Full Day Inshore Fishing Trip in Georgia Waters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour inshore fishing trip targeting redfish and black drumCaptain provides all gear and instruction for beginnersSmall group experience accommodating up to two guests
Captain Justin Harriman knows these Georgia coastal waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to share that knowledge with you on this laid-back 8-hour inshore fishing adventure. Starting from Midway, GA, you'll spend your day exploring calm waters where redfish cruise the shallows and black drum patrol the bottom structure. This top-rated trip is built for beginners who want to learn proper techniques without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. With just 2 guests max, Captain Justin can focus on teaching you everything from proper casting form to reading water conditions. You'll come back with new skills, great memories, and hopefully a cooler full of fresh fish.
Your day starts early at the launch in Midway, where Captain Justin will walk you through the basics before you even leave the dock. The boat is rigged and ready with quality tackle, so all you need to bring is sunscreen and a cooler for your catch. Georgia's inshore waters offer protected fishing spots that stay fishable even when the weather gets choppy offshore. You'll work various structures like oyster bars, creek mouths, and grass flats where different species hang out throughout the day. The captain adjusts tactics based on tides, weather, and what's biting, so every trip feels fresh. Don't worry if you've never held a fishing rod before - Captain Justin breaks down each technique step by step, from setting the hook to fighting fish properly. The relaxed pace means plenty of time to practice your casting and get comfortable with different baits and lures.
Captain Justin runs a well-equipped boat with medium-heavy spinning rods perfect for the mix of species you'll target. Live bait like shrimp and mud minnows work great for redfish and black drum, while cut bait brings in the sharks and bigger bottom fish. You'll learn to work soft plastics through grass beds, bounce jigs along oyster bars, and present live bait in current seams where fish ambush prey. The captain provides everything from tackle boxes to landing nets, but feel free to bring your own gear if you prefer. Circle hooks are the standard here - they're easier for beginners to use and better for the fish. You'll practice different retrieves, learn to feel bites through the rod tip, and understand how tides affect where fish position themselves. Bottom fishing with weights keeps baits in the strike zone when targeting drum and sheepshead around structure.
Black drum are the heavyweights of Georgia's inshore waters, and they're perfect for building confidence in new anglers. These fish average 5-15 pounds but can push 30+ pounds when you find the right school. They love oyster bars and bridge pilings where they crunch on crabs and shellfish. Spring through fall offers the best action, with drum feeding aggressively during moving tides. What makes them special is their fight - strong, steady pulls that test your drag system and arm strength without the crazy jumps that can throw hooks.
Summer flounder, or fluke as many call them, are masters of disguise that bury themselves in sandy bottoms waiting to ambush baitfish. They typically run 12-20 inches in these waters, with occasional doormat-sized fish pushing 4-5 pounds. Late spring through early fall is prime time when they move into shallow water to feed. Anglers love flounder because they're excellent table fare and provide exciting strikes when they slam a properly presented jig or live bait. The challenge is detecting their subtle bite before they drop the bait and disappear back into the sand.
Sheepshead are the ultimate test of an angler's patience and skill. These black-and-white striped fish have human-like teeth designed for crushing barnacles and crabs off dock pilings and oyster bars. They're notorious bait thieves, so you'll learn to set the hook at the slightest tap. Most sheepshead here run 2-4 pounds, but 6+ pound fish show up around the best structure. Winter months bring the biggest concentrations when they school up for spawning. Captain Justin considers them one of the best eating fish in these waters, with firm white meat that's perfect for grilling or frying.
Redfish are Georgia's signature inshore species and the fish most anglers dream about catching. These copper-colored bruisers cruise shallow flats, creek mouths, and oyster bars year-round. Slot-sized fish between 14-23 inches provide consistent action, while bull reds over 27 inches offer trophy potential with powerful runs that can strip line off your reel. Spring and fall bring peak activity when reds feed heavily in preparation for spawning. What makes redfish special is their accessibility to beginners combined with enough fight to keep experienced anglers interested. Their distinctive spot near the tail makes them easy to identify, and their willingness to eat both live and artificial baits gives you multiple presentation options.
Bonnethead sharks add excitement to any inshore trip with their speed and acrobatic jumps when hooked. These smaller members of the hammerhead family typically measure 2-3 feet and are common in Georgia's coastal waters during warmer months. They're actually quite harmless and fun to catch on light tackle, often jumping multiple times before coming to the boat. Bonnetheads are also unique because they're one of the few sharks that eat vegetation along with crabs and small fish. Captain Justin always emphasizes proper shark handling techniques, ensuring quick photos and safe releases to protect these important predators.
This customer favorite trip fills up quickly, especially during prime fishing months when the bite is hot. Captain Justin's patient teaching style and local knowledge make this the perfect introduction to Georgia's world-class inshore fishing scene. You'll leave with practical skills that transfer to fishing anywhere, plus the confidence to book more advanced trips in the future. The small group size means personalized instruction that you simply can't get on crowded party boats.
Get ready to explore Georgia's inshore waters aboard this well-equipped 2021 Key West 21-foot center console. With Captain Justin at the helm, this Yamaha 200HP-powered bay boat cuts through coastal waters at speeds up to 45 knots, getting you to the fishing grounds fast. The onboard fish finder helps locate schools of redfish and black drum, while the wireless trolling motor lets you approach fish quietly without spooking them. Keep your catch fresh in the built-in icebox and stay on course with GPS navigation. Perfect for up to 3 anglers, this nimble boat handles Georgia's shallow bays and tidal creeks with ease, giving you access to prime fishing spots where sheepshead and other inshore species feed. The center console design provides 360-degree fishing access and plenty of room to move around when fighting fish.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are some of the most distinctive fish in our Georgia waters - you'll recognize them by their dark, almost black coloration and the drumming sounds they make underwater. These bruisers typically run 5-30 pounds, though we occasionally see monsters pushing 50+ pounds. They love hanging around oyster beds, creek mouths, and shallow muddy flats where they crush shellfish with their powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them much easier to target. What guests love most is their stubborn fight - they'll dig deep and make long runs that'll test your drag. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare too. My go-to tip: use fresh blue crab on a circle hook and fish it right on the bottom near structure. Be patient - when they pick up your bait, they'll mouth it first before committing.
Sphyrna TiburoBonnethead sharks are the smallest hammerheads we see regularly - shy little sharks with that distinctive shovel-shaped head that makes them easy to identify. Most run 2-4 feet long and are completely harmless, actually pretty timid compared to their bigger cousins. You'll find them in shallow bays, grass flats, and around creek mouths, often in small schools during warmer months. Summer is prime time when they move up from Florida into our Georgia waters. Guests love catching their first shark, and bonnetheads are perfect for that - they'll make a decent run and give you a good fight without being dangerous. They're also catch-and-release only, which teaches good conservation. Best approach is cut blue crab on a circle hook with a wire leader. Fish it on the bottom in 3-8 feet of water and be ready - once they find that crab scent, they'll hit it hard.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our Georgia inshore fishing - copper-colored beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails. They typically run 18-27 inches and 3-8 pounds in the shallows, though we catch some bigger breeder fish offshore. These fish love super shallow water, often so skinny their backs show above the surface on low tide. Look for them around oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths on moving water. They bite year-round, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights in shallow water. Plus they're excellent eating when kept within slot limits. My best advice: look for nervous water or tailing fish on the flats, then cast topwater plugs or live shrimp just ahead of them. They'll usually slam it without hesitation if you don't spook them first.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convicts of our waters with their black and white stripes, but what really sets them apart are those human-like front teeth they use to crush barnacles and crabs. Most run 2-5 pounds and 14-18 inches, though we see some chunky 8-pounders around the best structure. You'll find them tight to any hard structure - dock pilings, bridges, jetties, anywhere barnacles grow thick. Spring months are best when they gather around structure to spawn. Guests get a kick out of their weird teeth and they're notorious bait thieves that'll test your patience. They make fantastic table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. The trick is getting close to structure without spooking them and using small hooks with fiddler crabs or shrimp. Set your hook hard the moment you feel weight - they've got crushers for mouths and will steal your bait if you hesitate.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are masters of disguise - these flatfish lie camouflaged on sandy bottoms with both eyes on their left side, waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-20 inches, but we catch some nice ones pushing 4-5 pounds. They're found in both shallow inshore waters and deeper channels, especially around drop-offs and current breaks. Fall is absolutely prime time from September through November when they're most active and feeding heavily before winter. Guests love them because they're sneaky fighters that make quick runs, plus they're hands-down some of the best eating fish in these waters - sweet, flaky white meat. The key trick I share: use live minnows or sea worms on a circle hook, and work your bait slowly along the bottom. When you feel that telltale tap-tap, give them a second to fully take the bait before setting the hook.
Georgia