Expert Guided Inshore Fishing Adventure in Myrtle Beach
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full day inshore fishing with experienced Captain KeithTarget Cobia, Sea Trout, and Flounder speciesAll fishing gear included for up to 3 guests
When you're looking for a proper inshore fishing adventure along the Carolina coast, Captain Keith's full-day charter out of Myrtle Beach delivers exactly what serious anglers want. This isn't some tourist trap operation – we're talking about a focused fishing trip targeting prime species in waters that consistently produce. You'll spend the day working the flats, channels, and structure where the fish actually live, not just burning fuel hoping to get lucky. With room for just three anglers, you get the personal attention and prime fishing spots that bigger boats can't offer.
Captain Keith knows these South Carolina inshore waters like the back of his hand, and that local knowledge makes all the difference when you're chasing fish that move with the tides, weather, and seasons. Your full day starts early – we're talking about maximizing your time on productive water, not sleeping in. The boat comes rigged with everything you need to fish effectively: quality rods, reels spooled with fresh line, tackle boxes loaded with the right baits and lures for current conditions. You'll be working everything from shallow grass flats where redfish cruise to deeper channels where cobia patrol. The captain adjusts tactics throughout the day based on what's biting, tides, and where the bait is holding. Pack your own food and drinks because you'll be out there putting in serious fishing time, and there's nothing worse than being hungry when the bite turns on.
Inshore fishing around Myrtle Beach means adapting your approach to match what the fish are doing. Some days you'll be sight-fishing with live bait, watching for tailing redfish or cruising cobia. Other times it's about working structure with jigs and soft plastics, bouncing bottom for flounder or working the water column for sea trout. Captain Keith provides spinning and conventional tackle suited for the species you're targeting – medium to heavy action rods that can handle everything from finicky trout to bull reds that want to drag you into the marsh. The boat stays stocked with live bait when available, plus a solid selection of artificials that produce consistently. Circle hooks for live bait fishing, sharp jig heads for soft plastics, and leaders heavy enough to handle toothy fish without being so heavy they spook the smart ones. You'll learn to read the water, understand how structure holds fish, and pick up techniques that'll make you a better angler long after this trip ends.
Southern flounder are the bread and butter of Myrtle Beach inshore fishing, and these flatfish know how to test your patience and skills. They hold tight to bottom structure, channel edges, and anywhere current brings them food. Spring through fall offers the best action, with summer producing the biggest fish. What makes flounder fishing addictive is the subtlety – these fish don't slam baits like a redfish. You feel weight, maybe a gentle tap, then it's game on. They fight dirty too, using that flat body to plane against the current. Captain Keith knows the productive spots where flounder stack up, and he'll teach you to feel the difference between a flounder pickup and just dragging bottom.
Spadefish bring a completely different energy to your day, and when you find a school, the action gets fast. These silver bullets love structure – bridges, jetties, artificial reefs – and they travel in groups that can turn a slow day into non-stop action. Summer months see the biggest concentrations, and spadefish have this habit of being either completely cooperative or maddeningly finicky. When they're biting, you'll catch them on everything from small jigs to cut bait. They're excellent table fare and fight harder than their size suggests, making multiple runs and using every inch of their disc-shaped body to leverage against your drag.
Sheepshead fishing around Myrtle Beach separates the serious anglers from the casual crowd. These convict-striped thieves have mouths full of crushing teeth and the skills to steal bait without getting hooked. They hang around structure year-round but peak in spring when they move shallow to spawn. Fiddler crabs, barnacles, and shrimp work best, but your presentation has to be perfect. Light line, small hooks, and patience – lots of patience. When you do hook a good sheepshead, you've earned it. They're notorious bait stealers, but that's exactly why landing one feels so satisfying.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, roam the grass flats and channel edges throughout the warmer months. These spotted predators respond well to artificial lures, making them perfect for anglers who like active fishing. Soft plastic shrimp under popping corks, topwater plugs at dawn and dusk, and suspending twitch baits all produce when you're in the right areas. Trout fishing teaches you to read water – finding the drop-offs, grass edges, and current breaks where these fish ambush prey. They're not the biggest fish you'll catch, but consistent trout action keeps your day interesting while you're waiting for something larger to show up.
Cobia represent the prize catch of any inshore trip, and Myrtle Beach waters hold some impressive fish. These bronze sharks cruise alone or in small groups, often following rays or sharks looking for stirred-up prey. Spring migration brings the most opportunities, but resident fish provide shots year-round. Cobia fishing requires staying alert – these fish appear without warning, and you need to react quickly with the right presentation. They'll eat live bait, large jigs, even topwater plugs when they're aggressive. A good cobia will test your tackle and your nerves, making long runs and using their broad tail to maximum advantage.
This full-day charter with Captain Keith gives you serious fishing time on productive inshore waters without the crowds and chaos of larger operations. You'll work prime fishing spots, learn techniques that actually work, an
Your fishing platform for the day is a well-equipped motorboat designed to get you on the fish along the South Carolina coast. This 3-person vessel comes with everything you need for a productive day chasing Cobia, Sea Trout, and Flounder in the inshore waters. The onboard fish finder will help Capt. Keith locate the best spots, while the GPS keeps you on track. When it's time for some stealthy fishing, the wireless trolling motor lets you move quietly without spooking the fish. An ice box keeps your catch fresh, and there's a toilet onboard for convenience during your full day on the water. All fishing gear is provided, so just bring your appetite for some great inshore action and don't forget to pack your lunch!
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the brown bombers of inshore fishing - big, powerful fish that can hit 6 feet and 100 pounds. These solo hunters cruise near the surface around buoys, wrecks, and channel markers, often mistaken for sharks with their dark color and single dorsal fin. Spring migration from April through June is prime time when they move through our waters heading north. Guests love them because they're aggressive fighters and make premium table fare - firm, white meat that rivals any fish. Most run 20-40 pounds here, giving you a real workout on medium tackle. You'll usually sight-fish them in 20-60 feet of water. My go-to technique: cast a bucktail jig or live eel ahead of cruising fish and work it back with steady retrieves. They're curious but spooky, so one shot is often all you get.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout are the bread and butter of inshore fishing here - silver sides covered in black spots with that classic elongated body. Most run 14-24 inches and about 1-5 pounds, perfect for light tackle action. They love grass flats and shallow bays, especially at dawn and dusk when they feed on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring through fall are prime, but winter can be great when they school up in deeper holes. Guests enjoy them because they fight well for their size and make excellent eating with sweet, tender meat. They're also pretty forgiving for beginners. Best bet is to work the grass edges with live shrimp under a popping cork or throw soft plastics on light jigheads. Key tip: fish moving water where the grass meets sand - that's their highway.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their black and white stripes and human-like teeth that crunch barnacles off dock pilings. These 1-8 pounders hang tight to structure - bridges, jetties, oyster bars - anywhere they can find crustaceans to munch. Spring is prime time when they spawn around passes and reefs, but you can catch them year-round near hard bottom. Guests love the challenge since they're notorious bait thieves with light bites. The white, flaky meat rivals snapper for table fare. They're spooky fish, so approach structure quietly and get your bait tight to the pilings. My trick: use fiddler crabs or fresh shrimp on a small hook, feel for that subtle tap, then set hard - their bony mouths need a firm hookset to penetrate.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise - these flat fish bury themselves in sandy bottoms and change color to match their surroundings. They're unique with both eyes on their left side and can grow up to 33 inches, though most run 15-18 inches. You'll find them in shallow coastal waters, bays, and around structure where they ambush prey like shrimp and small fish. Fall and winter are prime time when they move toward deeper channels. Guests love the challenge since they're notorious bait thieves, plus they make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. My tip: use live bull minnows on a slip sinker rig and feel for that subtle tap - set the hook quick before they steal your bait and disappear back into the sand.
Chaetodipterus FaberSpadefish are the silver dollars of the sea with their disk-shaped bodies and distinctive black stripes. These 3-10 pound fighters travel in massive schools around reefs, wrecks, and nearshore structures during summer months. They're popular with anglers because they put up a solid fight despite their size and school up in huge numbers - sometimes 500 fish together. The meat is decent eating, though most folks target them for the action. You'll spot them in 20-60 feet of water around jetties and artificial reefs. Best fishing is late spring through early fall when they're feeding heavily on small crabs and jellyfish. Pro tip: use fresh clam on a small circle hook and cast past the school, then drag your bait through them - they're curious and will usually investigate.
North Myrtle Beach