2-Hour Inshore Fishing Adventure in Hilton Head
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
2hour inshore fishing trip targeting redfish, flounder, and sharksCaptain provides all equipment, bait, and fishing licenses includedSmall group experience accommodating up to 4 guests maximum
Looking for a quick fishing fix without burning your whole day? Captain Richard's 2-hour inshore trip around Hilton Head Island delivers serious action in a short window. This top-rated charter gets you on the fish fast, targeting prime spots where redfish cruise the flats and black drum root around oyster beds. With everything provided – tackle, bait, and fishing licenses – you just show up ready to wet a line. Perfect for families, first-timers, or seasoned anglers who want to squeeze in some fishing between other vacation plans.
Captain Richard knows these Lowcountry waters like the back of his hand, and he's got this 2-hour window dialed in perfectly. You'll launch from Hilton Head and immediately head to productive inshore spots where the action happens. Think shallow grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths where gamefish ambush baitfish. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – one cast might bring up a scrappy redfish, the next could hook into a hard-fighting black drum or even a blacktip shark that'll test your drag. With a max of 4 anglers, everyone gets plenty of room to fish and personal attention from the captain.
This isn't deep-sea trolling – inshore fishing is all about reading the water and putting baits where fish are feeding. Captain Richard runs light to medium tackle perfect for the species you'll target. You'll likely be bottom fishing with cut bait around structure for black drum and sheepshead, while also working live shrimp or finger mullet for redfish cruising the flats. The captain provides everything from circle hooks to sinkers, plus fresh bait that these fish can't resist. Expect to fish depths from 3 to 20 feet, where you can often see the bottom and sometimes even spot your target before you cast.
Black Sea Bass pack a punch for their size and love hanging around hard bottom and structure. These chunky fighters typically run 12-16 inches around Hilton Head, with bigger ones pushing 20 inches. They're aggressive biters and great table fare, making them a customer favorite. Spring through fall offers the best action when they're actively feeding in the warmer months. Black Drum are the bulldozers of the inshore world, often weighing 20-40 pounds around here. These bottom-dwellers use their pharyngeal teeth to crush oysters and crabs, creating that distinctive drumming sound. They're year-round residents but bite best during cooler months when they're more active.
Sheepshead earn their nickname "convict fish" thanks to those distinctive black bars, but anglers know them as some of the wariest biters around. Their human-like teeth are perfectly designed for picking crabs and barnacles off structure, which makes them incredibly light biters. When you do hook one, expect a strong, stubborn fight and excellent eating. Redfish are the crown jewel of Lowcountry inshore fishing, with their copper-bronze sides and distinctive black spot near the tail. Slot-size reds (16-27 inches) provide explosive strikes and drag-screaming runs. They're ambush predators that love shallow water, making them perfect for this type of fishing.
Blacktip Sharks add serious excitement to any inshore trip, often showing up when you least expect them. These sleek predators typically run 3-5 feet around Hilton Head and are famous for their acrobatic jumps when hooked. They're catch-and-release only, but the fight is what you'll remember – pure adrenaline as they peel line and launch themselves out of the water. Summer months bring the best blacktip action when they move into shallow water to feed.
Two hours might sound short, but Captain Richard makes every minute count. This world-class inshore fishing experience gives you a real taste of what Hilton Head's waters have to offer, whether you're a local looking for a quick fishing fix or a visitor wanting to experience some of South Carolina's best inshore action. With licenses included and all gear provided, there's no hassle – just show up and get ready to bend some rods. Book your spot on this customer favorite charter and see why Hilton Head's inshore fishing keeps anglers coming back for more.
Your fishing platform for this 2-hour inshore adventure around Hilton Head Island is a well-equipped motorboat that gets you to the fish fast and keeps you comfortable while you're working the waters. With room for up to 4 anglers, there's plenty of space to cast lines without getting tangled up with your fishing buddies. The boat comes loaded with GPS navigation to hit all the productive spots Captain Richard knows, plus a quality fish finder that'll show you exactly what's swimming below - whether it's a school of Spanish Mackerel or a hefty Redfish cruising the grass flats. The setup is perfect for targeting the variety of species these SC waters are famous for, from aggressive Jack Crevalle that'll test your drag to tasty Flounder hiding in the sandy bottom. Captain Richard keeps everything stocked and ready - fresh bait, tackle, and even handles the fishing licenses so you can focus on hooking up with Black Drum, King Mackerel, and maybe even tangling with one of the awesome shark species that patrol these inshore waters.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bulldozers of the inshore waters, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some monsters hitting 50+ pounds. They love muddy flats, oyster beds, and shallow creeks where they crush crabs and shellfish with those powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. What guests love is the raw power these fish bring to the fight, especially the big ones that'll test your drag system. The smaller fish under 15 pounds are fantastic eating, but the big ones get tough and stringy. My local secret: fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig worked slowly along oyster beds during an incoming tide - that combo is hard to beat around here.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are solid fighters that typically run 1-4 pounds around Hilton Head, though we see some pushing 8+ pounds. These chunky members of the grouper family love structure - think jetties, wrecks, and rocky bottom in 20-60 feet of water. They're most active from late spring through summer when they move closer to shore. What makes them special is that unique sex-changing ability - they start as females and switch to males around 9-13 inches. Guests love the steady action since they school up around structure, plus they make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. My tip: once you find one, work that spot thoroughly with squid or cut bait on a two-hook rig - where there's one, there's usually more.
Carcharhinus LimbatusBlacktips are the acrobats of the shark world, averaging 3-5 feet but capable of reaching 7+ feet. They patrol shallow waters around 30-60 feet, often coming right into the surf zone chasing baitfish. Summer months bring the best action when they're most active in warmer water. What sets them apart is their aerial show - these sharks will jump clear out of the water when hooked, spinning and thrashing in spectacular fashion. They're scrappy fighters that make long runs and test your tackle. We catch and release these beauties since they're important to the ecosystem. My tip: fresh cut mackerel or live shrimp on circle hooks with 40-pound leader - and keep that rod tip up when they jump or they'll throw the hook on you.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing, running 18-32 inches with that signature bronze color and black spot near the tail. They cruise shallow flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. Fall and spring offer the best action when they school up and feed aggressively before and after spawning season. What guests love is the visual fishing - watching these copper-colored fish cruise the shallows and explode on topwater lures. They fight hard with long runs and headshakes, plus they're excellent table fare. My go-to setup: work a gold spoon or topwater plug along grass edges during moving tides, especially around dawn and dusk when they're most active in the shallows.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the pickpockets of the fish world - those human-like teeth aren't just for show. They typically run 2-5 pounds around docks, bridge pilings, and oyster bars where they pick off barnacles and crabs. Winter through early spring is prime time when they stack up around structure before spawning. What makes them frustrating but fun is how they'll steal your bait if you're not paying attention, but once hooked, they put up a decent scrap. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in these waters - white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. My advice: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, keep your bait tight to the structure, and set the hook the instant you feel weight - hesitate and they'll clean you out every time.
Bluffton, SC