5.0(1 Reviews)6-Hour Inshore Charter in Murrells Inlet
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore fishing trip targeting multiple speciesExpert guides lead adventures through inlet creeks and jettiesSmall group experience accommodating up to three guests
When you're looking for a serious day of fishing that covers all the best spots around Murrells Inlet, this 6-hour charter with Next Level Fishing Co delivers exactly what you're after. You'll spend your morning working the productive inlet creeks where the grass beds hold hungry trout and redfish, then move out to the jetties where the structure draws in sheepshead and black drum. It's the kind of trip that gives you a real taste of what makes this area such a renowned fishing destination along the South Carolina coast.
This top-rated charter runs for six solid hours, giving you plenty of time to work different areas and techniques without feeling rushed. Your experienced guides know exactly where to find fish based on the tide, season, and conditions. You'll start early, usually around sunrise when the fish are most active, and cover a lot of productive water. The boat accommodates up to three anglers, so you're not fighting for space or competing with a crowd. Your guides will handle all the navigation, bait prep, and net work - you just focus on keeping your line tight and enjoying the fight. The intimate group size means personalized attention and coaching, whether you're a seasoned angler or still learning the ropes.
In the inlet creeks, you'll primarily fish with live shrimp and mud minnows under popping corks, working the grass beds and drop-offs where trout and reds like to ambush prey. The guides will also have you throwing soft plastics on jig heads when the fish want something with more action. At the jetties, it's all about bottom fishing with fiddler crabs and fresh shrimp around the rocks where sheepshead hang out, plus heavier tackle for the black drum that cruise the deeper holes. Your guides provide all the rods, reels, tackle, and bait - everything's matched perfectly to the conditions and target species. They'll teach you how to read the water, feel the bite, and work different structures. The boat is equipped with quality fish finders and GPS, so your guides can put you on productive spots consistently.
"We have chartered several trips and most have been great. But…this trip topped them all. Tyler and Rocco were the best crew we have ever had. They were both accommodating,knowledgeable and great to hang out with all day on the boat. We will definitely be booking with them again and so should anyone else wanting to catch a lot of fish and have. fun!" - Bobby
Sea trout are the bread and butter of Murrells Inlet fishing, and for good reason. These spotted beauties love the grass beds in the creeks, especially during moving tides when baitfish get pushed around. Most trout here run 14-18 inches, with plenty of keepers in the mix and the occasional gator trout pushing 20-plus inches. They hit hard and make great eating, plus they're active year-round in these waters. Spring and fall are peak times when you can load the cooler, but even winter days can produce steady action when you find the right holes.
Redfish are what every angler dreams about - they fight like trucks and give you that heart-pounding drag-screaming run. The slot-size reds around 20-27 inches are perfect for the dinner table, while the bigger bull reds provide pure adrenaline. These copper-colored fighters love shallow water and structure, often cruising the creek edges and oyster bars. You'll spot them tailing in skinny water during high tide or holding around docks and fallen trees. Fall is prime time when big schools move through the inlet, but you can find quality reds here throughout the year.
Sheepshead are the jetty specialists - these black-and-white striped convicts hang around rocks, pilings, and any hard structure they can find. They're notorious bait thieves with those human-like teeth, so you need to stay alert and set the hook quickly. Most sheepshead here run 2-4 pounds, but the occasional doormat over 6 pounds makes your day. They're excellent eating with white, flaky meat, and they provide a fun challenge with their light bites and sneaky ways. Winter and early spring are peak times when they stack up around the jetties for spawning.
Black drum are the heavyweights of the jetties, with fish ranging from 3-pound puppies up to monster bulls over 30 pounds. These bronze bruisers are bottom feeders that love crabs and fresh shrimp, and they'll test your tackle with powerful runs and stubborn fights. The smaller drum make excellent table fare, while the big bulls are purely for the thrill and photos. They're most active during cooler months, especially around the new and full moon phases when the tides really move. When you hook into a big drum around the rocks, you know you're in for a battle.
A 6-hour charter gives you the perfect balance of covering water and having enough time to really get dialed in on the bite. You're not just sampling different spots - you're putting in the hours to fill the cooler and create those stories you'll tell for years. Next Level Fishing Co has built their reputation on putting clients on fish and showing everyone a great time on the water. With prime dates filling up fast, especially during peak seasons, now's the time to secure your spot. Whether you're planning a guys' trip, celebrating a special occasion, or just want to experience some of the best inshore fishing on the South Carolina coast, this charter delivers the goods. Book your trip today and get ready for a day of bent rods and full coolers in the productive waters around Murrells Inlet.
Our 2006 24-foot Ranger center console is built for serious inshore fishing around Murrells Inlet. The Mercury 250HP engine gets you to productive waters fast, cruising at 55 knots to beat other boats to the best spots. With room for up to 3 anglers, there's plenty of casting space without crowding. The fish finder helps locate schools of trout and redfish hiding in the creek channels, while GPS keeps us on productive structure. A wireless trolling motor lets us slip quietly into shallow areas where big reds feed without spooking them. The onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those hot summer days targeting flounder in the grass beds or working the jetties for sheepshead and black drum.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are powerhouse fish that can range from 5-30 pounds, with some bruisers hitting 90+ pounds. These grey-black fighters hang around oyster beds and jetties where they crush shellfish with their strong jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when we target them at our local jetties. What makes them special is that drumming sound they make underwater, plus they're great table fare if you keep the smaller ones under 15 pounds. The bigger fish get tough and stringy. Here's the key: use fresh crab on a Carolina rig and keep your bait right on the bottom. They're notorious for light bites, so stay alert and set the hook quick when you feel that telltale tap.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails that run 18-35 inches around here. These powerful fish cruise shallow flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in just 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Fall and spring offer the best action when they're feeding heavily. What makes them special is their incredible fight and that explosive topwater strike that'll get your heart pumping. Plus they're protected gamefish, so it feels good knowing we're fishing sustainably. The meat on slot-sized fish is excellent too. Best tip I can give: look for nervous water or tailing fish on the flats, then cast a gold spoon or topwater plug just ahead of them. Let it sit a second, then work it slow.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout are beautiful silver fish covered in black spots that typically run 1-5 pounds and 14-24 inches. These speckled fighters love grass flats and shallow creeks where they feed on shrimp and small baitfish. Best fishing happens during warmer months when they're active in 2-6 feet of water, especially around dawn and dusk. Guests enjoy their aggressive strikes and the fact they're some of the best eating fish we catch - mild, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. In winter they school up in deeper holes which makes them easier to find. The secret is using live shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds, or throwing soft plastic jigs that mimic shrimp. Keep the bait moving slowly and listen for that distinctive "pop" when they hit.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their black and white stripes, and they're famous for having human-like teeth that can crush barnacles off pilings. Most run 1-8 pounds, but we occasionally see 20-pounders around the jetties. They live around any structure - docks, bridges, pier pilings - basically anywhere barnacles grow. Spring months are best when they gather for spawning. Guests love them because they're excellent eating with sweet, white meat, plus they're notorious bait thieves which makes the challenge fun. They'll nibble your bait clean off without you knowing. The trick is using a small hook with fiddler crab or shrimp, getting as close to structure as possible, and setting the hook hard the moment you feel weight.
5.0 out of 5.0We have chartered several trips and most have been great. But…this trip topped them all. Tyler and Rocco were the best crew we hav...
Murrells Inlet