Inshore VS Offshore Fishing?

If you’re new to Charter Fishing in Destin, or anywhere else for that matter, you may want to know about the differences between fishing inshore and offshore fishing. No worries, we got your answer covered.

We, here at BackCountry Fishing Charters, define the main differences based on how far you’re fishing from shore.

Primarily, offshore fishing (or deep sea fishing) is defined as any type of fishing done more than 9 miles from the shore line. When you’re deep sea fishing, you’re usually pretty far from land…roughly 20-30 miles out, in waters that are hundreds or even thousands of feet deep. Hence the name “deep sea fishing.”

Inshore fishing, on the other hand, is anything within 9 miles of the shore line. Estuaries, bays, inter-coastal waterways, and saltwater flats are often wrongly listed as the only popular inshore fishing spots, but as we just mentioned, offshore fishing also applies to anything within 9 miles of the coast.

Why do we prefer fishing inshore? Because you are not spending half of your trip (or your money) riding to and from your fishing hole.

Other than location, here are six other things that will help you differentiate between the two.

The Boat

Inshore: smaller, faster motorboats, canoes, and kayaks

Offshore: large sports fishing boats

Weather

Inshore: consistent fishing year-round even with significant seasonal changes

Offshore: weather and time of the year often dictate what type of fish you’ll catch

Expense of Fuel and Supplies

Inshore: shorter distances and travel duration, smaller boats, more time dangling bait for fish.

Offshore: longer distances and travel duration, larger boats & sometimes larger fish.

Tackle

Inshore: Depending on location, sometimes lighter tackle, live and dead bait

Offshore: heavy-duty equipment, large heavy bait

Electronic Equipment

Inshore: GPS and fish tracking devices are important with inshore fishing.

Offshore: Includes 74-mile open radar, XM Satellite Radio & Weather, and Chirp Sonar.

Variety and Size of Fish

Inshore: In some places like the Choctawhatchee bay and back waters.

Offshore: Target large fish such as grouper, amberjack, mako sharks, blackfin and more.

We take pride in being the oldest Destin Inshore Fishing Company, and we didn’t get here by not pleasing our customers.

GIVE US A CALL
We’ll be glad to answer all of your questions and book your trip right over the phone.

(850) 654-5566

Fishing is our Speciality

Fishing with us, at Backcountry Outfitters, is like no other fishing charter trip in Destin Florida. We know where the fish are and have proven that by consistently winning saltwater fishing tournaments, being featured in Florida Sportsman, on ESPN, and in Field and Stream magazine.

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