish and crustaceans these gamefish love. The key techniques include working the edges of grass beds, casting to structure, and reading subtle signs like nervous water or diving birds that reveal feeding fish.
Top Catches This Season
Snook are the crown jewel of Everglades fishing—these silver-sided predators with their distinctive black lateral line are aggressive feeders that put up an amazing fight. They love hanging around mangrove shorelines and dock pilings, ambushing small fish with explosive strikes. Fall through spring offers the best action when they're most active in cooler water. What makes snook special is their attitude—they hit hard, jump like crazy, and really test your drag system. Redfish, or "reds," are another customer favorite that cruise the shallow flats in small schools, their copper-bronze backs easy to spot in clear water. These bruisers can reach 30-plus inches and are famous for their bulldogging runs that'll test your arm strength. They feed year-round but really turn on during cooler months. Black drum might not win beauty contests, but these bottom-dwellers are fantastic for beginners because they're cooperative and grow quite large in these waters. Tarpon are the holy grail—massive silver kings that can reach over 100 pounds and launch themselves clear out of the water when hooked. While smaller juvenile tarpon are common year-round, the big migratory fish show up primarily in spring and early summer. Crevalle jacks might be considered "trash fish" by some, but they're absolute blast to catch—these yellow-tailed speedsters fight way above their weight class and will readily take lures and flies, making them perfect confidence-builders for new anglers.
Time to Book Your Spot
This trip delivers exactly what it promises—a relaxed, educational day on some of the most pristine fishing waters in the country. Mark's patient teaching style and the Everglades' forgiving conditions create the perfect learning environment, whether you're picking up a rod for the first time or looking to expand your skills. With licenses, gear, and expert instruction all included, you just need to show up ready for adventure. The memories you'll make sight-fishing in crystal-clear backcountry waters, surrounded by incredible wildlife and landscapes, will stick with you long after you head home. Don't wait—these top-rated beginner trips fill up quickly, especially during peak season. Book now and discover why the Everglades has earned its reputation as one of Florida's premier fishing destinations.
Learn more about the species
Black Drum
Black drum are the heavyweights of the flats - thick, powerful fish that average 5-30 pounds but can hit 90. They're bottom feeders with crushing jaws, perfect for munching oysters and crabs. You'll find them on muddy flats, around oyster beds, and in shallow bays throughout the year, but spring during spawning season is prime time when they school up. What guests love is the steady, bulldogging fight - no flashy jumps, just pure strength. They make that distinctive drumming sound too, which is pretty cool. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are good eating. Pro tip: use fresh crab or shrimp on the bottom and be patient. These fish move slow and methodical, so don't rush your presentation. Let them find your bait.
Crevalle Jack
Crevalle jacks are the bullies of the flats - thick, aggressive fish that average 3-5 pounds but can hit 20 or more. They're brassy green with yellow fins and travel in schools, often pushing baitfish to the surface. Look for diving birds - that's your best sign. They'll hit anything that moves fast, from spoons to topwater plugs to streamers. These fish fight dirty with strong runs and head shakes. They're not great eating, but the action is non-stop when you find a school. They prefer deeper channels and basin edges but will charge into shallow water chasing bait. Here's the secret: cast past the school and retrieve fast. Jacks love the chase, so speed up your retrieve if they follow but don't strike.
Redfish
Redfish are the perfect shallow water fish - bronze-colored with that signature black eyespot near the tail. Most run 20-30 inches and fight way above their weight class. They cruise super shallow flats, sometimes with their backs out of water, feeding around oyster bars and grass beds. Year-round fishing here, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action. Guests love them because they eat everything - topwater plugs, soft plastics, live shrimp, flies. The fight is strong and steady, plus they're excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. The trick is staying quiet and making long casts. These fish are spooky in skinny water. If you see a redfish tailing or cruising, lead them by a few feet - don't cast right on their head.
Snook
Snook are one of my favorite fish to target in the Everglades - they're ambush predators with that distinctive black lateral line and golden color. Most run 1-3 feet long, though the big females can push 4 feet. You'll find them tucked under mangroves, around structure, and in shallow estuaries where fresh and salt water mix. They're temperature sensitive, so cooler months slow the bite, but spring through fall offers solid action. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and strong fight - they'll make blistering runs toward cover. The meat's excellent too, white and flaky. Here's a local trick: cast your lure or fly past the structure and retrieve it right along the edge. Snook sit tight to cover, so get that bait within inches of the mangroves.
Tarpon
The silver king - tarpon are what dreams are made of. These prehistoric giants average 4-6 feet and 80-100 pounds in our waters, with silver sides that flash like mirrors. They're air breathers, so you'll see them rolling on the surface, especially around deeper channels and basin edges. Late spring through summer is peak season when they migrate through. What makes tarpon special isn't the eating (they're catch-and-release) - it's those aerial shows. When hooked, they'll jump 6-8 feet out of the water repeatedly. The fight can last hours on light tackle. Here's my advice: when they jump, bow to the fish - drop your rod tip toward them to give slack. This prevents the hook from popping out during their acrobatics. Patience and smooth drag are key.
About the Hell’s Bay Boatworks
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Vehicle Guest Capacity: 2
Manufacturer Name: Mercury Racing 60R
Maximum Cruising Speed: 30
Number of Engines: 1
Horsepower per Engine: 60
