Jacksonville Inshore Fishing: 4hr AM Trip

Published Date: July 18, 2025
Fishing

North Carolina
$400 - $2,500 price range

Summary

Join us for a 4-hour inshore fishing trip in the Jacksonville, North Carolina area. We'll be targeting popular species like red drum, black drum, sheepshead, trout, and flounder when they're in season. Depending on what's biting and what you prefer, we'll use live bait, artificial lures, or a mix of both. Our fishing spots vary from creeks and grass flats to bridges and the Intracoastal Waterway. Since it's a shorter trip, we usually focus on one or two species to make the most of our time. If you're looking to try more techniques or target more fish, consider our 6-hour option. With room for up to 3 guests, it's a great way to spend a morning on the water with friends or family. Atlantic Blue Charters has the local knowledge to put you on the fish and show you the best of inshore fishing in the area.

Jacksonville Inshore Fishing: 4hr AM Trip

Inshore Catch of the Day

Clear skies and deep sea adventures await in Sneads Ferry!

Group of 5 people fishing in North Carolina

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Reel in the Action: 4-Hour Inshore Fishing Trip

Get ready to wet a line and chase some of Jacksonville's most sought-after inshore species on this action-packed 4-hour trip. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just getting your feet wet, Atlantic Blue Charters has you covered for a morning of rod-bending excitement in the rich waters of coastal North Carolina.

Trip Overview

We'll hit the water early, making the most of those prime fishing hours when the fish are hungry and active. Our seasoned captains know these waters like the back of their hand, so we'll waste no time getting to the hot spots. Depending on what's biting, we might find ourselves stalking the grass flats for tailing reds, working bridges for structure-loving sheepshead, or drifting the ICW for flounder. This trip is all about putting you on fish and showing you the ropes of inshore fishing in our neck of the woods.

What to Expect on the Water

On this 4-hour trip, we typically zero in on one or two target species to maximize our chances of success. We'll tailor our approach based on what's running and what you're keen to catch. Might be tossing live shrimp under docks for black drum, or working soft plastics along grass lines for speckled trout. We provide all the gear, from rods and reels to bait and tackle. Our boats are equipped with top-notch electronics to help us locate the fish, and we've got plenty of cooler space for your catch (and your drinks). Just bring your sense of adventure, and we'll handle the rest.

Why Anglers Keep Coming Back

There's something special about inshore fishing in Jacksonville that keeps folks coming back for more. Maybe it's the thrill of sight-casting to a cruising redfish, or the satisfying 'thump' of a flounder taking your bait. Our captains love sharing their local knowledge, whether it's showing you how to work a popping cork for trout or teaching you the finer points of feeling a sheepshead's subtle bite. Plus, with a max of 3 guests, you're guaranteed plenty of personal attention and time with a rod in your hands.

Species You'll Want to Hook

Redfish (Red Drum): The crown jewel of inshore fishing, reds are known for their powerful runs and distinctive spot on the tail. We often find them tailing in shallow water or hugging oyster bars. They're a blast on light tackle and put up a great fight. Fall is prime time for big bulls, but we catch slots year-round.

Black Drum: These cousins of the redfish are often overlooked but offer a great fight and tasty fillets. They love structure and crustaceans, so we'll often target them around bridges or docks using crabs or shrimp. They can grow to massive sizes, but the smaller ones in the 5-15 pound range are perfect for the dinner table.

Sheepshead: With their distinctive black and white stripes, sheepshead are as fun to catch as they are to look at. They're notorious bait stealers, so hooking one takes finesse and patience. We often find them around pilings, bridges, and other structure. Their teeth are built for crushing crustaceans, which makes them a challenging and rewarding catch.

Summer Flounder: Also known as fluke, these flatfish are masters of camouflage and ambush predators. We'll drift or slow-troll with live bait or soft plastics to entice them. The "doormat" sized ones are prized catches, and they're excellent eating fish. Late spring through early fall is typically the best time to target them.

Sea Trout (Speckled Trout): These speckled beauties are a favorite among light tackle enthusiasts. We often find them in grass flats, creek mouths, and around oyster bars. They're suckers for live shrimp under a popping cork or artificial lures like soft plastics and topwater plugs. Dawn and dusk are prime times for trout fishing, making them perfect targets for our morning trips.

Top Catches This Season

This year has been stellar for inshore fishing around Jacksonville. We've been seeing some chunky redfish in the 24-27 inch range, often found tailing in the grass flats during high tide. The trout bite has been on fire, especially around dawn using topwater lures – nothing beats watching a gator trout explode on a walking bait. Sheepshead have been thick around the bridges, with some real hubcap-sized ones in the mix. And let's not forget the flounder – we've been finding some real doormats in the 4-5 pound range lurking around creek mouths and drop-offs.

Time to Book Your Spot

Whether you're looking to bend a rod, learn some new techniques, or just enjoy a morning on the water, our 4-hour inshore trip is the ticket. We've got the local know-how, the right gear, and the passion for putting you on fish. Remember, with only 3 spots per trip, these outings fill up fast – especially during peak seasons. So don't let that trophy catch slip away – book your trip with Atlantic Blue Charters today and get ready for some reel action on the waters of Jacksonville. Tight lines await!

Learn more about the species

Black Drum

Redfish are a blast to catch and one of our top targets around here. They love shallow water, often cruising in just 1-4 feet deep around oyster beds, grass flats, and marsh edges. You can spot their copper-colored backs and tell-tale tail spot as they feed. Most run 20-30 inches, but big bulls over 40 inches aren't uncommon. These guys put up a great fight on light tackle. We usually find them best in fall when water temps cool down. They'll hit all kinds of lures - topwaters, jigs, soft plastics. Live bait like finger mullet or cut mullet works great too. Redfish are excellent eating with a mild, sweet flavor. Locals love to blacken them or throw them on the grill. One tip - if you see redfish tailing in shallow water, try tossing a weedless gold spoon right in front of their nose. The flash often triggers an immediate strike. Just be ready for that initial run - they can really take off!

Summer Flounder

Speckled trout, or specs, are a favorite inshore species here. These silver beauties with dark spots usually run 14-20 inches, though gators over 24 inches show up too. They're schooling fish, so finding one often means more nearby. Specs love grass flats, creek mouths, and deeper holes in 3-6 feet of water. Dawn and dusk are prime feeding times. Spring and fall are generally best as they follow bait movements. These fish hit a variety of lures - topwaters, soft plastics, and jigs all work well. Live shrimp under a popping cork is always a good bet too. Trout have soft mouths, so a steady retrieve works better than sharp jerks. Anglers love specs for their aggressive strikes and acrobatic jumps. They're also delicious but don't freeze well, so eat 'em fresh! Here's a local secret - on calm mornings, look for subtle V-wakes moving across grass flats. That's often a trout pushing bait. Cast ahead of the wake and hold on!

Redfish

Black drum are the bulldogs of our inshore waters. These cousins to redfish can get huge - 20-40 pounders aren't uncommon, and 60+ pound monsters show up occasionally. Most eating-sized ones run 5-15 pounds though. You'll find black drum around oyster bars, bridge pilings, and in deeper holes of 6-15 feet. They love crustaceans, so fresh shrimp, crab, or clams make great bait. A fish-finder rig with a circle hook works well. Spring is prime time as big schools move in to spawn. Black drum put up a stubborn, dogged fight. No acrobatics, just pure power. Smaller ones under 15 pounds are good eating, but bigger ones get wormy and tough. These fish have sensitive barbels they use to feel for food. One local trick is to chum with crushed oysters or clams. That scent trail often brings in drum from a distance. When you feel that telltale thump, be ready - they can really take off on that first run!

Sea Trout

Sheepshead are one of the trickier fish to catch, but man are they fun. These striped fish with human-like teeth usually run 2-5 pounds around here. You'll find them hanging around hard structure like bridge pilings, rock jetties, and oyster beds. Late winter into early spring is prime time as sheepshead gather to spawn. They're notorious bait stealers, so you've got to finesse them. Use light tackle, small hooks, and fresh bait like fiddler crabs or oysters. When you feel that light tap, resist the urge to set the hook right away. Let them chew for a second, then gently raise your rod tip. Once hooked, they put up a great fight for their size. Sheepshead are excellent eating with firm, white meat. Cleaning them can be tricky with all those rib bones, but it's worth it. Pro tip: When fishing pilings, position your boat upcurrent and let your bait drift back to the structure. That natural presentation often triggers more bites than casting directly at the piling.

Sheepshead

Summer flounder, or fluke, are a fun species to target here. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, blending in with sandy or muddy bottoms. They typically run 15-20 inches, but doormat-sized fish over 5 pounds aren't unheard of. Look for flounder around inlets, near bridges, and along channel edges. They like to ambush prey, so fishing structure is key. Drifting or slow trolling works well to cover ground. Late summer into fall is prime time as they feed heavily before migrating offshore for winter. Fluke hit both live bait and artificial lures. A fish-finder rig with a live minnow or strip of squid is deadly. For artificials, try bouncing a bucktail jig tipped with Gulp! or a strip of fish belly. Flounder put up a decent fight and are excellent table fare. Their white, flaky meat is popular in restaurants. One local trick - when you feel that telltale "thump," resist setting the hook immediately. Give the flounder a few seconds to fully take the bait before reeling.

About the Mako Pro Skift

Vehicle Guest Capacity: 3

Manufacturer Name: Mercury

Maximum Cruising Speed: 40

Number of Engines: 1

Horsepower per Engine: 115

Ready for some laid-back fishing fun in Jacksonville? Hop aboard for a 4-hour inshore adventure where we'll chase after red drum, black drum, sheepshead, trout, and flounder (when they're in season). We'll use live bait or mix it up with some artificial lures, depending on what we're after and what you prefer. Our playground includes the creeks, grass flats, New River, bridges, and the Intracoastal Waterway. Since we've got 4 hours, we'll usually focus on nabbing one or two types of fish. It's a perfect trip for anglers looking to hone their skills or just enjoy a relaxed morning on the water. Bring your fishing buddies – we can take up to 3 guests. If you're itching to try more spots and target more species, consider upgrading to our 6-hour trip for a fuller day of fishing action.

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