Professional Inshore Fishing in Mount Pleasant
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore charter targeting redfish, trout, and flounderProfessional captain provides gear, licenses, and expert instructionSmall group experience with maximum four guests per trip
Picture yourself casting lines in the productive waters of Charleston Harbor at first light, with Captain J Hook Charters guiding you to the hottest inshore spots around Mount Pleasant. This 4-hour morning charter kicks off at 7:00 AM, giving you prime time access to some of South Carolina's most consistent fishing grounds. You'll work the flats and grass beds where redfish cruise, drop lines in the deeper cuts for trout, and target structure where flounder and black drum hang out. With all gear and licenses handled, you just need to show up ready to fish. This top-rated charter accommodates up to 4 anglers, making it perfect for serious fishing buddies or families wanting to step up their angling game.
Your morning starts in Charleston Harbor, where the captain reads the tide, wind, and bait activity to put you on fish. The boat moves between productive spots around Shem Creek and the surrounding flats, adjusting tactics based on what's biting. You'll work both shallow water structure and deeper channels, switching between live bait presentations and artificial lures depending on the target species. The captain provides expert instruction throughout the trip, helping advanced anglers fine-tune their approach while teaching newer fishermen the fundamentals of reading water and presenting baits. The pace stays active but relaxed, giving everyone time to learn proper techniques while maximizing fishing time. Between spots, you'll get local insights about seasonal patterns, productive areas, and what makes this fishery so consistent year-round.
This inshore charter runs medium-action spinning gear matched to the target species, with lighter tackle for trout and flounder, and heavier setups when big redfish or black drum are the focus. Live bait fishing dominates the approach, using mud minnows, shrimp, and finger mullet presented on Carolina rigs or under popping corks. You'll also work soft plastics like paddle tails and shrimp imitations around grass beds and oyster bars where gamefish ambush prey. The captain positions the boat to work productive structure including dock pilings, creek mouths, and grass line edges where current creates feeding opportunities. Depending on tide timing, you might drift fish deeper holes or anchor up to work specific structure. The variety keeps things interesting while teaching multiple techniques that work in these waters throughout the year.
Southern Flounder are the bread and butter of this fishery, with fish ranging from keeper-sized 15-inchers up to doormat-sized specimens over 20 inches. These flatfish hold tight to structure and require precise bait placement, making them a favorite challenge for technical anglers. Fall months produce the largest flounder as they stage for their offshore spawning migration. Black Drum provide consistent action year-round, with fish from 14-inch schoolies up to heavyweight 30+ pound bulls that test your drag system. These bottom-dwellers love live and cut bait fished around oyster bars and bridge pilings. Striped Bass, locally called rockfish, show up during cooler months and provide explosive topwater action when schools are feeding. Sea Trout remain active throughout most of the year, with spotted seatrout offering fast action on light tackle around grass beds and creek mouths. The speckled trout bite peaks during spring and fall transitions when baitfish concentrate in the shallows. Redfish are the crown jewel of this inshore fishery, with copper-colored bulls cruising the flats and slot-sized fish working structure year-round. These drum species fight hard and stay strong throughout the battle, making them a customer favorite for their combination of size, fight, and eating quality.
This professional angler charter delivers exactly what serious fishermen want: productive fishing, expert guidance, and access to Mount Pleasant's best inshore spots. The early morning departure puts you on the water during prime feeding times, while the 4-hour duration provides plenty of fishing without rushing the experience. With all gear provided and techniques tailored to your skill level, you can focus on what matters most - putting fish in the boat. The small group size ensures personalized attention and maximizes everyone's fishing time. Whether you're looking to improve your inshore techniques or simply want to fish with a knowledgeable local captain, this charter provides outstanding value on one of South Carolina's most productive fisheries. Reserve your spot with Captain J Hook Charters and experience why Mount Pleasant consistently ranks among the Southeast's top inshore fishing destinations.
Captain your fishing adventure aboard this well-equipped 23' Epic center console, powered by a reliable 200HP Suzuki that cuts through Charleston's inshore waters with ease. Built in 2015, this boat handles the shallow flats and creek systems around Mount Pleasant like a dream, getting you to those prime redfish and trout spots quickly and quietly thanks to the wireless trolling motor. The spacious layout comfortably fits up to 4 anglers with plenty of room to cast and fight fish. You'll appreciate the fish finder for marking structure where flounder hide, plus GPS and radar to navigate the maze of creeks and marshes safely. The onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those hot South Carolina mornings, while the multimedia system adds some tunes between bites. Whether you're working oyster bars for redfish or drifting grass beds for trout, this boat puts you right where the fish are feeding in Charleston Harbor and Shem Creek.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, typically running 15-30 pounds with some bruisers pushing 50+. These powerful fish love oyster beds, dock pilings, and shallow muddy areas where they crush crabs and shellfish with their pharyngeal teeth. Spring brings the best fishing when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. What guests love about drum fishing is the raw power these fish bring to the fight. They're bulldogs that will test your drag and stamina. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make great eating with firm, white meat. Larger fish are catch-and-release heroes. Pro tip from years of guiding here: use fresh blue crab or cut shrimp on a Carolina rig, and fish it right on the bottom near structure. Patience pays off with these fish.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the signature species of our Charleston flats - bronze-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails. Most fish we target run 20-35 inches, perfectly sized for both sport and the dinner table. These fish love our shallow oyster bars, grass flats, and creek edges in 1-4 feet of water. Fall and winter provide the most consistent action when they school up heavily. What makes redfish special is their powerful runs and willingness to eat both live bait and artificials. They're also fantastic eating with sweet, firm meat. The sight-fishing opportunities here are amazing - watching their copper backs cruise the shallows gets every angler's heart pumping. Local tip: during low tide periods, focus on creek mouths and deeper pockets where reds stage before moving onto the flats. A gold spoon worked steadily through these areas rarely disappoints.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are beautiful silver fish covered in distinctive black spots. They typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, making them perfect light-tackle targets. You'll find them over grass flats, around docks, and in shallow creek mouths throughout our area. Spring through fall offers consistent action, with summer evenings being particularly productive when they feed aggressively in low light. Anglers love specks because they hit artificials hard and make great eating with their tender, mild white meat. They're also willing biters that respond well to soft plastics and topwater lures. The key to success is working the grass edges during moving water - incoming tides push baitfish over the flats where hungry trout wait to ambush them. Keep your presentations subtle; these fish can be finicky.
Paralichthys LethostigmaThese flatfish are masters of disguise, burying themselves in sand and mud bottoms where they ambush prey like shrimp and small fish. Most run 15-18 inches and around 5 pounds, though we occasionally land doormat-sized fish pushing 20+ pounds. You'll find them year-round in our shallow creeks and flats, but fall and winter offer the best action when they're fattening up before heading offshore. What makes flounder fishing special is the visual element - watching them dart from their hiding spots creates some great photo opportunities. They're also excellent table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. Here's a local trick: when drifting live mud minnows or shrimp, keep your bait moving just off the bottom - a slow, steady retrieve often triggers strikes from fish that ignored stationary presentations.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the ultimate inshore gamefish, running 20-40 pounds around Charleston waters during their spring and fall migrations. These silver torpedoes with distinctive black stripes patrol our harbor and creek mouths, ambushing schools of menhaden and shad. Spring migration from March through May offers spectacular fishing as they move north, while fall brings another hot bite. What makes striped bass so popular is their aggressive strikes and powerful runs - they'll test every knot and your skills. They're also top-shelf table fare with sweet, flaky meat. These fish are structure-oriented, so we target them around bridges, jetties, and creek drop-offs where current brings baitfish. Local secret: when you see diving birds working over bait pods near the harbor mouth, get your lines in fast - feeding stripers won't stay up long.
South Carolina