Private 6-Hour Nearshore Fishing Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour nearshore fishing adventure with toprated local charter crewTarget Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Red Drum and seasonal speciesPrivate trip accommodates up to four guests off North Carolina coast
Want to get away from the crowds and fish some of the best nearshore waters on the North Carolina coast? This 6-hour private charter with Prop-Wash Charters puts you right where the action is. We're talking about targeting everything from hard-fighting Spanish Mackerel to tackle-busting King Mackerel, plus solid bottom fishing for species like Black Sea Bass and Red Drum. With just you and up to three friends on board, you'll get personalized attention from our experienced crew who know these waters like the back of their hand. We'll work the structure, current breaks, and seasonal hotspots that consistently produce fish while you soak up some of the most beautiful coastal scenery North Carolina has to offer.
This trip is all about variety and putting you on fish. We launch from Morehead City and head to productive nearshore waters where the action changes with the seasons. In spring and fall, we're trolling for Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish in the 20-40 foot range, working schools that show up on the fish finder. Summer brings King Mackerel closer to shore, and we'll pull spoons and live bait to get you hooked up with these speed demons. When the trolling slows down or you want a change of pace, we'll anchor up on some good bottom structure for Black Sea Bass, Grunt, and Ringtail. The boat comfortably handles four anglers, so everyone gets plenty of room to fish without stepping on each other's lines. Bring your own snacks and drinks - cooler space is available - and don't forget reef-safe sunscreen because you'll be out there soaking up some Carolina sunshine.
We run a mix of trolling and bottom fishing techniques depending on what's biting and what you're after. For Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish, we'll pull Clark spoons and small diving plugs at varying speeds until we find what they want. When Kings are around, we step up to bigger spoons, live bait rigs, and sometimes slow-troll cigar minnows or pogies. The bottom fishing setup includes conventional reels loaded with 30-40 pound test, running through 6-8 ounce sinkers to get down to where the Sea Bass and Grunt hang out. We provide all rods, reels, tackle, and bait - you just need to bring your fishing license and be ready to fish. Wire leaders are essential when mackerel are around since their teeth will slice through mono in a heartbeat. Our crew will handle all the rigging and re-baiting, but we're always happy to teach you the setups if you want to learn something new.
Spanish Mackerel are the bread and butter of nearshore fishing here, and they show up in good numbers from late spring through early fall. These fish average 1-3 pounds and fight way above their weight class with blistering runs and acrobatic jumps. They school up over structure and current edges, making them predictable targets when conditions are right. Bluefish complement the Spanish perfectly - they're aggressive, hard-fighting, and excellent table fare when handled properly. King Mackerel are the real prize fish, with nearshore fish running anywhere from 15-40 pounds. They're ambush predators that will absolutely smoke your drag and test your angling skills.
On the bottom fishing side, Black Sea Bass are customer favorites because they're plentiful, fight hard for their size, and taste fantastic. These guys hang around hard bottom, ledges, and artificial reefs in 30-80 feet of water. Red Drum show up year-round but are especially active in fall and winter months. They're powerful fighters that will test your tackle, and slot-sized fish make for some of the best eating you'll find. Grunt and Ringtail round out the bottom species - they might not be glamorous, but they're consistent biters that keep the action going when other species are finicky.
Atlantic Bonito are seasonal visitors that show up in spring and fall, following bait schools along the coast. They're built like miniature tunas and fight accordingly - long, powerful runs that will have your arms burning. Most run 3-8 pounds, but they punch well above their weight and provide some of the most exciting light tackle action you'll find in nearshore waters.
This private 6-hour nearshore trip offers the perfect balance of action, variety, and personalized service that keeps anglers coming back year after year. Whether you're looking to put fish in the cooler, introduce kids to saltwater fishing, or just spend a day on the water with friends, this charter delivers. Our crew knows how to adapt to conditions and put you on whatever's biting, from fast-paced trolling action to relaxing bottom fishing. The private boat means we fish at your pace and target what you want to catch. Book your trip with Prop-Wash Charters and experience why we're one of the top-rated fishing operations in Morehead City. These dates fill up quick during peak season, so don't wait - secure your spot today and get ready for some world-class nearshore fishing off the North Carolina coast.
Step aboard this well-equipped 2018 Tidewater 26' center console that's built for serious nearshore fishing off Morehead City. The spacious layout gives all 4 anglers plenty of room to work while the captain navigates to prime fishing spots using onboard GPS and radar systems. The fish finder helps locate schools of Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, and bottom dwellers like Red Drum and Black Sea Bass in these productive North Carolina waters. Keep your catch fresh in the icebox along with cold drinks and snacks for the 6-hour adventure. The multimedia system provides entertainment during travel time between fishing grounds. This center console design offers excellent visibility and easy movement around the boat when fighting fish or switching between different fishing techniques. The reliable twin engines get you to the fishing grounds quickly and safely back to port with your cooler full of fresh seafood.
Sarda SardaAtlantic bonito are built like small tuna, averaging 3-8 pounds with torpedo-shaped bodies marked by dark stripes along their backs. They travel in large schools that feed aggressively on the surface, often giving themselves away when birds start diving on the bait they're pushing up. You'll find them in our nearshore waters during summer and fall, usually in 30-80 feet over open water. They're incredibly fast swimmers that'll peel drag and jump when hooked. While they're not great table fare here, guests love them for the pure sport - they fight way above their weight class. When you find a feeding school, they'll hit almost anything you throw at them. Best approach: look for bird activity and troll small lures or cast into the melee once you find them.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are chunky bottom dwellers that average 1-3 pounds, with the bigger males developing a distinctive hump on their heads during spawning season. We target them around wrecks, reefs, and hard bottom in 30-80 feet of water. They're most cooperative from late spring through summer when they move inshore to spawn. What makes them fun is their strong initial fight and the fact that they're excellent eating - firm, white meat that's hard to beat. They're curious fish that'll often follow your bait up before striking. These fish start as females and change to males as they grow. My advice: use a two-hook bottom rig with squid or cut bait, and be ready to set the hook fast when you feel that first tap.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive predators that average 2-8 pounds around here, though we sometimes see bigger ones pushing 15 pounds. They travel in schools and are known for their feeding frenzies - when they're on, the action is non-stop. You'll find them in our nearshore waters from spring through fall, often around bait schools in 15-40 feet. They hit hard and fight dirty with sharp teeth that'll cut through mono, so we always use wire leaders. Guests love them because they're scrappy fighters and put meat in the cooler, though smaller "cocktail blues" taste better than the big choppers. Best tip: when you see birds diving and water churning, get there fast - that's a bluefish blitz in action.
Scomberomorus CavallaKing mackerel, or "kings," are the big brothers of the mackerel family, commonly running 15-30 pounds with fish over 50 pounds always possible. They cruise our nearshore waters from late spring through early fall, typically in 40-100 feet over structure or along drop-offs. These fish are built for speed and will test your drag with blistering runs and jumps. Guests target them for the trophy potential and strong fight, though the meat can be a bit oily. They're ambush predators that love live bait like menhaden or blue runners. Key tip: always use a wire leader and rig with two hooks - one in the bait's nose and a stinger hook near the tail, since kings often attack from behind and those razor-sharp teeth will cut you off every time.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are fast-moving fish that typically run 1-3 pounds, with their silver bodies marked by golden spots along the sides. You'll find them in schools near the surface around our nearshore waters, especially over structure and drop-offs in 20-60 feet. They're most active here from late spring through early fall when water temps hit the 70s. These fish are popular with guests because they fight hard for their size and make excellent table fare - mild, flaky meat that's perfect grilled or blackened. They'll hit fast-trolled spoons, small jigs, and live bait like menhaden. Pro tip: when you hook into a school, keep your lures moving quickly through the water column since they're attracted to speed and flash.
Morehead City