NC 5 Hour Inshore Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target redfish, trout, flounder in coastal NC marshesMaximum six anglers on guided inshore fishing adventureFive-hour morning or afternoon trips available
Coastal North Carolina's marsh systems and winding river channels offer some of the most productive inshore fishing on the East Coast. This 5-hour trip with Gunny B Outdoors puts you right in the heart of these fish-rich waters, where redfish cruise the grass flats and flounder ambush prey along creek mouths. You'll be targeting prime species like speckled trout, black drum, and sheepshead while working the structure and cover that makes this area a year-round hotspot. With morning and afternoon departure options, this trip works perfectly whether you're an early bird wanting to catch first light or prefer to sleep in and fish the afternoon bite. Maximum capacity stays at just two anglers, so you'll get personalized attention and plenty of elbow room on the boat.
Your day starts with a quick boat briefing before heading out into North Carolina's legendary inshore waters. These marshes and river systems are a maze of oyster bars, grass beds, and drop-offs that hold fish year-round. The boat will position you over productive structure where redfish patrol in schools and flounder lay waiting in ambush spots. You'll be casting to visible fish when conditions allow, but also working likely holding areas where these species love to feed. The shallow water fishing here is incredibly visual - you might spot redfish tailing in knee-deep water or see drum rooting around oyster bars. Weather plays a big role in fish behavior, so your guide will adjust the game plan based on wind, tide, and water clarity. The 5-hour window gives you enough time to work multiple spots and adapt to what the fish are doing that particular day.
This style of fishing relies heavily on reading water and understanding how fish use structure. You'll be throwing a mix of live bait and artificials, depending on what's working best. Shrimp under popping corks is deadly for trout and redfish, while cut bait on the bottom produces flounder and drum. When the fish are aggressive, topwater plugs and soft plastics can provide fast action over grass flats and oyster beds. The gear is medium-light spinning tackle that handles well in the wind but still has enough backbone for bigger fish. Your guide will have you rigged and ready, but understanding how to work different baits in varying depths is key. Drifting creek mouths on moving water often produces the best results, and learning to feel the difference between a bite and bottom structure takes some practice. The shallow water here means quiet presentations and long casts often make the difference between a good day and a great one.
Redfish are the bread and butter of North Carolina inshore fishing, and these copper-colored bruisers put up serious fights in shallow water. Most fish run between 18-27 inches, with the slot-size reds being perfect table fare. They school up heavily in fall and winter, making for some of the best action of the year. Spring brings the big spawning fish that cruise the flats in groups, and summer finds them in deeper holes and around structure during the heat of the day. What makes redfish so exciting is their aggressive nature - they'll crush topwater baits and make long runs that test your drag system.
Speckled trout are another local favorite that respond well to both live and artificial baits. These fish are incredibly structure-oriented, holding around oyster beds, grass lines, and creek mouths where current brings food. Fall and early winter produce the biggest trout, with fish over 20 inches being common when you find the right schools. They're notorious for short strikes, so sharp hooks and quick reflexes are essential. The fight isn't as bulldogging as a redfish, but trout make up for it with acrobatic jumps and sudden direction changes.
Southern flounder are the chameleons of the inshore world, lying perfectly camouflaged on sandy bottoms near structure. These flatfish can be tricky to hook since they often grab bait and hold it without moving. The key is giving them time to turn the bait before setting the hook. Most flounder here run 14-18 inches, but the occasional doormat over 20 inches makes every drift exciting. They're excellent eating and provide a different style of fishing that keeps things interesting throughout the day.
Black drum are the bulldogs of the bunch, using their powerful bodies and stubborn nature to test your patience. These fish love oyster bars and hard bottom areas where they can crush crabs and shellfish. They're not the prettiest fish, but what they lack in looks they make up for in pulling power. Smaller drum under 16 inches are great eating, while the big bulls over 30 inches provide arm-burning fights that can last 10-15 minutes in shallow water.
Sheepshead are the most challenging species you'll target, with their notorious bait-stealing abilities earning them the nickname "convict fish." These black-and-white striped fighters have incredible eyesight and human-like teeth that make short work of crabs and barnacles. They require finesse fishing with light leaders and sharp hooks, but the payoff is worth it - sheepshead are considered some of the best eating fish in the ocean. Finding them around bridge pilings, docks, and oyster bars adds a technical element that appeals to experienced anglers.
This 5-hour inshore trip delivers exactly what serious anglers want - access to productive water, expert guidance, and a chance at multiple species that fight hard and taste great. The small boat capacity means you're not fighting crowds or waiting for your turn to fish prime spots. Whether you choose the morning trip to catch first light or the afternoon departure for the evening bite, you'll be working water that consistently produces fish year-round. North Carolina's inshore fishery is world-class, and this trip puts you right in the middle of some of the best action on the coast. Don't wait around - these spots fill up fast, especially during peak
Your fishing platform is a well-equipped motorboat designed for navigating the shallow waters and intricate marsh systems along North Carolina's coast. The boat comes fitted with GPS navigation to help you reach the prime fishing spots tucked away in the backcountry, plus a reliable fish finder that'll show you where the redfish and trout are holding. With space for up to two anglers, you'll have plenty of room to work your lines without getting tangled up. The shallow draft design lets you slip into those skinny water areas where the big reds like to cruise the grass flats. Whether you're targeting flounder in the deeper channels or working the oyster bars for sheepshead, this boat will get you there and keep you fishing comfortably for the full five hours on the water.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are beautiful silvery fish covered in distinctive black spots that make them easy to identify. Most run 14-18 inches and 1-3 pounds, though we regularly catch "gator trout" over 20 inches during cooler months. These aggressive predators love grass flats, creek mouths, and deeper holes where they ambush shrimp, small crabs, and baitfish. Spring and fall offer the best action, but summer nights under lights can be phenomenal. Trout are popular because they hit artificials hard - soft plastics, topwater plugs, and live shrimp all work great. They're also some of the best eating fish around with tender, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. One key tip: trout have soft mouths, so keep steady pressure but don't horse them in, and they often school up so where you catch one, there's usually more nearby.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishery, easily spotted by their copper-bronze backs and distinctive black spots near the tail. These aggressive feeders typically run 18-27 inches in our shallow waters, cruising grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in just 1-4 feet of water. Fall and spring are peak seasons when they school up and feed heavily on shrimp, crabs, and baitfish. What makes reds so special is their willingness to eat almost anything - from topwater plugs that create explosive strikes to live shrimp bounced along the bottom. The fight is memorable too - strong initial runs followed by bulldogging battles in shallow water. Plus, they're excellent table fare with mild, flaky meat. My best advice: look for tailing fish in skinny water during moving tides, and when sight-fishing, cast well ahead of cruising schools to avoid spooning them.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise - these flat fish bury themselves in sandy and muddy bottoms where they ambush prey like shrimp, crabs, and small baitfish. You'll recognize them by both eyes being on their left side and those distinctive dark blotches across their body. Most run 15-18 inches and weigh around 5 pounds, though we occasionally land doormat-sized fish over 20 pounds. They're active year-round in our NC waters but really turn on during fall months when they're fattening up before their offshore spawning run. What makes flounder fishing so popular is the excellent table fare - sweet, white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. My go-to tip: when you feel that subtle tap-tap on your bait, don't set the hook right away. Give them a few seconds to fully take the bait, then lift firmly.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of our waters with their distinctive black and white stripes, but what really sets them apart are those human-like teeth they use to crush barnacles and crabs around structure. These crafty fish typically run 1-3 pounds and 14-18 inches, though we occasionally see slabs pushing 8 pounds near bridges and dock pilings. Spring months from March through May are prime time when they're spawning and feeding aggressively around any hard structure. Guests love targeting them because they're notorious bait thieves that require skill to hook, plus they make some of the best eating fish in our waters - sweet, flaky white meat that rivals snapper. The trick with sheepshead is using small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, and when you feel that subtle nibbling, set the hook hard and fast before they steal your bait.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, ranging from schoolie-sized 5-pounders up to massive 30+ pound bulls that'll test your tackle. These powerful bottom-feeders love oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths where they crush crabs, clams, and shrimp with their pharyngeal teeth. You can actually hear them "drumming" underwater during spring spawning season when they school up in shallow water - that's prime time for targeting them. The smaller fish under 15 pounds make great table fare with firm, white meat, while the big bulls are better released as trophies. What guests love most is the bulldogging fight these fish put up once hooked. Here's my local secret: use fresh peeler crab on a fish-finder rig and be patient - black drum are notorious for mouthing bait before committing to it.
Swansboro, NC