Charleston Inshore Fishing on 23' Pathfinder
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Inshore fishing for Redfish and Trout in Charleston HarborAll fishing gear provided aboard 23-foot Pathfinder vesselSmall group experience with maximum 2 guests per trip
Looking for a solid day of inshore fishing in Charleston? This trip puts you right where the fish are biting. We're talking about the productive waters of Charleston Harbor, where redfish and trout are waiting to make your day. Our experienced captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, and with all gear provided, you just need to show up ready to fish. Bring your drinks and snacks, and we'll handle the rest. This is intimate fishing at its best with just 2 anglers max, so you'll get plenty of personal attention and prime fishing time.
You'll be fishing from a well-equipped 23' Pathfinder that's built for Charleston's inshore waters. This boat gets you into the skinny water where the big reds like to hunt, but it's stable enough to handle whatever Charleston Harbor throws at us. The captain provides all tackle, bait, and gear, so you don't need to worry about rigging up or figuring out what's working that day. We'll be targeting structure, grass flats, and creek mouths where the fish congregate. The small group size means you're not fighting for rod space or waiting your turn – it's quality fishing time from start to finish. Charleston Harbor offers incredible diversity, from shallow oyster bars to deeper channels, and we'll move around to find where the fish are most active.
We fish with a mix of live bait and artificials depending on conditions and what the fish want that day. You'll likely be throwing shrimp under popping corks for trout, while redfish often fall for cut bait or live mud minnows worked along oyster bars and grass edges. The captain will have rods rigged and ready, typically medium-action spinning gear that's perfect for Charleston's inshore species. We use circle hooks for better fish survival and easier releases. When the tide's moving, we might anchor up and let the current bring bait to the fish. On calmer days, we'll drift the flats or work structure with artificial lures. The beauty of Charleston fishing is the variety – you might catch a red on a topwater plug in two feet of water, then hook into a nice trout on live shrimp in a deeper hole.
Redfish are the stars of Charleston's inshore scene, and for good reason. These bronze beauties average 20-27 inches in our waters, with plenty of slot fish that make excellent table fare. Reds are year-round residents here, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action. They're aggressive feeders that'll hit live bait, cut bait, and artificials with equal enthusiasm. What makes reds special is their fight – they'll make long, powerful runs and use their broad sides to battle you all the way to the net.
Sea Trout are Charleston Harbor's other bread-and-butter species. These spotted beauties love grass flats and creek mouths, especially during moving tides. Most trout here run 14-18 inches, with occasional gator trout pushing over 20 inches. They're most active during cooler months, from October through March. Trout have soft mouths, so the fight is more about finesse than power. They're excellent eating and fun to catch on light tackle.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the inshore game. These powerful fish can weigh 20-40 pounds in Charleston waters, and they'll test your tackle to the limit. Drum are most active in cooler months and love to feed around oyster bars and structure. They're bottom feeders with a preference for crabs and shrimp. The smaller "puppy" drum (under 16 inches) make great eating, while the big bulls provide pure excitement.
Bonnethead Sharks add some variety to the day, especially during warmer months. These smaller members of the hammerhead family are common in Charleston Harbor and put up a surprising fight for their size. They're typically 2-3 feet long and love shallow grass flats. Bonnetheads are catch-and-release only, but they're a blast on light tackle.
Blacktip Sharks show up when conditions are right, usually in deeper parts of the harbor. These athletic sharks are known for their jumping ability and aggressive strikes. Most blacktips caught inshore run 3-5 feet, and they're powerful fighters that make memorable catches. Like bonnetheads, they're catch-and-release, but the experience of fighting a shark is something every angler should try.
This top-rated Charleston fishing experience delivers everything you want in an inshore trip – knowledgeable guidance, quality gear, and productive fishing grounds. With only 2 spots available, you're guaranteed personal attention and plenty of fishing time. The captain's local knowledge and provided equipment take the guesswork out of your day, letting you focus on what matters: catching fish and making memories. Charleston Harbor's diverse fishery means every trip is different, and the intimate group size ensures you'll get the most out of your time on the water. Ready to experience some of South Carolina's best inshore fishing? Book your charter today and get ready for a day you'll be talking about for years to come.
Get ready to chase redfish and trout around Charleston Harbor aboard this sweet 2013 23' Pathfinder bay boat. With a powerful 250HP Yamaha pushing her up to 60 knots, we'll cover serious water and get you to the hottest fishing spots fast. This rig comes loaded with everything you need - fish finder to locate the schools, GPS to mark productive areas, radar for those foggy mornings, and a wireless trolling motor for sneaking up on spooky fish in shallow water. The spacious deck gives you and your fishing buddy plenty of room to work, while the icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh. Your experienced captain knows these waters like the back of their hand and provides all the tackle and gear. Just bring your favorite snacks and beverages, and get ready to load up the cooler with some of Charleston's finest inshore fish. Whether you're sight-casting to tailing reds in the grass or working structure for spotted trout, this Pathfinder will get you there in comfort and style.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of Charleston's inshore waters, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. These gray-black bruisers love hanging around oyster beds and muddy flats where they crush crabs and shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll find the best action. They're bottom feeders, so we fish them deep with fresh blue crab or cut bait on the bottom. What makes them special is that fight - once hooked, they'll bulldoze through the water like a freight train. Keep the smaller ones under 15 pounds for eating; the meat's sweet and flaky. Here's the trick: when you feel that first tap, let them run with it before setting the hook hard.
Carcharhinus LimbatusBlacktip Sharks bring serious excitement to Charleston waters with their acrobatic jumps and lightning-fast runs. These sleek predators average 4-5 feet but can reach over 9 feet, easily identified by the black tips on their fins. They patrol our nearshore waters in 30-100 feet, often coming shallow to hunt around structure and baitfish schools. Spring and summer offer the best action when they're most active in warmer water. What guests love is their aerial show - blacktips will jump clean out of the water multiple times during the fight. They're also surprisingly social, often feeding in groups. We target them with heavy tackle and oily baits like mackerel or herring. The key is using a chum slick to draw them in close, then be ready for that screaming run when one takes your bait.
Sphyrna TiburoBonnethead Sharks are the gentle giants of Charleston's shallows, easily recognized by their unique shovel-shaped heads. These smaller hammerheads typically measure 3-4 feet and prefer our warm bay waters, grass flats, and sandy bottoms where they hunt crabs and shrimp. Summer months bring the best fishing when they move into our area from deeper waters. What guests enjoy is catching their first shark - bonnetheads are harmless to humans but still give you that thrill of landing a real shark. They school up in groups of 10-15, so where you catch one, there's usually more. Fresh blue crab cut in half works best as bait. Here's my tip: use a sliding sinker rig with circle hooks and let them take the bait before setting the hook. They're surprisingly strong fighters for their size.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our Charleston flats, easily spotted by their copper-bronze backs and distinctive black spots near the tail. Most run 20-35 inches and love cruising our shallow oyster beds and grass flats in just 1-4 feet of water. Year-round fishing is solid here, but fall brings the best action when they school up. What makes reds so popular is their powerful runs and that bronze flash when they turn sideways fighting. They're also excellent table fare with sweet, firm meat perfect for blackening. These fish eat almost anything - shrimp, crabs, cut bait, or artificials. My go-to trick is watching for their backs breaking the surface or tails waving as they feed head-down. When you spot that, cast just ahead of them with a gold spoon or live shrimp.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are some of the prettiest fish you'll catch in Charleston Harbor, sporting silver sides covered in black spots. They typically run 14-24 inches and love our grass flats and shallow waters, especially around dawn and dusk. Spring through fall are your best bets, with cooler months bringing bigger fish into deeper channels. These fish hit topwater plugs with explosive strikes that'll get your heart pumping, plus they're fantastic eating with delicate, flaky white meat. What guests love most is how aggressive they are - throw a shrimp-colored jig or live shrimp near structure and hang on. Pro tip: fish the moving water around creek mouths on an outgoing tide. The trout stage there to ambush baitfish, and that's when you'll get those memorable strikes.
Myrtle Beach