Key West
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $500
Captain
John Smouse
Key West, United States
10+ reviews
Captain John moved down to Key West after graduating from the University of Georgia. He has spent the last 20 years running charters and has got hundreds of clients on to that fish of a lifetime. Captain John is the owner-operator of SHadowcast Flats Fishing and he runs every trip with passion, preparation, and professionalism – this is his company and he's proud of it! He was trained by the best in the business and is constantly trying to improve his game. Everyone is welcome aboard Shadowcaster trips, from kids and first-timers to pros and old-timers.
Travis E.
Captain
Charter
Rating
5.0
11 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (10)
All reviews (11)
Showing 1 – 5 of 11 reviews
Jennifer Ervin5.0Verifiedlots of action and variety
Half Day Trip (AM) • 3 adultsgreat morning with Captain John. hit several spots. variety of fish. lots of action for my teenage and young adult kiddos. nice conversation and smooth morning. definitely recommend.
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainThanks Jennifer for fishing with us, See you next time!!
Gregory Hall5.0VerifiedAwesome Day on the Water
3/4 Day Trip • 3 adultsWonderful 6 hr day on the water. Travis was great. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Caught snappers tarpons and sharks. Highly recommend!
Reported catch:
Response from Captainthanks again Gregory for fishing with us today
Andrew Ronza5.0VerifiedIncredible Fishing Charter
Half Day Trip (AM) • 4 adultsHad an awesome time out on the water with Travis as our captain. Super laid-back, knew exactly where to go, and we caught plenty of fish. All around great experience and a really fun day. Definitely will be booking again.
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainThanks for fishing with us Andrew!!! Had a great time this morning. see you again next time
Drew Jones5.0VerifiedFishing with John
Half Day Trip (PM) • 2 adultsResponse from CaptainThanks Drew for fishing with us, See ya next time
Andrew Brace5.0Unforgettable Fishing with Capt. Travis.
Half Day Trip (AM)If you're looking for an exciting, laid-back fishing trip with an expert guide, look no further than Capt. Travis! I asked for a day of catching "anything," and he absolutely delivered—nonstop action with plenty of shots and catches throughout the trip. We hooked into Tarpon, Barracuda, Snapper, and even a full-grown Bonnethead Shark (which looks like a baby hammerhead, definitely a highlight for me!). Capt. Travis also pointed out dolphins, manatees, and Osprey nests along the way, sharing his deep knowledge of the local wildlife and landscape. The boat was super comfortable, the vibes were great, and it was clear Travis loves what he does. I’m looking forward to doing this all over again. Loved it.
Reported catch:Response from CaptainHey AndreThanks again for fishing with us while you were here. Look forward to doing it again real soon Tight Lines
What's biting with Shadow Caster II Inshore Fishing in Key West
Late fall sees the reefs come alive. Large numbers of baitfish attract delicacies such as Yellowtail Snappers, Groupers, and Mutton Snappers, which then arrive in boats and on the dinner table.
Top catches for October
Fishing reports
November fishing in Key West
Nov 1, 2025 • Key West
November has Started off strong here at ShadowCaster. Live bait fishing continues to be the key to success, although we still are throwing and catching a bunch on artificials. Our shallow water barracuda fishing is heating up as the water temps cool and they are a blast on our homemade tube lures.
Jacks, mackerals and of course tasty snappers are on the shallow water rock piles and channels throughout the back country.
Early morning Tarpon are still a thing and will be before and a fewe days after a cold front. Our trips are customized to your desires, often targeting multiple species in just a 4 hour trip.
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October 2025 Fishing onboard ShadowCaste
Oct 13, 2025 • Key West
Both fishing and weather have been absolutely awesome!!!! We are catching Tarpon regularly and that is a great thing to see, as it is off season. Also been catching a lot of tasty Mangrove Snapper!!!!!
Live biat has been the key to success and we pride ourselves on always having the freshest you can get. These pics are just a few of the fish we have caught this October so far.
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Great 1/2 Day Sept 30, 2025
Sep 30, 2025 • Key West
October Fishing in Key West is the official change of seasons for what we Target. This is the ‘Variety” Season. Meaning, we target everything from 100lb Tarpon to 3lb Snapper and everything in between. We target all these species with live biat, dead bait, artificial lures (hard and soft plastics). The Fishing in Key West changes hourly due to tides, temps, weather, wind, lighting, etc. And we always have the proper bait and tackle for the current situation. So, if you wanna get out Fishing the Backcountry of Key West book with ShadowCaster right here
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September 24,2025
Sep 24, 2025 • Key West
Awesome trip in the Backcountry with these guys. 5 Tarpon to the boat and a mess of other species
Sharks, Jacks, Snapper, Barracuda etc
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September Fishing in Key West
Sep 1, 2025 • Key West
September is off to a wet start. But the forecast is looking great. The Fall bait is showing up in its usual places and that will be the key to success over the next couple months. At ShadowCaster we pride ourselves with always having the freshest bait around. During the Fall we will target a huge variety of species, Tarpon, Snappers, Barracudas, Sharks, Jacks.....the list goes on. Lets get out there and make some memories to last a lifetime!!!
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