6 Hour Fishing in South Carolina
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Six-hour inshore fishing adventure in South Carolina watersEquipment and fishing licenses included with trip bookingSmall group experience accommodating up to two guests
Picture yourself casting lines in the legendary inshore waters of South Carolina, where the tide tells the story and every bend holds promise. This 6-hour fishing adventure with Due South Fishing Expeditions puts you right in the heart of some of the Southeast's most productive fishing grounds. You'll work prime spots where redfish cruise the grass flats and sea trout stack up in the deeper cuts. With just 2 anglers max per trip, you get the personalized attention that makes all the difference between coming home with stories and coming home with a cooler full of fish. Your captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on fish using time-tested techniques that work when others don't.
From the moment you step aboard, you'll feel the difference that comes with fishing South Carolina's inshore waters. The trip kicks off with your captain reading the conditions – wind, tide, water temperature, and recent fish movement – to plot the day's strategy. You'll run through marshes lined with spartina grass, cruise over oyster bars, and work structure that holds fish year-round. The beauty of a 6-hour window is having time to really work an area when the bite is on, or move around to find active fish when they're being picky. Your captain will adjust tactics throughout the day based on what the fish are telling you. Some days they want live bait worked slowly along the bottom, other times they'll smash topwater plugs with reckless abandon. The relaxed pace lets you soak in the scenery between hookups – dolphins working bait, pelicans diving, and the endless maze of creeks and channels that make South Carolina's coast so special.
All your fishing gear and licenses are handled, so you can focus on what matters – putting fish in the boat. You'll fish with medium to medium-heavy spinning rods paired with quality reels spooled with braided line for maximum sensitivity and hookset power. The tackle box stays stocked with everything from live shrimp and finger mullet to an arsenal of artificials that produce when worked right. Popping corks with live or artificial shrimp underneath work magic on sea trout, while weedless spoons and soft plastics shine when working redfish in skinny water over grass beds. Your captain will show you how to work each bait properly – the subtle twitches that trigger strikes, how to read the bite, and when to set the hook for solid connections. Circle hooks keep fish mortality low when using live bait, and barbless artificials make for quick releases when you're into smaller fish. The boat stays positioned using a combination of Power-Pole anchors in shallow water and traditional anchoring in deeper spots, keeping you in the strike zone longer.
Sea trout remain the bread and butter of South Carolina inshore fishing, and for good reason. These speckled beauties typically run 14 to 20 inches in these waters, with keeper fish starting at 15 inches. They school up in deeper holes during moving tides and spread out over grass flats when the water sits still. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action, though summer mornings and winter warm spells can produce memorable catches. What makes sea trout so appealing is their willingness to hit both live and artificial baits, plus they're fantastic table fare when handled properly.
Redfish are the crown jewel of South Carolina's inshore scene, and these copper-colored bruisers know how to make an angler's day. Most fish range from 18 to 27 inches, right in that sweet spot for great fights and excellent eating. They cruise grass flats on higher tides, hunting crabs and baitfish with their heads down and tails up – a sight that gets every angler's heart pumping. Fall brings the best numbers as schools of reds stack up preparing for their offshore spawning runs. These fish hit hard, run strong, and test your drag system with powerful runs toward structure.
Crevalle jack might not win beauty contests, but they'll school you on what a real fish fight feels like. These yellow-sided torpedoes average 5 to 15 pounds and fight like fish twice their size. They show up in massive schools during summer months, often following bait so thick you can see the water boiling from a distance. Jack crevalle will hit anything that moves – topwater plugs, spoons, jigs, or live bait – and once hooked, they make blistering runs that peel line off your reel. They're catch-and-release fish, but the memory of that first jack fight stays with anglers forever.
Tripletail are the wild cards that turn good days into great ones. These oddball fish float near structure like buoys, pilings, or debris, looking exactly like floating leaves until they move. They average 3 to 8 pounds with some reaching double digits, and they're considered among the best eating fish in the ocean. Tripletail require a precise presentation – too close and they spook, too far and they won't see your bait. When you get it right and watch one rise up to eat your offering, it's pure magic. They're more common during warmer months but can show up year-round when conditions align.
South Carolina's inshore waters offer world-class fishing that gets better every year as conservation efforts pay dividends. This 6-hour trip gives you enough time to really experience what these waters offer without feeling rushed. The intimate 2-angler capacity means you get the attention and instruction that helps anglers of all skill levels succeed. With gear, licenses, and expertise all included, you just need to bring yourself and get ready for some of the best inshore fishing the Southeast has to offer. The calendar fills up fast during prime seasons, especially fall when the fishing really turns on. Don't wait – book your dates today and get ready to see why South Carolina consistently ranks among the top fishing destinations in the country.
The 18' Hells Bay skiff is built for South Carolina's inshore waters and will get you to the fish. This shallow-draft boat cuts through tidal currents and slides into skinny water where redfish and trout like to hang out. The GPS keeps you on course while the fish finder shows what's swimming below. With room for two anglers, there's plenty of space to cast without getting tangled up. The Hells Bay handles chop well and runs quiet enough not to spook fish in shallow flats. Whether you're working oyster bars at high tide or drifting creek mouths on the drop, this boat puts you right where the action is. All your tackle and licenses are sorted, so just bring yourself and get ready to bend some rods.
Caranx HipposCrevalle jacks are the bulldozers of our inshore waters and hands down the strongest fighting fish you'll hook around here. These brassy-green bruisers average 12-24 inches and 3-5 pounds, but we see plenty bigger. They roam both shallow flats and deeper channels, often in aggressive schools that push baitfish to the surface. Spring through fall are best, especially when you spot diving birds - that's your signal the jacks are feeding below. What guests love is the pure power these fish deliver - they'll test your drag and your arms. They're not great table fare, but the fight more than makes up for it. Fair warning: they have razor-sharp gill plates, so handle carefully. My tip is to look for that "watermelon" smell when schools are feeding nearby - sounds crazy, but veteran anglers know that scent. Cast fast-moving lures like spoons or swimbaits past the school and burn them back quickly.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish, or red drum, are the bread and butter of South Carolina inshore fishing. These bronze-backed beauties with their signature black spots near the tail typically range from 20-35 inches in our waters. You'll find them cruising shallow flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in just 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 school up. What makes reds special is their strong, bulldogging fight and willingness to eat almost anything. The smaller "slot" fish are excellent table fare with firm, white meat. They're not spooky like some species, making them perfect for beginners. My go-to trick is looking for nervous water or tailing fish on the flats during low tide. When you spot one, cast your bait well ahead of where they're heading - reds have poor eyesight but great hearing, so a soft landing is key.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them, are one of our most popular targets here in South Carolina waters. These silvery fish with distinctive black spots typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, though we occasionally see bigger ones. You'll find them in grass flats, shallow bays, and around oyster bars in 2-8 feet of water. They love structure and moving water. Spring through fall are prime times, especially during dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. What guests love about specks is their willingness to bite and decent fight on light tackle. The meat is white, flaky, and delicious - just don't overcook it. Here's a local tip: when working grass flats at night, listen for their feeding activity. That popping sound means they're up shallow chasing bait, and that's your cue to cast a topwater plug or soft plastic shrimp right into the action.
Lobotes SurinamensisTripletail are one of our most unique catches - these odd-shaped fish look like floating debris until they suddenly come alive. They average 18 inches and 2-5 pounds, with that distinctive three-fin appearance that gives them their name. You'll spot them near the surface around structure, weed lines, and crab pot floats, often lying on their sides to mimic floating trash. Summer months are prime time when they move inshore to spawn. What makes tripletail special is their surprising acrobatics for such a chunky fish, plus they're excellent eating - some say they rival snapper. The challenge is not spooding them since they're easily startled. Here's the trick: when you spot one, don't cast directly at it. Instead, cast well past the fish and slowly work your bait or lure toward them, letting the tripletail ambush it naturally. Live shrimp or small crabs work best, but they'll also hit soft plastics worked slowly.
Mount Pleasant, SC