Tampa Bay Fishing Charters
I want to thank you for taking the time to check out Day Away Charters. Being a native of the Tampa Bay area, I grew up fishing the Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg area waters, and fishing became my true passion. As your guide I will work hard to provide you with an action filled charter, and look forward to sharing the excitement that our inshore fish can provide.
Depending on the season, we can fish for Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Trout or one of the many other species our local waters have to offer. If the fish are up to it, there is nothing like an inshore Grand Slam! I could tell you what it’s like seeing a school of tailing redfish on a flat or feeling the drag burning run of a big Tarpon, but these are all things you need to experience for yourself, and the memories will last a lifetime.
I supply you with top quality light tackle and take the time to help new anglers and kids learn some of the tricks and techniques I have learned over the years. This helps everyone on the charter have more fun and catch more fish so bring the kids and have a special day fishing with them!
Do you need a Day Away… call now to reserve your Florida fishing charter and let’s go catch some fish on the scenic Gulf Coast.
About Captain Jeremy Heimes
Being born and raised in the sunshine state of Florida I was always intrigued by the outdoors so naturally fishing and hunting were my favorite pastimes. My father and grandfathers were either into racing cars or fishing and hunting, and needless to say I leaned towards fishing. Now I am working towards a fulltime career as a flats fishing guide in the Tampa Bay and St Petersburg, Florida area.
From the time I was 2, and could hold a cane pole, my grandmother had me on the dock fishing in their stocked pond, and my grandfather said I ‘hair lipped’ every fish in the pond at least once. Bread balls were the bait of choice for a two year old. Once I ran out of bread, and determined to fish, so I used a brown paper bag. Yes this is a true story, I caught a 1 lb bass and my grandmother can testify to it.
We were always on the water somewhere fishing for a variety of fish, be it bluegills, brim, bass or soft shelled turtles I was always trying to get a hook into something. My grandparents owned a houseboat and had it on Lake Hatchineha in St. Cloud, Florida. We spent many weekends on that houseboat, night fishing with lights for specks. I remember holding two cane poles at once with a fish on each, a young mans dream if you know what I mean.
When I was about 7 yrs old my parents bought property in Perry, Florida. Only 10 minutes from the Gulf and Keaton Beach Marina, and only a half hour from Steinehatchee, Florida which is known for its scallop season. Exploring Perry became our family’s new pastime each and every weekend and was a great get-a-way from the daily Tampa bustle.
Whether it be for trout, cobia, big redfish, flounder or just to scallop, we loved the peace and quiet of our fish camp. The Perry area is quite different, I remember when we first bought the place my parents were surprised at the fact that everyone waved at you as they drove by. Most the people you would meet were very nice and loved to talk about what they caught for the day, which was right up my alley.
Day Away Charters started from my passion for fishing, and the enjoyment I get out of watching and helping others learn about fishing… okay, so maybe some boyhood dreams thrown in there too! So the next time you are in the Tampa Bay or St Petersburg, Florida area and want to get out for a day of fishing, give me a call, I would enjoy showing you around a little, while catching some fish along the way. After all, it is my favorite pastime you know!
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Featured Review for Day Away Fishing Charters
My son is just getting into fishing with artificial s but this year has been tough sledding in Titusville where I normally wade fish due to the grass beds dying off/poor water quality from the algae bloom/excessive rain/runoff (I just can’t locate the fish consistently anymore especially considering my time /range on the water is limited).
Since I didn’t want him to get discouraged, plus this was our last weekend before the grind of school begins again, I splurged and chartered Captain Jeremy Heimes of Day Away Charters in Tampa, FL for the day. He was recommended by some folks over in the West Central Coast forum that I must remember to thank!
We were on the water in the Cockroach Bay Preserve near Ruskin, Fl before dawn. The conditions weren’t the best with the tide at almost dead high, the water dirty, and bait a plenty.
We started in the backwaters focusing around mangrove points and cuts between islands as well as schools of large black mullet. After a lot of short strikes on topwater plugs we did manage to hookup a couple of nice reds. We then worked all over the area – drifting across potholed flats or along shorelines under mangroves as the tide dropped – with steady action picking off smaller snook and some nice trout here and there using topwater plugs, suspending hard jerk baits, and jig/jerkbait combos. Captain Jeremy said it was really a slow day because it wasn’t a particular strong tide that was also working against the wind so the fish weren’t concentrating in the deeper pockets and channel edges between the islands like they normally would be as it falls).
Later in the day Captain Jeremy netted a bunch of greenies which we used chumming then pitching baits around deeper potholes/mangroves/channels steadily picking off snook and trout again. I must add we spotted more huge snook and reds then I could count. They just weren’t biting what we were offering with all that bait around.
Captain Jeremy was very accommodating even moving up his normal schedule/bait catching routine so we could get out at first light and focus on topwater fishing. This area is absolutely beautiful and reminds me a lot of MIWR so for all you folks from Central Florida looking for an alternative to the Northern Indian River/Mosquito Lagoon area I highly recommend giving Captain Jeremy a call (813-714-9808).
Local knowledge – especially if operating a boat due to the changing tides – is critical (we saw a group of tourist in a rented pontoon boat get stuck on a sandbar while we there). It is simply a different fishery.
Captain Jeremy is well worth it – didn’t mind teaching me about the area – where to focus/best tactics to use – while still letting me fish – but most of all for putting my son on his first west coast slam (redfish/snook/trout)!!
I’ll definitely be booking him again this fall, when he says the bite is really on). My son’s smile says it all!
….Ben and Daemon DuBois
Our Charter Rates
We look forward to providing you with an enjoyable day on the beautiful gulf coast.
All rates are based on two (2) anglers:
- 1/2 Day $500 this is 4 hrs on the water
- 3/4 Day $600 this is 6 hrs on the water
- Full Day $700 this is 8 hrs on the water
- Extra person $50.00 each up to four anglers total
- Fish cleaning available for a small fee
I supply the following:
- Fishing tackle
- Lures
- Bait
- Ice & cooler
- Saltwater fishing license
You should Bring The Following:
- Clothes for the weather
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Camera
- Sun screen
- Food and drinks
The Day Away Charters boat is a 20 Ft. Renegade Skate Flats Boat with a 115 Mercury motor. This is a stable, comfortable boat for the type of fishing we will be doing.
Captain Jeremy Heimes is:
- U.S.C.G Licensed and fully insured
- A member of the Florida Guides Association and the National Association Of Charter Boat Operators
Fishing the intracoastal waterways of the Gulf Coast is similar to fishing a lake. This means that sea sickness is typically not a problem as the area is pretty well protected with barrier islands. Most of the water fished is between 1′ to 6′ deep and many times within a few hundred yards of land (land is always within site).
We primarily use spinning tackle due to the light lures or bait used in this type of fishing. If you are not familiar with this type of fishing gear we will gladly teach you. Fly fishing is an exciting way to catch these shallow fish so if this is your preferred angling method please feel free to bring your own fly rod.
We strongly encourage catch and release, it is rewarding to see them swim away. That said, if you would like to keep one or more fish for a great dinner, we will clean your catch for a small fee. Any fish over your legal limit will be released immediately. You cannot count the captain as part of your legal limit.