Charleston's Top-Rated 6 Hour Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Six-hour inshore fishing charter targeting redfish, flounder, and tarponProfessional captain teaches fishing techniques in Charleston watersSmall group experience with maximum two guests per trip
Get ready for some serious fishing action in the legendary waters around Charleston! This 6-hour charter with Skinny Water Charters puts you right in the heart of South Carolina's best inshore fishing grounds. Your experienced captain knows exactly where the fish are biting and will have you hooked up with redfish, flounder, tarpon, and maybe even some toothy sharks before you know it. This isn't your average tourist trip – it's a real fishing experience where you'll learn proven techniques while targeting some of the Lowcountry's most prized gamefish. With room for just 2 anglers, you get personalized attention and plenty of space to work your lines without bumping elbows.
Your day starts early when you meet your captain at the dock, ready to hit Charleston's productive inshore waters. The boat heads out into a maze of tidal creeks, oyster beds, and grass flats that make this area famous among serious anglers. You'll be fishing structure-rich environments where gamefish love to ambush baitfish – think dock pilings, creek mouths, and those classic Carolina grass lines that hold fish year-round. The captain will have you rigged up with the right tackle for whatever's biting that day, whether it's live shrimp under popping corks for redfish or cut bait on the bottom for flounder. Six hours gives you plenty of time to work different spots and adapt to changing tides, which is crucial for consistent success in these waters. Don't worry if you're new to inshore fishing – your guide will teach you how to read the water, work your baits, and fight fish properly once you get hooked up.
Charleston's inshore fishing is all about understanding the tides and working the structure right. Your captain will have you fishing multiple techniques throughout the day, starting with sight fishing the flats during moving water when redfish are actively feeding. You'll learn how to cast to cruising fish without spooking them – a skill that separates good anglers from great ones. When the bite slows on top, you'll switch to bottom fishing around creek bends and oyster bars where flounder and cobia hang out waiting for easy meals. The boat carries both spinning and conventional tackle, so you can choose what feels comfortable or try something new. Live bait is king out here – fresh shrimp, finger mullet, and mud minnows that get fish fired up fast. Your guide will show you how to rig everything properly and explain why certain baits work better in different situations. By the end of the trip, you'll have a solid understanding of how tides, structure, and bait selection work together to put fish in the boat.
Tarpon are the silver kings of Charleston's inshore waters, and when they're around, everything else takes a backseat. These massive fish roll and jump like nothing else, often reaching 100+ pounds and testing every bit of your tackle and technique. Best fishing happens from late spring through early fall when they move into the harbor and surrounding creeks to feed. What makes tarpon so special isn't just their size – it's the way they fight, launching themselves completely out of the water in spectacular jumps that'll get your heart pounding. Most anglers practice catch and release with these ancient fish, making for great photos and better stories.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Charleston fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters average 20-30 inches and pull drag like crazy once hooked. They're most active during moving tides, especially around oyster beds and grass flats where they root around for crabs and shrimp. Fall months are absolutely prime time when big schools of reds flood the shallow waters, creating some of the best sight fishing opportunities on the East Coast. What anglers love most about redfish is their predictability – if you know the tides and structure, you can usually find them feeding.
Cobia are the bonus fish that can make your whole trip. These brown sharks-lookalikes cruise the flats and around structure, often following rays and other fish for easy meals. They're curious fish that will come right up to the boat if you work them right, averaging 30-50 pounds with some real monsters mixed in. Spring and early summer offer the best cobia action when they're moving through Charleston's waters heading to spawning grounds. The fight is pure power – long runs and head-shaking that'll test your drag and your arms.
Southern Flounder might not win any beauty contests, but they're some of the best eating fish in these waters. These flatfish ambush prey from sandy bottoms around creek mouths and structure, usually running 2-5 pounds with occasional doormat-sized fish mixed in. They're most active during cooler months when they're feeding heavily before heading offshore to spawn. What makes flounder fishing so addictive is the subtle bite – you have to really pay attention to your rod tip and set the hook at just the right moment. Miss that window, and they'll drop your bait and disappear back into the mud.
This 6-hour Charleston fishing charter gives you the perfect mix of learning, action, and variety that keeps anglers coming back year after year. With Skinny Water Charters, you're not just paying for boat time – you're investing in real fishing knowledge from a captain who lives and breathes these waters. The small group size means you get hands-on instruction and plenty of chances to work on your technique while targeting some of South Carolina's most sought-after gamefish. Whether you're looking to learn new skills, catch your personal best, or just enjoy a day on the water doing what you love, this trip delivers the goods. Charleston's inshore fishing scene is world-class, and this charter puts you right in the middle of the action. Don't wait – the fish are biting and the calendar fills up fast, especially during peak seasons when the fishing is hottest.
Set sail from Charleston aboard our well-equipped motorboat, perfect for chasing redfish, flounder, and tarpon in the productive inshore waters. This nimble vessel handles the shallow flats and tidal creeks like a dream, getting you right where the fish are biting. The onboard ice box keeps your catch fresh while the GPS navigation system helps pinpoint those honey holes. Built for two anglers, you'll have plenty of room to cast lines without bumping elbows. Whether you're working live bait around oyster bars or throwing artificials at structure, this boat puts you in prime position for some serious fishing action. The captain knows these waters inside and out, so get ready to learn proven techniques while targeting Charleston's legendary gamefish species.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are one of our most prized offshore catches - brown, shark-looking fish that average 30-50 pounds but can hit 100-plus. They're loners, not schooling fish, which makes each one special. You'll typically find them around structure like wrecks, buoys, and artificial reefs in 30-70 feet of water, though they cruise shallower during spring migration. Best fishing is late spring through summer when they're moving through our waters to spawn. What makes cobia so popular is the combination of a strong fight and some of the best eating you'll find - firm, white meat that tastes amazing grilled or blackened. They're curious fish and will often follow the boat, giving you multiple shot opportunities. We usually sight fish for them, looking for that distinctive dark shape just under the surface. Pro tip: when you spot one, don't immediately throw at it. Instead, get ahead of where it's swimming and drop a bucktail jig right in its path - they can rarely resist that presentation.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are hands-down one of our most popular targets here in Charleston waters. These copper-colored beauties typically run 20-35 inches and sport that distinctive black spot near their tail - nature's way of confusing predators. You'll find them in super shallow water, often just 1-4 feet deep around oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths. Fall and spring are prime time when they're feeding heavily, but we catch them year-round in our mild climate. What guests love most is the aggressive strikes and strong fights - reds will bend your rod and peel drag like crazy. Plus, they make outstanding table fare with that mild, sweet flavor. The cool part is sight fishing for them in skinny water where you can actually see their backs and tails. Here's a local trick: when you spot a red with its tail up feeding, cast your bait about 3 feet past the fish and work it back slowly. They're usually head-down rooting around and won't spook as easily.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are perfect for anglers who enjoy a different kind of challenge. These flat, oval-shaped fish typically run 15-18 inches around Charleston, though keeper-sized ones can hit 20-plus inches and several pounds. Both eyes sit on their left side, and they're masters of camouflage, burying in sand and mud bottoms waiting to ambush prey. You'll find them in shallow bays, creek mouths, and around structure in 5-15 feet of water. Fall is prime time when they're fattening up before heading offshore for winter. What guests love is the detective work - reading bottom structure and working baits slowly along the bottom. They're also fantastic eating with sweet, white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. The challenge is feeling their subtle bite since they often just hold onto bait rather than running with it. My go-to technique: use a light jig head with live shrimp or mud minnows, and bounce it slowly along sandy bottoms near oyster bars. When you feel weight or the line goes slack, set the hook - that's usually a flounder picking up your bait.
Megalops AtlanticusThese silver giants are the stuff of fishing legends, and for good reason. Tarpon average 4-6 feet and 80-100 pounds around Charleston, though they can get much bigger. What makes them special is their explosive jumps - watching a 100-pound fish launch 10 feet out of the water will get your heart racing every time. They show up in our shallow coastal waters and estuaries from late spring through summer, following the bait schools. You'll find them cruising flats, around creek mouths, and near structure in 2-10 feet of water. Most folks love tarpon for the pure challenge - they're incredibly strong, acrobatic fighters that'll test your skills and equipment. We rarely keep them since they're not great eating and are slow-growing fish. My tip: when you hook one and it jumps, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward the water. It keeps tension off the line and prevents those jumps from throwing the hook.
Charleston, SC