Charleston Inshore Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
8hour nearshore fishing adventure off Edisto Island watersTarget Redfish, Spotted Seatrout, Amberjack, and King MackerelPrivate charter experience with professional Stroupe Fishing guide
Picture this: you're cruising the pristine waters off Edisto Island at sunrise, salt spray kissing your face as you scan the horizon for diving birds and nervous water. That's exactly what you'll get with Stroupe Fishing Charter's top-rated 8-hour inshore adventure. Captain Stroupe knows these Charleston waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some of the best fishing South Carolina has to offer. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to add to your species count or someone who just wants to catch dinner, this personalized trip delivers the goods. With space for just one guest, you'll get the full attention and local expertise that makes the difference between a good day and an epic one.
Your day kicks off early from the Charleston area, where Captain Stroupe will have everything rigged and ready to roll. This isn't some cattle-boat operation – with just you aboard, every spot, every drift, and every technique gets tailored to what's biting and what you want to target. The nearshore waters around Edisto Island offer a perfect mix of structure, current, and baitfish that keeps the action consistent throughout the day. You'll work everything from shallow grass flats where redfish cruise in skinny water to deeper edges where king mackerel patrol. The beauty of an 8-hour trip is having time to adapt – if the trout are schooled up on one flat, you can work them hard. If the kings are running offshore, you've got time to make the run and get into them. Captain Stroupe reads the water, weather, and fish behavior to keep you in the action all day long.
Stroupe Fishing Charter comes loaded with quality gear matched to the target species and conditions. For the inshore bite, you'll work with medium to heavy spinning setups that can handle everything from speckled trout to bull reds. Live bait is the name of the game here – fresh shrimp, mud minnows, and finger mullet that gets the fish fired up. When targeting kings and amberjack, the captain switches to conventional reels with the backbone to handle these bruisers. Trolling with live baits and artificials covers water efficiently, while bottom fishing with cut bait brings up the bigger amberjack. The techniques vary with conditions – sight fishing for redfish in shallow water gets your heart pumping, while drift fishing over structure lets you cover bottom dwellers. Captain Stroupe knows when to switch tactics, reading subtle signs like water color changes, bird activity, and bait movement that separate the pros from the weekend warriors.
Black Marlin represent the ultimate prize in these waters, though encounters are rare and usually happen when working the deeper nearshore waters. These apex predators can exceed 400 pounds and provide a fight that'll test both angler and equipment. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall when baitfish concentrations draw them closer to shore. Landing one is a career highlight that most anglers never forget.
King Mackerel are the bread and butter of Charleston's nearshore scene, especially from April through October. These speed demons typically range from 15 to 40 pounds, with occasional smoker kings pushing 50-plus. They're notorious for their blistering runs and acrobatic jumps. Kings respond well to slow-trolled live baits and fast-moving artificials. The key is staying mobile and following the bait schools where kings concentrate.
Sea Trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, provide consistent action year-round with peak fishing in spring and fall. These beautiful fish average 1-3 pounds but can reach 5-plus pounds in deeper waters. They're structure-oriented, relating to grass beds, oyster bars, and drop-offs. Trout are perfect for light tackle fishing with live shrimp or soft plastics, and they're excellent table fare.
Redfish are Charleston's signature species, with the copper-colored bruisers providing some of the most visual fishing you'll ever experience. Bulls can exceed 30 pounds and fight like locomotives, while slot-size reds between 15-23 inches are perfect for the dinner table. Fall months bring massive schools of bull reds that create some of the most exciting fishing on the East Coast. These drum are aggressive feeders that slam cut bait and live offerings.
Greater Amberjack are the muscle cars of the reef, with fish commonly reaching 30-60 pounds around Charleston's nearshore structure. These powerful fish live around hard bottom, wrecks, and artificial reefs where they ambush baitfish. AJs are notorious for their bulldogging fights and their ability to wrap you around structure. They're most active during warmer months and provide some of the best bottom fishing action available.
Charleston's inshore waters offer world-class fishing year-round, but the best spots fill up fast, especially during peak season. Captain Stroupe's personalized approach and intimate knowledge of these waters consistently puts anglers on fish when others struggle. With just one guest per trip, you're not competing for rod time or watching someone else fight your fish. This is pure, focused fishing at its finest. The 8-hour format gives you enough time to work multiple areas and techniques while ensuring you experience the best bite windows. Whether you're after a trophy king mackerel, a mess of trout for dinner, or the fight of your life with a bull red, this charter delivers the goods. Don't let another fishing season slip by – book your Charleston adventure with Stroupe Fishing Charter and experience what keeps anglers coming back to these legendary waters season after season.
This Sea Pro center console is built for serious inshore fishing around Charleston's productive waters. The boat's shallow draft design gets you into those skinny water honey holes where redfish and spotted seatrout love to hang out. You'll have an icebox onboard to keep your catch fresh and drinks cold during those hot South Carolina days on the water. The GPS keeps you on the fish while the radar helps navigate safely when morning fog rolls in off the coast. The fish finder is your secret weapon for locating structure and baitfish that attract gamefish. Whether you're sight fishing the flats around Edisto Island or targeting amberjack near offshore structure, this versatile boat handles the nearshore waters with ease. Perfect for anglers who want to get away from crowded fishing spots and find their own action in Charleston's legendary fishing grounds.
Istiompax IndicaBlack Marlin are the ultimate test for serious anglers - these massive fish can reach 14 feet and weigh over 1,500 pounds. While rare in Charleston waters, we occasionally encounter them in our deeper offshore zones during warmer months. They're built like torpedoes with that distinctive sword-like bill, but what sets them apart is their incredible power and aggressive nature. These fish can hit 80 mph and will test every ounce of your strength once hooked. The fight can last hours, making it one of the most challenging gamefish experiences you'll find. When targeting them, we use heavy trolling gear with live tuna or bonito. Pro tip: always stay clear of that bill during the fight - they're known to attack boats and anglers when brought alongside.
Seriola dumeriliGreater Amberjack are the bulldogs of the offshore world, and they'll give you a workout you won't forget. These powerful fish average 20-40 pounds around Charleston, but we regularly hook 50-60 pounders that'll test your tackle and stamina. You'll find them around wrecks, reefs, and hard bottom in 60-150 feet of water, especially during warmer months from spring through fall. What makes AJ's special is their raw power - they fight straight down and just won't quit. They're also excellent table fare with firm, white meat that's perfect for grilling. We typically target them with live bait or heavy jigs dropped down to structure. Here's a key tip: once you hook one, keep steady pressure and pump them up quickly - if you let them get back to the bottom, they'll wrap you up in the structure every time.
Scomberomorus CavallaKing Mackerel, or "Kings" as we call them, are speed demons that'll give you one heck of a fight. These sleek fish typically run 20-40 pounds around Charleston, though we've landed some pushing 60. You'll find them cruising the nearshore waters from 40-150 feet, especially around structure and temperature breaks. Spring through fall is prime time when water temps hit that sweet spot of 68-84°F. What makes Kings special is their blistering speed - they'll peel drag like few other fish can. Plus, they're excellent table fare with that rich, meaty texture. We usually troll with live bait or spoons, but here's a local trick: rig two hooks on your leader since Kings love to hit the tail end of baitfish first. That second hook back by the tail will save you a lot of missed fish.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of Charleston inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers with their signature black spots near the tail typically run 20-35 inches around our flats and creeks. They love super shallow water - sometimes so skinny their backs show above the surface. You'll find them around oyster bars, creek mouths, and grass flats, especially during moving tides. Spring through fall offers the best action, but they bite year-round here. What makes reds special is their powerful runs and that distinctive "thump" when they grab your bait. They're also excellent eating - mild, sweet flavor that grills up perfectly. They'll hit everything from live shrimp to topwater plugs. Here's my local secret: target them on the falling tide as they slide off the flats into deeper creek channels.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Seatrout, or "specks" as locals know them, are one of our most reliable inshore targets here in Charleston. These silvery beauties with their distinctive black spots typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds, though we catch plenty of chunky 6-pounders. They love grass flats, oyster bars, and shallow creek mouths in 2-8 feet of water. Best fishing happens during moving tides, especially early morning and evening. What draws folks to specks is their willingness to bite and decent table fare - soft, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're also great for light tackle action. During cooler months, they school up in deeper channels. My go-to tip: fish plastic shrimp or grubs under a popping cork around structure. The noise brings them in from a distance.
Charleston, SC