4-Hour Charleston Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour inshore charter targeting redfish, trout, and flounderExpert captain provides all gear and multiple fishing techniquesSmall group experience with maximum two guests aboard
Charleston's inshore waters are calling, and this 4-hour fishing charter with Dogfish Charters puts you right in the action. You'll fish the productive flats, creeks, and nearshore structure where Charleston's legendary redfish, sea trout, and flounder live year-round. Our experienced captain knows exactly where to find the fish and will have you casting lines within minutes of leaving the dock. This intimate 2-person charter gives you the personalized attention every angler deserves, whether you're learning to fish or looking to dial in your technique on some of the Southeast's most sought-after gamefish.
Your morning starts at the marina where you'll meet your captain and get the rundown on tackle, techniques, and target areas for the day. Charleston's inshore fishing is diverse – one minute you're sight-casting to tailing redfish in knee-deep water, the next you're working structure for keeper flounder. The captain will adjust the game plan based on tide, weather, and what's biting. You'll cover different water types during your 4 hours, from shallow grass flats where reds cruise looking for crabs to deeper creek mouths where sea trout stack up on moving water. All fishing gear is provided, so you just need to bring yourself, some snacks, and plenty of sunscreen.
This charter covers the full spectrum of inshore fishing methods that make Charleston famous. You'll work with light tackle spinning gear perfect for the shallow water game – think 3000-series reels spooled with 20-pound braid and fluorocarbon leaders. Bottom fishing with Carolina rigs and jig heads is bread-and-butter stuff here, especially when targeting flounder around oyster bars and creek bends. When the captain spots cruising redfish, you'll switch to topwater plugs or soft plastics for sight-casting opportunities that get your heart pumping. Popping cork rigs with live or artificial baits work magic on sea trout, especially around dock pilings and grass edges. Your captain will teach you to read the water, understand tide movement, and recognize the subtle signs that separate good fishing spots from great ones.
Sea trout are the bread and butter of Charleston inshore fishing, and for good reason. These speckled beauties hit hard, fight well, and taste even better. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, with fish ranging from 14-inch keeper size up to occasional 4-pound "gator trout" that make your drag sing. They school up around structure, especially during moving tides, and respond well to both live shrimp and soft plastic jigs. What makes sea trout special here is their willingness to bite – beginners can catch them while experienced anglers enjoy the challenge of consistently finding the bigger fish.
Redfish are Charleston's signature species and the main reason anglers travel from across the country to fish these waters. These copper-colored bruisers average 18-27 inches inshore, with plenty of slot-sized fish that pull like freight trains in shallow water. Fall offers peak action when schools of reds push into the creeks, but you'll find them year-round if you know where to look. They feed heavily on blue crabs, shrimp, and small fish around oyster bars and grass flats. The sight-fishing opportunities here are world-class – watching a red's back break the surface as it tails in 2 feet of water never gets old.
Southern flounder might not win beauty contests, but they're pure eating fish and surprisingly fun to catch once you get the hang of bottom fishing. These flatfish ambush prey from sandy bottoms and creek edges, typically in 3-15 feet of water. Summer and early fall are prime time, with fish ranging from just-keeper 15-inchers up to doormat-sized specimens pushing 5-6 pounds. Flounder fishing teaches patience and feel – you need to detect the subtle pickup, let the fish move off with the bait, then set the hook hard. Once hooked, they fight with surprising strength and make excellent table fare.
Charleston inshore fishing delivers consistent action, diverse techniques, and some of the Southeast's most prized gamefish all within a short boat ride from the marina. This 4-hour charter gives you enough time to cover different areas and target multiple species without feeling rushed. The 2-person capacity means you get personalized instruction and plenty of fishing time – no crowded boat or waiting for your turn to cast. Dogfish Charters provides all the gear and expertise; you provide the enthusiasm. Whether you're looking to learn inshore fishing basics or fine-tune your technique on Charleston's legendary reds and trout, this charter delivers the goods. Book now and discover why Charleston's inshore waters have such a devoted following among serious anglers.
This 2013 MayCraft 19-footer is your ticket to Charleston's productive inshore waters. The center console design gives you plenty of room to move around while fighting fish, and the 115HP Evinrude gets you to the fishing grounds quickly without burning through fuel. With GPS and fish finder onboard, your captain can put you right on top of redfish, trout, and flounder hotspots around the marshes and nearshore reefs. The boat handles Charleston's shallow waters and choppy conditions with ease, whether you're casting light tackle around oyster bars or dropping baits on offshore structure. Perfect setup for bottom fishing and sight casting in the Lowcountry's legendary fishing grounds.
Sciaenops OcellatusRed drum are the crown jewel of Charleston's shallow water fishing, averaging 20-30 inches with that distinctive copper-bronze coloring and black spot near the tail. These fish love super shallow flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. They're year-round residents but really turn on during spring and fall when they're actively feeding. What guests love most is their powerful fight and the sight-fishing opportunities when you spot them tailing in skinny water. They'll eat everything from live shrimp to topwater plugs. The meat is excellent too - firm and mildly sweet. Here's a local secret: target the outgoing tide around oyster bars with a gold spoon or shrimp under a popping cork.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout are one of Charleston's most reliable inshore targets, running 14-24 inches with that classic silver body covered in black spots. You'll find them cruising grass flats and shallow waters, especially at dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. They hit artificial lures hard - plastic shrimp, topwater plugs, and soft plastics work great. What makes them special is their willingness to bite and their excellent table fare - mild, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. During cooler months, they school up in deeper channels, making for some fast action. Pro tip: work your lure slowly along the bottom near oyster bars and grass edges - that's where they ambush their prey.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are the masters of disguise on Charleston's sandy and muddy bottoms, typically running 15-18 inches and perfectly flat with both eyes on one side. These ambush predators bury themselves in the substrate waiting for shrimp, crabs, and small fish to pass overhead. You'll find them around creek mouths, channel edges, and sandy flats, especially during moving tides. Fall is prime time when they're feeding heavily before heading offshore for winter. What makes targeting them fun is the challenge - they don't fight hard but they're tricky to locate and hook properly. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in our waters with sweet, white meat. My go-to method is drifting live mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig, keeping it right on the bottom.
Charleston