Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish

Light Tackle BackCountry For Redfish is a fishing charter dedicated to Jacksonville’s incredible backcountry creek fishing! Captain Brennan Merrell has been fishing the local waters since 1983, and is an avid Redfish angler. Come hook your very own Bull as you cast a line alongside him!

Capt. Brennan loves nothing more than showing his guests a great time, as well as taking kids out on the water. As his vessel is built to navigate the shallowest inshore waters, it can hold one adult and one child up to 75 pounds, to ensure comfort for everyone on board.

Capt. Brennan’s vessell is a 13’ Duranautic aluminum fishing boat, originally built in 2015. She’s powered by a 9.9 HP Yamaha engine with a maximum cruising speed of 14 knots. This makes her ideal for backcountry creek fishing, as she’s able to reach the hidden spots easily and without making too much noise. The boat contains a GPS system, life jackets, and a live bait tank to keep the bait fresh.

When it comes to what you’ll be targeting on your trip, the number one species is obvious Redfish – but it doesn’t end there! Spotted Seatrout, Flounder, Black Drum, and Sheepshead, as well as Blue Crabs, are all on offer to increase the action.

Capt. Brennan will have you using live bait, fresh bait, or artificial bait, depending on the fish you want to hook. Taking into consideration the weather and seasonality during your trip, he’ll have you exploring Heckscher Drive by the Timucuan preserve, Clapboard Creek, and Brown’s Creek for your target catch.

Rods, reels, tackle, and baits are included in every trip, as well as your fishing license. Your captain can also clean and fillet your fish upon request. All that’s left is to come aboard Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish charters – you’ll have a blast, hook some great fish, and experience the hidden beauty of Jacksonville!



Trip availability and prices

  • Private trip
    Half Day Inshore Trip
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Price for up to 1 person
    US $380
    If you're looking for an action-packed morning on the water, this is the trip for you! You'll cruise Jacksonville backcountry creek, casting your line for Redfish, Trout, Flounder, Black Drum, and Sheepshead. You can also target Blue Crabs to increase the action! You'll fish using live bait, fresh bait, or artificial, depending on the fish. Licenses are included.
  • Private trip
    Full Day Inshore Trip
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Price for up to 1 person
    US $440
    If you can think of nothing better than exploring Jacksonville's backcountry creek for a whole day, join your captain on this adventure. You'll take in the area's stunning scenery and cast your line for Trout, Flounder, Black Drum, Sheepshead or Redfish. Captain Brennan can also put you on Blue Crabs to increase the action! Fishing licenses are provided, as well as top-quality fishing gear.
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 11 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (47)
Redfish!
Full day Trip.
Full day Trip.
+44
Angler rating
10
1
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
100%
Appropriate for children
80%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
90%
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5 of 11 reviews
Bill L.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Redfish!

VERIFIED   Full Day Inshore Trip on November 5, 2023
If it’s Redfish you are after then look no further. Cpt Brennan knows where to find them. It was a nice one-on-one fishing...
Bill L. recommends Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish
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Bill L. recommends Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish
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Gerald G.
Jacksonville, Florida
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great trip on a slow day

VERIFIED   Half Day Inshore Trip on July 26, 2018
Brennan was very personable and made every effort to make it a pleasant day.  His smaller boat and one on one operation was...
Gerald G. recommends Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish
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You and 1 other person found this review helpful
  Brennan Merrell Captain replied

Mark C.
United States
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half Day Trip with Brennan

VERIFIED   Half Day Inshore Trip on February 21, 2018
I had a great day on the water! Brennan was very knowledgeable about his key fishing spots, he explained the points where the...
Mark C. recommends Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish
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Mark C. recommends Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish
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Timothy H.
Jacksonville, FL
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Four hour trip

VERIFIED   Half Day Inshore Trip on December 8, 2019
Captain Merrell knows how to catch them reds! Provided an excellent outing! Highly recommend to anyone looking to get on the...
Timothy H. recommends Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish
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  Brennan Merrell Captain replied

Timothy L.
United States
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Brennan

VERIFIED   Half Day Inshore Trip on January 14, 2019
Excellent trip due to a Captain that knows his craft. Would recommend to anyone. Looking forward to more trips with this Captreeain.
Timothy L. recommends Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish
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  Brennan Merrell Captain replied

FAQs about Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish

Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $380 per group - Half Day Inshore Trip (4 hours)
  • US $440 per group - Full Day Inshore Trip (6 hours)

When you book a trip with Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Live Bait Well

Trips booked with Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait (Blue crabs, minnows, or shrimp)
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Drinks (Bottled water)
  • Fishing License

Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish offers the following types of fishing:
  • Lake Fishing
  • Inshore Fishing
  • Flats Fishing
  • Backcountry Fishing

Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Popping

Top targeted fish species with Light Tackle BackCountry Redfish include:
  • Black Drum
  • Flounder
  • Redfish
  • Sheepshead
  • Spotted Seatrout

Your captain

Brennan Merrell
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
35 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
13 Customer reviews
Member since October 2016
Captain Brennan is an avid angler of anything that swims, especially Snapper, Kingfish, Cobia, Grouper, Dolphin (Mahi), Redfish, Sheepshead, Flounder, and Trout. He is keen on showing his guests a great time and loves taking kids out on the water. Captain Brennan says: "I have worked as an offshore captain running charters off Jacksonville for over a decade and I even worked in the Florida Keys as a fishing/snorkeling captain for the Boy Scouts high adventure camp called Sea Base during 2007. I know how to find the fish and will show you an awesome time! I am a proud father who plans on teaching his child everything he knows about fishing."

The fish you can target

Black Drum Black Drum
Flounder Flounder
Redfish Redfish
Sheepshead Sheepshead

What the boat is like

Boat Image
Boat category
Skiffs and flats boats
Capacity
1 person
Boat length
13 ft
Year built
2015
Boat manufacturer
Duranautic
Boat type
Aluminum fishing

Engine model
Yamaha
Powered by
1 x 9.9HP
Max cruising speed
14 knots

Which types of fishing are offered

Lake Fishing
Inshore Fishing
Flats Fishing
Backcountry Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Spinning
Jigging
Popping

Which amenities are available onboard

GPS
Live Bait Well

What’s included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Blue crabs, minnows, or shrimp
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Drinks
Bottled water
Fishing License

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip

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 not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
One up to 75 pounds
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed

How you can pay

Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% 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

What’s biting in Jacksonville right now

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