Beaufort NC Striped Bass and Redfish Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day inshore charter targeting Striped Bass and Redfish on light tackle16-foot technical polling skiff accesses shallow creeks and backwatersAll fishing equipment and tackle provided by experienced captain
When you're looking for a serious inshore fishing adventure in the Crystal Coast waters, this 8-hour charter out of New Bern delivers the goods. Captain runs a 16-foot technical poling skiff that gets you into the skinny water where the big stripers and bull reds hang out. Starting at first light (7:00 AM), you'll have the whole day to work the flats, creek mouths, and backwater haunts that make this area legendary among East Coast anglers. Whether you're slinging flies or throwing artificials, this trip puts you right where the action is hottest.
This ain't your typical head boat experience. With just 1-2 anglers max, you get personalized instruction and prime positioning all day long. The shallow-draft skiff is built for one thing – getting you into places where bigger boats can't go. Think narrow tidal creeks, oyster bar edges, and grass flats where redfish cruise in water so shallow you can see their backs. Your captain knows every drop-off, every structure, and every tide change that triggers feeding activity. The boat comes loaded with quality spinning gear and fly rods, plus a tackle box full of proven lures that work in these waters. All you need is your North Carolina fishing license, good polarized sunglasses, and sunscreen. Captain keeps drinks on board, but feel free to bring your favorites.
This charter specializes in sight fishing and light tackle techniques that make every hookup feel like a heavyweight bout. When conditions are right, you'll be stalking fish in clear water, making precise casts to individual targets. The captain handles the poling and positioning while you focus on the presentation. For stripers, expect to throw topwater plugs early in the morning, then switch to soft plastics and suspending jerkbaits as the sun climbs. Redfish respond well to gold spoons, paddle tails, and spinnerbaits worked along oyster bars and grass edges. Fly anglers will love the sight fishing opportunities – nothing beats watching a 30-inch red crush a Clouser Minnow in two feet of water. The captain reads the water conditions and adjusts tactics throughout the day, whether that means working deeper channels during slack tide or hitting the flats when water movement picks up.
Striped bass are the bread and butter of this fishery, with fish ranging from schoolie size up to true cows pushing 40 inches. These fish follow baitfish movements throughout the Neuse River system and adjacent sounds, creating opportunities from spring through fall. Peak action typically happens during the cooler months when big migratory stripers stack up in the area. Red drum are year-round residents, with bull reds over 27 inches common in the deeper holes and channels. Smaller slot-size reds cruise the flats and provide steady action on lighter tackle. Both species are aggressive fighters that will test your drag and your endurance. The shallow water amplifies every run and jump, making even medium-sized fish feel like monsters.
Striped bass in these waters are known for their aggressive feeding behavior and impressive size. Spring and fall migrations bring schools of mature fish through the area, with individual stripers often exceeding 20 pounds. These fish are opportunistic predators that key on shad, menhaden, and other baitfish. What makes them special here is their willingness to feed in shallow water, especially during low-light periods. Early morning topwater action can be absolutely electric when conditions align. The fight is what keeps anglers coming back – long runs, head shakes, and determined battles that showcase why stripers are considered one of the premier gamefish on the East Coast.
Redfish are the other star attraction, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers are perfectly adapted to the inshore environment, using their powerful tails to cruise grass flats and oyster bars in search of crabs and small fish. Bulls (oversized reds over 27 inches) are catch-and-release only, but they provide some of the most memorable fights you'll experience on light tackle. Slot-size reds between 18-27 inches are excellent table fare and fight just as hard pound for pound. What makes redfish special is their year-round availability and willingness to eat a variety of baits and lures. They're also incredibly visual feeders in shallow water, often tailing or showing their backs as they root around for food.
This top-rated charter combines everything serious anglers want – productive waters, quality equipment, expert guidance, and fish that fight like they mean it. The intimate setting on a technical poling skiff puts you in direct contact with some of the best inshore fishing the Carolina coast has to offer. Whether you're looking to cross a bucket list fish off your list or just want to spend a day doing what you love most, this 8-hour adventure delivers the goods. The captain's local knowledge and specialized boat give you advantages that translate directly into more fish and better fishing memories. Don't sleep on this opportunity to fish world-class waters with a guide who knows how to put you on fish.
This restored 1993 Contender Center Console gets you to the fish fast and keeps you there all day. At 27 feet with twin 200HP Suzuki engines, she'll cruise at 40 knots to reach prime striped bass and redfish waters around Beaufort's inshore grounds. The 2016 refit means everything works when you need it - GPS to mark productive spots, radar for those early morning runs in fog, and a quality fish finder to locate schools holding in deeper channels. Built for serious anglers, this boat handles four people comfortably while maintaining the shallow draft needed to work the backwater creeks where big reds like to feed. The center console layout gives everyone room to fight fish without tangling lines, and there's plenty of deck space for fly fishing when conditions are right.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are perfect for our shallow water fishing around New Bern's creeks and flats. These copper-colored fish with the signature black spots near their tails usually range from 18-30 inches in our area. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface around oyster bars and grass beds. The best fishing happens on warmer days when they're actively tailing and feeding in 1-3 feet of water. What guests love most is watching them eat topwater lures in skinny water - pure visual excitement. They fight hard and taste great too. Pro tip: look for nervous water or subtle wakes moving across the flats, then cast ahead of their path with a quiet presentation.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are some of the most reliable fighters you'll find in our waters around New Bern. These silver-sided beauties with their distinctive black stripes typically run 20-40 pounds, though we see bigger ones regularly. They love structure - bridge pilings, oyster bars, and creek mouths where baitfish gather. Spring and fall offer the best action when they're actively feeding during their migration routes. What makes them special is their powerful runs and stubborn fights on light tackle. The meat is excellent eating with a sweet, flaky texture. Here's a local trick: when you see birds working over baitfish in the main river channels, get your lure underneath that action fast - hungry stripers are usually right below.
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