Learn to Fish: Carolina Beach Beginner Trip

Published Date: September 22, 2025
Fishing

Carolina Beach
$575 - $690 price range

Summary

Ready to try your hand at fishing? This 5-hour trip with Rip N Lips Charters is perfect for beginners or those looking to brush up on their skills. Captain Ray Dixon takes you out on the calm inshore waters near Carolina Beach, NC, where you'll target local favorites like Red Drum, Speckled Trout, and Flounder. Don't worry if you're new to fishing - the captain provides patient instruction and all the gear you'll need. With a relaxed pace and hands-on guidance, you'll learn the basics while enjoying a day on the water. The trip is designed to build your confidence, whether you're casting a line for the first time or want to improve your technique. With a small group size of just 3 guests, you'll get plenty of personal attention. It's a great way to experience Carolina's inshore fishing scene in a safe, supportive environment.

Learn to Fish: Carolina Beach Beginner Trip

Inshore Catches

Redfish, a 27-inch fish, caught while fishing in NC

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A single summer flounder, a 28-inch fish, caught while fishing at Carolina Beach

Carolina Beach Fishing Flounder

Best charter boats in Carolina Beach

Want to experience top Flounder fishing action?

Catch Your First Big One in Carolina Beach

Ready to wet a line but not sure where to start? Captain Ray Dixon's half-day trip with Rip N Lips Charters is your ticket to fishing fun without the frustration. We'll cruise the calm inshore waters around Carolina Beach, NC, giving you a crash course in angling basics while targeting some of the area's most popular gamefish. Whether you're a total newbie or just looking to brush up your skills, this laid-back 5-hour adventure is the perfect way to get hooked on coastal fishing.

What to Expect on the Water

Leave the dock stress behind as we motor out into Carolina Beach's protected inshore waters. Captain Ray's years of experience mean he knows exactly where the fish are biting, so you can focus on learning the ropes. We'll start with the basics - how to bait a hook, cast a line, and reel in your catch. As you get more comfortable, we'll move on to different techniques for targeting specific species. The calm conditions and slower pace make this trip ideal for families, first-timers, or anyone who wants to build their confidence on the water. And with a max of 3 guests, you'll get plenty of one-on-one coaching from the captain.

Gearing Up for Success

No need to stress about tackle - Rip N Lips provides all the quality gear you'll need for a productive day on the water. We use light to medium spinning rods perfect for inshore species, paired with reels spooled with line that can handle anything from a scrappy speckled trout to a bruiser redfish. Live bait is the name of the game for many of our target species, so we'll show you how to hook it for the best results. As you progress, we might break out some artificial lures to expand your skillset. Captain Ray's patient instruction will have you casting like a pro in no time.

Top Catches This Season

Carolina Beach's inshore waters are teeming with gamefish, giving you a great shot at tight lines throughout your trip. In the warmer months, we often hook into hard-fighting red drum (also called redfish) cruising the flats and oyster beds. Speckled trout are another local favorite, known for their delicate flavor and challenging fight. Flounder round out our inshore slam - these flatfish might look funny, but they put up a serious battle when hooked. As a bonus, we sometimes run into schools of Spanish mackerel when conditions are right. Each species offers its own unique challenge, keeping things exciting as you hone your skills.

Species You'll Want to Hook

Red Drum: Also known as redfish, these copper-colored beauties are a favorite target for Carolina anglers. They can grow to impressive sizes, with bull reds topping 40 inches not uncommon. Red drum love to cruise shallow flats and hang around structure, making them perfect for sight fishing. Their powerful runs will test your drag and your arms! Fall is prime time for big schools of reds, but we catch them year-round in Carolina Beach.

Speckled Trout: Don't let their delicate looks fool you - these spotted fighters punch well above their weight class. Specks are ambush predators, often hanging around grass beds and oyster bars waiting to pounce on baitfish. Their soft mouths make for an exciting challenge when trying to land them. Early morning and late evening are usually the best times to target trout, especially around moving tides.

Summer Flounder: These masters of camouflage are a blast to catch and even better to eat. Flounder like to bury themselves in sandy or muddy bottoms, waiting to ambush prey that swims by. Feeling the distinctive "thump" when a flounder takes your bait is addictive. We target them best in the warmer months, often drifting or slow-trolling along channel edges.

Spanish Mackerel: When these speedsters show up, hold on tight! Spanish macks are lightning-fast and love to hit flashy lures or live bait fished near the surface. They often travel in schools, so when you find one, you've usually found many. Late spring through early fall is prime time for Spanish mackerel around Carolina Beach, especially when water temperatures warm up.

Freshwater Drum: Don't let the name fool you - we catch plenty of these hard-fighters in our inshore waters. Also called "gaspergou" or simply "drum," these silvery fish put up a great scrap on light tackle. They're often found around structure and will readily take live bait or certain artificial lures. Drum are available year-round but seem to be most active in the warmer months.

Why Anglers Keep Coming Back

There's something special about fishing the inshore waters around Carolina Beach. Maybe it's the way the sun glints off the calm water as you cast your line. Or perhaps it's the thrill of feeling that first tug, knowing a fish has taken your bait. For many of our guests, it's the satisfaction of learning a new skill and seeing improvement with each cast. Captain Ray's patient guidance and local knowledge mean you're not just fishing - you're getting an education in coastal ecology and angling techniques that will serve you well on future trips. And let's not forget the unbeatable views of the Carolina coastline from the water. It's no wonder so many first-timers end up coming back year after year for more inshore action.

Time to Book Your Spot

Whether you're looking to introduce the kids to fishing, want to learn the basics yourself, or just need a relaxing day on the water, this beginner-friendly trip with Rip N Lips Charters fits the bill. With all gear provided, expert instruction from Captain Ray, and a good chance at hooking into some of Carolina Beach's most popular inshore species, it's the perfect way to get your feet wet in the world of coastal angling. Spots fill up fast, especially during peak seasons, so don't wait to lock in your adventure. Give Captain Ray a call today and get ready to make some memories (and maybe catch dinner) on the water!

Learn more about the species

Freshwater Drum

Freshwater Drum, also called sheepshead or gaspergou, are an odd but interesting catch. These silver-grey fish usually run 10-14 inches long in our waters. You'll find them near the bottom of rivers and lakes, often around structure. They're active year-round but bite best in warmer months. Anglers target Drum for their firm, white meat and the unique challenge they present. They're not known for spectacular fights, but their strong, steady pulls can surprise you. To catch 'em, use bottom rigs with natural baits like worms, crayfish, or cut bait. Here's a local tip: listen for their distinctive grunting sound, especially in spring. That's the males calling during spawning season. When you hear it, you've found a good spot. Fish your bait right on the bottom and be patient - Drum often take the bait slowly before fully committing.

Redfish

Redfish, also known as Red Drum, are one of our most popular inshore targets. These copper-colored beauties typically range from 20-30 inches in the shallows. You'll find them tailing in water as shallow as 1-2 feet, often around oyster bars, grass flats, and marsh edges. They're catchable year-round, but fall is prime time when they school up. Anglers love Redfish for their strong fights and their willingness to eat just about anything. When hooked, they make powerful runs, often stripping line from your reel. To catch 'em, try live bait like mullet or crabs, or artificial lures like gold spoons and soft plastics. Here's a local tip: look for "nervous water" - that slight disturbance on the surface often means Redfish are feeding just below. Cast beyond the disturbance and slowly retrieve your lure through the area for best results.

Sea Trout

Sea Trout, or Speckled Trout, are a favorite inshore target here in Carolina Beach. These silvery fish with dark spots usually run 14-20 inches long. You'll find them in grass flats, around oyster bars, and near structures in shallow water. They're most active in spring and fall, but you can catch 'em year-round. Anglers love Sea Trout for their aggressive strikes and good table fare. They put up a nice fight on light tackle, often making several runs before coming to the boat. To catch 'em, try using live shrimp under a popping cork or casting soft plastic jigs. Here's a local tip: fish the tide changes, especially the first hour of the falling tide. That's when trout are most active, feeding on bait being pulled out of the grass flats. Work your lure slowly with a twitch-and-pause retrieve - trout often hit on the pause.

Spanish Mackerel

Spanish Mackerel are quick, silvery fish that'll give you a run for your money. They usually measure 1-2 feet long and weigh 2-6 pounds. You'll find them in schools near the surface, often around structures in open water. Summer and early fall are prime times to catch them as they follow bait fish inshore. Anglers love targeting Spanish Mackerel for their fast-paced action and tasty meat. They're known for their speedy runs and acrobatic jumps when hooked. To land one, try trolling or casting small, shiny lures like spoons or jigs. A local tip: look for diving birds - they'll often lead you right to a feeding school. When you find them, cast just beyond the school and retrieve quickly. Spanish Mackerel hit hard and fast, so be ready for some excitement on light tackle.

Summer Flounder

Summer Flounder, also called fluke, are sneaky bottom-dwellers that can reach up to 20 inches long. You'll find them in shallow bays, estuaries, and along sandy or muddy bottoms. They're masters of camouflage, changing color to match their surroundings. Best fishing is from late spring through early fall when they move inshore. Anglers love targeting flounder for their delicious white meat and the challenge of hooking these ambush predators. They put up a decent fight once hooked, with strong runs and head shakes. To catch 'em, try drifting or slow-trolling with live bait like minnows or strips of squid. Here's a local trick: use a bucktail jig tipped with a live killifish, bouncing it slowly along the bottom. When you feel a light tap, don't set the hook right away - give the flounder a few seconds to fully take the bait. Patience is key with these crafty flatfish.

About the Rip N Lips Charters

Vehicle Guest Capacity: 3

Manufacturer Name: Yamaha

Maximum Cruising Speed: 27

Number of Engines: 1

Horsepower per Engine: 115

Captain Ray Dixon's cozy boat is ready to take you and two friends on a laid-back 5-hour fishing adventure in Carolina Beach. Perfect for beginners, this trip lets you dip your toes into inshore fishing without any pressure. You'll cruise through calm waters, learning the ropes as you try to reel in local favorites like Red Drum, Speckled Trout, and Flounder. The captain provides all the gear you need and offers friendly guidance to help you get comfortable with the basics. Whether you're brand new to fishing or just want to brush up on your skills, this easy-going trip creates a relaxed setting to practice and have fun on the water. With a small group size, you'll get plenty of personal attention and tips to boost your confidence as an angler.

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