About Captain Matt Hilliard | Day Breaker Inshore Charters - St Petersburg FL

Hey folks, I'm Captain Matt Hilliard, owner and operator of Day Breaker Inshore Charters right here in St Petersburg, Florida. Sixth generation fisherman, born and raised on these waters. My family has been chasing fish in Tampa Bay and down into Charlotte Harbor longer than most folks around here can remember. Grew up commercial fishing with my dad, Captain Max Hilliard, before we ever thought about running charters. That's the kind of roots you can't fake.

Down here we don't just fish when the weather's perfect. We fish these bays through the summer squalls, the winter northers, and everything in between. I've seen the tides chew up the flats off Fort De Soto, watched the mangroves around Weedon Island light up with redfish on a falling tide, and dealt with those afternoon thunderstorms that roll in off the Gulf faster than you can say "hold on." That's the kind of lived-in knowledge you get when your people have been doing this for generations.

I started Day Breaker because I got tired of seeing how some of the bigger operations treat their customers. Folks drive all the way from Tampa or Clearwater or even further, excited for a real Florida fishing trip, and they get rushed or stuck with a captain who barely knows the local spots. Not here. I run a smaller, personal operation on purpose. My 22-foot boat keeps things intimate so I can actually teach you something instead of just hauling you around. Whether you're after slot redfish near the Skyway, snook hugging the mangroves in Boca Ciega Bay, or big trout on the grass flats when the water cools down, I know where they move and why.

What sets us apart is simple. I'm USCG licensed and fully insured. I've watched this industry change over the years, and I refuse to cut corners on safety or on the experience. No cookie-cutter trips. No upselling you junk you don't need. Just honest, hard-working days on the water with someone who actually cares about these bays staying healthy for the next generation. My family fished here before the big developments, before some of the pressure we see now. I still get frustrated seeing how things have changed in spots, but that's why I love showing folks the good areas that still hold fish the way they always have.

If you're looking for inshore fishing charters in St Petersburg, Tampa Bay fishing charters near Clearwater or Largo, or just a captain who knows these waters like the back of his hand, that's me. We target redfish, snook, speckled trout, and whatever else is biting depending on the season and conditions. Families, beginners, and experienced anglers all welcome. I adjust every trip to the people on board. Kids? We'll keep it fun and productive. Serious fishermen? We'll hunt the bigger fish and cover more ground.

This isn't just a business for me. It's family legacy. It's early mornings loading bait at the ramp, reading the water the way my granddad taught me, and ending the day with tired arms and big smiles. If you're in the St Petersburg, Tampa Bay, Clearwater, or Pinellas County area and want a real local experience with a captain who was raised on these tides, give us a call or book direct. I'll get you on fish and make sure you leave with stories worth telling.