Half Day Inshore Fishing Eastern North Carolina
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Half-day inshore fishing charter targeting redfish and flounderSpecial discounts available for military and first respondersAccess to ten launch locations across Tar and Pamlico Rivers
There's something special about getting out on the water early morning in Eastern North Carolina, and this 4-hour guided fishing trip puts you right in the heart of some of the best inshore action on the coast. Wicked East Charters knows these waters like the back of their hand, with access to 10 different launch points including the productive Tar and Pamlico Rivers. Whether you're a first responder or military member looking to take advantage of their discount program, or just an angler ready to target redfish, speckled trout, and flounder, this half-day charter delivers solid fishing without eating up your whole day. With space for up to 3 anglers, it's perfect for a small group wanting personalized attention from experienced local guides who live and breathe these brackish waters.
This isn't your typical cookie-cutter fishing trip. Your captain will pick the launch location based on current conditions, tides, and where the fish are biting that day. The beauty of having 10 different access points means you're never locked into one spot when the fish aren't cooperating. The Tar River system offers excellent grass flats and oyster bars where redfish love to cruise, while the Pamlico gives you access to deeper channels and structure that hold trout and flounder. Your guide will have you rigged up and ready before you even leave the dock, explaining the game plan and what species you'll be targeting based on the season and conditions. These 4-hour trips move at a comfortable pace, giving you time to really work productive areas without feeling rushed. The guides pride themselves on putting you on fish while teaching you about reading water, understanding tides, and recognizing the subtle signs that separate good fishing days from great ones.
Inshore fishing in Eastern North Carolina is all about adapting to what the fish want on any given day. Your guide will have you working everything from live bait under popping corks to soft plastics bounced along the bottom for flounder. When the redfish are tailing in skinny water, you might find yourself sight fishing with spoons or topwater plugs - nothing beats watching a red blow up on a surface lure in 2 feet of water. The tackle stays light and fun, typically spinning gear in the 2500-3000 size range that lets you feel every headshake and run. Depending on conditions, you'll work oyster bars with Carolina rigs, drag soft plastics through grass beds, or work dock pilings and structure with jigs. The guides carry a full selection of terminal tackle and lures, plus they know where to find fresh bait when live shrimp or finger mullet will make the difference. Don't worry about bringing anything - they've got you covered from rods and reels to tackle and bait, so you can focus on fishing instead of gear.
Southern Flounder are the bread and butter of Eastern North Carolina inshore fishing, and these flatfish know how to put up a fight once you get them off the bottom. They typically range from 14 to 20 inches in these waters, with the occasional doormat pushing over 24 inches that'll make your day. Fall months from September through November are prime time when flounder stack up before their offshore migration, but you can find keeper fish throughout the warmer months around structure, channel edges, and sandy bottoms. What makes flounder special is their ambush style - they bury in the sand and crush baitfish swimming by, so when you feel that thump on the bottom, set the hook hard and keep pressure on them or they'll wrap you up in structure.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing here, and Eastern North Carolina's estuaries produce some beautiful copper-colored bulls along with slot-size fish perfect for the dinner table. These drum typically run 18 to 28 inches in the slot, with plenty of oversized fish in the 35+ inch range that provide arm-burning fights in shallow water. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, but winter fishing can be outstanding when you find schools in deeper holes. Redfish are aggressive feeders that'll hit everything from cut bait to artificial lures, and they're famous for that head-shaking, drag-screaming fight that never gets old. The shallow grass flats and oyster bars of the Pamlico system are redfish magnets, especially during moving tides.
Sea Trout, specifically Speckled Trout, are the most abundant sport fish in these waters and provide non-stop action when you locate a school. Most fish run 12 to 18 inches, with 3-4 pound gator trout mixed in to keep things interesting. They're most active during cooler months from October through March, when they school up in deeper holes and channels, but you can catch them year-round if you know where to look. Speckled trout have soft mouths so you need to keep steady pressure without horsing them, and they're excellent table fare with white, flaky meat that's perfect for fish tacos or a shore lunch.
Striped Bass round out the target species and provide some of the strongest fights you'll experience on this trip. The resident stripers typically range from 18 to 30 inches, with migratory fish pushing much larger during their spring and fall runs through the sounds. These fish are structure-oriented, hanging around bridge pilings, channel markers, and drop-offs where they can ambush baitfish. Striped bass are notorious for their bulldogging fights and multiple runs, and they're incredibly versatile - hitting everything from live bait to topwater plugs depending on conditions and time of year.
Eastern North Carolina's inshore waters offer some of the most consistent fishing on the East Coast, and this half-day trip gives you a perfect taste of what makes this area so special. With experienced guides who know every creek, flat, and honey hole in the system,
Hit the inshore waters of Eastern North Carolina aboard our reliable 22' Chawk, powered by a smooth 150hp Suzuki that'll cruise you to the best fishing spots at up to 40 knots. This 2020 fishing machine comes loaded with everything you need for a successful day chasing redfish, flounder, and speckled trout - GPS to find the honey holes, fish finder to spot what's swimming below, and VHF radio to stay connected. With room for up to 3 anglers, you'll have plenty of space to work the flats and channels around the Tar and Pamlico Rivers. The boat's shallow draft gets you into those back-country spots where the big reds like to hang out, while the stable platform makes it easy to sight-cast or work the bottom for flounder. Perfect for exploring Eastern NC's productive inshore waters.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the kings of shallow water fishing - bronze-colored bruisers with that signature black spot near the tail. They typically run 20-35 inches and love cruising super shallow flats, sometimes with their backs out of the water. You'll find them around oyster bars, marsh edges, and grass flats in 1-4 feet of water. They're active most of the year, but fall brings the best action when they school up and feed aggressively. What makes them special is their power - they'll make long, drag-screaming runs and never give up easy. Plus, they taste great with firm, slightly sweet meat. Here's the deal: when you spot one tailing or cruising, cast well ahead of where they're going, not where they are. Let your bait settle, then work it slowly into their path.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are beautiful fish with spotted sides and a delicate bite that keeps things interesting. Most range 14-24 inches, perfect for a good meal. They stick to grass flats, shallow bays, and around oyster reefs where they can ambush shrimp and small baitfish. These fish are active year-round but really turn on during spring and fall when water temps are comfortable. Guests love them because they're willing biters, put up a solid fight on light tackle, and have tender white meat that's hard to beat on the dinner table. The key is keeping it quiet - they're easily spooked in shallow water. Work your lures slow and steady over grass beds, and if you see nervous water or baitfish activity, that's your spot to focus on.
Paralichthys LethostigmaThese flat, camouflaged fish are masters of disguise - they'll bury themselves in sand and mud bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-18 inches and weigh around 5 pounds, but we've seen some beauties push 25+ inches. They love shallow estuaries, creek mouths, and around structure like docks and oyster bars. Fall and early spring are prime time when they're moving between inshore and offshore waters. What makes them special is that challenge - they're subtle biters and excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. Here's a local trick: when you feel that light tap, don't set the hook right away. Count to three, then lift - flounder like to grab bait sideways before turning to swallow it.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the ultimate inshore fighters, averaging 20-40 pounds with those distinctive dark horizontal stripes. They love structure - bridge pilings, drop-offs, and rocky areas where baitfish gather. These fish are constantly moving, following temperature breaks and bait schools throughout the season. Spring and fall migrations bring the best action when they're actively feeding in our rivers and sounds. What keeps anglers coming back is their aggressive strikes and powerful runs, plus they make fantastic table fare with firm, flaky meat. They're not particularly picky eaters but can be finicky about presentation. My go-to tip: match your bait size to what they're feeding on. If you see small baitfish jumping, downsize your lure - sometimes a smaller offering outfishes everything else.
North Carolina