Logo of Southern Cross Sportfishing in St. Petersburg, Florida, featuring a jumping fish, a nautical compass, and ocean waves.
Logo of Southern Cross Sportfishing in St. Petersburg, Florida, featuring a jumping fish, a nautical compass, and ocean waves.

Charter Services with Captain Hunter Anderson

As a lifelong St. Petersburg native and passionate captain, Hunter Anderson brings unmatched local knowledge of Tampa Bay and Florida’s West Coast waters to every trip. Born and raised right here, Captain Hunter has spent decades exploring these productive flats, mangroves, channels, and nearshore waters — giving you the true insider advantage that only a local can provide.

Whether you’re booking a private fishing charter or seeking hands-on guidance on your own boat, every experience is personalized, safe, and focused on creating lasting memories.

Our Core Services Include:

Inshore Fishing Charters – Tampa Bay
Nearshore Fishing Charters
Tarpon Fishing Charters
Private Boat Consulting & Concierge Services

A pier extending into calm blue water, with a modern building at the end, lined with palm trees and a walkway with people walking, biking, and enjoying the area.

Inshore Fishing Charters - Tampa Bay

Experience the world-class inshore fishery of Tampa Bay with Captain Hunter Anderson, a native St. Petersburg captain who has fished these waters his entire life. Our private inshore charters focus on the productive mangroves, grass flats, channels, and passes right in your backyard.

Target Species:

  • Snook – Ambush predators tucked into the mangroves and structure

  • Redfish – Bull reds and slot-sized fish on the grassy flats

  • Tarpon – acrobatic silver kings during the spring and summer runs

  • Speckled Trout – Consistent action in the shallows and deeper holes

  • Mangrove Snapper – Great-eating fish around rocks and bridges

  • Sharks – Thrilling fights in the bays and creeks

Trip Details:

  • Half-day (2 hours $350 / 4 hours $550) or full-day (8 hours $1,100) private charters

  • Prices are based on 2 guests. (Each additional guest is $50 up to a max of 4 guests for a personalized, family-friendly experience)

  • Ideal for beginners, kids, and experienced anglers alike

  • All rods, reels, bait, tackle, ice, and fish cleaning included

  • Quick departures from convenient St. Petersburg marinas

Captain Hunter’s intimate knowledge of Tampa Bay’s ever-changing tides, seasons, and hidden honey holes dramatically increases your chances of a memorable catch-and-release or keep trip.

A bridge at sunset over the water with a partly cloudy sky.

Nearshore Fishing Charters - Tampa Bay Area Beaches & Gulf Waters

Venture just beyond the beaches for exciting nearshore action with easy access and shorter runs. These trips combine the convenience of quick Gulf access from St. Pete with productive fishing along the nearshore reefs, wrecks, and beach passes.

Target Species:

  • Mangrove Snapper and other snapper species

  • Grouper (in season)

  • Spanish Mackerel and Kingfish

  • Hogfish

  • Occasional cobia and tripletail around the buoys and structure

Trip Details:

  • Half-day (6 hours $700) and full-day (8 hours $1,000) options available

  • Prices are based on 2 guests. (Each additional guest is $50 up to a max of 4 guests for a personalized, family-friendly experience.)

  • Comfortable runs to productive nearshore spots just off St. Petersburg, Treasure Island, and Clearwater beaches

  • Private charters perfect for families looking to combine fishing with beautiful Gulf views

  • All gear, bait, ice, and cleaning provided

  • Great stepping stone for anglers wanting to try offshore-style fishing without long runs

Whether you’re staying at a local beach resort or live in the area, these nearshore trips deliver fast action and stunning scenery with the guidance of a true local captain.

A fish leaping out of the water during daytime, with ocean waves in the background.

Tarpon Fishing Charters – Tampa Bay Silver Kings

Experience the ultimate thrill of battling one of the most explosive gamefish in the world — the mighty tarpon — in the productive waters of Tampa Bay with Captain Hunter Anderson, your lifelong St. Petersburg native captain.

Known as the “Silver Kings,” tarpon are legendary for their acrobatic jumps, powerful runs, and heart-pounding fights. From April through July, these migratory giants move into Tampa Bay’s channels, passes, flats, and nearshore waters, offering some of the best tarpon fishing on Florida’s West Coast.

What to Expect on a Tarpon Charter:

  • Half-day (4 hours $700) and full-day (6 hours $1,000) options with quick departures from St. Petersburg marinas.

  • Prices are based on 2 guests. (Each additional guest is $50 up to a max of 4 guests for a personalized, family-friendly experience.)

  • Targeted tactics for Tampa Bay tarpon: live bait fishing, sight casting to rolling fish, and proven techniques that Captain Hunter has refined over decades on these same waters.

  • Prime locations including famous spots around the Skyway Bridge, Egmont Key, and productive bay passes.

  • Private, personalized trips tailored to your experience level — whether it’s your first tarpon or you’re chasing a personal best.

  • All tackle, live bait, ice, and fish handling provided (catch-and-release focus for conservation).

Captain Hunter’s deep local knowledge of tarpon migration patterns, tide movements, and seasonal hot spots dramatically improves your odds of hooking up with these incredible fish. There’s nothing quite like the sound of the reel screaming as a 100+ pound tarpon launches into the air right in front of you.

View from a boat with four fishing poles and two Mercury outboard motors at sunset. The ocean is calm with gentle waves.

Boat Consulting & Concierge Services – Tampa Bay

Let Captain Hunter Anderson join you on your own boat for personalized instruction, guidance, and local expertise in the waters he knows best — right here in St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay.

Whether you’re a new boat owner, recently relocated to Florida, or simply want to become more confident and successful on the water, these private concierge trips turn your vessel into a floating classroom.

What We Cover:

  • Boat Operation & Handling — Safe docking, anchoring, maneuvering in tight spaces, tide and current awareness, and marina etiquette

  • Electronics & Navigation — Using your GPS, fishfinder, chartplotter, autopilot, and other onboard systems effectively

  • Local Fishing Knowledge — Best spots, seasonal patterns, tides, and techniques for Tampa Bay and offshore Gulf waters

  • Safety & Best Practices — Emergency procedures, proper gear setup, catch-and-release techniques, and Florida fishing regulations

  • Boat Transport & Delivery — Reliable captained transport of your vessel between local marinas or to new fishing grounds

Perfect For:

  • New or part-time boat owners wanting hands-on confidence

  • Families looking to enjoy their boat together safely

  • Anglers who want to fish their own boat with expert local guidance

  • Snowbirds and newcomers to West Coast Florida waters

Trip Details:

  • Boat consulting & concierge services are billed hourly at $100/hour

  • Half-day or full-day sessions customized to your goals and skill level

  • Captain Hunter provides all fishing tackle, bait, and ice

  • Relaxed, patient, and judgment-free instruction — ideal for beginners to intermediate boaters

  • Fully licensed and insured USCG Captain

Captain Hunter’s lifetime as a St. Petersburg native gives you insider access to the hidden honey holes, productive flats, and productive passes that most visitors (and many locals) never discover.