8 Hour Oregon Inlet Inshore Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday inshore fishing targeting Speckled Trout and RedfishExpert guides provide professional equipment and local knowledgeEighthour charter accommodates up to four guests
When you're looking for world-class inshore fishing on the Outer Banks, Oregon Inlet delivers like nowhere else. This top-rated 8-hour charter puts you right in the heart of some of North Carolina's most productive inshore waters, where the sound meets the Atlantic and fish pile up in serious numbers. You'll be fishing with Reel Thang Charters OBX, a crew that knows these waters like the back of their hand and has the track record to prove it. With room for up to 4 anglers, this is your chance to get on the fish without dealing with crowded party boats or tourist traps.
Your day starts early at Oregon Inlet, where you'll meet your captain and get the rundown on conditions and game plan. These aren't your typical weekend warriors – they're full-time guides who live and breathe these waters year-round. The boat comes loaded with quality tackle, fresh bait, and all the gear you need, so you can focus on fishing instead of rigging lines. You'll spend 8 solid hours working the flats, channels, and structure around the inlet, hitting spots that produce fish consistently. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – one minute you're sight-casting to tailing reds in shallow water, the next you're bouncing bottom for keeper flounder. Your guide reads the water, weather, and tides to put you where the fish are biting, adjusting tactics throughout the day to keep rods bent.
Oregon Inlet fishing is all about versatility and reading conditions. Your captain will have you rigged with everything from live bait rigs to artificial lures, depending on what's working. When the trout are schooled up, you might be throwing soft plastics on jig heads or working topwater plugs at first light. For redfish, it's often about live or cut bait on the bottom, especially around structure and drop-offs. Flounder fishing typically means bouncing bucktails with Gulp trailers or drifting live minnows near channel edges. The key is staying mobile – successful inshore fishing means covering water and adapting to what the fish want. Your guide handles boat positioning, fish finding, and tactical decisions, but don't expect to just sit back and wait. This is active fishing where you'll learn to feel strikes, set hooks properly, and fight fish in shallow water where they can use current and structure to their advantage.
Bluefish are the workhorses of Oregon Inlet, and when they're here, they're here in numbers. These aggressive feeders hit hard and fight dirty, making screaming runs that'll test your drag. Spring and fall see the best bluefish action, with schools of choppers ranging from snapper-size fish perfect for the table up to hefty 8-10 pounders that'll give you a real workout. They're not picky eaters – live bait, cut bait, spoons, plugs – blues will crush just about anything you throw at them when they're feeding.
Summer flounder are the prize catch for many anglers, and Oregon Inlet consistently produces some of the best doormat fishing on the East Coast. These bottom-dwellers love structure, channel edges, and areas where baitfish concentrate. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, with the biggest fish often coming from deeper water during summer months. Landing a 5-pound-plus flounder is a real accomplishment – they're masters of using the current to their advantage and have a knack for finding every piece of structure on the bottom.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the bread and butter of inshore fishing here. These beautiful fish are incredibly popular because they bite consistently, fight well for their size, and taste fantastic. Peak trout fishing happens in spring and fall when water temperatures are in their comfort zone. They school up around grass flats, channel mouths, and anywhere there's moving water and bait. A 2-3 pound speck is a quality fish, and when you find a school, you can often catch several before they wise up.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing, and Oregon Inlet offers some of the most consistent red drum fishing on the Outer Banks. These bronze bulldogs are available year-round but really turn on during fall months. Slot-size reds (18-27 inches) are perfect eating, while oversized fish provide trophy potential. Reds are notorious for their dogged fights – they use their broad sides to bulldoze through the water and rarely come to the boat easily. Finding tailing reds in shallow water is pure sight-fishing at its best.
Cobia are the wildcard species that can make any trip legendary. These curious brown sharks (they're actually not sharks at all) show up around structure, crab pot buoys, and sometimes just cruise the shallows looking for an easy meal. Cobia season peaks in late spring and early summer, and while they're not always around, when you connect with one, you'll never forget it. A 30-40 pound cobia will test your tackle, your technique, and your endurance – they're powerful fish that make long runs and don't give up easily.
Oregon Inlet inshore fishing offers everything you want in a charter – consistent action, variety, and the chance at fish you'll be talking about for years. This 8-hour trip gives you real time on the water to experience different techniques, target multiple species, and actually learn something about inshore fishing. Whether you're trying to put together a cooler full of fillets or chase that personal best, these waters deliver. The guides at Reel Thang Charters know where the fish are and how to catch them, but more importantly, they know how to put you on fish and help you succeed. Don't wait around hoping for perfect conditions – book your trip and get out there where the
Hit the inshore waters of Oregon Inlet aboard this reliable 27-foot Parker center console, perfect for targeting speckled trout, redfish, and flounder in the productive waters around the Outer Banks. This 2001 vessel gets a serious boost from its brand-new 2024 Suzuki 300HP engine, cruising smoothly at speeds up to 40 knots to get you to the fish fast and back to the dock comfortably. The center console design gives everyone easy access to the action, while the flybridge provides an elevated view for spotting fish and navigating shallow waters. Essential fishing gear includes a fish finder to locate schools, GPS for precise positioning on productive spots, and radar for those foggy mornings when the fish are biting. An icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during the 8-hour adventure. With room for up to 6 anglers, this boat strikes the right balance between fishing space and maneuverability in Oregon Inlet's diverse inshore environment.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive feeders that show up in our waters from late spring through fall, typically running 3-15 pounds with some reaching 20+. These silver-blue fish are voracious predators with razor-sharp teeth, so watch your fingers! You'll find them in schools around Oregon Inlet, often feeding in shallow water where they create those famous "bluefish blitzes" - churning water as they attack baitfish. They hit hard and fight strong, making them perfect for anglers wanting consistent action. The meat is excellent when fresh, especially smaller fish. Pro tip: when you see diving birds working the surface, get there fast - there's likely a school of blues underneath tearing into baitfish.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the bruisers of the inshore game, averaging 20-50 pounds with fish over 60 pounds caught regularly around Oregon Inlet. These brown, shark-like fish are loners that cruise near the surface around structure - think channel markers, pilings, and wrecks in 15-50 feet of water. Late spring through early fall is prime time when they migrate through our area. What makes cobia fishing exciting is the visual aspect - you literally sight-fish for them as they swim just under the surface. They fight like freight trains and are some of the best eating fish in the ocean with firm, white meat. The trick is patience and having a bucktail jig or live eel ready when you spot one cruising.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the backbone of our inshore fishing, with most fish running 18-28 inches and weighing 3-8 pounds. You'll spot them by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black eyespot near the tail. These drum love super shallow water - we're talking 1-4 feet around grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths. They're year-round residents but really turn on during spring and fall. What makes reds special is their power - they'll strip drag and make long runs that test your tackle. Plus, they're excellent eating when kept within slot limits. My favorite approach is sight fishing with topwater plugs or soft plastics. Watch for "tailing" fish in shallow water - when you see that tail wagging above the surface, make a quiet cast ahead of them.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are one of our most popular inshore targets, averaging 14-18 inches with occasional "gator trout" hitting 4-6 pounds. These spotted beauties love grass flats, shallow bays, and around structure where they ambush shrimp and small baitfish. Spring and fall offer the best action, though summer nights can be productive too. What makes specks special is their willingness to hit topwater lures - there's nothing like watching one explode on a surface plug at dawn. They're also excellent table fare with mild, flaky white meat. The key to consistent success is fishing the grass beds during moving tides, especially around creek mouths and drop-offs where they concentrate to feed.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder, or "doormat" as we call the big ones, are masters of disguise living on sandy and muddy bottoms throughout our inshore waters. Most run 15-20 inches, but we regularly see fish pushing 5-8 pounds around Oregon Inlet. These flatfish are ambush predators that bury in the sand waiting for prey to pass overhead. Fall fishing from September through November is prime time when they're feeding heavily before moving offshore. What makes them special is their table fare - sweet, white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. The fight might not be flashy, but landing a big flounder is always satisfying. My go-to trick: use a slow drift with live minnows and keep your bait moving just off the bottom.
Outer Banks