Half Day Redfish & Trout Trip - Tybee Island
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Perfect introduction to inshore fishing for complete beginnersTarget redfish, trout, and flounder in calm coastal watersPatient instruction with all equipment and gear provided
Captain Trey Wagner's beginner-friendly charter is exactly what new anglers need to get hooked on fishing. This top-rated 4-hour trip launches from Tybee Island and takes you into Georgia's productive inshore waters where redfish, trout, and flounder are waiting. You'll fish the calm coastal flats and creeks around Tybee, learning proper techniques while targeting some of the area's most popular species. Capt. Trey supplies all the gear, bait, and tackle—plus the patience to teach you everything from casting to landing your first fish. With space for just 2 guests, you'll get personalized attention that makes this trip perfect for couples, friends, or anyone wanting to try their hand at inshore fishing without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
Your morning starts at the Tybee Island marina where you'll meet Capt. Trey and get oriented with the boat and basic safety procedures. The ride out to the fishing grounds is short—usually 10-15 minutes—giving you time to ask questions and watch for dolphins that often follow boats in these waters. Capt. Trey focuses on productive spots around oyster bars, creek mouths, and grass flats where fish congregate to feed. The beauty of inshore fishing around Tybee is that you're fishing in protected waters, so even if it's breezy offshore, you'll stay comfortable while learning the ropes. Expect to anchor up at several different spots throughout the trip, giving you variety and increasing your chances of connecting with different species. The captain will handle all the boat positioning and help you understand why certain areas hold fish while others don't.
This trip focuses on light tackle fishing using live and artificial baits that work best for the target species. You'll learn to fish with shrimp under popping corks for trout, work soft plastics along the bottom for flounder, and present cut bait near structure for redfish. Capt. Trey sets up all the rods with appropriate weights and rigs, explaining each setup so you understand why different baits work for different fish. The tackle is beginner-friendly—nothing too heavy or complicated—but effective enough to handle the fish you'll encounter. You'll practice casting techniques, learn to feel bites, and get hands-on instruction for setting the hook and fighting fish properly. The captain also covers basic knot tying and shows you how to handle fish safely for photos and release. Most of the fishing involves either anchoring and bottom fishing or making short drifts over productive areas.
Sheepshead are one of the craftiest fish in these waters, known for their incredible ability to steal bait without getting hooked. These black and white striped fish hang around oyster bars, dock pilings, and any hard structure where they feed on barnacles and crabs. They've got human-like teeth that can crush shellfish, making them fascinating to observe up close. Sheepshead typically run 2-5 pounds around Tybee, with bigger fish showing up in cooler months. They're notorious bait stealers, so hooking one feels like a real accomplishment—especially for beginners learning to detect subtle bites.
Sea Trout, or spotted seatrout, are the bread and butter of Georgia inshore fishing and perfect for newcomers to target. These silvery fish with distinctive black spots love grass flats and creek mouths where they ambush shrimp and small baitfish. Trout are aggressive feeders that will hit both live shrimp and artificial lures, making them ideal for learning different techniques. They typically range from 14-20 inches around Tybee, with the occasional "gator trout" over 24 inches that really gets your heart pumping. Spring through fall offers the best action, and trout are excellent table fare if you decide to keep a few within the legal limits.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing and the species that gets most anglers addicted to this style of fishing. These copper-colored bruisers can be found year-round in Tybee's waters, though they're most active during warmer months. Reds are powerful fighters that make long runs and test your drag system, giving beginners a taste of what serious inshore fishing is all about. They feed in shallow water around oyster bars and marsh edges, often with their backs or tails visible above the surface. Slot-size reds (14-23 inches) are common, but oversized "bull" reds over 27 inches provide world-class fights that you'll talk about for years. Their willingness to eat both live and cut bait makes them accessible to new anglers still learning casting accuracy.
This customer favorite trip with Capt. Trey Wagner offers everything a beginner needs to start their inshore fishing journey right. The combination of calm waters, productive fishing grounds, and patient instruction creates the perfect environment for building confidence on the water. With all gear provided and techniques explained step-by-step, you'll leave understanding not just how to fish, but why certain methods work in specific situations. The 4-hour timeframe gives you plenty of fishing action without wearing you out, and the 2-guest limit ensures you get the personalized attention that makes the difference between a good trip and a great one. Tybee Island's renowned inshore fishery produces consistent action year-round, making this an ideal choice whether you're visiting Georgia or looking to explore your local waters from a new perspective.
Step aboard this roomy 24-foot Pathfinder bay boat and get ready to explore Tybee Island's productive inshore waters. Built in 2016, this fishing machine comfortably handles up to 4 anglers while its 300HP Yamaha engine gets you to the best redfish and trout spots quickly. The spacious deck gives everyone plenty of room to cast and fight fish without getting tangled up. Captain Trey keeps the boat positioned perfectly over flounder holes and speckled trout grass beds, while the shallow draft design lets you access those skinny water redfish haunts where the big bulls like to cruise. With a top speed of 50 knots, you'll spend more time with lines in the water and less time running between fishing spots along Georgia's marshes and creeks.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the perfect inshore target around Tybee's shallow flats and oyster bars. They average 18-27 inches in our waters and put up a serious fight with long runs that'll test your drag. You'll find them tailing in 1-3 feet of water, especially around structure and grass beds. They bite year-round but spring and fall are magic when they school up. What makes reds special is that black spot near the tail and their copper-bronze color that really pops. Plus, they're excellent table fare with mild, sweet meat. My go-to trick is watching for nervous water or mud trails where they're feeding. Cut bait works great, but nothing beats the thrill of sight-casting a gold spoon to a tailing red. Keep your approach quiet and lead them well.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout are our bread-and-butter inshore fish around Tybee's grass flats and deeper channels. Most run 14-20 inches and fight above their weight class with solid runs and head shakes. They love shallow water at dawn and dusk, moving to deeper holes during midday heat. Spring through fall are prime, especially on moving tides around structure. What guests love most is their willingness to hit both live shrimp and artificials, plus they're fantastic eating with flaky white meat. The key is working grass beds quietly - they spook easily in shallow water. I always tell folks to cast past the fish and work back slowly. A popping cork with live shrimp underneath is deadly, but don't overlook soft plastics on light jig heads.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusAround Tybee's docks and jetties, you'll find sheepshead with their distinctive black stripes and those famous human-like teeth. Most run 1-4 pounds, but we see 8-pounders fairly often around barnacle-covered pilings. They're year-round residents but really active in cooler months when they school up. What makes them special? They're notorious bait thieves with incredible table fare - sweet, white meat that's worth the effort. The challenge is their light bite and ability to strip your hook clean. My tip: use fiddler crabs on a #2 hook and feel for that subtle tap-tap-tap. When you feel weight, set hard immediately. They'll test your patience, but once you hook up, they pull surprisingly hard for their size.
Tybee Island