Departing from Shem Creek (Close to Wild Dunes, Isle of Palms, Mt. Pleasant, Downtown) or Wappoo Cut Landing (Close to downtown, Kiawah Island, Folly Beach, James and Johns Islands)
Inshore fishing is fishing the shallow, protected water along the coast instead of running miles offshore. Around Charleston that is the tidal creeks, grass flats, oyster bars, river mouths, and the Intracoastal Waterway. The water is calm, the runs are short, and the fish hold tight to structure and moving bait. It is the most beginner-friendly way to fish here, and it is where the species Charleston is known for actually live.
Redfish are caught year-round in slot and over-slot sizes using live bait under a popping cork, cut bait on the bottom, and artificial lures in cooler months. Spring and fall are best, but freezes or slick summer mornings can also yield good fish.
BEST BAIT:
BLUE CRAB / MULLET
SEASON:
YEAR-ROUND
Trout are a favorite for many anglers. The fall bite, from October to December, is prime. As water cools, trout feed aggressively, making lure fishing fun. This late-fall window offers great weather and big trout.
BEST BAIT:
LIVE SHRIMP / DOA
SEASON:
SPRING & FALL
Flounder and black drum fill out the inshore lineup. Both fish structure and bottom, both eat well, and both give newer anglers a steady bend in the rod. Black drum in particular are a reliable target when the bite is slow on everything else.
BEST BAIT:
MUD MINNOWS / JIGS
SEASON:
SUMMER PEAK
Two-boat trips for clients, suppliers, and team outings. A laid-back afternoon on the water beats another conference room, and there is a bigger demand for these than most visitors expect. Read more on the charters page.
Prime time. Redfish are active and the water is warming. One of the two best windows of the year.
Variety and volume. Reds plus bluefish, ladyfish, jack crevalle, and bonnethead sharks. Great for families and morning trips before the heat.
The other peak, and the favorite of repeat clients. Big speckled trout on artificials as the water cools.
Quieter and underrated. Slot redfish stay catchable, and a calm winter day can fish beautifully with almost no boat traffic.
Trips work the Cooper, Wando, and Ashley rivers, the ICW, and the backwaters and creeks around Sullivans Island, Isle of Palms, Mt Pleasant, Johns Island, and West Ashley. Which one we run depends on the tide and wind that day. Launches are Shem Creek in Mt Pleasant and the Wappoo Cut landing on James Island.
Dates fill up fast during the peak Redfish and Trout seasons. Secure your spot on the boat today and experience the Lowcountry like a local.
