Half-Day Inshore Fishing at Carolina Beach
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour inshore charter targeting redfish, trout, and flounderMorning or afternoon departure options accommodate busy schedulesPerfect for all skill levels and family fishing trips
When you're looking to get on the water without burning your whole day, Strike Charter's 4-hour inshore trip hits the sweet spot. Whether you're an early bird who wants to be casting lines at sunrise or prefer an afternoon session after sleeping in, this half-day charter gives you plenty of flexibility. The Carolina Beach area has some of the most productive inshore waters on the East Coast, and you'll be fishing the same backwaters and grass flats where the locals have been pulling keeper reds and fat flounder for decades. Perfect for families wanting to introduce kids to saltwater fishing, or seasoned anglers squeezing in some rod time during a busy beach vacation.
Your captain will pick you up at one of several convenient launch points around Carolina Beach, including access from Kure Beach, Fort Fisher, Wrightsville Beach, and even Bald Head Island depending on conditions and your preference. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety - one minute you're drifting over oyster beds targeting sheepshead, the next you're sight-casting to tailing redfish in two feet of water. The boat accommodates up to three anglers, so you're not fighting for elbow room or dealing with a crowd. Morning trips typically launch around 7 AM when the water is calm and fish are actively feeding, while afternoon charters usually head out around 1 PM to catch the incoming tide. Your captain reads the water conditions daily and adjusts the game plan accordingly - some days that means working the creek mouths, other days you'll be fishing structure around the jetties.
Inshore fishing around Carolina Beach is all about adapting to what the fish want on any given day. Your captain comes equipped with light to medium spinning tackle perfect for the species you're targeting - typically 15-20 pound test line that can handle a bull red but won't spook finicky trout in clear water. You'll use everything from live shrimp under popping corks to soft plastic baits on jig heads, depending on what's working. When the water's murky after a storm, expect to throw scented baits and work them slow. On clear days, you might be sight-fishing with topwater plugs or working the grass beds with weedless spoons. The captain provides all rods, reels, tackle, and bait - you just need to bring your fishing license, sunscreen, and maybe some snacks since meals aren't included on this half-day trip. Don't worry if you've never fished saltwater before; your guide will handle everything from rigging to netting your fish.
Black Drum: These bruisers are the bulldogs of the inshore flats, and Carolina Beach has some of the best black drum fishing on the coast. You'll find them around oyster bars and structure, typically in 3-8 feet of water. Black drum here range from schoolie-sized fish around 5-10 pounds up to genuine monsters pushing 40-50 pounds that'll test your drag and your back. Spring and fall are prime time when big schools move through, but you can catch them year-round. They're not the prettiest fish, but they fight like crazy and make great table fare when they're in the slot. Watch for them rooting around in the mud - you'll see their tails sticking up as they dig for crabs and oysters.
Sheepshead: The convict fish with their black and white stripes are some of the craftiest opponents you'll face on these flats. Sheepshead have human-like teeth designed for crushing barnacles and oysters, which means they're notorious bait stealers. You'll target them around any hard structure - dock pilings, oyster beds, jetty rocks - using fiddler crabs, barnacles, or shrimp. The key is feeling that subtle tick when they mouth the bait, then setting the hook immediately. Sheepshead fishing peaks in late winter and early spring around Carolina Beach, but you can find them most of the year. They're excellent eating with firm, white meat that tastes similar to snapper.
Sea Trout (Speckled Trout): These are the bread and butter of inshore fishing around here, and for good reason. Specks are aggressive feeders that'll hit everything from live shrimp to artificial lures, making them perfect for anglers of all skill levels. You'll find them over grass beds, around drop-offs, and in the deeper holes of creeks and sounds. Spring and fall produce the best numbers, but summer mornings and evenings can be fantastic too. A good speckled trout runs 14-20 inches and puts up a great fight on light tackle. They're also one of the best eating fish you'll catch inshore - flaky white meat that's perfect for fish tacos or blackened on the grill.
Redfish: Red drum are the poster fish for Carolina inshore fishing, and once you hook into a slot-sized red, you'll understand why. These copper-colored fighters are built for the shallow water game - they'll cruise the flats looking for crabs and baitfish, often with their backs out of the water. Sight-fishing to reds in skinny water is about as exciting as inshore fishing gets. You'll cast ahead of cruising fish and work your bait back toward them, hoping for that aggressive strike. Redfish here typically run 18-27 inches in the slot, with occasional over-slot bulls that you'll have to release. They fight harder than their size suggests and are fantastic on the table with firm, mild meat that holds up to any cooking method.
Strike Charter's half-day inshore trip gives you the best of Carolina Beach fishing without the full-day commitment. You'll experience genuine North Carolina coastal fishing with a captain who knows these waters inside and out, targeting fish
Captain Drew's 23-foot Sea Pro bay boat is your ticket to productive inshore waters around Carolina Beach. This well-equipped fishing machine handles 1-4 anglers comfortably and comes loaded with everything you need - rods, reels, tackle, and your daily fishing license are all included. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're working shallow flats for redfish and trout, while the GPS and fish finder help locate the best spots for flounder and other inshore targets. Whether you're an experienced angler or bringing the kids out for their first fishing adventure, this boat delivers. Captain Drew knows these waters inside and out, and he'll fillet and wrap your keepers so you can take fresh fish home. Perfect for morning or afternoon trips when you want to squeeze some serious fishing into your Carolina Beach vacation without committing to a full day on the water.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These powerful fish love shallow muddy flats, oyster beds, and creek mouths where they crush shellfish with their strong jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them much easier to target. You'll hear them "drumming" underwater - that's how they got their name. They put up a solid fight and smaller ones (under 15 pounds) make great table fare with white, flaky meat. My tip: use fresh crab bait and fish it right on the bottom near structure. The bigger ones get tough and stringy, so consider releasing those giants to fight another day.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the poster child of inshore fishing with their copper-bronze color and signature black spot near the tail. Most run 20-35 inches, but the big "bull" reds can push 40+ inches and 50 pounds. They cruise super shallow flats - sometimes with their backs out of the water - around oyster bars, grass beds, and marsh edges. Fall is prime time, but they bite year-round in our area. What guests love is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights. The slot-size fish make excellent eating with mild, sweet meat. They'll eat almost anything but topwater lures in skinny water create explosive strikes you won't forget. My tip: look for nervous water or tailing fish, then cast ahead of them and work your lure slowly back.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are beautiful silvery fish covered in distinctive spots, typically running 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds. They love grass flats and shallow bays, especially at night when they come up to feed. These fish are active year-round but winter finds them schooling in deeper channels. What makes them popular is their willingness to hit artificial lures - topwater plugs, soft plastics, and spoons all work great. The meat is delicate and flaky, perfect for the dinner table if you don't overcook it. They're scrappy fighters that'll give you multiple jumps. My go-to technique is working a slow-sinking bait over grass beds during moving water, particularly around dawn and dusk when they're most active.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their distinctive black stripes and human-like teeth. These crafty 1-8 pounders hang tight around docks, bridge pilings, and any barnacle-covered structure. They're notorious bait thieves, nibbling to steal your offering before you know it. Spring brings the best action when they gather in huge schools. What makes them special is their excellent white meat - mild and sweet when you can get past those tough scales. My local trick: get your bait as close to the pilings as possible and set the hook hard the moment you feel weight. They rarely venture far from cover, so precision casting pays off. Don't anchor near structure or you'll spook them.
Carolina Beach, NC, United States