Gulfport
Trips from
US $550
Captain
Inspired Fishing Charters
Gulfport, United States
50+ reviews
For Captain Skylar Wilks, starting a fishing charter business was inevitable. Capt. Skylar is Florida born and raised and he grew up fishing. Capt. Skylar's repertoire includes fishing the Indian River, Fort Myers, Sanibel, Pine Island, Tampa Bay, as well as trophy fishing from Clearwater to Sarasota.
Charter
Rating
5.0
81 reviews
4.9
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (157)
What anglers say
100%
Good experience
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
99%
Appropriate for children
100%
Satisfied with the boat
99%
Caught fish
All reviews (81)
Showing 1 – 5 of 81 reviews
Stephen GortonRepeat angler
Connecticut, US•Member since 2022•2 trips5.0VerifiedHalf Day Trip Fun
Half Day Trip (AM) • 3 adultsHad an awesome half day charter with Captain Skylar. Ended up with a “5 fish slam” or so I’ve been told. We caught baby snapper, flounder, snook, a sea trout, and a massive red fish. Captain was very knowledgeable of local waters and fishing techniques. If we’re weren’t getting hits he would switch up the bait/tackle or move us to a new area. Equipment was great, he had plenty of fresh bait, and helped us cast out to better spots if need be. While our main goal was fishing we also saw lots of nature while we out and about. Tons of clear water and mangroves were you can literally see the fish we were trying to catch. Tons of local seabirds (though some ended up being a nuisance) but we also caught a glimpse of 2 young bald eagles. And when we saw a pod of dolphins we took a quick detour for some photos and video. Overall it was a fantastic day and want to thank Captain Skylar again for a great experience. Would book again and recommend to friends and family in town.
Response from CaptainThanks for the great review Stephen! You guys were awesome and I’m glad we made it happen and caught a nice variety of fish! Hope to See you guys again soon.
Jennifer HoffRepeat anglerKentucky, US•Member since 2020•2 trips5.0VerifiedAbsolutely amazing!
Half Day Trip (AM) • 4 adultsBest fishing trip I’ve ever been on! Our first fish was a massive 35 ft snook! From there we caught so many different species, Spanish mackerel, Redfish, Grouper, Ladyfish and sheepshead. We all 4 caught multiple fish. The guide, Skylar, was incredible. He was so chill and down to earth. He never got frustrated with us, he was always talking to us and having a good time. We truly felt welcome on his boat. He knows a lot about fishing and wasn’t shy about giving us some pointers. He lets you cast and reel them in on your own, never getting frustrated if you let one off the hook. If you’re looking for an incredible trip with no pressure from the guide, then this is it! I’d book with him over and over again.
Response from CaptainThank you so much Jen! You guys were awesome to spend the day with and I hope you end up getting into this industry, it’s very challenging and rewarding! Best of luck and keep in touch.
Mark SelbyKentucky, US•Member since 20215.0VerifiedHalf Day Trip
Half Day Trip (AM) • 3 adultsSkylar thank you for an awesome day of fishing. I have been on several charter fishing trips in my lifetime. This trip is ranked one of the very best. For about 2 hours plus every cast we was reeling in something 2 seconds after the bait hit the water that’s no exaggeration. Not to mention the huge fish we fought for about 30 minutes to get to the boat but unfortunately the 80lbs test line broke. But that’s fishing probably operator error (lol). Definitely recommend fishing with Skylar and most definitely would book again hands down.
Robert GeorgeMichigan, US•Member since 20214.7Verifiedgreat trip
Half Day Trip (AM) • 4 adultsThe only reason I gave a 4 star on equipment and boat is because I thought there was going to be some shade on the boat. That was fishingbooker's and my error. also I would recommend going to the actual web site of the charter service before booking because the address fishing booker supplied was incorrect. Skylar was great when we got to our location before he was able to get the 2nd rod setup FISH ON! we were into a school of fish and at one point had 5 fish on at one time also many doubles and a few triples. On the way back we ran into a pod of dolphins ( 7 ) and watched them for awhile very close to the boat. Skylar was also very knowledgeable about the types of water we were fishing the color of the water, the current, the types of baits we were using all in all a great trip we will be using inspired fishing charters on our next fishing adventure
Response from CaptainThank you for your great review Robert! I hope to see you guys again!
Robert MreenFlorida, US•Member since 20235.0VerifiedOctober fishing trip
Full Day Trip • 3 adultsjust now NEW Skylar is an A+ captain! He set up a perfect day fishing even with weather not cooperating. We had lunch on the water at The Warhf. Highly recommend booking a trip with him.
Response from CaptainSuch a fun day with you guys. Thank you!
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What's biting with Inspired Fishing Charters in Gulfport
Snook, Permit, Jack Crevalle, Redfish, and Spotted Seatrout are all available in the rich waters of the Tampa Bay come September, so there's no sign that the season is coming to an end just yet!
Top catches for September
Fishing reports
December Fishing report
Dec 1, 2022 • Gulfport
Crazy to think there is only one month left in 2022, this year really flew by! December will bring cooler temps in the next week or so but the last few weeks of fishing have remained steady and productive. We are seeing our typical pelagics making their way closer to shore with the cobia bite heating up in the bay and off the beach, as well as a good kingfish and mackerel bite going on currently. The Gag Grouper bite inside the bay and near shore has been hot. Live pinfish this time of year are plentiful and have been the ticket while cut bait and sardines can get the job done.
We do have some unfortunate news to report for the bay as we’re seeing reports of red tide all the way up to 7 miles or so off the beach. Although we are not seeing any fish kills, the water is a dark brown color, as the water has made its way north from Ian hitting the Fort Myers area. I’ve also seen some reports of Lake Okeechobee potentially needing to release water, which would be bad timing with this looming bloom. We usually see red tide blooms in the summer months as the high water temps and high nitrogen level pollutants cause extreme blooms that suck the oxygen out of the water and kill fish and marine life. However, during the hotter months we always hope for a storm to push the bloom offshore or we have to wait for a cold snap to kill it. Seeing the water such a dark brown this time of year is uncommon and must be attributed to our late hurricane activity this season.
Making our way inshore, the trout bite is turning on with the lowering water temps and abundance of small baits on the flats. Work swim baits and jerk shads over the potholes on the flats. When scouting a new area, I typically like to start shallower and work deeper until I find the size range I’m targeting. Trout will stick in similar size groups; so if you’re consistently catching small 12-14in trout in 2-3ft of water, try bumping out to 5-6ft of water where the 15-20+in fish may be sitting. I enjoy targeting trout with funky colors in the winter months like pink and chartreuse.
The snook bite has remained steady with the big fish starting to feed heavier as they prepare to make their way up the creeks and rivers getting ready for cold-water temps and more lethargic feeding patterns. They have started to thin out in the passes and beach areas, but just as one species vacates another files in. The pompano and sheepshead bite is beginning to pop off for the winter. Goofy jigs and shrimp tipped teasers are an easy go-to when targeting them.
You have a lot of options in the winter months with Grouper being open another month, pelegics off the beach are firing, and redfish, trout, and sheepshead are getting right, get out there and try your luck!
Until next year,
Capt Skylar
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September Fishing Report
Sep 1, 2021 • Gulfport
Thankfully, so far this hurricane season Florida has been spared. However, with Ida sliding by Florida’s west coast it did bring surf, bands of rain, and wind, which may have blown some Red Tide blooms back into our region. There have been some reports since Ida that the coastline is registering blooms and the blooms have brought back some of the stench, although there have not been too many reports of dead fish, which is a positive. The Bay is looking clean and clear over these last few weeks with the snook and trout bite remaining steady for summer as the inshore redfish bite starting to take off as we get closer to fall. Soon we will have a steady concentration of big bull redfish moving throughout the deeper parts of the bay and passes as they spawn. Live shrimp has been an easy ticket to a good day inshore in Tampa Bay as the sheepshead are getting plentiful, the snapper have been firing off, and the snook, redfish, and trout are happy to find an easy meal drifting through the current. Bait around Tampa Bay has been tough for the past several weeks but we are now starting to find bigger concentrations of “fishable” pilchards as the fry bait continues to grow.
The tide has been forcefully moving as it typically does in the summer, which makes for great fishing at both the end of incoming and beginning of outgoing. As the water begins to fill up the mangroves for high tide it’s a great time to pitch baits around the trees and points of islands where the current gets swept through and with it a continual flow of bait and nutrients for predators. Fish the up-current side and drift your baits through those ambush points and corners until the water is just about touching the hanging mangrove limbs and then try your luck skipping baits under the limbs into the shadows when the sun gets up high. High tide is a perfect time for cut bait such as ladyfish, pinfish, and mullet making them a great alternative if you’re confident fish are moving through the area but using the cover of the mangroves for protection. As the tide flips and begins to move out, work your way out of that area with the tide and you will continue to find fish exiting the area making their way to deeper pockets and passes.
Get geared up for the Fall KOB!
Capt. Skylar
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What to expect fishing in November
Nov 12, 2020 • Gulfport
November Fishing is Heating Up as the Temps Cool Off
Congratulations to those who participated and to all who enjoyed themselves at this year’s King of The Beach! There was a great turnout for the circumstances and the weather was… well…king fishing weather! I sure am hoping and praying that we can put hurricane season behind us as we close out a very active year with Florida fairing pretty well. As I wrap up this report, Eta just came through causing some damage to our coast and some serious storm surge and flooding through the night. I hope everyone stayed safe and dwellings and personal property damage was kept to a minimum.
November fishing around Tampa Bay is a fun and versatile time of year to continue targeting some species that enjoy feeding freely in warmer temps such as snook and redfish, as we also transition towards our more active colder temp fish. Included in this list is one of my personal favorites, tripletail, in addition to mackerel, kingfish, and sheepshead. The beach is extremely lively this time of year as bull redfish are roaming in big schools, Spanish mackerel are tearing through bait schools, and the kingfish are lurking just on the outskirts. Trolling deep diving plugs for gag grouper in the shipping channel is heating up, as we still have more than a month left until their closure that will wrap up the year. I enjoy switching things up this time of year and trolling Rapala X-Rap Magnum 30’s in purple and green. Varying your speed from high speed trolling of 10+kts down to 4-6kts can help you find the best bite and action from the lure and give you a good chance of hooking both kingfish and grouper. Many of my recent trips have been spent off the beach catching Spanish mackerel until we’re tired, running the crab traps looking for Tripletail, and bump trolling kingfish. However, we’re coming into a great time to bump docks and fly through countless shrimp as grouper, snapper, and sheepshead will be getting right with these cooler temps inshore.
Sheepshead are a great table fare in the winter that require a 12 inch minimum total length and allow a daily bag limit of 8 per person. Make sure you have a sharp knife as sheepshead and tripletail both have thick skin and a large rib cage that make filleting them a bit of a project. However, both fish will reward you with delicious mild and flaky meat that makes all of the work worthwhile. I have been using a 9-inch filet knife made by Seamule this entire season and it has performed and held up beautifully. The German stainless steel blade cuts like butter and holds a sharp edge for many trips before needing a quick swipe on the stone. With so many fishing options this time of year and the gorgeous weather we’re starting to come into, get out there and hook into a big one!
Until next month,
Captain Skylar Wilks
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What to Expect Fishing in September!
Sep 1, 2020 • Gulfport
As seen on The Old Salt Foundation outlets and written by me, Capt. Skylar.
Summer will be coming to an end as September closes and with that change will come a whole new fishing season of opportunity in the bay. Although not much will change throughout the month of September, as the weather remains hot and rainy, we will however begin to see a shift in patterns for some of our inshore species as we inch closer to cooler weather and lower tides approaching fall and winter. Anglers will find themselves shifting gears from fishing the big swinging high tides of summer, to the extreme tidal lows that come with winter. Therefore, start to plan your routes and tracks on the water in the coming months before you set out, to ensure you will have enough water to make it there and back. For example, the flat on the west side of Tarpon Key near Fort Desoto will typically hold 3-4 ft. of water at high tide and 1.5-2 ft. of water at low tide in the spring and summer. However, this same flat in the winter months may only hold a foot of water at high tide and hold less than a foot of water or be fully exposed by grass and sand at low tide, making that route unusable for me in the winter. These coming months make for a great time of year to scout the flats looking for pot holes and undulation on the flats that predatory fish will use as ambush points throughout the year as bait flushes over the top. These coming months are also a great time to catch tailing redfish and fish getting into skinny water in search for their next meal.
Fall is the perfect time to catch bull redfish in the near shore waters of the Gulf, as these brutes travel up and down the coast chasing baitfish and spawning from September-November. If you are cruising down the coast, keep a sharp eye out for the incredible opportunity to see these big schools of redfish on the surface with their golden glow. Tides will carry the offspring into our estuary where the fish spend the first few years of their life and are heavily targeted by anglers until they reach sexual maturity at roughly 27 inches and then proceed to join the spawning stock (**hidden content**).
Your best bet to catch a bull redfish can include a wide array of bait from pinfish, shrimp, and crabs to a more simple approach consisting of cut bait soaking in their heavily trafficked areas off the sandbars, near shore reefs, and mitigation areas. Be sure to “up” your tackle, as these aren’t your typical 20-30 inch fish, many of these bull redfish easily push 20+ pounds. I like to use a 6-8000 size reel paired with a medium-heavy to heavy rod and 40-60lb fluorocarbon leader with a 4-6/0 hook and a half or whole blue crab, cut ladyfish, or cut mullet for bait. A good bottom machine paired with the understanding of what is showing will help you to find these big schools in the deeper drop offs around Egmont key and surrounding areas. Keep an eye out for birds and frigates, as they are a great indicator of action on the surface and a great area to drop baits allowing for a better opportunity of hooking up to a wide variety of potential catches including Spanish mackerel, bonito, sharks, as well as schooling bull redfish.
Good luck this month,
Capt. Skylar
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Ready to get out of the house? Come on o
May 3, 2020 • Gulfport
The bite has not slowed down with good weather on the horizon. Inshore fishing this week has been incredible. Redfish and snook have been steady and the TARPON ARE HERE. Mackerel on the beach are a blast with sharks pushing baits to the surface and patrolling the bottom have made for awesome action.
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Redfish and snook on the move!
Feb 18, 2020 • Gulfport
I have been out the last 4 days in a row and the fishing has been incredible! The weather is warming up and the water temps have come up with it. I am seeing about 66 degrees as opposed to 58 last week with the cold front. Each trip has produced great numbers of redfish and snook, as well as flounder, trout, and jacks!
We have used pilchards on each trip as the fish are fired up and wanting something to chase aside from shrimp with this warmer weather. I am booked the remainder of this week but after the front on Friday fishing next week is looking great! I have a few days available next week so don’t wait to book your adventure!
Tight lines ,
Captain Skylar Wilks
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