Swansboro Charter Fishing | 2-Hour Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
2hour inshore fishing and island exploration adventureSmall group experience accommodating up to 6 guestsCedar Point waters with professional charter guidance
Looking for some serious fishing action without spending your whole day on the water? Our 2-hour inshore charter out of Cedar Point gives you the perfect taste of what North Carolina's coastal waters have to offer. Whether you're a weekend warrior trying to squeeze in some fishing time or showing the family what it's like to feel that rod bend, this trip delivers the goods. We keep our groups small at just 6 anglers max, so you're not fighting for deck space or waiting forever for your turn at the hot spots.
We'll pick you up right from Cedar Point and head straight into the productive inshore waters around Swansboro. This area is absolutely loaded with structure - grass flats, oyster bars, creek mouths, and channel edges that hold fish year-round. The beauty of a 2-hour trip is we can hit the best spots without wasting time running all over creation. Captain knows exactly where to put you on fish based on tides, weather, and what's been biting lately. You'll be fishing within 10 minutes of leaving the dock, and we stay busy right up until it's time to head back. Don't worry about bringing anything - we've got all the tackle, bait, and gear you need. Just show up ready to fish and maybe bring a cooler if you want to take your catch home for dinner.
We fish light tackle here - typically spinning reels spooled with 15-20 pound braid and fluorocarbon leaders. Depending on what we're targeting, we'll rig up with everything from popping corks and live shrimp to soft plastics and spoons. When the trout are schooled up, nothing beats a Z-Man paddle tail under a cork. For redfish in the shallows, we'll throw gold spoons or work soft crabs along the grass edges. The drum love cut bait on the bottom, especially around structure. Water depths range from 2 feet in the grass flats to maybe 15 feet in the deeper channels, so we're constantly adjusting our approach. If you've got your own lucky rod, bring it along - just make sure it can handle 20-pound line. The fish here aren't huge, but they fight like crazy in shallow water.
Black Sea Bass are the bread and butter of our inshore trips. These chunky bottom dwellers love hanging around any kind of structure - fallen trees, oyster bars, rock piles. They're not picky eaters either, hitting everything from live bait to small jigs. Most of what we catch run 12-16 inches, perfect for the dinner table. Best part about bass fishing is the action stays consistent throughout the year, though spring and fall definitely see bigger numbers.
White Weakfish, or what we call white trout, school up heavy during certain times of year and provide some of the fastest action you'll find. When we locate a school, it's common to catch 20-30 fish in an hour. They average 10-14 inches and have this really delicate mouth, so you've got to play them carefully. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, and they absolutely love live shrimp under a popping cork.
Sea Trout are probably the most popular target for our regular customers. Speckled trout are smart, finicky, and put up a great fight pound for pound. The 14-18 inch fish we typically catch are perfect eating, and when conditions are right, you might hook into a genuine gator trout pushing 4-5 pounds. Cool mornings and evenings are prime time, especially around grass flats and creek mouths where they ambush baitfish.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing around here. These bronze beauties patrol the shallows looking for crabs and shrimp, and when you hook one, you know it immediately. They make long, powerful runs and use that broad tail to fight you every inch of the way. Most of our reds fall in the 18-24 inch slot, though we see plenty of oversized fish that we photograph and release. Fall is absolutely prime time for reds, but we catch them consistently from spring through late fall.
Two hours might not sound like much, but you'll be amazed how much fishing we can pack into a short trip when we know the water. This is perfect for families with young kids, first-time charter customers, or anyone who wants to sample the Cedar Point fishing scene without committing to a full day. Lizardfish Charters runs a top-rated operation with experienced captains who put fish in the boat. Book online or give us a call - these shorter trips fill up fast, especially during peak season. Bring your camera, sunscreen, and get ready to see why Swansboro inshore fishing keeps anglers coming back trip after trip.
Our 202 Pioneer Sportfish is built for serious fishing adventures along North Carolina's coast. This reliable motorboat comfortably seats up to 6 anglers with plenty of room to cast lines and land your catch. The onboard fish finder helps locate schools while GPS keeps you on course to the hottest fishing spots around Cedar Point's productive waters. Two coolers keep your bait fresh and beverages ice-cold during those long battles with trophy fish. The live well ensures your prized catches stay healthy until you reach the dock. When nature calls, there's an onboard toilet so you don't miss prime fishing time. The sound system adds some tunes while you're waiting for that perfect bite. Whether you're targeting inshore species or exploring the islands dotting these coastal waters, this boat handles both missions perfectly. All USCG safety equipment is included, so you can focus on what matters most - putting fish in the cooler and making memories on the water.
Centropristis StriataBlack Sea Bass are solid fighters that love hanging around structure like wrecks, jetties, and rocky bottom in 20-120 feet of water. Most of what we catch run 1-4 pounds, though the bigger males can push 8+ pounds and develop a distinctive blue color and head hump during spawning season. They're perfect for our Cedar Point waters from late spring through summer when they move closer to shore. What makes them special is they put up a great scrap until they break the surface, plus they're excellent eating with firm white meat. These fish are actually born female and change to male as they grow - pretty cool biology. My go-to tip: use a two-hook bottom rig with fresh squid strips. They're mostly bottom feeders but won't pass up a good jig bounced near the structure. Season runs May 15 through December 31, so plenty of time to get after them.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are hands-down one of the most exciting fish we target around Cedar Point. These copper-colored bruisers with the distinctive black eyespot near their tail are built for shallow water combat - we're talking 1-4 feet deep where you can sometimes see their backs breaking the surface. Most run 20-35 inches, but the bulls can push 45+ inches and really test your drag. They love oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths where they root around for crabs and shrimp. What makes them special is that explosive topwater strike - nothing beats watching a big red crush a surface plug in skinny water. They're also excellent eating with sweet, firm meat. These fish are sight-fishing champions, so polarized sunglasses are a must. Here's my local trick: look for nervous water or muddy spots where they're tailing and feeding. A weedless gold spoon worked slowly through the shallows is deadly effective.
Salmo TruttaSea Trout, or Speckled Trout as we call them locally, are one of our most popular inshore targets. These silvery beauties with black spots typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, perfect for our 2-hour trips. They love grass flats and shallow waters, especially at night when they really turn on. You'll find them in estuaries mixing salt and fresh water, which is where they get that delicate, mild flavor that makes them such great eating. The key is their soft, flaky white meat - just don't overcook it or it gets mushy. They're scrappy fighters on light tackle and will smash topwater plugs, plastic shrimp, and live bait like nobody's business. During winter they school up in deeper channels, but spring through fall they're scattered across the flats. Pro tip: troll slowly along grass edges at idle speed if they're being finicky - the subtle presentation often triggers strikes when nothing else works.
Atractoscion NobilisWhite Weakfish, often called White Seabass, are the heavyweights of the croaker family - we're talking fish that can hit 28 inches and 7-8 pounds on average, with monsters reaching 5 feet and 88 pounds out west. Despite the name "weakfish," these are strong fighters that'll give you a real workout. They cruise between the surface and bottom in saltwater, rarely hugging the seafloor completely. What sets them apart is their ability to make distinct sounds to communicate - you can actually hear them croaking underwater. They're fantastic table fare with firm, white meat. Best baits are live squid, anchovies, and sardines, though they respond well to artificial squid lures too. Here's the trick: they can be lazy feeders, so don't be afraid to use a chum bucket to get their attention. Look for squid beds and kelp areas where they like to hunt.
Cedar Point, NC