Charleston Fishing Charters with Right Tide
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore fishing charter includes all equipment and licensesAccommodates up to eight guests with affordable group pricing optionsProfessional fish cleaning service available for additional catches
Looking for a solid day on the water in Charleston? Right Tide Charters knows these inshore waters like the back of their hand, and they're ready to put you on some serious fish. This isn't just another boat ride – it's a full-service fishing adventure that takes care of everything so you can focus on what matters: hooking up with Charleston's best inshore species. Whether you're a weekend warrior or someone who lives for the bite, this charter delivers the kind of action that keeps anglers talking long after they've cleaned their catch.
Your 4-hour Charleston fishing adventure starts the moment you meet the crew at the ramp. Right Tide has this whole operation dialed in – they're not just handing you a rod and hoping for the best. The team provides everything you need: quality rods and reels that can handle Charleston's feisty inshore fish, fresh bait that gets results, tackle boxes stocked with the right gear for the day's conditions, and even ice to keep your catch fresh. They've got your fishing license covered too, which saves you the hassle of figuring out South Carolina's regulations. The base trip accommodates two anglers, but if you've got a crew that wants in on the action, you can add up to six more people for just $50 each. That's a steal when you consider most charters charge way more for extra spots. Don't forget to bring a cooler – you'll want something to haul your fish home in. The crew will clean your first two fish for free, and after that it's just $4.50 per fish to have them filleted and ready for the dinner table.
Charleston's inshore fishing is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish are doing. The Right Tide crew knows when to work the grass flats with live shrimp, when to bump structure with cut bait, and when to sight fish the skinny water. Depending on the tide and season, you might find yourself casting around oyster bars, working creek mouths, or drifting along drop-offs where the big fish cruise. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – one minute you're sight casting to tailing redfish in two feet of water, the next you're dropping bait near a dock piling for black drum. The guides adjust their tactics based on what's working, which means you're always fishing with confidence. Live bait tends to be king in these waters, but don't be surprised if artificial lures come into play when fish are actively feeding. The crew keeps an eye on tide charts, weather patterns, and recent fish activity to put you in the right spots at the right times.
Redfish are the poster child of Charleston inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters average 18 to 27 inches in the slot, with plenty of oversized bulls cruising the flats during warmer months. Reds are notorious for their powerful runs and stubborn fights – they'll test your drag and your patience. Spring through fall offers the most consistent redfish action, especially around oyster bars and marsh edges during moving tides. What makes them special is their willingness to eat just about anything: live shrimp, cut mullet, crab, or well-placed artificials. When you hook one, expect a battle that'll have your arms burning.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're absolute tanks when it comes to pulling power. These bottom dwellers can range from keeper-sized 16-inchers up to massive 40-pound slabs that'll make you question your equipment choices. They love structure – think bridge pilings, oyster beds, and rocky areas where they can root around for crabs and shellfish. Black drum fishing is all about patience and heavy tackle. When one picks up your bait, there's usually no doubt about it – they hook themselves and immediately head for the nearest obstruction. Winter months can be particularly productive for bigger drum, and many anglers consider them one of the best eating fish in Charleston waters.
Sheepshead are the pickpockets of the inshore world – they'll steal your bait faster than you can say "fish on." These black-and-white striped rascals hang around any structure they can find, using their human-like teeth to crush barnacles, oysters, and fiddler crabs. Catching sheepshead requires finesse and quick reflexes. They're notorious for subtle bites that feel like your weight is just ticking bottom until suddenly your rod tip starts dancing. Most sheepshead run 12 to 18 inches, with occasional 4-pound-plus fish that'll surprise you with their strength. They're year-round residents, but spring brings the best numbers as they move into shallow water to spawn.
Sea trout, or spotted seatrout as the regulations call them, are probably the most fun fish you'll catch on a pound-for-pound basis. These silver bullets love grass flats and creek mouths, where they ambush baitfish with explosive strikes. Trout averaging 14 to 20 inches provide steady action, while "gator trout" over 5 pounds are the stuff of legends. They're particularly active during dawn and dusk, when they move shallow to feed. Sea trout respond well to live shrimp fished under popping corks, but they'll also smash topwater plugs and soft plastics worked through their feeding zones. Cooler months often produce the biggest specimens, as mature trout seek deeper water with more stable temperatures.
Charleston's inshore fishing scene doesn't slow down, and neither should you. Right Tide Charters has built their reputation on putting clients on fish while providing the kind of service that turns first-time customers into regulars. With everything included except your cooler and tip, this charter removes all the guesswork from planning a successful fishing trip. The 4-hour window gives you enough time to work
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of Charleston's inshore waters, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These gray-black fish with powerful crushing jaws love oyster beds and muddy flats in 1-15 feet of water. Spring spawning season is prime time when they school up in shallow areas, making them easier to target. What makes them special is their drumming sounds - you can actually hear them underwater. They're great fighters that'll test your drag, and smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent eating with firm, flaky meat. The bigger bulls are mainly for photos and bragging rights. My go-to trick: use fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig right on the bottom near oyster bars. The key is keeping your bait still - these fish are bottom feeders that take their time inspecting before committing to the bite.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Charleston's signature species - copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails that average 18-30 inches. These shallow water warriors cruise oyster bars, grass flats, and creek edges in just 1-4 feet of water, sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. Fall brings the best action as they feed heavily before winter, but spring sight-fishing is hard to beat. Guests love the visual excitement of seeing them cruise the flats and the powerful runs once hooked - they're bulldogs that'll test your equipment. Smaller "slot" fish make great eating with mild, firm meat. The trick is staying quiet and watching for wakes, tails, or that telltale copper flash. Cast past them and work your bait back into their path - spook one and the whole school disappears.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout, or "specks," are Charleston's bread-and-butter fish, running 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds with beautiful spotted sides. These grass flat specialists love shallow water from 2-8 feet, especially around oyster bars and creek mouths where baitfish gather. Fall and spring are peak seasons, but they bite year-round if you know where to look. Guests love their aggressive strikes and the way they jump when hooked - plus they're some of the best table fare you'll find with delicate, flaky white meat. Just don't overcook them or they'll turn mushy. Cool mornings and evenings produce the most action, and they school up in deeper holes during winter cold snaps. My favorite technique is working a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds. The key is a slow, steady retrieve that mimics a wounded baitfish.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their distinctive black and white stripes and human-like teeth that can crush barnacles and crabs. These 1-8 pound tricksters live around any structure - docks, pilings, jetties - in 5-25 feet of water. Early spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around spawning time in March and April. What guests love is the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves that'll clean your hook without you feeling a thing. The reward is some of the best eating fish in Charleston waters with sweet, white meat. Their powerful jaws mean you need to set the hook hard and fast once you feel that subtle tap. Here's my local secret: use fiddler crabs on a small hook and fish right against the structure. Don't let your bait drift away - they rarely chase food more than a foot from cover.
Charleston, SC