Coastal Georgia Inshore Fishing for Beginners
Private Trip
Backcountry Fishing
Fourhour beginnerfriendly inshore charter in Coastal Georgia watersTarget Redfish, Speckled Trout, and Flounder with experienced captain guidanceAll fishing equipment and cooler with ice provided for convenience
If you've been thinking about trying your hand at saltwater fishing but don't know where to start, this four-hour inshore charter around Coastal Georgia's pristine waters is your perfect introduction. We'll cruise through the maze of creeks, oyster bars, and grass flats that make up our famous Intercoastal Waterway, putting you on fish while teaching you the ropes. This isn't some rushed tourist trip – we take our time, keep the group small at just three anglers max, and make sure everyone gets plenty of hands-on action targeting the area's most sought-after species.
Your day starts when we push off into some of Georgia's most productive fishing waters. The Intercoastal Waterway here is like a highway system for fish – protected channels, shallow flats, and deep holes all connected by moving tides that bring baitfish and the predators that chase them. We'll work different spots throughout the trip depending on tide, weather, and what's biting that day. You might find yourself casting toward a grass line one minute, then working structure around an oyster bar the next. The scenery alone is worth the trip – marshlands stretching for miles, dolphin pods cruising by, and that salty Georgia coast vibe that keeps folks coming back year after year. Don't worry about bringing anything except yourself, snacks, drinks, and sun protection. We've got you covered with quality rods, reels, tackle, bait, and a cooler packed with ice to keep your beverages cold and your catch fresh.
Inshore fishing here is all about reading the water and adapting your approach. We'll be using medium-action spinning rods paired with reels that can handle the salt and the fight these fish put up. Most of our fishing involves live bait and artificial lures – shrimp under popping corks for trout, cut bait on the bottom for flounder, and everything from topwater plugs to soft plastics for redfish depending on conditions. I'll walk you through each setup and technique as we go, explaining why we're using certain baits in specific spots and how to feel the difference between a fish bite and bottom structure. The beauty of this fishery is its variety – you'll learn multiple approaches in one trip. We might start the morning working shallow water with topwater lures as the sun comes up, then switch to live shrimp around structure as the day progresses. By the end of four hours, you'll have a solid foundation in inshore fishing basics that'll serve you well whether you fish here again or try other coastal waters.
Sea Trout, or "specks" as locals call them, are the bread and butter of Georgia inshore fishing. These spotted beauties love grass flats and drop-offs, especially when there's moving water. They're aggressive feeders that'll hit live shrimp, artificial jigs, and topwater lures with equal enthusiasm. Most fish run 14-18 inches, perfect eating size, and they put up a scrappy fight with those soft mouths that'll teach you proper drag technique real quick. Spring through fall is prime time, but we catch them year-round when you know where to look. What makes specks so popular with beginners is their willingness to bite – they're not overly finicky, and once you find a school, the action can be fast and furious.
Redfish are the crown jewel of our inshore waters and every angler's favorite target species. These copper-colored bulldogs can range from 18-inch "rat reds" up to 30-plus-inch bruisers that'll test your tackle and your patience. They're year-round residents here, cruising oyster bars, grass edges, and shallow flats looking for crabs, shrimp, and small fish. What gets people hooked on reds is their power – they make long, sustained runs and use their broad sides to fight you all the way to the boat. Plus, they're pretty forgiving about bait presentation, making them perfect for folks still learning to feel bites and set hooks. The slot limit protects the breeding stock, so we practice catch and release on the big ones while keeping a few smaller fish for dinner.
Blacktip Sharks might sound intimidating, but these smaller coastal sharks are actually a blast for beginners. Running 2-4 feet long typically, they're manageable on medium tackle but still give you that authentic shark experience with their acrobatic jumps and powerful runs. They show up in good numbers during warmer months, following baitfish into our shallow waters. We usually encounter them while targeting other species – that sudden screaming drag and aggressive headshaking is unmistakable. They're completely safe to handle with proper technique, and releasing them gives new anglers a real conservation success story to tell. Many folks who've never caught a shark leave with blacktips as their trip highlight.
Southern Flounder are the masters of disguise in our waters, lying buried in sand and mud waiting to ambush prey. These flatfish can be tricky to target but incredibly rewarding when you connect. They love areas where current meets structure – channel edges, creek mouths, and around docks. The technique is different from other species we target, often involving bouncing bait along the bottom and detecting subtle taps rather than aggressive strikes. Most Georgia flounder run 14-20 inches, and they're phenomenal table fare. Fall migration brings some of the year's best action as fish move toward deeper water. Landing your first flounder is special because it requires patience and technique – you really earn these fish.
This beginner-friendly charter gives you everything needed for a successful introduction to Georgia's world-class inshore fishing. With lodging options available and all gear provided, it's an easy getaway that focuses on what matters most – getting you on fish and teaching you skills that'll last a lifetime. The small group size means personalized instruction, an
Your fishing adventure starts aboard a brand-new 23' Sportsman bay boat, perfectly sized for navigating Coastal Georgia's shallow inshore waters. This modern fishing platform is powered by a reliable 250 HP Yamaha 4.2 SHO engine that'll get you to the best fishing spots quickly and efficiently. The spacious layout gives up to four anglers plenty of room to cast lines and fight fish without getting tangled up. A wireless trolling motor lets your captain position the boat silently over productive areas, while the GPS navigation system and fish finder help locate schools of redfish, speckled trout, and flounder hiding in the grass flats and oyster bars. The boat's shallow draft design allows access to those productive back-country spots where bigger vessels can't reach, giving you the best shot at consistent action in Georgia's pristine inshore waters.
Carcharhinus LimbatusBlacktip sharks are a fun surprise on our inshore trips, usually running 3-6 feet long and known for those dramatic jumps when hooked. They cruise our nearshore waters in 30-100 feet, often coming into shallower areas around structure and bait schools. Summer and early fall bring them closer to shore when baitfish are thick. What gets people excited is watching them leap completely out of the water - sometimes 20 feet high! They're strong fighters that test your tackle. We practice catch and release with these guys. You can spot them by the black tips on their fins and their curious nature around the boat. Best tip: use oily bait like mackerel or sardines, and keep that drag loose when they make their first run.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are perfect for beginners because they're aggressive feeders and put up a great fight. Most range 20-35 inches around here, but we catch some real bulls pushing 40+ inches. Look for them in 1-4 feet of water around oyster beds, creek mouths, and grass flats - sometimes so shallow their backs show above water. That distinctive black spot near their tail makes them easy to identify. They bite year-round, but fall and spring are prime time when they school up. What makes them special is their powerful runs and that satisfying red coloration. The meat is sweet and firm, perfect for the dinner table. Pro tip: when you see them tailing in shallow water, cast well ahead of where they're moving and let your bait sink to the bottom.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are one of our most reliable inshore targets, running 14-24 inches and usually weighing 1-5 pounds. They love our grass flats and shallow creek mouths, especially around dawn and dusk when they feed actively on shrimp and small baitfish. You'll find them in 2-6 feet of water near oyster bars and drop-offs. Spring through fall offers the best action, with cooler months bringing bigger schools into deeper channels. These fish hit hard and make solid runs, plus they're excellent table fare with mild, flaky white meat. My go-to tip: work your lure slow and steady over the grass beds. When they're feeding, you'll see subtle boils on the surface - that's your cue to cast right there.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise, lying flat on sandy and muddy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-18 inches, but we catch some doormat-sized ones up to 25+ inches. They hang out in 5-20 feet around creek channels, inlet mouths, and anywhere the current brings food. Fall migration time is prime, when they head offshore and feed heavily. What's cool about flounder is how they change color to match the bottom - both eyes on one side of their head too. They're fantastic eating with sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. The key is fishing right on the bottom with live bait or jigs. My trick: use a slow drift and bounce your bait along the sand. When you feel that tap-tap-tap, wait a second before setting the hook.
Savannah