Six-Hour Inshore: Tarpon, Permit & Goliath Grouper in Key West

On a six-hour run through the Lower Keys backcountry, 3/4 Day Inshore with Salty Sloth Fishing Charters turns opportunistic moments into a full day of pursuit. The trip launches from Perry Marina: 7001 Shrimp rd Key West FL 33040, and spends its time in shallow gin‑clear water behind the island chain — mangrove-lined creeks and basins, hard-bottom flats, channel edges, and isolated structure where fish stack up on tidal moves. The extended runtime makes a tactical approach possible: start a stage of the tide in one spot, move as the water turns, and chase the short windows when permit tail, tarpon feed in the shallows, or cobia shadow rays. This is a variety trip designed to test different angling styles. Mangrove snapper and mutton snapper are reliable targets, but the six-hour range opens the door to tarpon that roll near shore, permit tailing on hard flats, cobia following rays, and the occasional Goliath grouper parked under structure. Add jack crevalle, yellow jacks, barracuda, occasional sharks, and red grouper and you’ve got action that rarely lets an angler stand idle. Everything legal you want to keep is cleaned, filleted, and bagged back at the dock. The Pathfinder 2600 HPS built for this work balances shallow-draft access with comfort for a half-day trip; it’s quiet on the trolling motor when stealth matters. Light spinning tackle is the default rig; Captain Brooks will rig you for the situation and is willing to set up fly gear if you prefer. Licenses, live bait, lures, tackle, and ice are included for up to five anglers; the stated group maximum is five people. Trip duration is six hours, and guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to their charter time. Why book this over a shorter run? Six hours changes the game by letting guides run a real plan instead of camping on the nearest productive hole. The Lower Keys are geologically defined by carbonate sands and mangrove islands—shallow flats over hard bottom and scattered structure—that concentrate feeding fish on tidal shifts. The arrangement of creeks and basins creates those short productive windows anglers chase. Who should go: anglers who want variety and are comfortable standing and casting for long periods. What to expect: steady motion from spot to spot, tactical reads of tide and wind, and opportunities for both light tackle and fly work. This is a working-boat, fish-first experience that delivers range, species variety, and a real chance at the big, stubborn fish Key West anglers prize. Bring patience, respect for local regulations, and a curious attitude; the day rewards anglers who watch tides and birds, follow the guide’s sequence of spots, and handle fish carefully so others can enjoy healthy fisheries.