Expert Guided Inshore Fishing Adventures in Surf City
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target Redfish, Trout, Flounder, Sheepshead, and Black Drum inshoreAll fishing equipment provided for up to 3 guestsExplore flats and inshore structures with Carolina Flats Fishing
Picture yourself casting into the crystal-clear waters around Surf City, where the flats come alive with some of North Carolina's most sought-after game fish. This top-rated inshore adventure puts you right in the heart of the action, targeting redfish, trout, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum in their natural habitat. Carolina Flats Fishing knows these waters like the back of their hand, and they're ready to show you why this stretch of coast has become a customer favorite among serious anglers.
Your day starts early, when the fish are most active and the flats are just beginning to warm up. You'll be fishing with a maximum of three anglers, which means plenty of elbow room and personalized attention from your guide. The shallow waters around Surf City offer perfect conditions for sight fishing, where you can actually watch your target cruise through the grass beds before making your cast. Your captain will position the boat over productive structure and flats, reading the water conditions and adjusting tactics throughout the day. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – one minute you're working a grass bed for trout, the next you're targeting drum around oyster bars. All your tackle and bait are provided, so you just need to bring your appetite for adventure along with some snacks and drinks to keep you fueled.
The inshore waters around Surf City are a maze of creeks, flats, and structure that hold fish year-round. Your guide will use a combination of live bait, soft plastics, and topwater lures depending on conditions and target species. The flats fishing here is world-class – shallow water over sand and grass where you can spot tailing redfish and cruising trout. You'll also work deeper channels and oyster bars where black drum and sheepshead like to hang out. The technique varies throughout the day as your guide reads the water, tide, and fish behavior. When the bite is on, you might find yourself casting to visible fish in skinny water, or working a Carolina rig along structure when they're holding deeper. The boat stays mobile, covering different areas to find the most active fish and giving you the best shot at a memorable day on the water.
Southern Flounder are the masters of disguise in these waters, lying perfectly camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. These flatfish are most active during moving tides, particularly around creek mouths and channel edges. Fall months bring the best flounder action as they begin their migration to deeper water. What makes them so exciting is the way they hit – often a subtle tap that requires a good feel and quick hookset. Once hooked, they put up a surprising fight for a flatfish, often making strong runs back toward structure.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, with mature fish often weighing 20-40 pounds or more. They're bottom feeders that love to work around oyster bars and hard structure, using their powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring and fall offer the best black drum fishing, when they move into shallow water to feed and spawn. The fight is what legends are made of – these fish use their broad sides and powerful tails to make bulldogging runs that will test your gear and your patience.
Sheepshead are the pickiest eaters in the water, earning their nickname as the "convict fish" for both their black and white stripes and their tendency to steal bait. They hang around structure like dock pilings, jetties, and oyster bars, using their human-like teeth to pick off barnacles and small crabs. Winter months are prime time for sheepshead, when they school up in deeper water. Landing one requires finesse and quick reflexes – they're notorious for subtle bites and lightning-fast runs back to cover.
Sea Trout, or speckled trout, are the bread and butter of inshore fishing around Surf City. These beautiful fish love grass flats and creek mouths, where they feed on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring through fall offers consistent trout action, with early morning and evening providing the hottest bite. They're aggressive feeders that will hit both live bait and artificials, making them perfect for anglers of all skill levels. The fight is fast and acrobatic, with plenty of head shaking and jumping.
Redfish are the superstars of the flats, with their copper-bronze sides and distinctive black spots making them one of the most beautiful fish in the water. They're most active during warmer months, often found tailing in shallow water as they root for crabs in the grass. Fall brings some of the best red drum action as they school up for their spawning runs. What makes them special is their power and endurance – a big red will make long, sustained runs that can take you well into your backing.
The inshore waters around Surf City deliver consistent action throughout the year, but the best days book up fast. Whether you're looking to target a specific species or just want to experience the variety these waters offer, this renowned fishing adventure gives you access to some of the best inshore fishing on the Carolina coast. Your guide's local knowledge and dedication to putting you on fish makes this trip a standout choice for anyone serious about inshore fishing. Don't wait – the fish are biting and your next great fishing story is just a cast away.
Your fishing adventure starts aboard our well-equipped motorboat, perfectly set up for prowling the shallow waters and inshore structures around Surf City. The wireless trolling motor lets us slip quietly through the flats without spooking the fish, while our GPS navigation system keeps us dialed in on the hottest fishing spots. Whether we're stalking redfish in skinny water or working structure for flounder and black drum, this boat gets you right where the action is. With room for up to 3 anglers, everyone gets plenty of space to work their lines. All the fishing gear you need is on board, so just bring your appetite for some serious inshore fishing and whatever snacks and drinks you want for the day. Ready to put some bent rods and fish in the cooler?
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 5-30 pounds with some giants pushing 50+. These gray-black bruisers love oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths where they crush shellfish with powerful jaws that make that distinctive drumming sound. Spring brings the best action when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear them "talking" underwater. They're built like bulldozers and fight accordingly, making long, stubborn runs that'll test your drag. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Bigger fish are better released since the meat gets tough. Best bet is fresh crab or cut bait on the bottom around structure. Here's the trick: use circle hooks and let them hook themselves - these fish are notorious for stealing bait, so patience pays off when that rod finally loads up.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our signature species around Surf City - copper-colored bruisers with that distinctive black eyespot near the tail. They typically run 18-27 inches inshore, but we catch plenty of slot fish and some oversized bulls pushing 35+ inches. These fish love super shallow water, often with their backs showing in 1-3 feet around oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths. Fall and spring offer peak action when they're actively feeding before seasonal moves. What makes reds special is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fight - they'll make your drag sing. Plus, slot-sized fish are outstanding table fare with firm, mild meat. They're not picky eaters and will crush everything from live shrimp to topwater plugs. Here's my go-to technique: sight-cast with gold spoons or soft plastics to tailing fish in skinny water. Keep the boat in deeper water and make long, quiet casts ahead of where they're moving.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing - silvery fish covered in distinctive black spots that usually run 14-18 inches and 1-3 pounds. They love grass flats, oyster bars, and shallow waters around structure where they feed on shrimp and small baitfish. Best fishing happens dawn and dusk, especially during spring and fall when they're most active. What makes them special is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they're fantastic table fare with delicate, flaky white meat. Just don't overcook them or they'll turn mushy. They school up in winter in deeper channels, but summer finds them scattered across the flats. During cooler months, look for them in 6-12 feet of water near drop-offs. Pro tip: use a popping cork with live shrimp under grass beds, or throw soft plastics on light jigheads. Work it slow and steady - trout have soft mouths, so keep steady pressure once hooked.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their black and white stripes, but what really sets them apart are those human-like teeth they use to crush barnacles and crabs. Most run 2-5 pounds and 14-18 inches, though we catch some pushing 8+ pounds around deeper structure. They live around any hard cover - docks, pilings, rock piles, and jetties where barnacles grow thick. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, especially around the spawn in early spring. These fish are pure fun because they're notorious bait thieves with incredible eyesight and a light bite that'll test your skills. The reward is some of the sweetest, flakiest white meat you'll ever taste. My secret: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, and get that bait tight to the structure. When you feel those subtle taps, set the hook hard and fast - hesitate and they'll steal your bait every time.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise - these flat, oval fish have both eyes on one side and can change colors to match the bottom. They typically run 15-18 inches around here, though we see some pushing 25+ inches. You'll find them buried in sand or mud on shallow flats, around docks, and near creek mouths where they ambush shrimp, crabs, and baitfish. Fall and early winter are prime time when they're fattening up before their offshore spawn. What makes them special is that explosive strike when your bait drifts over one, plus they're some of the best eating fish in these waters - sweet, flaky white meat. My tip: use a Carolina rig with live mud minnows and drift it slow along drop-offs. When you feel that subtle tap-tap, count to three before setting the hook - they like to mouth the bait first.
Surf City, NC