Inshore Fishing Charter in Ocean Isle Beach
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore charter targeting redfish and flounder speciesTwentytwo foot Simmons flats boat accommodates four guests maximumAll bait, tackle, and fishing licenses included with booking
When you're looking for some serious inshore action along the North Carolina coast, this 6-hour afternoon fishing charter out of Ocean Isle Beach delivers everything you want in a day on the water. We're talking about getting after redfish, flounder, trout, and Spanish mackerel in some of the most productive inshore waters you'll find anywhere. Whether you've been fishing these waters for years or you're picking up a rod for the first time, this charter is designed to put fish in the boat and grins on faces. Oak Island Sport Fishing Charter knows these waters like the back of their hand, and they'll have you fishing the creeks, flats, and structure where the fish actually live.
You'll be fishing from a 22-foot Simmons flats boat that's built specifically for this kind of inshore work. This isn't some deep-water behemoth – it's the perfect platform for getting into those skinny water spots where the redfish cruise and the flounder lay up waiting for an easy meal. The boat draws shallow enough to access the back creeks and grass flats, but it's stable enough to handle the open sounds when we need to make a move to find the bite. Your captain knows when to work the docks for trout, when to hit the oyster bars for reds, and where the flounder stack up during different tides. Everything you need is included – bait, tackle, and fishing licenses for up to four anglers. The afternoon timing is perfect because you'll be fishing the prime feeding windows when these inshore species are most active.
Inshore fishing in Ocean Isle Beach is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish are doing. We'll be using light to medium spinning tackle that's perfectly suited for these inshore species – sensitive enough to feel that subtle flounder bite, but with enough backbone to handle a bull red when it decides to make a run. Depending on conditions and what we're targeting, you might be throwing soft plastics on jig heads, working live bait under popping corks, or casting spoons and topwater plugs when the fish are feeding aggressively. The beauty of fishing these inshore waters is the variety – one minute you're sight fishing for tailing redfish in two feet of water, the next you're working a creek mouth where the trout are stacked up waiting for the tide to bring them dinner. Your guide will have you rigged and ready for whatever bite we find.
The redfish around Ocean Isle Beach are the real deal – these copper-colored bulldogs will test your drag and give you a fight you won't forget. Most of the slot reds we're catching are running 18 to 27 inches, perfect eating size, and they're showing up consistently around oyster bars, creek mouths, and shallow flats. When conditions are right, you might even get a shot at some oversized drum that'll have your arms burning. Southern flounder are another customer favorite, and for good reason – they're excellent table fare and they can be surprisingly scrappy for a flatfish. The trout bite has been solid, with fish ranging from keeper-sized specks up to some nice gator trout that'll make your day. Spanish mackerel add some speed to the mix when they're around, and when the false albacore and bonita show up, you better hold on because those fish will smoke your drag in a hurry.
Sea Trout are the bread and butter of inshore fishing here, and they're active year-round with peak action from spring through fall. These spotted beauties typically run 12 to 16 inches, though the occasional gator trout over 20 inches will really make your trip memorable. They love structure – docks, creek bends, and drop-offs – and they'll hit both live bait and artificials. What makes trout so popular with anglers is their willingness to bite and their excellent eating quality. They're also great for beginners because they're aggressive and fight hard for their size.
Redfish are the ultimate inshore game fish, and the Ocean Isle Beach area consistently produces quality fish. These bronze-backed fighters typically range from 16 to 30 inches, with the slot-sized fish (18 to 27 inches) providing the perfect combination of sport and table fare. Reds are most active during warmer months but can be caught year-round. They're ambush predators that love to cruise shallow flats and hang around structure like oyster bars and dock pilings. When a redfish takes your bait, you'll know it – they make powerful runs and use their broad sides to fight in the current.
Spanish Mackerel bring serious speed and excitement to inshore fishing, typically showing up from late spring through early fall. These silver torpedoes usually run 12 to 18 inches and they're absolutely explosive when they hit your lure. They school up around structure and baitfish, and when you find them, the action can be non-stop. Their razor-sharp teeth and blistering runs make every hookup an adventure, and they're fantastic on the dinner table when prepared fresh.
Southern Flounder are the chameleons of the inshore world, and they're prized for both their fighting ability and their incredible taste. Most keeper flounder here run 15 to 20 inches, though the occasional doormat over 24 inches will really test your skills. They're most active from spring through fall, lying in ambush near creek mouths, channel edges, and around structure. Flounder fishing requires patience and finesse – their bite can be subtle, but once you figure out their rhythm, they're addictive to target. They're hands-down one of the best eating fish in these waters.
This top-rated inshore charter combines everything that makes fishing the North Carolina coast special – productive waters
This 2017 22' Simmons flats boat is built for serious inshore fishing along the North Carolina coast. Powered by a reliable 250HP Mercury engine, she cuts through shallow waters and navigates tight creeks where the big redfish and flounder like to hide. The boat's shallow draft design gets you into those productive backwater spots that bigger vessels can't reach, while the spacious casting deck gives all four anglers plenty of room to work their lines. Whether you're sight-casting to tailing reds in skinny water or drifting over sandy bottoms for flounder, this boat delivers a stable, comfortable platform. The dry ride means you stay focused on fishing instead of getting soaked, and there's enough storage for all the gear you need for a full day on the water chasing whatever's biting in Ocean Isle's productive inshore waters.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are built like copper-colored bulldozers, averaging 20-30 inches in our waters with that distinctive black spot near their tail. You'll find them cruising super shallow flats where their backs sometimes break the surface, around oyster bars, dock pilings, and marsh edges in 1-4 feet of water. They bite year-round here, but fall brings the best action when they school up heavily. What guests love most is watching these fish "tail" in skinny water and the bulldogging fight they put up once hooked. They're also outstanding eating with mild, flaky meat. My go-to trick is to look for nervous water or mullet jumping - redfish are usually pushing bait underneath. Cast past the disturbance and work your bait back through it.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout around Ocean Isle run 14-24 inches and average 1-5 pounds, though we occasionally hook bigger ones. These silvery fish with black spots love our grass flats and shallow creeks, especially during dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring through fall gives you the best action, with cooler months pushing them into deeper channels. What makes trout fishing fun is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials - they're scrappy fighters that make great table fare with their flaky white meat. Pro tip: work your lure slow and low through the grass beds, and always carry a variety of colors since they can be picky about what they want on any given day.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are the ultimate ambush predators - flat, oval-shaped fish that lie buried in sand and mud waiting to hammer passing prey. Most of ours run 15-18 inches, though we catch some pushing 25+ inches on good days. Look for them on sandy and muddy bottoms in shallow bays, around creek mouths, and near structure where current brings food. Fall is absolutely prime time when they fatten up before heading offshore for winter. Guests enjoy the challenge of sight-fishing for them in clear water, plus they're top-notch table fare with sweet, white meat. Best advice: fish slow with live mud minnows or finger mullet near the bottom, and watch your rod tip carefully - flounder often pick up bait gently before swimming off with it.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are speed demons that'll test your reflexes - sleek, silvery fish with yellow spots that typically run 1-2 feet long and pack serious attitude. Around Ocean Isle, we find them near structure in open water, around jetties, and chasing bait schools close to shore during warmer months. Summer into early fall is prime time when water temps climb and they move inshore to feed. Anglers love them because they hit hard, fight fast, and make some of the best eating fish in the ocean - mild flavor that's perfect grilled or smoked. Key tip: when you see diving birds or bait getting busted on the surface, get there quick with small spoons or jigs. These fish move constantly, so speed is everything when you locate a feeding school.
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