3.0(2 Reviews)Half Day Inshore Charter: Black Drum & Sea Trout
3.0(2 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
4-hour inshore charter targets Black Drum and Sea TroutAll fishing gear, bait, and tackle included with tripCaptain Randy guides up to 4 guests in Murrells Inlet
Captain Randy's 4-hour inshore fishing charter puts you right in the heart of Myrtle Beach's most productive fishing waters. You'll be targeting some of the Carolina coast's best eating fish - Black Drum and Sea Trout - along with whatever else decides to bite in the calm waters around Murrells Inlet. This top-rated charter keeps things simple: show up, grab a rod, and start fishing. Perfect for families, first-timers, or seasoned anglers looking for steady action without the rough offshore ride.
Your morning starts at Murrells Inlet, where Captain Randy keeps his boat ready to roll. The beauty of inshore fishing here is you're never more than a few minutes from the dock, but you'll feel like you're in a different world. We're talking about fishing the marshes, creek mouths, and shallow flats where these fish love to hang out. The water stays calm most days, making it perfect for anyone who gets queasy on bigger boats. You'll cover multiple spots during your 4 hours, moving from structure to structure as Captain Randy reads the conditions. The boat handles up to 4 anglers comfortably, so there's plenty of elbow room to work your lines. All your tackle, bait, and gear comes with the trip - you just need to bring yourself, some snacks, and drinks to keep you going.
Inshore fishing around Murrells Inlet means adapting to what the fish want on any given day. Captain Randy sets everyone up with medium-action spinning rods that can handle everything from finicky Sea Trout to bulldogging Black Drum. You'll be using live shrimp, finger mullet, and cut bait depending on what's working. The technique varies by target - sometimes you're bouncing bottom rigs near oyster beds for Black Drum, other times you're working popping corks over grass flats for Speckled Trout. The captain reads the tides and weather to put you on fish, whether that means drifting creek channels, anchoring near structure, or sight fishing shallow water. Don't worry if you've never fished these waters before - Captain Randy walks you through everything from bait presentation to fighting techniques. The gear handles fish ranging from schoolie Mackerel up to slot-limit Black Drum, so you're covered for whatever grabs your line.
"Would definitely book with him again" - Jason
"Captain Lucas was very nice and helpful! The trip itself was the worse trip that we have had. Only caught 5 fish total, and two of us didn't catch anything. Paid more than we ever have to fish, and didn't go very far out." - Nancy
Spanish Mackerel show up in good numbers during warmer months, typically from late spring through early fall. These silvery speedsters hit fast and fight hard for their size, usually running 1-3 pounds around here. They love to school up near creek mouths and around bait pods, making them a customer favorite for consistent action. Kids especially love Mackerel because they bite aggressively and don't require much finesse - perfect for building confidence on the water.
Southern Flounder are the ultimate ambush predators in these waters, laying flat on sandy bottoms waiting for an easy meal. Fall months bring the best Flounder fishing as they fatten up before their offshore spawning run. A keeper Flounder here runs 15-20 inches, and they're hands-down some of the best eating fish in these waters. The trick is working your bait slowly along the bottom near structure - when a Flounder hits, you'll feel that distinctive thump-thump before they try to bury back into the sand.
Black Drum are the workhorses of Myrtle Beach inshore fishing, available year-round but peaking in cooler months. These copper-colored bruisers average 5-15 pounds around the inlet, though bigger fish show up regularly. They're bottom feeders with a serious attitude - once hooked, they'll test your drag and your patience with their bulldogging runs. Black Drum love oyster beds, bridge pilings, and creek channels where they root around for crabs and shellfish. The slot limit protects the breeding stock, so you'll likely catch and release the bigger ones while keeping a few slot fish for the dinner table.
Spadefish are the wild cards on these trips, showing up around structure during warmer months in surprising numbers. These deep-bodied fish look almost tropical with their vertical stripes and can put up a surprisingly good fight for their size. They're curious fish that often approach the boat in schools, creating some exciting visual fishing opportunities. Spadefish typically run 1-3 pounds and make excellent table fare with their firm, white meat.
Sea Trout, or Speckled Trout as locals call them, are the bread and butter of Myrtle Beach inshore fishing. These spotted beauties are most active during dawn and dusk feeding periods, though you can catch them throughout the day around grass beds and creek mouths. A good Trout here runs 14-18 inches, with larger "gator trout" showing up occasionally to make your day. They're notorious for their soft mouths, so you'll learn the art of playing them gently to avoid pulled hooks. Sea Trout respond well to both live bait and artificial lures, making them perfect for anglers who want to try different techniques during the trip.
This 4-hour inshore charter delivers exactly what most anglers want - steady fishing action in comfortable conditions with a captain who knows these waters inside and out. You're not just buying a fishing trip; you're getting local knowledge that takes years to develop on your own.
Captain Randy's inshore boat is built for productive fishing in the calm waters around Murrells Inlet. This motorboat handles up to 4 anglers comfortably while you target Black Drum, Sea Trout, and other popular species along the Carolina coast. The fish finder helps locate schools holding in structure, while the wireless trolling motor lets you work the shallows quietly without spooking fish. GPS navigation keeps you on the productive spots Captain Randy knows best. The radar comes in handy when coastal fog rolls in during your 4-hour trip. An onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold and preserves your catch. All fishing gear, bait, and tackle are provided, so just bring snacks and get ready for steady action in Myrtle Beach's prime inshore waters.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bulldozers of the inshore waters, typically weighing 5-30 pounds with some giants pushing 50+ pounds. These powerful fish cruise oyster beds, shallow flats, and creek mouths using their crushing jaws to eat crabs, oysters, and shrimp. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them easier to target. You'll hear their distinctive drumming sound underwater when they're around. What anglers love is their strong, steady fight and the challenge of getting them to bite. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make great table fare. Fresh blue crab or shrimp on a circle hook fished right on the bottom works best. Key tip: when you see muddy water stirred up in shallow areas, that's usually drum rooting around feeding - drop your bait right in that mud cloud.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them, are one of our most popular targets running 1-5 pounds with beautiful spotted sides. These fish love grass flats, creek mouths, and shallow waters where they hunt shrimp and small baitfish. Fall through spring offers the best action when water temps cool down, and they often feed actively at dawn and dusk. What guests enjoy is their willingness to bite and their excellent eating quality - soft, white meat that's perfect fried or blackened. They're also great for beginners since they're forgiving and fight well on light tackle. Live shrimp under a popping cork is deadly effective, but soft plastic jigs work great too. Local secret: target moving water around oyster bars during tide changes - the current brings baitfish and the trout follow right behind them.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise that lie buried in sandy and muddy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches and can reach impressive sizes up to 20+ pounds. Both eyes sit on their left side, and they can change color to match the bottom perfectly. Fall and winter are prime time when they move through our inlets and creeks heading offshore. What guests love is the challenge of sight fishing for them in shallow water and their excellent table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They prefer structure like oyster beds, dock pilings, and creek mouths in 2-15 feet of water. My go-to trick is using live mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig, but move it slow and keep it right on the bottom where they're waiting.
Chaetodipterus FaberSpadefish are the disc-shaped fighters that'll surprise you with their strength once hooked. These silver beauties with black vertical stripes typically weigh 3-10 pounds and love to school around structures like jetties, reefs, and dock pilings. Summer and early fall are your best bet when they move into our warmer inshore waters. What makes them fun to target is their schooling behavior - find one and you've usually found a bunch. They put up a solid fight for their size and make decent table fare with firm, white meat. These fish have small mouths, so downsizing your hooks is key. Fresh clam on a small circle hook works magic, but here's the trick: once you locate a school, work fast because they spook easily. Cast past them and drag your bait through the school to get their attention.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are fast, aggressive fish that run 1-3 pounds on average, with their silver bodies covered in yellow spots making them easy to identify. These speedsters love to school up near the surface around structures, jetties, and grass flats in our warm months from late spring through fall. They hit hard and make blistering runs that'll test your drag. What makes them popular is their willingness to bite just about anything - spoons, jigs, or live bait like shrimp and small baitfish. The meat is excellent eating with a mild flavor that's perfect grilled or smoked. Pro tip: when you see diving birds working baitfish, get ready - there's usually a school of Spanish mackerel feeding underneath. Use light tackle and keep your lures moving fast to trigger their aggressive strikes.
3.0 out of 5.0Would definitely book with him again
Captain Lucas was very nice and helpful! The trip itself was the worse trip that we have had. Only caught 5 fish total, and two o...
Myrtle Beach, SC