Full Day North Carolina Inshore Fishing Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour inshore fishing adventure targeting redfish and speckled troutExplore North Carolina's grass flats, creeks and oyster barsAccommodates up to six guests with Southern Tides Fishing Charters
When you're serious about putting fish in the boat, Southern Tides Fishing Charters delivers exactly what Carolina anglers crave. This full-day inshore fishing adventure gives you eight solid hours to work the best waters along North Carolina's coast, targeting some of the most sought-after species in these parts. You'll cover miles of pristine shoreline, hit productive grass flats, and fish countless oyster bars where redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and other prized catches love to feed. With room for up to six anglers, this trip strikes the perfect balance between having enough hands to cover water and keeping things personal enough that everyone gets prime fishing time.
Your captain knows these North Carolina waters like the back of their hand, and they'll put that knowledge to work from the moment you push off the dock. The beauty of an eight-hour charter is the flexibility it gives you – if the fish are biting hard in one spot, you can stay and capitalize. If they're being finicky, you've got time to move around and find the action. You'll fish everything from shallow grass beds where redfish cruise looking for crabs to deeper creek mouths where speckled trout stack up on baitfish. The boat stays comfortable all day with plenty of space to spread out, and your captain handles all the navigation while you focus on what matters – getting your line wet and feeling that telltale thump of a fish taking your bait. Bring your own snacks and drinks since meals aren't provided, but most anglers find the fishing so good they barely think about food anyway.
Your captain comes equipped with quality rods, reels, and terminal tackle suited for inshore action, plus they know exactly what's working each day. You'll likely throw everything from live shrimp under popping corks for trout to soft plastics bounced along oyster bars for redfish. The technique changes based on conditions – wind, tide, water temperature, and what the fish are telling you. North Carolina's inshore waters offer incredible variety, from expansive sound systems with miles of structure to intimate tidal creeks where you can sight-cast to cruising drum. Grass flats hold baitfish that attract predators, while oyster bars create ambush points where smart fish wait for easy meals. Your captain reads the water constantly, adjusting tactics as conditions change throughout the day. The boat's shallow draft lets you access spots bigger vessels can't reach, putting you on fish that rarely see pressure.
Southern Flounder remain the ultimate prize for many Carolina anglers, and for good reason. These flatfish are masters of disguise, burying themselves in sandy bottoms near structure where they ambush passing baitfish. Fall typically brings the best flounder action as they stage for their offshore spawning run, getting fat and aggressive before making the move. A keeper flounder – anything over 15 inches – fights harder than you'd expect and makes exceptional table fare. Your captain knows the specific depth changes, creek mouths, and structure edges where these fish concentrate.
Black Drum offer some of the most consistent action, especially around oyster bars and pilings where they root for crabs and mollusks. These copper-colored bruisers can range from keeper-sized fish around 16 inches to true monsters pushing 30 pounds or more. They're not the flashiest fighters, but they pull hard and steady, testing your drag and patience. The bigger drum are incredibly strong, capable of straightening hooks if you're not prepared. Peak times often coincide with moving tides when they're actively feeding.
Sheepshead challenge even experienced anglers with their notorious bait-stealing abilities and strong jaws designed for crushing barnacles and crabs. These black-and-white striped fish congregate around hard structure – docks, pilings, rock piles – where they pick at crustaceans. The trick is feeling their subtle bite before they strip your bait and disappear. When you do connect, sheepshead make strong runs and their excellent eating quality makes the effort worthwhile. Spring and fall typically offer the best sheepshead fishing as water temperatures moderate.
Redfish, or red drum, represent the gold standard of Carolina inshore fishing. These bronze-backed fighters are aggressive feeders that hit everything from live bait to artificials with authority. Slot-sized reds between 18 and 27 inches are perfect for the table, while oversized bull reds provide epic battles before mandatory release. They cruise shallow flats, patrol oyster bars, and ambush prey in tidal creeks. Redfish fight dirty, using their broad sides to leverage against your rod while making powerful runs toward structure. Summer and fall typically produce the most consistent action.
Sea Trout, specifically speckled trout, school up in grass beds and around structure where they feed heavily on shrimp and small baitfish. These beautiful fish with distinctive spotted flanks are aggressive strikers that often hit topwater lures with explosive surface strikes. Specks fight with quick runs and head shakes, testing light tackle and keeping anglers on their toes. Cooler months often concentrate schools in deeper holes and creek bends, while warmer weather spreads them across shallow flats. A good speckled trout bite can produce limits quickly when you find active schools.
Eight hours on North Carolina's legendary inshore waters with an experienced captain who knows where the fish live – that's what separates a great fishing day from just another boat ride. Southern Tides Fishing Charters puts you on productive water with quality equipment and local knowledge that takes years to develop. Whether you're chasing your personal best redfish, trying to crack the code on finicky flounder, or just want to bend rods all day long, this full-day adventure delivers the goods. The variety of species, techniques, and fishing spots means every trip offers something different, and eight hours gives you real time to adapt and succeed. Book your charter
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are our most consistent year-round fish, running 14-20 inches on average with some nice 3-5 pounders mixed in. These spotted beauties love our grass flats, channel edges, and creek mouths in 3-8 feet of water. They're most active during low light - early morning, late evening, and overcast days. Fall and spring offer the best action when they school up and feed aggressively. Anglers appreciate their willingness to bite, decent fight, and excellent table fare - the meat is tender and flaky, perfect for the dinner table. They're also great for beginners since they're usually cooperative. Here's my local secret: work a soft plastic shrimp or gulp bait slowly along the grass edges during moving water. They have soft mouths, so don't horse them - steady pressure and a good net will boat more fish than trying to muscle them in.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our bread and butter inshore target, and they never disappoint. These copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails typically run 20-30 inches, but slot-sized fish around here average 18-27 inches. They love our shallow grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths in just 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Spring through fall is prime time, especially during moving tides. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes, strong fights, and that sweet, mild meat that's perfect for blackening. They'll eat almost anything - live shrimp, cut bait, or artificials. My local tip: look for nervous water or tailing fish on the flats during low light periods. A gold spoon or topwater plug worked slowly through the grass will get their attention fast. Once hooked, they'll make long runs, so keep your drag smooth.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 5-30 pounds with giants reaching 90 pounds. You'll hear them before you see them - they make drumming sounds that can actually vibrate through your boat hull. They love hanging around oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths where they use their powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning in shallow water. Anglers love targeting them because they're strong fighters and the smaller ones (under 15 pounds) make excellent eating with firm, sweet meat. Here's what works: fresh blue crab or cut mullet on the bottom near structure. The key is keeping your bait right on the bottom since they're strict bottom feeders. Be patient - they'll mouth the bait before committing to it.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of our waters - easily spotted by their black and white stripes and human-like teeth. These structure lovers hang tight to dock pilings, bridge supports, and oyster bars where they munch on barnacles and crabs. They typically run 1-3 pounds and 14-18 inches, but we catch some nice 5-8 pounders around the better structure. Early spring through fall is your best bet when they're most active. Anglers love them because they're notorious bait thieves with excellent table fare - mild, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They're also a challenge to catch, which keeps things interesting. My trick: get as close to structure as possible with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs on a small hook. Feel for that subtle nibbling, then set the hook hard and fast - they'll steal your bait in a heartbeat if you hesitate.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are one of our most popular targets, and for good reason. These flatfish typically run 15-18 inches but can surprise you with specimens up to 33 inches. They're masters of camouflage, lying buried in sand and mud bottoms of our shallow bays and creeks, waiting to ambush shrimp, crabs, and baitfish. Spring through fall gives you the best action when they're actively feeding in 2-6 feet of water around oyster bars and grass flats. What makes them special is their unique appearance - both eyes on one side of their head - and they're outstanding table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. My go-to tip: use a slow drift with live finger mullet or shrimp on a light jighead, and when you feel that subtle tap, give them a second before setting the hook. They like to mouth the bait first.
Cedar Point, NC