Full Day Charleston Inshore Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day charter targets redfish, trout, and multiple speciesEight-hour trip includes all licenses, bait, and gearExpert captain guides through Charleston's productive fishing waters
When you're serious about fishing Charleston's legendary inshore waters, Captain Derrick's full-day charter gives you the time and expertise to make it count. This isn't your typical half-day rush job – we're talking eight solid hours on some of South Carolina's most productive flats, creeks, and nearshore structure. You'll have morning and afternoon flexibility to work around your schedule, plus all the licenses, bait, and tackle you need to focus on what matters: putting fish in the boat. With just two anglers max, you get personalized attention and plenty of elbow room to work your lines without crowding.
Charleston's inshore fishing scene revolves around timing, tides, and knowing where the fish are holding. Captain Derrick runs these waters daily, so he's dialed into current patterns and productive spots that weekend warriors miss completely. Your day starts early to catch the best tidal movement, working everything from shallow grass flats where redfish cruise in skinny water to deeper structure where black drum and sheepshead stack up. The boat's rigged with quality gear suited for inshore work – medium-heavy spinning setups that can handle everything from finicky trout to bull reds that'll test your drag. You'll move spots based on conditions, fish activity, and what's biting best that day, covering serious water to stay on the action.
Inshore fishing here means adapting to what the fish want and where they're feeding. Live bait fishing with shrimp, finger mullet, and mud minnows produces consistent results, especially around oyster bars and creek mouths where baitfish concentrate. Artificial presentations work great too – soft plastics on jig heads for working grass flats, topwater plugs during early morning redfish feeds, and bottom rigs for targeting drum and sheepshead around structure. Captain Derrick reads the water and adjusts techniques accordingly, whether that's sight fishing to tailing reds in inches of water or anchoring up on productive bottom structure. The tackle's matched to the target species and conditions – no overkill setups, just the right gear to maximize your hookup ratio and fight quality.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Charleston inshore fishing, and these copper-colored bruisers are available year-round in various sizes and attitudes. Slot-sized fish in the 18-27 inch range are perfect table fare with firm, white meat that's hard to beat. Bull reds over 27 inches provide serious arm-burning fights, often making long runs that'll test your patience and drag system. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action, but summer brings sight fishing opportunities in shallow water that'll get your adrenaline pumping. These fish are smart, spooky in clear water, and absolutely explosive when they decide to eat your bait.
Speckled trout, or "specks" as locals call them, are the bread-and-butter species that keep action steady throughout the trip. These spotted beauties love grass flats, creek mouths, and areas with good current flow where they can ambush baitfish. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, with fish averaging 14-18 inches and occasional gator trout pushing over 20 inches. They're excellent eating and respond well to both live bait and artificials, making them perfect for anglers who want to experiment with different presentations. Cold fronts can shut them down temporarily, but they're generally cooperative fish that reward good technique.
Southern flounder are the masters of camouflage, lying flat on sandy bottoms and creek edges waiting to ambush passing prey. These "doormat" fish are prized for their exceptional table quality – sweet, flaky meat that's perfect for fish fry or fancy restaurant preparations. Fall months bring the best flounder action as fish move toward inlets preparing for their offshore spawning runs. They're structure-oriented fish that love creek bends, dock pilings, and anywhere current creates an ambush point. Landing a 3-4 pound flounder is always satisfying, and they provide steady action when other species are finicky.
Black drum are the bulldogs of the inshore world, using their powerful bodies and stubborn nature to test your tackle and technique. These fish are year-round residents that love oyster bars, structure, and deeper creek channels where they root around for crabs and shellfish. Smaller "puppy" drum are excellent eating, while larger fish provide memorable fights with their dogged, head-shaking battles. They're not the flashiest catch, but landing a 15-20 pound black drum on medium tackle is genuinely satisfying. Peak action typically happens during cooler months when fish school up in predictable areas.
Sheepshead are the finicky feeders that separate skilled anglers from the rest, earning their nickname as the "convict fish" for their black and white stripes and tendency to steal bait. These fish have human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles, oysters, and crabs around structure. They're incredibly good eating with firm, white meat, but catching them requires patience, light tackle, and perfect bait presentation. Winter months bring the best sheepshead action as fish move to nearshore structure for spawning, providing technical fishing that's rewarding when you crack the code on their feeding behavior.
Charleston's inshore waters offer world-class fishing variety that keeps every trip interesting, and Captain Derrick's full-day format gives you the time to truly experience what makes this fishery special. Eight hours on the water means you can work different spots, adapt to changing conditions, and put together a mixed bag that showcases the area's incredible diversity. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to dial in new techniques or someone who wants to experience Charleston fishing at its finest, this charter delivers the personalized attention and local knowledge that makes the difference between a good day and a great day. The fish are here year-round – the question is when you're
Captain Derrick's 2020 Robalo bay boat is perfectly suited for Charleston's inshore waters. This 21-footer handles the shallow flats and tidal creeks where redfish and sea trout love to feed. The YAMAHA engine gets you to the fishing grounds quickly, hitting 40 knots when needed, while the wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when stalking spooky fish in skinny water. The GPS navigation helps locate productive spots, and the fish finder shows what's swimming below. With room for just 2 anglers, you'll have plenty of space to cast and fight fish without crowding. Whether you're working oyster bars for sheepshead or drifting grass beds for flounder, this bay boat gives you access to Charleston's best fishing spots while staying comfortable all day long.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These gray-black bruisers have powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs, which is exactly where you'll find them - around oyster beds, creek mouths, and shallow muddy flats. Spring is your best bet, especially March through May when they school up for spawning and make those distinctive drumming sounds you can actually hear underwater. What guests love is the raw power - big drums will test your drag and your back. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with mild, flaky meat. Pro tip: fresh blue crab or cut mullet on a Carolina rig works best, and don't be surprised when your rod doubles over - these fish pull like freight trains.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Charleston's signature species - bronze-colored fish with that distinctive black spot near the tail that fools predators. They typically run 20-35 inches and 5-15 pounds, though we see plenty of slot fish around 28 inches. These copper-sided beauties love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface - around oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they're actively feeding. What guests love most is sight-fishing to tailing reds in skinny water and those explosive topwater strikes. They're also fantastic table fare and put up a serious fight with powerful runs. My go-to tip: look for nervous water or tailing fish on low tide flats, then cast a gold spoon or topwater plug just past them and work it back slowly.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are our bread-and-butter inshore species, silvery fish covered in distinctive black spots that typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds. They're grass flat specialists, cruising shallow waters around Charleston's endless marsh creeks and oyster bars hunting shrimp and small baitfish. The bite really turns on during cooler months - fall through early spring - when they school up in deeper channels and around structure. What makes them popular with guests is their willingness to hit both live and artificial baits, plus they're outstanding table fare with tender, flaky white meat. They're also great fighters for their size, making long runs and jumping when hooked. Local tip: work a soft plastic shrimp or grub along grass edges during moving tides, especially early morning or late evening when they're most active feeding in shallow water.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their distinctive black and gray prison stripes, but what really sets them apart are those human-like teeth built for crushing barnacles. Most run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, though we see some pushing 20 pounds around Charleston's many docks and bridges. They're structure lovers - any piling, jetty, or reef covered in barnacles is prime sheepshead territory. Spring months, especially March through May, are peak season when they're most active and feeding heavily. Guests enjoy the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves that require quick hook sets and careful presentation. The reward is some of the best eating fish in our waters with sweet, white meat. My tip: use small hooks with fiddler crabs or shrimp, get as close to structure as possible, and set the hook hard the moment you feel weight.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise - these flat, oval-shaped fish bury themselves in sand and mud bottoms, changing color to match their surroundings. You'll recognize them by both eyes on the left side of their head and scattered dark spots across their body. Most run 15-18 inches and weigh around 5 pounds, though we occasionally see them pushing 20+ pounds. They love shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and creek mouths with soft bottoms where they can ambush shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Fall and winter are prime time when they're fattening up before heading offshore. What makes them fun to target is that patient, methodical hunt - they're not flashy fighters, but they're smart and tasty. Best tip: use a light jig head with live shrimp or mud minnows, and fish it slow right on the bottom near structure.
Charleton