Guided Fishing Trip In Morehead City
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fivehour inshore fishing targeting speckled trout and redfishCaptain Jason provides all gear and guides to prime spotsAccommodates up to four guests with artificial and live bait options
Captain Jason's got you covered for a solid day of inshore fishing around Morehead City's productive waters. This 5-hour trip targets some of the most sought-after species on the Crystal Coast - speckled trout, redfish, bluefish, and more. You'll fish with top-quality artificial lures, though live bait's available if that's more your style. With room for up to 4 anglers, it's perfect for families or a small group of fishing buddies looking to get into some real action without the long ride to blue water.
Captain Jason knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll put you on fish from the get-go. The trip starts early when the bite is hot, and you'll spend your time working the grass flats, creek mouths, and structure where these fish love to hang out. The beauty of Morehead City's inshore fishery is the variety - one cast you might hook a keeper speckled trout, the next could be a bull red that'll test your drag. The boat comes fully rigged with quality tackle, so you don't need to worry about bringing anything except your fishing license and some snacks. Jason's approach is hands-on but relaxed - he'll show beginners the ropes while giving experienced anglers the freedom to work their favorite techniques. The waters around here stay productive year-round, but each season brings different opportunities and challenges that keep things interesting.
This trip focuses on artificial lures, which is where the real fun happens in these shallow waters. You'll be throwing soft plastics on jig heads, working topwater plugs during the right conditions, and maybe some spoons when the blues are schooled up. Captain Jason prefers artificials because they're more selective for quality fish, plus there's nothing like the strike of a redfish crushing a topwater bait in two feet of water. The boat's equipped with medium-action spinning rods spooled with braided line - perfect for feeling those light trout bites and having the backbone to turn a big red away from structure. If you're more comfortable with live bait, Jason can set you up with shrimp or finger mullet, especially effective when the fish are being finicky or during those tougher bite windows. The key areas you'll fish include the sound-side grass flats, oyster bars, and creek channels where baitfish concentrate and predators follow. Depending on tides and conditions, you might find yourself sight-casting to tailing reds or working deep holes where the big trout stack up.
The variety of species around Morehead City keeps every trip interesting, and each fish brings its own challenge. Speckled trout are the bread and butter here - they hit hard, fight well, and taste even better. These fish are most active during moving water, especially around dawn and dusk. Look for them around grass beds and drop-offs where they ambush baitfish. Spring through fall offers the best action, with fish ranging from slot-size keepers to occasional gator trout pushing 5-6 pounds. Redfish are the real crowd-pleasers, known for their powerful runs and stubborn fights. These copper-colored bulldogs hang around oyster bars, shallow flats, and creek mouths. Summer brings the best shot at sight-fishing for reds in skinny water - watching one crush a topwater bait in 18 inches of water never gets old. Bluefish show up in schools and provide non-stop action when they're around. These aggressive feeders will hit almost anything you throw at them, making them perfect for kids or anyone who wants to bend a rod. They're most common during their spring and fall migrations, often mixed with Spanish mackerel for variety. Summer flounder add a different dimension to the trip - these flatfish require a different approach, often involving bouncing baits along the bottom around structure. White weakfish, also called gray trout, are underrated fighters that pull hard and make excellent table fare. They're often found in the same areas as specks but tend to prefer slightly deeper water and stronger current.
Captain Jason's Morehead City trips deliver exactly what inshore fishing should be - productive, fun, and accessible to anglers of all skill levels. You'll come away with a cooler full of quality fish, some new techniques, and probably a few stories worth telling. The 5-hour timeframe hits the sweet spot - long enough to really get into some fish but not so long that the kids get restless. With all gear included and a captain who knows how to put you on fish, all you need to do is show up ready to cast. These inshore waters fish well year-round, but prime time runs from April through November when water temperatures keep the fish active and comfortable. Don't wait too long to book - good guides in Morehead City stay busy, especially during peak season when the fishing is at its best.
This 2022 KenCraft Bay boat is your ticket to some serious fishing action around Morehead City's productive inshore waters. At 21 feet with a reliable 150HP Yamaha pushing her along at up to 38 knots, she'll get you to the hot spots fast and keep you comfortable while you work the flats for speckled trout and redfish. The center console design gives everyone plenty of casting room, and with space for up to 4 anglers, there's no crowding when the fish are biting. The wireless trolling motor lets you slip quietly into shallow areas where the big ones hang out, while the fish finder helps locate schools and structure. GPS keeps you on top of your favorite honey holes, and the multimedia system adds some tunes between bites. Whether you're throwing artificials or going with live bait, this rig has everything you need for a productive day chasing whatever's running in these fish-rich coastal waters.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive predators that put up a serious fight when hooked. These blue-green torpedoes typically run 3-15 pounds around Morehead City, with their razor-sharp teeth and muscular build making every catch memorable. You'll find them in schools along the surf, inlets, and deeper channels from late spring through fall when water temps climb. They're voracious feeders that'll hit everything from cut bait to metal spoons and topwater plugs. The meat's excellent when fresh - firm, flaky, and mild-flavored, especially fish under 5 pounds. Pro tip: use a wire leader or heavy fluorocarbon because those teeth will slice through regular line like butter. When you see birds diving and water churning, that's usually a bluefish blitz in action.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the ultimate inshore game fish, bronze-backed beauties with distinctive black spots that fight like freight trains. Around Morehead City, most reds run 18-27 inches, though bull reds over 40 inches show up in fall. You'll find them cruising shallow flats, oyster bars, and marsh edges in 1-6 feet of water year-round, with peak action in spring and fall. What makes redfish special is their power - they'll strip drag and make multiple runs, plus that copper coloration looks amazing in photos. The smaller "slot" fish are excellent table fare with firm, mild meat. Watch for tailing fish in skinny water during high tide, and don't be afraid to throw big baits. Cut mullet on the bottom produces consistently, but sight-casting spoons to cruising fish is pure excitement when conditions are right.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing, with their distinctive black spots and golden sides making them easy to identify. Most fish run 12-18 inches, but gator trout over 20 inches are always a possibility around deeper grass beds and channel edges. They love shallow flats, oyster reefs, and creek mouths in 2-8 feet of water, especially during cooler months when they school up. What guests love about specks is their willingness to hit topwater lures at dawn and dusk - there's nothing like that explosive surface strike. The meat is sweet and flaky, perfect for the dinner table. My best advice is to work your lures slowly and pay attention to the grass lines where baitfish hide. Soft plastics under popping corks are deadly, but don't overlook live shrimp under a float during tough conditions.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are master ambush predators that lie flat on sandy and muddy bottoms waiting for prey to swim by. Most fish we catch run 15-20 inches, but doormat-sized flounder over 5 pounds always get the cameras out. They're found in 8-40 feet of water around structure, drop-offs, and channel edges from spring through late fall. What makes flounder fishing special is watching that subtle tap-tap bite, then feeling the fish try to pancake itself back to the bottom. The meat is pure white, flaky, and sweet - one of the best eating fish in our waters. My go-to technique is drifting bucktails tipped with gulp or live minnows, but here's the key: give them time to turn the bait before setting the hook, or you'll pull it right out of their sideways mouth.
Atractoscion NobilisWhite weakfish, part of the drum family despite their name, are solid fighters that can surprise you with their power. These silvery fish with scattered spots typically range 2-8 pounds in our area, though bigger ones prowl the deeper channels. Look for them around grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in 6-25 feet of water, especially during moving tides from spring through fall. They're popular because they hit both live bait and artificials hard, plus the meat is tender and flaky with a mild flavor that's great fried or grilled. The key to consistent success is matching the hatch - if shrimp are thick, use shrimp imitations; if baitfish are around, go with soft plastics or spoons. Fish the bottom third of the water column since they rarely feed right on top.
Morehead City