Charleston's Premier 8-Hour Inshore Fishing Trip

Full Day Charleston Inshore Fishing Adventure

There's nothing quite like spending eight solid hours on Charleston's legendary inshore waters, and this trip delivers everything you want in a full-day fishing experience. You'll be targeting some of the Lowcountry's most prized species—Redfish, Black Sea Bass, Seatrout, Sheepshead, and Black Drum—with a seasoned captain who knows these waters like the back of his hand. The package includes everything from rods and reels to tackle, bait, and your fishing license, so all you need to bring is yourself and maybe some snacks for the day. With room for up to six anglers but priced for two, it's perfect whether you're planning a quiet fishing trip with your buddy or want to bring the whole crew along for a top-rated Charleston fishing adventure.

What to Expect on the Water

Your day starts early, which is exactly how you want it when you're serious about putting fish in the boat. Charleston's inshore waters offer an amazing variety of structure and habitat, from oyster bars and grass flats to creek mouths and deeper channels where the big fish like to hang out. Your captain will read the tides, weather, and seasonal patterns to put you on the most productive spots throughout the day. Eight hours gives you the luxury of hitting multiple locations, so if one spot isn't producing, you've got plenty of time to move around and find where the fish are feeding. The relaxed pace means you're not rushing from spot to spot—you can really work an area when the bite is hot, and that's often when you land your personal best. Between the productive fishing and the stunning Lowcountry scenery, this trip offers the perfect blend of action and atmosphere that keeps anglers coming back year after year.

Techniques & Tackle Setup

Inshore fishing around Charleston is all about adapting your approach to the conditions and the species you're targeting. You'll likely start with live bait—shrimp, mud minnows, or finger mullet—rigged on circle hooks for the cleanest hooksets. When you're working the grass flats for seatrout, your captain might have you casting soft plastics on jig heads, bouncing them along the bottom where these fish love to ambush prey. For redfish around the oyster bars, expect to use heavier tackle that can handle both the fight and the structure. Sheepshead require a more finesse approach with fiddler crabs or barnacles on smaller hooks, since these guys are notorious for their light bites and quick escapes. The beauty of a full-day trip is that you'll get to experience all these different techniques as you move between spots and target different species. Your captain provides all the gear, but he's also happy to let you use your own rods if you prefer—many anglers enjoy the challenge of landing Charleston fish on their personal setups.

Species You'll Want to Hook

Redfish are the crown jewel of Charleston inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers can range from schooling "rat reds" around 18-24 inches to massive bull reds that'll test your drag and your patience. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, especially around the oyster bars and shallow flats during moving tides. What makes redfish so special is their fighting ability—they'll make long, powerful runs and use their broad sides to leverage against your line. Plus, they're excellent table fare when kept within slot limits, making them a customer favorite for both the fight and the meal.

Black Sea Bass might not get the glamour of redfish, but they're absolute workhorses that'll keep your rod bent all day long. These bottom-dwellers love structure, so you'll find them around rocks, reefs, and artificial structures throughout Charleston's waters. They're most active during cooler months, making them perfect targets for winter fishing when other species slow down. Sea bass are aggressive feeders that'll hit live bait, cut bait, and artificials with equal enthusiasm. They're also one of the best eating fish in these waters, with firm white meat that's perfect for grilling or frying.

Seatrout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the bread and butter of Charleston inshore fishing. These beautiful fish with their distinctive spotted sides are available year-round, though they're most active during warmer months. You'll find them over grass beds, around structure, and in deeper holes during cold snaps. Seatrout are exciting because they'll often hit topwater lures with explosive strikes, especially during early morning and late afternoon. They're also relatively easy for newer anglers to catch, making them perfect confidence builders on a long day of fishing.

Sheepshead are the challenge fish that separate the rookies from the experienced anglers. These black-and-white striped fish have human-like teeth and a reputation for stealing bait without getting hooked. They're most active during their spring spawning run around docks, pilings, and jetties, where they feed on barnacles, crabs, and oysters. Landing a good sheepshead requires patience and quick reflexes, but they're worth the effort—they're considered some of the best eating fish in Charleston waters, with sweet, flaky meat that's perfect for fish tacos.

Black Drum are the gentle giants of Charleston's inshore waters, with larger specimens weighing 20-40 pounds or more. These bottom feeders are most active during cooler months and can be found around oyster beds, deeper holes, and channel edges. They're not the fastest fighters, but their size and power make them a real challenge on lighter tackle. Younger black drum, called "puppy drum," are excellent eating, while the larger fish are typically released to continue spawning. What makes black drum special is their predictability—when you find them, they're usually in schools, so multiple hookups are common.

Time to Book Your Spot

This world-class Charleston inshore fishing experience offers the perfect combination of variety, expertise, and value that serious