Half Day Inshore Fishing Trip - Kure Beach, NC
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore fishing trip targeting red drum and speckled troutSmall group experience accommodating up to three guests maximumFly fishing option available with advance captain notification
Looking for some serious action in the shallow waters off Kure Beach? This 4-hour inshore fishing adventure with Brannin Charters puts you right where the fish are biting. We're talking about working the flats and backwaters where North Carolina's top-rated inshore species hang out – red drum, black drum, speckled trout, and flounder. With a maximum of 3 anglers on board, you'll get the personalized attention that makes all the difference between coming home with fish stories and coming home with fish. Captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on the bite.
This isn't your typical crowded charter boat experience. With just 3 spots available, you're getting a world-class, intimate fishing trip where every angler matters. We'll be working the productive flats and winding through the backwater channels that make this stretch of North Carolina coast so special. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – one minute you're sight-casting to tailing redfish in 2 feet of water, the next you're working structure for black drum or drifting over grass beds where flounder like to ambush their next meal. If you're into fly fishing, just give the captain a heads up when you book. These shallow waters are perfect for throwing flies, especially when the reds are cruising the flats. The trip runs 4 hours, which gives us plenty of time to hit multiple spots and adjust our game plan based on what's working best that day.
Inshore fishing is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish want. We'll be using a mix of techniques depending on conditions and what species we're targeting. Light tackle spinning gear is the go-to setup – sensitive enough to feel that subtle flounder bite but with enough backbone to handle a bull red when it makes its run. Expect to work with live bait like shrimp and finger mullet, plus some proven artificials like soft plastics and topwater plugs when the fish are aggressive. The flats fishing means we can get into skinny water where bigger boats can't go, opening up prime feeding areas that see less pressure. Structure fishing around docks, oyster bars, and creek mouths produces consistent action, while the grass flats offer that visual excitement of watching fish hunt in clear, shallow water. The captain will have you covered with quality gear, but if you've got favorite rods or reels, feel free to bring them along.
Southern Flounder are the masters of disguise in these waters, lying buried in sand waiting to ambush unsuspecting baitfish. These flatfish can reach impressive sizes – a 5-pound "doormat" flounder is a real trophy, and they fight harder than most people expect. Fall months are prime time for flounder as they stage near inlets before heading offshore to spawn. What makes catching flounder so satisfying is the hunt – working structure, feeling for that subtle tap, and setting the hook on a fish that's perfectly adapted to this environment.
Black Drum are the bulldogs of the inshore world, and the waters around Kure Beach hold some impressive fish. These bottom-feeders love working around oyster bars and structure, where they use their powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. Mature black drum can push 40+ pounds and will test your tackle with their bulldogging runs. They're most active during cooler months, and there's nothing quite like the steady, powerful pull of a big drum once it realizes it's hooked.
Sea Trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the bread and butter of North Carolina inshore fishing. These beautiful fish with their distinctive spotted pattern are aggressive feeders that hit both live bait and artificials with enthusiasm. They school up around grass beds and drop-offs, especially during spring and fall. A 3-pound speck is a nice fish, and they're excellent table fare. What anglers love about trout fishing is the consistency – when you find them, you can often catch several before they wise up.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters are built for shallow water battles, with broad tails that let them make powerful runs through the flats. Red drum in these waters range from schooling "rat reds" around 18-27 inches to impressive bull reds that can stretch over 40 inches. The sight fishing opportunities for reds are world-class – watching a big fish cruise the flats with its back out of water, then making the perfect cast, is what inshore fishing dreams are made of. They're most active during warmer months but can be caught year-round by anglers who know where to look.
This customer favorite half-day trip gives you everything that makes Kure Beach inshore fishing special – variety, action, and the chance at some real quality fish. With only 3 spots available, you're getting the kind of personalized fishing experience that's hard to find these days. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to dial in your inshore game or someone new to fishing who wants to learn from a captain who knows these waters inside and out, this trip delivers. The 4-hour window is perfect for hitting multiple spots and species without wearing yourself out. Don't wait – the best inshore fishing days book up fast, especially during prime seasons. Give Brannin Charters a call and secure your spot for what could be your best fishing day of the year.
Your fishing platform for this half-day adventure is a 2010 East Cape Lostmen flats boat, perfectly designed for North Carolina's shallow inshore waters. At 18 feet, this nimble craft draws just 4-6 inches, letting you slip into skinny water where red drum and speckled trout like to hang out. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're stalking fish in the backwaters, while the fish finder helps locate schools of flounder and black drum. With GPS and radar on board, your captain can navigate safely through the maze of creeks and flats around Kure Beach. The boat comfortably handles up to 3 anglers, giving everyone plenty of room to work their lines whether you're casting lures or fly fishing. This setup is built for versatility - from drifting grass flats for drum to working structure for trout.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore flats, easily recognized by their bronze backs and signature black spots near the tail. Around Kure Beach, they typically run 18-32 inches and love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. You'll find them cruising oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths hunting crabs and shrimp. Fall and spring offer the best action when they school up and feed aggressively. What gets anglers hooked is their powerful runs and that heart-stopping moment when a big red crushes a topwater plug in 18 inches of water. They're also fantastic table fare when kept within slot limits. These fish are sight-fishing gold on our clear flats. Pro tip: look for nervous water or "pushes" on calm days, then cast well ahead of cruising fish with a gold spoon or soft plastic.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bulldozers of our inshore waters, typically weighing 5-30 pounds with some giants pushing 50+ pounds. You'll find them around oyster bars, bridge pilings, and shallow mud flats where they use powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. These fish are built for the long haul, living up to 50 years, and they'll test your drag with strong, steady runs. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are great eating with firm, white meat. Bigger fish are better released. Here's what works: use fresh blue crab or cut mullet on a fish-finder rig, and fish right on bottom around structure. Be patient - they take their time examining bait.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise, lying flat on sandy and muddy bottoms in our shallow bays and creeks around Kure Beach. These flat fish typically run 15-18 inches, though we see some pushing 25+ inches during good years. What makes them special is watching both eyes on the left side of their head scan for prey while they stay perfectly camouflaged. They're most active during cooler months from October through March when they move through our inlets. Guests love the challenge of sight-fishing for "doormat" flounder on light tackle. The meat is sweet and flaky - perfect table fare. My go-to trick: drift slowly over shell beds with a live mud minnow on a light jig head. Keep it moving just off bottom and watch for that subtle tap-tap bite.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our shallow water fishing around Kure Beach. These beautiful fish with distinctive black spots typically range 14-20 inches and love grass flats, creek mouths, and sandy potholes in 2-6 feet of water. They're most active during warmer months and often feed in low-light conditions at dawn and dusk. What makes them special is their willingness to hit topwater lures and their delicate, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. Specks are also great on fly tackle, making them a favorite for light tackle enthusiasts. They can be finicky, so keep your presentation subtle. My local tip: work a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork around grass edges during moving tides. The key is letting it sit motionless for a few seconds between pops.
Wilmington