Backcountry Fishing in Murrells Inlet, SC
Private Trip
Backcountry Fishing
Backcountry fishing targeting trout, redfish, flounder, and sharksSmall group charter accommodates up to four guestsAccess jetties and backwater areas around Murrells Inlet
Looking for a solid day of fishing without the crowds? Our backcountry charters in Murrells Inlet put you right where the fish are biting. We're talking shallow water action where redfish cruise the grass flats, flounder lay waiting in sandy pockets, and sheepshead hang around every piling and dock. This isn't your typical offshore grind – it's intimate fishing in some of South Carolina's most productive waters. You'll work the jetties, slip into quiet creeks, and fish spots that only locals know about. With room for up to four anglers, you get personalized attention and plenty of elbow room to work your technique. The scenery's pretty sweet too, but let's be honest – you're here for the bend in your rod.
We launch from Murrells Inlet and head straight into the maze of creeks, marshes, and flats that make this area a top-rated fishing destination. The boat stays in skinny water most of the day, so you'll feel connected to every nibble and strike. Expect to move around – that's how backcountry fishing works best. We'll hit oyster bars where sheepshead love to feed, cruise grass beds looking for tailing redfish, and work structure where black drum stack up. The pace is relaxed but focused. You're not racing other boats to a GPS number; you're reading water, watching bait, and making strategic casts. Most trips run six to eight hours, giving us time to adjust tactics based on tides, weather, and what the fish are telling us. Bring sunglasses, a hat, and get ready to actually fish instead of just soaking bait.
Backcountry fishing is all about finesse and presentation. We're using light to medium spinning gear that lets you feel every bump and tap. Live shrimp is our go-to bait – it works on everything from flounder to redfish to black drum. We'll also throw artificial lures when fish are aggressive or when we want to cover water quickly. Jig heads with soft plastics, spoons, and topwater plugs all have their place depending on conditions. The key is staying quiet and making accurate casts. In three feet of water, a sloppy presentation spooks fish fast. We anchor up on productive spots and fan cast the area, or drift with the current when fish are scattered. Circle hooks keep everything simple for catch and release, and we've got all the tackle you need. Your job is to pay attention to your rod tip and set the hook when something bites.
Southern Flounder are the bread and butter of Murrells Inlet backcountry fishing. These flatfish ambush prey from sandy bottoms and grass edges, typically running 14 to 20 inches with occasional doormat-sized fish over 24 inches. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially around moving water near creek mouths and deeper holes. What makes flounder so appealing is their aggressive strike and excellent table fare. They hit live shrimp, finger mullet, and soft plastic jigs worked slowly along the bottom. The fight isn't spectacular, but landing a keeper flounder always feels like a win.
Black Drum show up in serious numbers around Murrells Inlet, particularly in cooler months when they school up near oyster bars and deeper creek bends. These copper-colored bruisers range from puppy drum around two pounds to grown fish pushing 30 pounds or more. They're bottom feeders with powerful jaws designed to crush shellfish, so expect a steady, bulldogging fight that tests your drag system. Blue crab and fresh shrimp are prime baits, and the bite often happens in waves – catch one, and there's usually more around. Black drum make great photo fish with their distinctive coloring and size.
Sheepshead fishing around Murrells Inlet is technical and rewarding. These black-and-white striped fish have human-like teeth and a reputation for stealing bait, but they're also some of the best eating fish in the salt. They hang tight to structure – dock pilings, oyster bars, bridge supports – anywhere barnacles and small crustaceans collect. Small hooks, light weights, and fresh fiddler crabs or shrimp get the job done. The bite feels like a gentle tap-tap-tap, and you need to set the hook quickly before they strip your bait. Most sheepshead run one to three pounds, but four-pound fish aren't uncommon in winter months.
Redfish are the crown jewel of backcountry fishing, and Murrells Inlet has excellent populations year-round. These bronze-backed fighters cruise grass flats, oyster bars, and creek edges looking for crabs, shrimp, and small fish. Slot-sized reds between 15 and 23 inches are common, with occasional bull reds over 27 inches that'll test your equipment and skills. What makes redfish special is their willingness to eat both live bait and artificials, plus their habit of feeding in shallow water where you can sight-cast to individual fish. The strike is aggressive, the fight is strong, and they're beautiful fish with distinctive black spots along their sides.
Blacktip Shark add excitement to any backcountry trip, especially during summer months when they move into shallow water chasing bait schools. These sleek predators typically run two to four feet long and put on spectacular aerial shows when hooked. They hit live bait hard and make blistering runs that peel line off your reel. While we practice catch and release with sharks, landing one gets your heart pumping and makes for great photos. They're often caught incidentally while targeting other species, but we can specifically fish for them when conditions are right and guest interest is high.
Murrells Inlet bac
Your fishing adventure awaits aboard our 2023 Carolina Yachts 23' center console, powered by a reliable 200HP Suzuki engine that'll get you to the hottest fishing spots fast. This sleek boat cuts through Murrells Inlet's waters at speeds up to 40 knots, perfect for covering ground from the jetties to those hidden backcountry honey holes where trout, redfish, and flounder love to hang out. The spacious layout keeps up to 4 anglers comfortable while working the flats for sheepshead and black drum. Our fish finder takes the guesswork out of locating schools, while the wireless trolling motor lets you sneak up on spooky fish in shallow water without spooking them. GPS navigation keeps us on track, and radar ensures we can find our way back even when coastal fog rolls in. Whether you're sight-casting to tailing reds in skinny water or dropping lines near structure for drum and sharks, this boat handles it all with room to move around and fight fish properly.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 10-30 pounds with some monsters reaching 50+ pounds. These powerful fish love oyster beds, muddy flats, and around dock pilings where they crush shellfish with their pharyngeal teeth. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear them drumming underwater, a sound you can actually feel in the boat. They're year-round residents but spring action is best. Guests love the strong, steady fight these fish put up, though smaller ones under 15 pounds are better eating. The big ones are more about the battle. They're bottom feeders, so fresh blue crab or cut mullet fished right on the bottom works best. Pro tip: when you feel that subtle tap-tap, don't set the hook immediately. Let them pick it up and start moving before you drive it home.
Carcharhinus LimbatusBlacktip sharks are the acrobats of our shark fishing, known for those spectacular jumps that can reach 20 feet out of the water. Most run 3-6 feet and 20-60 pounds, making them perfect for our lighter tackle setups. They patrol our nearshore waters, especially around structure and baitfish schools in 30-100 feet. Summer brings the best action when they're feeding heavily on mackerel, herring, and sardines. What makes them special is that aerial show - they'll jump repeatedly, spinning and twisting. It's pure excitement for guests, and they're strong fighters without being overly dangerous to handle. They're catch-and-release only for us. Oily baits work best - fresh cut mackerel or live sardines on circle hooks with 20-50 pound tackle. My go-to method is a good chum slick with chunked mackerel. Once you get them fired up, the action can be non-stop with multiple hookups.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our signature inshore species and for good reason - they're beautiful, fight hard, and live in the skinny water where sight fishing gets exciting. Most of our fish run 18-28 inches, though we catch plenty of slot-sized fish and some bruiser bulls over 30 inches. Look for them tailing in 1-4 feet of water around oyster bars, grass flats, and creek mouths. They're year-round residents, but fall gives us the best action when they're schooled up. That distinctive black spot near the tail and copper-bronze color makes them unmistakable. Guests love watching them cruise the shallows and that powerful run when hooked. They're great eating in the slot, too. Topwater plugs at dawn create explosive strikes, but live shrimp under a popping cork is hard to beat. Here's my tip: when you spot one tailing, cast well ahead and let your bait settle - they spook easily in shallow water.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of our waters with their black and white stripes, but what really sets them apart are those human-like teeth they use to crush barnacles and crabs. These guys run 2-8 pounds typically, though we catch some nice ones over 10 pounds around the jetties and dock pilings. They're structure lovers - any pier piling, bridge, or rocky bottom holds fish. Winter and early spring are best when they're feeding heavily before spawning. Guests get a kick out of seeing those teeth, and they're fantastic eating with sweet, flaky white meat. The challenge is they're notorious bait thieves, nibbling and picking at your offering. You need to stay sharp and set the hook fast. Fiddler crabs and live shrimp work best on small hooks. My advice: get your bait tight to the structure and when you feel that subtle pecking, don't wait - set that hook hard.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are one of our most popular targets because they're delicious and fun to catch. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches and around 5 pounds, though we see some nice ones pushing 20+ pounds. They're masters of disguise, burying themselves in sand and mud bottoms where they ambush prey like shrimp, crabs, and small fish. You'll find them in our shallow bays, around creek mouths, and near structure in 2-10 feet of water. Fall and winter are prime time when they're fattening up before their offshore spawn. What makes them special is that explosive strike when they nail your bait - plus they're some of the best eating fish around. My tip: use a slow drift with live mud minnows or shrimp on a light jighead, and keep your bait moving just off the bottom. They'll follow it and slam it hard.
Myrtle Beach