What a Tampa Fishing Charter Costs
Real prices for private fishing charters and boat tours on Tampa Bay, what is included, and what to budget on top
Most private fishing charters on Tampa Bay run about $450 to $800 for a half day and $800 to $1,600 for a full day, depending on how far the boat runs, what you fish for and how many anglers come along. At Aquatic Escapes a four hour inshore trip is $500 for one or two anglers. Every price on this page matches our Rates page.
The price is for the boat, not per person. Rods, reels, tackle, bait, ice, fishing licenses and fish cleaning are included. You bring food, drinks and a tip for the crew.
- Prices at a Glance
- Inshore
- Nearshore
- Shark, Tarpon, Kingfish
- Night Fishing
- Scalloping and Tours
- What Is Included
- Tipping
- Deposit and Cancellation
- Per Person
- FAQs
Tampa Fishing Charter Prices at a Glance
Base prices cover one or two anglers. The add-on is per additional angler.
| Trip | Time on the water | Price | Each extra angler | Guests per boat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Trip | 3 hours | $350 | +$75 | up to 6 |
| Inshore Half Day | 4 hours | $500 | +$75 | up to 6 |
| Inshore 3/4 Day | 5 hours | $650 | +$75 | up to 6 |
| Inshore Full Day | 6 hours | $800 | +$75 | up to 6 |
| Nearshore | 7 hours | $900 | +$100 | up to 4 |
| Extended Nearshore | 9 hours | $1,100 | +$100 | up to 4 |
| Shark | 6 hours | $850 | flat rate | up to 4 |
| Tarpon, May through July | 6 hours | $1,200 | flat rate | up to 4 |
| Kingfish, spring and fall | 6 hours | $1,000 | flat rate | up to 4 |
| Night Fishing | 4 hours | $600 | +$100 | up to 5 |
| Extended Night Fishing | 5 hours | $750 | +$100 | up to 5 |
| Night Shark | 5 hours | $850 | flat rate | up to 4 |
| Scalloping, July 1 to September 24 | 5 or 7 hours | $400 or $600 | +$50 | up to 6 |
| Booze, Downtown or Sunset Cruise | 3 or 4 hours | $400 or $500 | flat rate | up to 6 |
| Island Hopping | 4 or 5 hours | $600 or $700 | flat rate | up to 6 |
| Tubing add-on | about 1 hour of your trip | $100 |
Bigger group? We run more boats with captains we trust, so everyone goes out together. Each boat is priced as its own trip.
Prices checked against our Rates page on September 30, 2026. If the two ever differ, the Rates page is the one that counts.
Inshore Fishing Charter Cost
Inshore is the classic Tampa Bay trip: snook, redfish, speckled trout, sheepshead, mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel on the flats and around mangroves, docks and bridges.
- Kids Trip, 3 hours: $350 for one or two anglers. At least one kid ages 6 to 13 has to be aboard.
- Half Day, 4 hours: $500.
- 3/4 Day, 5 hours: $650.
- Full Day, 6 hours: $800.
- Each additional angler is $75, up to six per boat as a family group, which works out to about three or four adults plus kids.
Best for: first timers, families and anyone who wants steady action in calm water.
Nearshore Charter Cost in the Gulf of America
Nearshore trips leave the bay and run into the Gulf of America to reefs, ledges and hard bottom for grouper, snapper, kingfish and cobia.
- 7 hours: $900 for one or two anglers.
- 9 hours: $1,100.
- Each additional angler is $100, up to four per boat.
- The longer run takes more fuel and more time, which is why these trips cost more than a day inside the bay.
Best for: anglers who want bigger water and fish for the table.
Shark, Tarpon and Kingfish Charter Cost
Sport fishing trips chase one big fish on heavy tackle. They are one flat price for the boat, with up to four anglers.
- Shark, 6 hours: $850. Day or night.
- Tarpon, 6 hours: $1,200. May through July, during the migration.
- Kingfish, 6 hours: $1,000. Spring and fall, when the fish run the coast.
Best for: anglers after the fight of the trip. Bigger tackle, bigger bait and a lot of patience.
Night Fishing Charter Cost
After dark the bay cools off and the bite heats up around lighted docks, bridges and channels.
- Night Fishing, 4 hours: $600 for one or two anglers.
- Extended Night Fishing, 5 hours: $750.
- Each additional angler is $100, up to five per boat.
- Night Shark, 5 hours: $850 flat, up to four anglers.
Best for: summer visitors who want to skip the heat, and anyone who has only fished in daylight.
Scalloping and Boat Tour Prices
- Scalloping runs July 1 through September 24 out of Crystal River: 5 hours for $400 or 7 hours for $600 for one or two people, $50 for each additional person, up to six per boat. Scalloping trips
- Booze Cruise, Downtown Cruise and Sunset Cruise: 3 hours for $400 or 4 hours for $500, with up to six guests per boat, and all six can be adults.
- Island Hopping: 4 hours for $600 or 5 hours for $700.
- Tubing add-on: $100 for about an hour of towing during your trip.
See every tour on the Tours and Cruises page.
What the Price Includes
Included on every fishing trip
- A licensed captain and a private boat for your group
- Fuel
- Rods, reels and tackle
- Live and frozen bait
- Ice
- Florida fishing licenses for everyone aboard
- Cleaning your keepers at the dock
Not included
- Food. None is provided, so bring your own.
- Drinks. Extra bottled water is on board. Bring whatever else you like to drink. Alcohol is welcome in cans only, no glass bottles.
- Gratuity. See the next section.
How Much to Tip on a Fishing Charter
Gratuities are never expected, but they are greatly appreciated. If the captain did a good job, made the trip enjoyable and you had a good time, 20% to 30% is the industry standard.
On a $500 half day that comes to $100 to $150. Cash is easiest. When a mate works your trip, the mate is paid solely from tips.
Deposit, Payment and Cancellation
- A $150 deposit holds your day.
- Zelle and Venmo carry no fee. Credit cards and PayPal add 3%.
- The balance is paid the day of your trip. Cash is simplest. To pay the balance by card, call it in at least 72 hours ahead.
- Cancel 7 or more days before your trip and your full deposit comes back, no questions asked.
- Inside 7 days, any refund is at the discretion of the captain. Weather is the exception: if the trip is called for weather, you are not penalized.
- No-shows forfeit the deposit.
The full policy is on the FAQ page, and you can hold a date on the booking page.
What It Costs Per Person
Because the price is for the boat, a charter gets cheaper per person as the group grows. Before tip:
| Trip | Group | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inshore Half Day, 4 hours | 2 anglers | $500 | $250 |
| Inshore Half Day, 4 hours | 4 anglers | $650 | about $163 |
| Inshore Half Day, 4 hours | 6 as a family group | $800 | about $133 |
| Inshore Full Day, 6 hours | 4 anglers | $950 | about $238 |
| Nearshore, 7 hours | 4 anglers | $1,100 | $275 |
| Shark, 6 hours | 4 anglers | $850 | about $213 |
| Sunset Cruise, 3 hours | 6 guests | $400 | about $67 |
Why Charter Prices Differ
- Time on the water. More hours means more fuel, more bait and more of the captain’s day.
- Distance. A nearshore trip runs miles into the Gulf of America before a line goes in the water.
- Tackle and bait. Shark and tarpon take heavy gear and big bait that inshore trips never touch.
- Season. Tarpon run May through July and kingfish in spring and fall. Short seasons fill fast.
- Private or shared. A party boat sells single seats for less, but you share the rail with a crowd and the boat goes where it goes. A private charter fishes where your group wants to fish.
Not sure which trip fits? How to choose a Tampa fishing charter walks through it, and What’s Biting shows what is in season each month.
Charter Cost Questions
How much does a fishing charter cost in Tampa?
Most private half day inshore charters on Tampa Bay run about $450 to $800. At Aquatic Escapes a four hour inshore trip is $500 for one or two anglers and $75 for each additional angler. Full days are $800, nearshore trips in the Gulf of America start at $900, and sport fishing for shark, tarpon or kingfish runs $850 to $1,200.
Is the price per person or per boat?
Per boat. The base price covers one or two anglers, and each extra angler adds $50 to $100 depending on the trip. Sport fishing trips and boat tours are one flat price for the boat.
How much do you tip a fishing charter captain?
Tips are never expected but always appreciated. 20% to 30% of the trip price is the industry standard, usually in cash. When a mate works your trip, the mate is paid solely from tips.
What is the least expensive trip with a captain?
The Kids Trip: three hours for $350 for one or two anglers, as long as at least one kid ages 6 to 13 is aboard. For adults, the four hour half day at $500 is the best value, especially split between two to four anglers.
How much is the deposit, and can I cancel?
A $150 deposit holds your day. Cancel 7 or more days before your trip and the full deposit comes back, no questions asked. Inside 7 days any refund is at the discretion of the captain, and weather is the exception.
Does a bigger group cost more?
Each boat takes up to six guests on inshore trips and boat tours, and up to four on nearshore and sport fishing trips. For bigger groups we run more boats with captains we trust, each priced as its own trip, so the whole party goes out together.
Ready to Pick a Day?
Check the calendar, pick your trip and hold it with a $150 deposit.
Tampa fishing charters inshore and offshore, plus scalloping, boat tours and sunset cruises across Tampa Bay, St. Pete, Bradenton, Clearwater, Crystal River and the Gulf of America.
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