Premier Charleston Fishing Charter | 6 Hours Inshore
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Six-hour inshore charter targeting redfish, seatrout, and flounderExpert guides provide equipment and coaching for all skill levelsSmall group experience with maximum two guests per trip
Get ready for a serious day on the water exploring Charleston's legendary inshore grounds. This 6-hour charter puts you right in the heart of some of South Carolina's most productive fishing waters, where redfish cruise the grass flats and flounder ambush baitfish in the shadows. We're talking about a full day of casting, fighting fish, and soaking up everything that makes Charleston fishing special. Whether you're looking to land your first red or add another trophy to your collection, these waters deliver consistently year-round.
Your day starts at Charleston Harbor, where we'll load up and head to the spots that are firing. With just two anglers max, you're getting a completely personalized experience – no crowded boat, no waiting your turn. I've been working these waters for years, and I know exactly where to find the fish based on tides, weather, and what's been biting lately. We'll cover everything from shallow grass flats where reds tail-feed to deeper structure where sheepshead hang out around dock pilings. The beauty of Charleston's inshore scene is the variety – one minute you're sight-casting to cruising fish, the next you're working structure for a different species entirely. Expect to move around quite a bit as we chase the bite and make the most of every hour on the water.
We run top-shelf gear that's perfectly matched to Charleston's inshore conditions – medium-action spinning rods that give you great feel for working soft plastics and enough backbone to turn a bull red away from structure. Most of our fishing involves artificials like paddle tails, spoons, and topwater plugs, though we'll switch to live or cut bait when the situation calls for it. You'll learn proper presentations for different scenarios: working a Z-Man through spartina grass without hanging up, bouncing a jig head along oyster bars, or walking a topwater plug over shallow flats during first light. The key in Charleston is reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish want that day. Tides drive everything here, so we time our moves to hit spots at optimal water levels. When the tide's moving and bait's getting pushed around, that's when the magic happens.
Southern Flounder are the masters of disguise in Charleston's waters, lying perfectly camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush passing baitfish. These flatfish are most active during cooler months from October through March, with the biggest doormat-sized fish moving through during late fall. What makes flounder so addictive is the way they hit – a subtle thump followed by dead weight as they try to bury back into the bottom. We'll target them around structure transitions, dock pilings, and creek mouths using bouncing jigs tipped with gulp or live finger mullet.
Sheepshead are the convict-striped specialists that hang around any hard structure they can find. These fish have human-like teeth designed for crushing barnacles and oysters, making them notorious bait thieves. Peak season runs from late winter through early spring when they move inshore to spawn around jetties and bridge pilings. The challenge with sheepshead is their lightning-fast bite – you've got to set the hook the instant you feel them pecking. We use small hooks with fiddler crabs or shrimp, and it becomes a game of patience and quick reflexes.
Redfish are Charleston's signature species and the fish that keeps anglers coming back. These copper-colored bruisers patrol the flats year-round, but spring and fall offer the best action when they school up in huge numbers. Bull reds over 27 inches provide serious fights on light tackle, peeling drag and making multiple runs before you can boat them. Slot-sized fish between 15-23 inches make excellent table fare. What makes reds special here is the variety of ways to catch them – sight-fishing to tailing fish in skinny water, blind-casting grass flats, or working them around oyster bars and dock lines.
Bonnethead Shark might be the smallest member of the hammerhead family, but they're scrappy fighters that provide non-stop action during summer months. These 2-3 foot sharks cruise the flats in schools, feeding on crabs and small fish. They're perfect for younger anglers or anyone wanting consistent action, as they're aggressive and relatively easy to handle. Bonnetheads have that distinctive shovel-shaped head and put up a spirited fight with lots of head-shaking runs.
Blacktip Shark bring serious excitement to any fishing trip, especially during their spring and fall migrations when they move through Charleston's waters in large numbers. These athletic sharks are known for their spectacular jumps when hooked, often clearing the water completely multiple times during the fight. Most blacktips we encounter run 3-5 feet long and provide heart-pounding battles on medium tackle. They're typically found in deeper channels and around schools of baitfish, making them an exciting bonus catch during our regular fishing routine.
Charleston's inshore fishing scene is world-class, and this 6-hour charter gives you the time needed to really explore what these waters offer. With personalized instruction, top-notch gear, and access to productive spots that produce fish year-round, you're setting yourself up for a memorable day on the water. The intimate 2-person capacity means you get individual attention and the flexibility to adapt our approach based on what you want to target. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn proper techniques or an experienced angler wanting to explore new waters, this trip delivers the goods. Don't wait – the best fishing days book up fast, especially during peak seasons when the bite is hottest.
Hit the water in style aboard our nimble 22-foot Skeeter motorboat, powered by a reliable Yamaha 200 HP engine that'll get you to the fishing grounds fast at speeds up to 40 knots. This coastal fishing machine is perfectly sized for two anglers who want a personalized Charleston inshore experience. The boat comes equipped with everything you need for a successful day on the water - an icebox to keep your catch fresh and drinks cold, GPS navigation to find the best spots, and a fish finder to locate where the redfish and seatrout are hanging out. The wireless trolling motor lets you move quietly through shallow waters without spooking the fish, perfect for stalking those trophy catches in Charleston's backwaters. Built for comfort and performance, this Skeeter handles Charleston's coastal waters with ease while giving you the agility to chase fish wherever they're biting.
Carcharhinus LimbatusBlacktip sharks bring the real excitement to Charleston shark fishing. These athletic sharks average 4-5 feet but can hit 6+ feet, and they're famous for their spectacular jumps when hooked. You'll find them around our nearshore reefs, jetties, and deeper creek mouths in 15-50 feet of water. Summer months are prime time as they follow baitfish into our area. What guests love most is their acrobatic fight - these sharks will jump 6 feet out of the water multiple times, spinning and tail-walking like a tarpon. They're strong, fast, and put on a show that gets everyone on the boat excited. The black-tipped fins make them easy to identify. While not great eating, the fight and photo opportunities are worth it. Key technique: use heavy tackle with circle hooks, fresh cut bait like mackerel or bluefish, and be ready for them to go airborne the second they feel the hook.
Sphyrna TiburoBonnethead sharks are the friendly sharks of Charleston's inshore waters - harmless to humans and fun for the whole family. These small hammerheads average 3-4 feet with that distinctive shovel-shaped head that sets them apart. You'll find schools of 5-15 cruising our shallow bays, grass flats, and around creek mouths during warmer months. They migrate through Charleston waters spring through early fall, following blue crabs and shrimp. What makes them popular is their scrappy fight and unique appearance - kids especially love seeing that weird hammer head up close before release. They're not table fish, but the educational value and photo opportunities are priceless. Despite their small size, they'll give you a solid tussle on medium tackle. Best approach is fresh cut blue crab on a circle hook with a wire leader - they've got sharp teeth and will test your knots.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of Charleston's shallow water fishing. These copper-colored bruisers average 20-28 inches but can stretch past 40 inches in our waters. Look for that distinctive black spot near the tail - it's their trademark. They cruise our grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in just 1-4 feet of water, sometimes so shallow their backs break the surface. Spring through fall offers prime fishing, especially on moving tides around dawn and dusk. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes on topwater lures and the bulldogging fight they put up in skinny water. They're also excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. The sight fishing is addictive - watching a big red crush a popping cork in two feet of water gets everyone's heart racing. Local secret: work the edges of oyster bars on an incoming tide with live shrimp under a popping cork.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish around our docks and bridges - those black and white stripes make them easy to spot. These guys have human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs off pilings. Most run 2-5 pounds and 14-18 inches, though we catch some real slabs pushing 8+ pounds around the jetties. They love any kind of structure: bridge pilings, docks, rocks, anywhere barnacles grow thick. Spring spawning season (March-April) brings the biggest concentrations, but they bite year-round in our waters. What guests love is the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves with light bites, then suddenly your rod doubles over. The fight is strong and steady, and the white flaky meat rivals any fish in these waters. Here's the key: use small hooks, fiddler crabs or shrimp, get tight to structure, and set the hook hard when you feel weight.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise - these flatfish bury themselves in sand and mud bottoms where they ambush prey like shrimp, crabs, and small baitfish. You'll find them in our shallow bays, creeks, and around oyster bars, typically in 2-8 feet of water. Most run 15-18 inches, but we see plenty pushing 20+ inches during fall migrations. They're active year-round here, but fall and winter offer the best action as they move toward inlets. What makes them special is watching that perfectly camouflaged fish suddenly materialize from the bottom when you hook up. They fight dirty too - lots of head shaking and rolling. The meat is white, flaky, and some of the best eating around Charleston. Pro tip: use live mud minnows or shrimp on a Carolina rig, and fish it slow along the bottom near structure.
Charleston