First Cast Fishing Charters
First Cast Fishing Charters
What better way to explore the Tampa Bay than with a premier inshore fishing charter? Whether you're a first-timer or a local going after your personal best, First Cast Fishing Charters will do everything possible to make your dreams come true. Captain Bernie Vinoski brings to the deck over two decades of fishing experience in and around the Tampa Bay area. He knows the waters like the back of his hand, so can tailor any trip to your desires.
You'll fish aboard a custom built 23' Aeon tower boat with all the latest electronics and gear fitted for a smooth, confident ride. This boat is designed to handle the shallow water of the flats, the ever-changing conditions in the bay, and the deeper waters of the Gulf. The Aeon features a spacious casting deck, two live wells, a 10' Powerpole Blade, Minn Kota GPS Trolling Motor, and a full T-top offering shade on warm summer days.
The fall months always provide a rush through the veins, as the fish stack up in every corner and on every flat. This time of year, completing your inshore slam of Snook, Redfish, and Trout is an everyday possibility. During the season, you'll even get the chance to go after Tarpon – the most prized inshore species there is. But whatever time of year you come, you're in for an exciting tussle with the fish, and a delicious treat to take home.
There are plenty of Shimano and Tsunami rods and reels for all on board, and you'll even have enough space to fish at the same time. Live bait is usually be prepared before the trip, but even if it needs to be caught, Capt. Bernie won't let it eat into your trip time! Whether chasing Snook and Redfish in the bays, or fishing the stunning beaches for Tarpon and Kingfish, you're in for a first-class experience with First Cast Fishing Charters. Take advantage now!
What better way to explore the Tampa Bay than with a premier inshore fishing charter? Whether you're a first-timer or a local going after your personal best, First Cast Fishing Charters will do everything possible to make your dreams come true. Captain Bernie Vinoski brings to the deck over two decades of fishing experience in and around the Tampa Bay area. He knows the waters like the back of his hand, so can tailor any trip to your desires.
You'll fish aboard a custom built 23' Aeon tower boat with all the latest electronics and gear fitted for a smooth, confident ride. This boat is designed to handle the shallow water of the flats, the ever-changing conditions in the bay, and the deeper waters of the Gulf. The Aeon features a spacious casting deck, two live wells, a 10' Powerpole Blade, Minn Kota GPS Trolling Motor, and a full T-top offering shade on warm summer days.
The fall months always provide a rush through the veins, as the fish stack up in every corner and on every flat. This time of year, completing your inshore slam of Snook, Redfish, and Trout is an everyday possibility. During the season, you'll even get the chance to go after Tarpon – the most prized inshore species there is. But whatever time of year you come, you're in for an exciting tussle with the fish, and a delicious treat to take home.
There are plenty of Shimano and Tsunami rods and reels for all on board, and you'll even have enough space to fish at the same time. Live bait is usually be prepared before the trip, but even if it needs to be caught, Capt. Bernie won't let it eat into your trip time! Whether chasing Snook and Redfish in the bays, or fishing the stunning beaches for Tarpon and Kingfish, you're in for a first-class experience with First Cast Fishing Charters. Take advantage now!
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Trip availability and prices
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Customer reviews
Rating
Anglers' gallery (81)
What anglers say
Reviews (87)
Dennis De KokRepeat angler5.0VerifiedWow. Never caught so many fish
4 Hour Afternoon Trip on April 5, 2023 • 4 adultsBernie was awesome. Put us on the fish right away and we never stopped catching. 4 hour afternoon trip with my wife and two teenage sons. We are not experienced fisherman. Bernie gave great instructions and the fish all jumped in the boat. We lost track but we caught more than 25 fish. All good Reds and Snook. Bernie was working hard the whole time keeping the bait fresh and working out tangles. Good guy. I have already sent his info to a few friends. Pic is of one really small snook my wife caught. The rest were much bigger and she took the other pics. I’ll try to update.
Ricky Bouchard5.0VerifiedAwesome with kids!
Half Day Trip (AM) on April 19, 2025 • 4 adults • 2 childrenBrought my 8 year old daughter and 13 year old niece out with Bernie this morning. They both had an amazing time! We caught a bunch of fish, he engaged with them super well and made sure they were always entertained and happy. This guy gets it.
Michael ConstantineRepeat angler5.0VerifiedCouple old guys!
Half Day Trip (AM) on April 25, 2025 • 2 adultsLast minute decision to head out for a morning fishing trip. Bernie was great. Gear was great. Guidance was perfect. Caught fish all morning.
- Megan HartsochRepeat angler5.0Verified
Fantastic Day of Inshore Fishing!
3/4 Day Trip on April 21, 2025 • 4 adultsMy family of 4 had a great day on the water with Bernie! Very knowledgeable captain and so friendly. He worked fast and got us on some fish.
Jason Brown5.0VerifiedGreat spring break fishing trip!
3/4 Day Trip on March 25, 2025 • 3 adults • 1 childCaptain Bernie put us on fish right away. My two sons caught a bunch of fish and learned a lot. I highly recommend Captan Bernie!
Steven Whitlow5.0VerifiedGreat trip!
Half Day Trip (AM) on July 5, 2024 • 3 adultsCaptain Bernie did great! He was at the dock in the water when we arrived, short boat ride out and he had us on fish right away! All three of us landed several fish, really fun morning and I will be reaching back out for more trips in the future.
Mike HansenRepeat angler5.0VerifiedTrifecta excellent fishing day
Half Day Trip (AM) on April 22, 2024 • 1 adultHighly recommend, we had a great day on water due to Bernie's expertise and knowledge of the waters and species. He maximizes every opportunity and is a pro. Thanks man, will be back. Caught snook, sea trout and red
Steve Drozd5.0VerifiedCold front moved in but Capt found some fish
Half Day Trip (AM) on November 28, 2023 • 2 adultsFront moved in and dropped the temp to low fifties. Water temp dropped 3 degrees and had a extreme low tide. Started out at slack tide, Captain was able to see fish from his tower but they weren't biting. As soon as the current started moving we were able to hook 4 Snook and a red. Captain was great and determined to put us on some fish. Cold trip but we caught.
Thomas Meacham5.0VerifiedWonderful trip!
Half Day Trip (AM) on March 8, 2024 • 3 adultsWe had lots of fun. Caught some fish. Saw lots of dolphins and birds. I just wish Bernie would have tried harder to find us a manatee.
Bradley Gibson5.0Verified4 hours on the water with Captain Bernie
4 Hour Afternoon Trip on June 17, 2021 • 4 adults • 2 childrenWe had a great time with Captain Bernie. We caught tons of fish. I took my son and his best friend on this charter and they have very little experience fishing. Captain Bernie was extremely helpful and worked his tail off to make sure they caught fish and he educated the boys along the way which I loved. We had to maneuver around some storms during our trip and our Captain made it very fun while keeping the safety of our group a priority. I highly recommend Captain Bernie and I will definitely be booking our next fishing trip with him.
Rating
Anglers' gallery (81)
What anglers say
All reviews (87)
The charter operator canceled on trip date. This is an automated posting.
Capt Bernie was amazing! Very knowledgeable about the species we were catching and knew multiple places to catch them to ensure we were catching the entire trip. I only did the 4 hour trip this time but next time will be longer. Bernie is very friendly and overall just a great person. I didn’t have to bring a single item on the boat, he had everything we would need. Bernie went above and beyond to make my first ocean fishing trip unforgettable!
Great day guys! Thanks for booking!
It was a pleasure to fish with Captain Bernie. Friendly, knowledgeable and skilled with his craft. His boat was comfortable and expertly handled along with all equipment on board. I would surely recommend Captain Bernie for a great experience on the water.
Thanks for the kind words Ray. I look forward to fishing with you again. Call me when you come down in October and we'll get you on some more fish.
Bernie was awesome. Put us on the fish right away and we never stopped catching. 4 hour afternoon trip with my wife and two teenage sons. We are not experienced fisherman. Bernie gave great instructions and the fish all jumped in the boat. We lost track but we caught more than 25 fish. All good Reds and Snook. Bernie was working hard the whole time keeping the bait fresh and working out tangles. Good guy. I have already sent his info to a few friends. Pic is of one really small snook my wife caught. The rest were much bigger and she took the other pics. I’ll try to update.
Brought my 8 year old daughter and 13 year old niece out with Bernie this morning. They both had an amazing time! We caught a bunch of fish, he engaged with them super well and made sure they were always entertained and happy. This guy gets it.
Awesome crew, great day! The girls were a ton of fun to fish with!
FAQs about First Cast Fishing Charters
- US $300 per group, additional US $25 per person after 2 guests - 1/4 Day (2hour Special) (2 hours)
- US $600 per group, additional US $25 per person after 2 guests - 4 Hour Afternoon Trip (4 hours)
- US $600 per group, additional US $25 per person after 2 guests - 4 hour Mid-Day Trip (4 hours)
- US $600 per group, additional US $25 per person after 2 guests - Half Day Trip (AM) (4 hours)
- US $800 per group, additional US $35 per person after 2 guests - 3/4 Day Trip (6 hours)
- US $1,000 per group, additional US $50 per person after 1 guest - Full Day 8 hours (8 hours)
- GPS
- Fishfinder
- Live bait well
- Multimedia system
- Wireless trolling motor
- Ice box Yeti 110qt
- Rods, reels & tackle
- Live bait (Live bait is included in all 4, 6, and 8hr trips. 2 hour trips do not include live bait but can be added for a small fee of $25.)
- Lures
- Catch cleaning & filleting (Cleaning of fish is included in all trips.)
- Drinks (Water, Gatorade)
- Fishing license (Fishing licenses are included with all trips free of cost.)
- Inshore fishing
- Nearshore fishing
- Reef fishing
- Flats fishing
- Backcountry fishing
- Light tackle
- Heavy tackle
- Trolling
- Spinning
- Grouper (Gag)
- Jack Crevalle
- King Mackerel (Kingfish)
- Permit
- Pompano
- Redfish
- Snapper (Mangrove)
- Snook
- Spanish Mackerel
- Speckled Trout
- Tripletail
Your captain
St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
I have been addicted to fishing for most of my life. My father and grandfather, both Miami natives, put a rod in my hand at a very young age. I have 20+ years of solid experience fishing the Tampa Bay, Florida Keys, East Coast, and have traveled many times to Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico fishing with some of the most well-known guides in search of trophies. I've fished professionally since my late teens when I joined the Pursuit Fishing Team on the SKA Circuit and FLW King Fish Championship Series. I worked as a Chef for 17 years, fishing as a hobby through my twenties, and became a full-time, licensed captain in my late 20s. I have owned and operated many different boats over the years, from Mavericks and Shearwaters to Pursuits and Jupiters. I recently acquired my favorite boat yet, the Aeon 23 DLX. I love fishing more than just about anything else. Moreover, I love taking people fishing and teaching them about our local species and ecology.
Real catches by this captain
What is the boat like?
What kind of fishing will you do?
Which fishing techniques you can try
Which amenities are available onboard
How cancellations work
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.
What the listing policies are
Pickup agreed upon reservation
Transfer to/from departure site may be available and included in price depending on your location and distance from the dock.
How you can pay
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 15% deposit to guarantee your reservation.
The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:
Cash
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 5% charge will apply.
What’s biting in St. Petersburg right now
Grouper (Gag)
Jack Crevalle
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Permit
Redfish
Snook
Spanish Mackerel
Speckled Trout
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