Sunshine and Smiles: Richmond Hill Inshore Fishing
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Inshore fishing targets redfish, sea trout, and sheepshead speciesFort McCalister State Park serves as scenic departure locationProfessional guides accommodate both beginners and experienced anglers
Picture this: you're standing at Fort McCalister State Park at sunrise, watching the mist roll off the water while your captain preps the boat for what's about to be one heck of a fishing day. That's exactly what you get when you book this top-rated inshore adventure with Coastal Ga Fishing. Richmond Hill sits right in the sweet spot of Georgia's coast, where countless creeks, oyster bars, and grass flats create the perfect hunting grounds for some of the area's most sought-after gamefish. With just two anglers max per trip, you'll get the personal attention and prime fishing spots that bigger boats simply can't offer. Your guide knows these waters like the back of their hand, and they're itching to put you on fish while sharing stories that'll have you laughing between hookups.
Fort McCalister State Park serves as your launching point into Georgia's pristine inshore waters, where Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, grey triggerfish, sea trout, and redfish call home. Your captain will have you rigged and ready before you even realize you've left the dock. The beauty of this intimate two-person setup means no fighting for the best spots or waiting your turn to cast - it's just you, your fishing buddy, and miles of productive water. Expect to cover everything from shallow grass flats where redfish cruise in just two feet of water to deeper channel edges where Spanish mackerel slash through bait schools like silver bullets. Your guide will read the tide, wind, and fish activity to put you exactly where you need to be, whether that's sight-casting to tailing reds or dropping baits around structure for monster sheepshead. The diverse ecosystem here means you might catch three different species in three consecutive casts, and that's what keeps anglers coming back season after season.
Inshore fishing around Richmond Hill is all about versatility, and your guide comes prepared with an arsenal of techniques to match whatever the fish are doing. Light tackle spinning gear loaded with 15-20 pound braid is the bread and butter setup, giving you the sensitivity to feel that subtle sea trout bite while having enough backbone to muscle a bull redfish out of the oysters. Live shrimp under popping corks is money for sea trout and redfish, especially when worked around grass edges during moving tide. When Spanish mackerel are blitzing bait, your captain will have you throwing small spoons or jigs into the chaos - just hold on tight because these fish hit like freight trains. For sheepshead around structure, it's all about finesse with fiddler crabs or barnacles on small hooks, and your guide will teach you to feel the difference between a bite and a snag. Artificial lures like soft plastics, topwater plugs, and gold spoons round out the tackle selection, and there's nothing quite like watching a redfish blow up on a topwater bait in skinny water.
Spanish mackerel are the speed demons of the inshore world, and Richmond Hill's waters are loaded with them from late spring through early fall. These silver rockets typically run 1-3 pounds but what they lack in size they make up for in pure aggression and blistering runs. You'll find them schooled up around channel markers, creek mouths, and anywhere bait fish are getting pushed around by tide. The best part? They're willing biters that'll hammer everything from live shrimp to small jigs, making them perfect confidence builders for newer anglers while still providing plenty of excitement for veterans.
Sheepshead are the convicts of the salt - those black and white stripes are unmistakable, and so is their legendary ability to steal bait without getting hooked. These structure-loving fish hang around docks, pilings, and oyster bars, using their powerful jaws to crush crabs and barnacles. They're renowned for their light bite and quick reflexes, earning them the nickname "bait thieves." But when you do connect, expect a bulldogging fight from a fish that can easily push 5-8 pounds. Late fall through early spring is prime time, and there's serious bragging rights that come with consistently hooking these finicky feeders.
Grey triggerfish bring the attitude and the fight in equal measure. These tough customers hang around hard bottom and structure, and they've got the teeth and temperament to prove they belong there. Running 2-5 pounds on average, triggers are world-class fighters that'll test your drag and your patience with their ability to dive straight back to cover. They're most active in warmer months and have a habit of stealing baits meant for other fish, but nobody complains when they're bent over fighting one of these feisty characters.
Sea trout, or "specks" as locals call them, are the bread and butter of Richmond Hill inshore fishing. These beautiful fish with their spotted flanks and soft mouths are customer favorites because they bite readily, fight well, and taste even better. You'll find them over grass flats, around creek mouths, and along channel edges, especially during moving tide. Spring and fall offer the best action, with fish ranging from 14-20 inches being typical, though monster "gator trout" over 25 inches patrol these waters for those who know where to look.
Redfish are the crown jewel of the inshore slam, and these copper-colored bruisers are what fishing dreams are made of. Richmond Hill's shallow flats and oyster bars are redfish heaven, with fish ranging from slot-size 18-27 inchers to oversized bulls that'll straighten hooks and break hearts. Fall is absolutely magic for reds, when they school up in massive numbers for their spawn, but you can target them year-round in these waters. Whether you're sight-casting to tailers in two feet of water or working deeper grass for slot fish, redfish provide that perfect combination of challenge and reward that keeps anglers addicted.
Our fleet's got you covered for chasing redfish and sea trout in Richmond Hill's productive inshore waters. We run everything from nimble 20-foot Carolina skiffs that slip into those shallow grass flats where the big reds like to cruise, all the way up to twin-engine offshore rigs when you're ready to tackle deeper waters. Each boat comes rigged with fish finders to mark schools, GPS to hit those productive spots, and VHF radios for safety. There's plenty of ice storage for your catch and cold drinks during those hot Georgia afternoons on the water. Whether you're sight-casting in two feet of water or working structure in the creeks, we've got the right boat to put you on fish. Our skiffs are perfect for accessing those back-country honey holes where the sheepshead hang around oyster bars and the trout stack up in moving water.
Balistes CapriscusGrey triggerfish are tough, scrappy fighters that typically run 12-17 inches but can hit 24 inches and 13 pounds. These leather-skinned fish hang around hard bottom, ledges, and reefs in 60-180 feet of water. Summer and early fall are prime time when they're most active and aggressive. Anglers love them for their bulldogging fight and their ability to lock into crevices when hooked. They're also excellent table fare with firm, white meat. The trick is using heavy sinkers to get down fast and squid chunks that stay on the hook. Once you feel that distinctive triggerfish bite - they're nibblers - reel fast and keep steady pressure. They'll try every trick to break you off.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the copper-colored giants of our shallow waters, easily spotted by their distinctive black eyespot near the tail. They range from slot-size fish around 18-27 inches up to bull reds over 40 inches in our area. You'll find them cruising oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths in just 1-4 feet of water year-round. What guests love most is sight-fishing to tailing reds and their powerful, sustained runs that'll test your drag. They're also great table fare when kept in the slot. The secret here is watching for nervous water and muddy spots where they're feeding. Use gold spoons, topwater plugs, or live shrimp, and always approach quietly - they spook easily in skinny water.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or specks as we call them, are beautiful fish with silver sides covered in black spots. They typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds in our grass flats and shallow bays. Best fishing happens spring through fall, especially during moving tides at dawn and dusk. What makes them special is their delicate takes and good fights on light tackle, plus they're outstanding eating with tender, flaky meat. The key is working grass flats in 2-6 feet of water with soft plastics, topwater plugs, or live shrimp. My local tip: fish the drop-offs where grass meets sand channels during moving water - that's where they ambush baitfish, and your best chance for a keeper.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of our waters with those distinctive black stripes and human-like teeth. Most run 1-8 pounds, but we see some bruisers up to 20 pounds around dock pilings and oyster bars. They're year-round residents, but spring spawning season brings the biggest fish to structures. What guests love is the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves with lightning-quick nibbles before committing. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in these waters with sweet, white meat. My go-to tip: use fiddler crabs or shrimp on small hooks, get tight to the structure, and set the hook hard the moment you feel weight. They've got crusher jaws, so don't hesitate.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are fast, aggressive fish that average 1-2 feet and 8-11 pounds around here. These silver speedsters with yellowish spots love to school near the surface, especially around structures and bait pods. Spring through fall gives you the best action when water temps warm up. What makes them special is their blistering runs and acrobatic jumps - they'll test your drag and reflexes. Plus, they're fantastic eating with mild, flaky meat that's perfect for the grill. The key trick is using light tackle with shiny spoons or live bait, but keep your rod tip up and be ready - they hit hard and fast, often when you least expect it.
Midway, GA