4 Hour Inshore Fishing Trip - Charleston, SC
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 4hour inshore fishing charter for up to 2 guestsExpert captain provides all tackle and local fishing guidanceTarget popular species in Charleston's scenic creeks and flats
Charleston's inshore waters are some of the most productive fishing grounds on the East Coast, and this 4-hour trip with Captain Austin Young puts you right in the heart of the action. You'll fish the pristine creeks, marshes, and shallow flats around Johns Island, where the Lowcountry's best game fish love to hang out. This isn't some crowded party boat deal - it's a private charter designed for just one angler, so you get Austin's full attention and the freedom to fish at your own pace. Whether you're swinging flies or working light tackle, you'll be targeting redfish, black drum, sheepshead, and summer flounder in some of the most beautiful coastal scenery South Carolina has to offer.
Captain Austin brings seven years of guiding experience and a USCG license to every trip, which means you're fishing with someone who knows these waters like the back of his hand. The Johns Island area is famous for its maze of tidal creeks and grass flats that hold fish year-round, and Austin knows exactly where to find them based on the tide, weather, and season. You'll launch early and spend your four hours working the most productive spots, from oyster bars where sheepshead love to hide to shallow flats where redfish cruise looking for an easy meal. The boat stays in protected waters, so even if it's a bit choppy offshore, you'll have a comfortable fishing experience. Austin keeps the vibe relaxed and educational - perfect for beginners who want to learn or experienced anglers looking to dial in their inshore game. All the gear is provided, from rods and reels to bait and tackle, though you're welcome to bring your own setup if you've got favorites.
This trip focuses on light tackle and fly fishing techniques that make inshore fishing so addictive. You'll be using spinning gear in the 2500-3000 size range spooled with 15-20 pound braid, perfect for the structure-heavy environment around Charleston's creeks. Live shrimp, mud minnows, and cut bait are the go-to options, but artificial lures like paddle tails, spoons, and topwater plugs can absolutely light up the action when conditions are right. If you're into fly fishing, Austin can set you up with an 8-weight rod and guide you through presenting flies to tailing redfish or working the edges of oyster bars for sheepshead. The shallow water here means you'll often see your targets before you cast to them, which adds a whole visual element that makes every hookup more exciting. Austin teaches proper technique for reading the water, understanding tidal movement, and presenting baits in a way that gets strikes. You'll learn why certain spots hold fish at different tides and how small changes in your approach can mean the difference between a slow day and a fish-filled adventure.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Charleston inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters typically run 18-27 inches in the slot limit, though you might hook into a bull red that'll test your drag system. Spring through fall offers the best action, with fish feeding aggressively in the shallows during moving tides. Redfish are ambush predators that love structure - oyster bars, dock pilings, and grass edges are prime real estate. When you hook one, expect a bulldogging fight with powerful runs that'll make your reel sing. They're not just fun to catch; they're excellent table fare when kept within regulations.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're absolute bruisers that'll give you an arm workout. These bottom-dwellers can range from keeper-sized 16-inchers up to massive 40+ pound bulls that patrol the deeper creek channels. They're year-round residents with peak action during cooler months when they school up around oyster bars and structure. Black drum have incredible crushing power in their pharyngeal teeth, perfect for demolishing crabs and shellfish. When you're fighting one, it feels like you're pulling on a truck - they use their broad sides and powerful tails to stay deep and fight dirty.
Sheepshead are the pickpockets of the inshore world, famous for stealing bait with surgical precision. These black-and-white striped characters hang around any structure with barnacles and oysters, using their human-like teeth to scrape off their favorite meals. Peak season runs from late winter through spring when they move inshore to spawn, but you can find them year-round around docks and pilings. A 3-4 pound sheepshead is a solid fish, with anything over 5 pounds being a real trophy. They're notorious for light bites and quick drops, so keeping a tight line and setting the hook at the first sign of weight is crucial. The reward is some of the best eating fish in Charleston waters.
Summer flounder, or fluke, are the shape-shifters of the flats. These masters of camouflage bury in sandy bottoms near creek mouths and channel edges, waiting to ambush passing baitfish. They're most active during warmer months when baitfish are abundant, with the best action on moving tides. A keeper flounder at 15+ inches is always a prize, but the real excitement comes from those 20+ inch doormat fluke that can inhale a bait and take off like a freight train. They fight differently than other inshore species - more head-shaking and direction changes than pure power - but their unpredictable nature keeps every fight interesting until they're in the net.
Charleston's inshore fishing scene is world-class, and this private charter with Captain Austin gives you the best possible shot at experiencing it firsthand. Four hours is the perfect amount of time to hit multiple spots, learn new techniques, and put some quality fish in the boat without feeling rushed. The single-angler setup means you
You'll be fishing from a 2023 Xplor 18' motorboat, perfectly sized for navigating Charleston's shallow inshore waters and winding creeks around Johns Island. This compact boat is powered by a reliable 50HP Mercury engine that gets you to the fishing spots quickly while staying quiet enough not to spook the fish. Built specifically for inshore fishing, it draws minimal water so you can access those productive shallow flats and marshy areas where redfish and trout like to hang out. The boat handles smoothly in Charleston's coastal waters and gives you the mobility to follow the bite throughout your 4-hour trip. With space for just you and Captain Austin, you'll have plenty of room to cast and fight fish without feeling cramped.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of Charleston's inshore waters, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. They're bottom feeders with powerful jaws that crush oysters and crabs around structure. You'll find them on shallow flats, oyster beds, and creek mouths, especially during spring spawning season when they school up and make that distinctive drumming sound. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Here in the Lowcountry, fresh blue crab is your best bet - it stays on the hook better than shrimp and drives them crazy. Keep your bait right on the bottom and be ready for a serious pull when they hit.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Charleston's signature species - copper-colored beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails. They range from slot-sized 14-27 inchers up to bull reds over 30 pounds. These fish love our shallow grass flats, oyster bars, and creek edges in 1-4 feet of water. Spring and fall offer the best action when they're actively feeding in schools. What makes them special is their explosive topwater strikes and strong runs that test your drag. Plus, slot fish make outstanding table fare. Live shrimp under a popping cork is deadly, but my favorite trick is sight-casting with a gold spoon to tailing fish on the flats. Keep your approach quiet and lead them by a few feet.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of Charleston - those black and white stripes make them easy to spot around dock pilings and bridge structure. They average 2-5 pounds with human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and fiddler crabs. You'll find them tight to any hard structure in 3-15 feet of water, especially during their spring spawn from February through April. They're notorious bait thieves but fight hard once hooked, and the meat is some of the best eating you'll find - sweet and flaky. Fresh fiddler crabs or sand fleas work best, but here's the key: get your bait right against the pilings. They won't chase it far, and when you feel them picking at it, set the hook hard.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy bottoms, changing colors to match their surroundings perfectly. Most run 15-20 inches, but the big females can push 5-6 pounds. They're ambush predators that bury in sand near creek mouths and deeper channels, waiting to nail baitfish swimming by. Fall through early winter is prime time when they're feeding heavily before heading offshore. What makes them special is the challenge - they're sneaky biters and absolutely delicious eating with sweet, flaky white meat. My go-to trick is hooking a live mud minnow through the lips and dragging it slowly along the bottom. When you feel that subtle tap-tap, count to three before setting the hook.
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