Summer Inshore Fishing at Wrightsville Beach
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore charter targeting red drum, spotted seatrout, flounderAll equipment, licenses, and professional guidance included for six guestsLimited summer promotion available through September 1st booking deadline
Captain Ocean Stinger Charters is running a limited-time summer special that's got local anglers talking. This four-hour inshore fishing trip puts you right in the heart of North Carolina's most productive saltwater grounds, targeting the species that make Wrightsville Beach a top-rated fishing destination. We're talking red drum, spotted seatrout, southern flounder, and Spanish mackerel – the bread and butter of Carolina coastal fishing. Whether you're picking up a rod for the first time or you've been working these waters for years, this charter delivers the kind of action that keeps folks coming back season after season.
Your morning starts at the dock where you'll meet your captain and get a quick rundown of the game plan. Ocean Stinger's boat handles up to six anglers comfortably, so you're not packed in like sardines. The four-hour window gives you plenty of time to hit multiple spots without feeling rushed. Your captain knows where the fish are holding based on tides, water temperature, and recent patterns – that's the kind of local knowledge you can't get from YouTube videos. All your tackle, rods, reels, and live bait are covered, plus they handle the fishing licenses and safety gear. You just need to bring drinks, snacks, and something to keep the sun off your back. The boat's equipped for serious fishing, not just a casual ride around the sound.
Inshore fishing around Wrightsville Beach means working the grass flats, oyster bars, creek mouths, and structure where these fish feed. Your captain will likely start with live shrimp under popping corks for seatrout and redfish – it's a proven method that produces consistent action. When targeting flounder, expect to drift with live mud minnows or finger mullet near drop-offs and channel edges. Spanish mackerel often show up when you're working spoons or small jigs around bait schools. The beauty of inshore fishing is the variety – you might be sight-casting to tailing reds one minute and bottom-bouncing for flounder the next. Your captain reads the water conditions and adjusts tactics accordingly, switching between live bait, artificials, and different presentations based on what the fish are telling him.
Red drum are the crown jewel of North Carolina inshore fishing, and summer is prime time around Wrightsville Beach. These copper-colored bruisers range from slot-size fish around 20 inches up to bull reds pushing 40-plus pounds. They're feeding heavily in the warmer months, cruising the grass flats and ambushing baitfish around structure. What makes reds special is their fight – they'll make long, powerful runs and test your drag system. Plus, they're excellent table fare when kept within the slot limit. You'll find them in surprisingly shallow water, sometimes with their backs out of the water as they root around for crabs and shrimp.
Spotted seatrout are the workhorses of the inshore slam, and they're abundant in the sounds and creeks around Wrightsville Beach during summer months. These silver-sided fish average 14-18 inches, with the occasional "gator trout" stretching over 20 inches. They're aggressive feeders that hit live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater lures with authority. Seatrout have a delicate mouth, so you need to keep steady pressure without horsing them to the boat. They're fantastic eating and relatively easy for beginners to catch, making them a customer favorite on mixed-group charters.
Southern flounder are the masters of disguise, lying flat on sandy or muddy bottoms waiting to ambush passing baitfish. Summer brings these flatfish into the shallows where they're more accessible to light-tackle fishing. A decent flounder runs 16-20 inches, but the real prizes are "doormat" fish over 24 inches that can weigh 4-6 pounds. They're tricky to hook because they often grab bait and sit still, so you need patience and the right technique. Once hooked, they fight like a wet towel but make up for it on the dinner plate – flounder are widely considered the best-eating fish in North Carolina waters.
Spanish mackerel show up in schools during summer, creating fast action when you locate them. These smaller members of the mackerel family are built for speed, with razor-sharp teeth and a willingness to hit just about anything that moves. They average 1-2 pounds but make up for size with sheer numbers and aggressive strikes. Spanish mackerel are perfect for kids and beginners because they're easy to catch and put up a respectable fight on light tackle. They also smoke beautifully and make excellent fish dip, so don't overlook these scrappy little fighters.
This summer promo runs until September 1st, and smart anglers are already locking in their dates. Ocean Stinger Charters has built a reputation for putting clients on fish while keeping the experience fun and educational. Four hours gives you enough time to learn some techniques, catch some fish, and maybe even discover a new passion. The all-inclusive approach means you can focus on fishing instead of worrying about gear or licenses. With only six spots available per trip, these charters fill up fast during peak summer season. Book online now to secure your date and take advantage of this seasonal pricing before it's gone.
Your fishing platform for Wrightsville Beach waters is a well-equipped motorboat designed for serious inshore action. This 6-person vessel comes loaded with everything you need to target red drum, spotted seatrout, and flounder in local saltwater. The fish finder helps locate productive spots while GPS keeps you on course to the best fishing grounds. When coastal fog rolls in, the radar system ensures safe navigation back to port. Stay connected with other boats and marine services through the VHF radio system. Between fishing runs, cool off with drinks from the ice box or take a break with the onboard multimedia system. The boat includes a private toilet for convenience during your four-hour charter. Whether you're a weekend angler or seasoned saltwater fisherman, this boat handles North Carolina's inshore waters with ease, giving you the stable platform needed to land those keeper fish.
Sciaenops OcellatusRed drum are the backbone of our inshore fishing here at Wrightsville Beach. These copper-colored bruisers with their signature black spots near the tail typically run 20-35 inches, but we see plenty of bigger "bull" reds that'll test your drag. They love cruising our shallow flats, oyster beds, and marsh edges in 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially during moving tides. What guests love most is watching these fish hunt in skinny water and feeling that powerful run when hooked. They're also excellent table fare with firm, mild meat. The fight is something else - they'll make long runs and use their broad sides against the current. My go-to tip: look for nervous baitfish or muddy water where reds are rooting around for crabs and shrimp.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout are one of our most reliable inshore targets around Wrightsville Beach. These silvery fish with distinctive black spots typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, though bigger ones show up regularly. You'll find them in grass flats, around oyster bars, and shallow bay areas where they hunt shrimp and small baitfish. Summer and fall are prime time when they're active in 2-6 feet of water. What makes them special is their soft strike - they don't slam baits like other fish, so you need to stay alert. The meat is delicate and flaky, perfect for the dinner table if you don't overcook it. Pro tip: when you feel that light tap, count to three before setting the hook. They like to mouth the bait first, and rushing it will pull it right out of their mouth.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy and muddy bottoms around Wrightsville Beach. These flat, oval-shaped fish typically run 15-18 inches, though we catch plenty up to 25 inches that make for great table fare. They're ambush predators that bury themselves in sand near creek mouths, channel edges, and around structure in 3-15 feet of water. Fall is prime time when they're feeding heavily before their offshore winter migration. What guests enjoy is the challenge of finding them and that satisfying thump when they nail your bait. Their white, flaky meat is some of the best eating you'll find inshore. The trick is slow presentation - drift live mud minnows or shrimp right along the bottom near drop-offs. When you feel that subtle weight or tap, don't jerk - just lift steady. They grab prey and hold it, so patience pays off.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are speed demons that show up in good numbers during our warmer months around Wrightsville Beach. These streamlined fish with yellow spots typically measure 12-20 inches and put up a blistering fight that's way bigger than their size suggests. They travel in schools near the surface around structure, inlet mouths, and nearshore waters. Late spring through early fall is peak season when water temps climb and baitfish are thick. What makes them a blast to target is their aggressive strikes and acrobatic jumps - they'll hit fast-moving lures and tear off line like nobody's business. Plus, they're fantastic eating with mild, flaky meat that's perfect grilled or blackened. Here's the key: use light tackle and small, shiny spoons or jigs. When you see birds diving, get there quick - the mackerel are usually right underneath feeding on the same bait.
Wrightsville Beach