Salty Fly Charters

Fish for Tarpon * Snook * Redfish * Trout * Mackerel * Cobia * Jacks * Ladyfish and more !

Tampa Bay Fly fishing and light tackle specialist located in St. Petersburg and Clearwater Florida. Fishing the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, flats and backwaters of Tampa Bay, Homosassa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Sarasota.

Coast Guard Licensed & Insured
All Tackle Provided
Custom 16' Silver King Flats Boat
Fishing Licenses Provided
Video services available !

Fishing gift certificates make a great gift idea for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries or just plain fishing fun. Give one to that special fisherman, employee, customer, boss or anyone else that loves to fish. These gift certificates are good for one (1) year from the date purchased and allow the fisherman to choose the type of guided fishing trip they wish to go on as well as when they would like to fish. Dates are of course subject to our availability but we can usually schedule the person easily, especially if they book their trip in advance. If you are not sure what type of trip they would like, you can purchase a generic dollar amount and the person can always upgrade and pay the trip difference.

Two (2) anglers are usually the maximum, depending on size and weight and type of fishing. If it's a child or smaller person we may fit three (3). If you do have more anglers than can fit on my boat, I can usually find another qualified Captain to fish if given enough advanced notice. Please note that there is an additional charge for a third passenger, fishing or not. The exception to this is children under 12. Why? It's very simple. It's more work and harder work. More weight to pole, more tackle to use and break, etc.

Regarding when to book for tarpon. I start booking as soon as my anglers step off the boat, as they usually want the same slot for the following year. I wouldn't delay if this is your concern as all of us are booked pretty solidly by January at the latest.

Don't just take my word it. If sight fishing in shallow clear waters on fly is your game, then please do yourself a favor and investigate this great, prehistoric and what's considered, the ultimate gamefish - The Silver King!

If sight fishing in shallow clear waters for tarpon on fly is your game then please do yourself a favor and investigate the Nature Coast as it is called. Don't just take my word for it!

Our most popular trips are our four and 6 hour fishing trips. These trips typically leave early in the morning and get back midday on a half day and early afternoon on a 6 hour day.

We can usually offer a variety of fishing trips, mostly fishing the Tampa Bay area. We will fish the flats at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, in the mangrove-lined rivers and creeks, and the back country bays from our fully equipped, custom rigged 16 foot flats boat. As tarpon season approaches, we will extend our range to the Homosassa area to sight cast to giant tarpon, known as the "Silver King".

On our trips we'll see Manatees, Porpoise, Ospreys, Roseate Spoonbill, Brown and White Pelicans, Blue Heron, Magnificent Frigatebirds and other native wildlife in their unique habitat.

Captain Russ Shirley is a native Floridian and has fished the waters of Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Sarasota for over 45 years. Surrounded by the waters of Tampa Bay, he spent most of his time on or in the water.

As a tournament winning and USCG licensed professional fishing guide, Captain Russ has fished celebrity anglers such as Curt Gowdy, Sr. (from the original American Sportsman). Also, Ted Juracsik (as seen numerous times on the Walkers Cay Chronicles with Flip Pallot). Ted is also the owner and manufacturer of the legendary Tibor & Billy Pate fly reels. And as Russ points out , is one of the greatest guys he's had the pleasure to meet, let alone fish.

Appropriate Clothing, Beverages, Camera, Comfortable Shoes, Food Supplies, Hat, Lunch, No glass bottles, Non-Marking Sole Shoes, Raingear, Soft soled shoes , Sunglasses, Sunscreen