Guided Fishing for Bass, Specks & More

Bend a Rod with Our Experienced Local Guides

We’ve partnered with the best guides on the middle St. Johns to offer custom-tailored fishing trips for trophy largemouth bass, speckled perch (crappie), bluegill, and other panfish. Anglers of all experience levels are welcome — from kids and first-timers to seasoned pros looking for a personal best bass. Most guided trips are run on modern, fully-equipped bass boats, although pontoon trips are also available for larger groups. Trips include fuel, tackle, and fish cleaning.

Bass Fishing

Lake Woodruff, Dexter, Beresford and the middle St. Johns River are among the best places in the world to catch trophy largemouth bass, and our seasoned guides know where to find them and how to catch them.

Bass bite well year-round here, but tactics vary. In the fall and winter, live bait (especially wild shiners) accounts for the most trophy fish. Our guides specialize in targeting big fish with live shiners. In spring and summer, we typically fish with more artificials.

Bass trips are normally run on tournament style bass boats with either one or two anglers, but you can also catch plenty of fish from a pontoon boat. This is a great option for larger groups and those who want more creature comforts, such as a Bimini top for shade.

Guide and angler with two trophy size largemouth bass near Lake Woodruff, Florida.

Speck & Panfish Fishing

Bass may grow bigger, but specks (crappie), bluegill, shellcrackers, and other panfish provide faster action and are delicious on the table.

Lake Woodruff is among Florida’s best speck lakes, regularly producing 25-fish limits and plenty of slabs exceeding a pound and a half. We target specks by slowly trolling small jigs. For speck season — roughly October through April — our boats are outfitted with specialized crappie rods and multiple rod holders to allow trolling with up to eight lines at once.

Bluegill, shellcrackers, and other panfish bite year-round, but fishing is generally best in spring and summer around the spawn. Bream are usually caught around cover using a live cricket or worm under a cork. A guided panfish trip is perfect for kids; the action is fast, and little is required in the way of casting or other technical skills.

A young man in a blue jacket and baseball cap smiling while holding a large fish in front of a body of water during daytime.

What’s Included & What to Bring

All guided trips include:

  • Rods and tackle

  • Fuel

  • Space in our cooler

  • Fish cleaning

Plan to bring with you:

  • Food and drinks

  • Quality sunglasses

  • Hat

  • Sunscreen

  • Appropriate clothing (including several layers in the cool season)

  • Camera

Guided trips do not include:

  • Live bait — Live bait is not included but may be purchased at the camp. Check with your guide before your trip for recommendations. Live bait is absolutely not required but can make certain trips far more productive.

  • Fishing license — A valid Florida fishing license is required for anglers over 16. Florida residents 65 or older are not required to have a license. Please note that short-term non-resident licenses are no longer available online. We do sell them in the tackle shop, though. Annual fishing licenses can be purchased online at myfwc.com/license/recreational.

  • Gratuity — Tips are not required but are customary and deeply appreciated. Fishing guides are generally tipped like servers — 15% to 20% for good service, 20% to 25% for exceptional experience.

Meet Our Guides!

Fishing guide James Hillman of Highland Park Fish Camp and a client with a trophy largemouth bass.

Capt. James Hillman

Capt. James Hillman is a seasoned fishing guide and longtime manager of Highland Park Fish Camp. With over 40 years of experience on the waters of Central Florida, Capt. Hillman specializes in guiding anglers through the region’s famous lakes and rivers, offering a hands-on, personalized fishing experience. Whether it’s bass fishing on the St. Johns River, speckled perch fishing on Lake Woodruff, or exploring the rich ecosystem of the area, Capt. Hillman brings expert knowledge, a passion for conservation, and an unforgettable adventure to every trip. His reputation for exceptional service and local expertise has earned him a loyal following of clients, from beginners to experienced anglers.  

Fishing guide Ronnie Paige of Highland Park Fish Camp fishing for crappie (aka speckled perch) on Lake Woodruff.

Capt. Ronnie Paige

With deep roots in Central Florida, Capt. Ronnie Paige has spent years perfecting his craft, offering expert fishing trips on the beautiful waters of the St. Johns River and surrounding lakes. Known for his friendly, down-to-earth approach, Capt. Paige provides clients with a fun, personalized fishing experience, whether targeting trophy bass, speckled perch or exploring local wildlife. His extensive local knowledge, commitment to sustainable fishing practices, and passion for the outdoors make him a favorite guide for anglers of all skill levels.  

Rates & Details

  • Full-day trips (7 hours): $475

  • Half-day trips (4 hours): $350

  • Pricing is for one or two anglers. A third angler is an additional $125. We can accommodate larger groups on either a pontoon boat or multiple bass boats. Please call for pricing and details.

  • Live wild shiners for bass fishing (optional): $27/dozen. Guides normally recommend four to five dozen for half-day trips and six to seven dozen for full day trips.

  • Full-day and morning half-day trips typically begin early in the morning, as soon as it’s light enough to safely operate a boat.

  • Although we encourage catch-and-release of bass, you’re welcome to keep all legal fish.

  • Fish cleaning is included in guided trips. If you plan to keep fish, please bring a cooler to transport your fillets.