For 31 years, Inshore Charters, now located in Panama City, has specialized in sport fishing with light tackle (medium to medium light rods and reels that hold 110 yards of monofilament 10lb test) for speckled sea trout, red drum (redfish), flounder, and tarpon. For these trips, we continue to use only artificial lures such as top water and soft plastics, and we offer sight fishing and fly fishing on the flats, though drift fishing is the most effective on charters.

We run our business "the old way". Customers meet at Captain Hal's house and ride to the boat ramp that will be best for that day.

The combination of working a lure in the right place at the right time and fighting a trophy trout on light tackle and a properly presented artificial lure is, in our humble opinion, the most rewarding part of being an inshore angler.

MEET YOUR CAPTAIN:

I am Captain Hal Tarpley, a second-generation company owner of Inshore Charters with 20 years of experience as an inshore charter fishing guide. Since I was old enough to hold a rod, I've been fishing the waters of the Gulf Coast of Florida. I have loved every minute of it and would love to share it with you.

My father started the business on Cape San Blas in 1989, and I ran my first trip at the age of 13. After Hurricane Michael, I was forced to move the business to Panama City. I have spent my life mastering the bays of the Florida Panhandle.

In addition to being a master fisherman, I also frequently SCUBA dive the local reefs and wrecks to spearfish, and I enjoy sailing and surfing. In the rare times that charters have been slow, I've worked a variety of other captaining positions such as delivering boats, working supply vessels in the oil field, and towing for Sea Tow.

I hold a US Coast Guard Master Captain's Credential and advanced certifications such as Radar Unlimited, Water Survival, Fire Fighting, Medical Provider, Assistance Towing, STCW, and Radio Telephone.