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Pro Angler Charter - Gulfport's Top Fishing
Captain Ben's 4-hour pro angler charter isn't your typical tourist fishing trip. This is designed for serious anglers who want to get after some of the Gulf Coast's most aggressive species without spending all day on the water. You'll be targeting mackerel, redfish, cobia, jack crevalle, and blacktip sharks in the productive waters around Gulfport, Mississippi. With a maximum of four guests, you get personalized attention and more room to work the fish. Captain Ben brings decades of local knowledge and adjusts tactics based on conditions, tides, and what's biting. Whether you're looking to dial in your technique or just want consistent action, this charter delivers results.
What to Expect on the Water
This charter starts early or runs when conditions are prime – Captain Ben offers flexible departure times so you can hit the water when fish are most active. You'll launch from Gulfport and work both inshore flats and nearshore structure depending on what's producing. The boat is rigged with quality electronics, plenty of rod holders, and a live well to keep your catch fresh. Expect to cover water efficiently, hitting multiple spots throughout the trip. Captain Ben reads conditions like tide movement, bait concentrations, and structure to put you on fish consistently. The pace is steady but not rushed – there's time to work each spot properly and adjust techniques when needed. All gear, bait, and tackle are included, though you're welcome to bring your favorite rods if you prefer.
Tactics & Techniques
Captain Ben runs a versatile operation that adapts to what's working on any given day. For mackerel and jacks, you'll often troll small spoons or cast jigs around bait schools. Redfish require more finesse – expect to work shallow flats with live bait or soft plastics, staying quiet and making precise casts to feeding fish. Cobia fishing involves sight casting or working structure with live crabs and eels. When targeting blacktip sharks, you'll use fresh cut bait on circle hooks with wire leaders. The captain adjusts leader length, bait presentation, and fishing depth based on species behavior and water conditions. You'll learn to read bird activity, bait movement, and structure to locate fish more effectively. Captain Ben shares advanced techniques like adjusting retrieve speeds for different species and understanding how tide changes affect fish positioning.
Top Catches This Season
Spanish mackerel are the bread and butter of this fishery, especially during spring and fall migrations. These fish average 1-3 pounds but fight way above their weight class with blistering runs and acrobatic jumps. They school heavily around bait pods and respond well to fast-moving lures. Peak season runs March through May and September through November when cooler water brings massive schools through the area. Redfish are year-round residents that provide consistent action in 2-8 feet of water. Most fish range 18-27 inches with occasional bulls over 30 inches. They're ambush predators that cruise grass flats and oyster bars, offering excellent sight fishing opportunities on calm days. Cobia show up in warmer months, typically May through September, ranging 20-50 pounds. These fish are curious and often approach the boat, making for exciting sight fishing when you spot their dark silhouettes cruising near the surface.
Jack crevalle are the brawlers of the bunch – pure muscle that will test your drag system and endurance. They school in large numbers and create feeding frenzies when they find bait. Most jacks run 5-15 pounds but fight like fish twice their size with powerful runs and stubborn determination. Blacktip sharks add serious excitement to any trip, averaging 3-6 feet and known for spectacular jumps when hooked. They're most active during warmer months and provide an adrenaline rush that keeps anglers coming back. These sharks are excellent fighters that make long runs and aerial displays, testing both tackle and angling skills.
Time to Book Your Spot
Captain Ben's pro angler charter fills up quickly, especially during peak fishing seasons when multiple species are active simultaneously. The 4-hour format is perfect for targeting specific species or techniques without the commitment of a full-day trip. Morning trips often produce better results for redfish and cobia, while afternoon charters can be excellent for mackerel and jacks. Remember that deposits are non-refundable, so check weather forecasts and plan accordingly. The small group size means you get personalized instruction and more fishing time per person. Whether you're looking to improve your technique, target a specific species, or just enjoy consistent action on quality fish, this charter delivers the goods. Book early to secure your preferred dates – the combination of Captain Ben's local knowledge, quality equipment, and productive fishing grounds makes this one of Gulfport's most sought-after fishing experiences.
Learn more about the species
Blacktip Shark
Blacktips are one of the most exciting sharks you'll encounter in our Gulf waters. These sleek predators average 4-5 feet but can reach up to 9 feet, easily recognized by those distinctive black-tipped fins. They're known for their spectacular jumps - sometimes launching 20+ feet out of the water when hooked. You'll find them patrolling our nearshore waters from 30-100 feet, especially around structure and artificial reefs where they hunt mackerel, croaker, and herring. Spring through fall offers the best action when water temps warm up. What makes blacktips special is their aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights - they'll test your drag and give you a workout. Here's a local tip: use heavy braided line and circle hooks, and when chumming, pound up some oily mackerel into paste. The scent trail drives them wild and brings them right to your baits.
Cobia
Cobia are the prize catch that gets everyone talking - these brown torpedoes can reach 6 feet and 100+ pounds, often mistaken for sharks until you see that distinctive flat head. They're loners, rarely schooling, which makes each encounter special. You'll spot them cruising near the surface around our nearshore structure - oil rigs, buoys, and wrecks in 30-70 feet of water. Spring migration and summer months are prime time when they move into our area to spawn. What guests love about cobia is the sight-fishing aspect and their bulldogging fight once hooked. Plus, they're absolutely delicious - firm white meat that's restaurant quality. My go-to technique is running bucktail jigs in the 4-8 oz range around structure. Color doesn't matter much, but here's the key: work those current breaks and rip lines where the structure creates water movement. That's where they ambush prey.
Crevalle Jack
Jack Crevalle are the bulldogs of our Gulf waters - pure muscle wrapped in gold and green scales. These bruisers average 3-5 pounds but can hit 60+ pounds, and they'll make your arms burn. Watch for diving birds to locate schools; jacks push baitfish to the surface where seabirds attack from above. You'll find them around our inshore grass flats, nearshore reefs, and even brackish areas year-round, with peak action in warmer months. What makes jacks special is their raw power and willingness to crush almost any lure. They're not great table fare, but the fight is pure adrenaline. These fish are aggressive bullies that love fast-moving baits. My local secret: cast silver spoons or swimbaits past the school, then retrieve as fast as you can reel. The faster the better - jacks can't resist chasing down fleeing baitfish.
Redfish
Redfish are the heart and soul of our inshore fishing - bronze beauties with that signature black spot near the tail. These drum average 20-30 inches but can push 40+ pounds in our deeper waters. Look for them tailing in 1-4 feet of water around grass beds, oyster bars, and muddy flats throughout our bay system. They're year-round residents, but fall and spring offer the best shallow water action when they're actively feeding. What makes reds special is their powerful runs and that distinctive copper color flashing in skinny water. Plus, they're fantastic eating with mild, flaky meat. Slot fish (16-27 inches) are perfect for the table. These fish will eat almost anything, but in our shallow waters, try topwater plugs like Skitter Walks early morning or late evening. Pro tip: when you spot a redfish with its back out of the water, cast well ahead of where it's heading and work your lure slowly past its nose.
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish mackerel are speed demons that'll give you fast action and great table fare. These sleek silver missiles average 1-2 feet and 2-4 pounds, covered in distinctive yellow spots along their sides. They school up in huge numbers and are some of the fastest fish in our Gulf, hitting 18+ mph. You'll find them in our nearshore waters from 20-60 feet, especially around structure, during their spring and fall migrations. Summer months bring consistent action. What guests love is the non-stop bite when you find a school, plus they're absolutely delicious - mild, flaky meat that's perfect grilled or smoked. These fish strike hard and fight with surprising strength for their size. My go-to setup is light tackle with small silver spoons or jigs. Here's the trick: when trolling, use wire leaders because their razor-sharp teeth will cut through mono, and keep your lures moving fast - mackerel can't resist a quick-moving baitfish imitation.
About the Reel Adventure
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Vehicle Guest Capacity: 6
Manufacturer Name: Cummins
Maximum Cruising Speed: 20
Number of Engines: 2
Horsepower per Engine: 330
