Hilton Head Island Fishing Charters & Guides

Hilton Head Island Fishing Charters

If you like fishing and vacationing with friends and family, you should put the low country high on your list of destinations. The term “low country” refers to an area below the South Carolina “Sandhills”, an ancient sea coast. This area proudly claims to not only be different geographically, but culturally as well. It runs from Aiken to Chesterfield County. And right in the middle of it lies Hilton Head Island. For many, Hilton Head is known for golf and tennis and sparkling beaches. Despite being a tourist hotspot, it’s also a great place to go fishing. The developers of this area tried to keep the area in tune with nature — like not allowing any neon signs on Hilton Head — but it is bustling nonetheless. Hilton Head is an island, with only one way in and out by road, that being State Highway 278. If you look at the island from above, it’s shaped like a giant foot and one of the popular areas you hear people talk about is the “toe” of the island, a great spot for fishing right off the Calibogue Sound. Popular fishing spots include Grendaier Shoal and Barrett Shoals. Main bodies of water around the island besides the Atlantic Ocean include the Calibogue Sound and Broad Creek to the south, the May River and Skull Creek to the west, and the Port Royal Sound to the north. One of the more popular fishing and nature areas near Hilton Head is the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge. The 4,053 acre refuge includes Pinckney Island, Corn Island, Big and Little Harry Islands, Buzzard Island and numerous small hammocks. It is open to public use and almost 70 percent of the refuge is salt marsh, tidal creeks and freshwater ponds. Almost every visitor to this area takes part in some sort of water related activity and most take advantage of the bays, creeks, rivers and sounds for fishing. Make sure you don’t miss out on that if you visit Hilton Head Island.

Hilton Head Island Inshore Fishing

To make the most of your visit, find a Hilton Head Island charter captain and go fishing. The opportunities for inland fishing here are outstanding. But understand one thing: Hilton Head’s waters are just about as busy as her beaches and tourist stops. You’ll find lots of fish, but on most days, especially in the summer, you’ll have lots of company. There are no secret spots around here. Your fishing menu for inshore fishing here includes redfish, speckled trout, seabass, flounder and sheepshead, but at certain times in the summer, you can expand that to even tarpon and sharks. Kayak fishing is popular among the lagoons and marshes, but for the most part, larger boats are needed for going in the bays and big rivers. One growing sport here is gigging for flounder. The spring through the fall finds many fishermen in the clear shallow waters with a light and a gig. A calm night with no moon is best. You can also fish for flounder in the conventional way from a boat. Charters inshore can put you on the best fishing and it’s an easy trip for inshore angling.

Hilton Head Island Offshore Fishing

There’s a little thing called the “Gulf Stream” that makes offshore fishing here fantastic. It’s 70 miles out from shore, but if you can stand the round trip and put in several hours of fishing, it’s worth the trip. There are also numerous networks of coral and rocky reefs that hold some excellent fish offshore. What you can catch includes big and small snapper, grouper, amberjack, triggerfish, sailfish, cobia and huge sharks as well as wahoo, mahi mahi, tuna and marlin. Don’t try to go on this trip alone. Make sure you have a seasoned captain with a sea-worthy vessel. If you are after a closer trip but still want some big fish action, see if trips are available to the Betsy Ross Reef. It’s the largest artificial reef in the state and is only 18 miles from shore. The reef regularly gives up king mackerel, snapper, sea bass and grouper. Hilton Head Island has dozens of skilled, well-equipped charter captains. And if you talk with one of them, they can help put you on the fish you would like to catch. Or they can tell you what’s biting best to make sure you have plenty of action and fish to take home for dinner.

Book A Hilton Head Island Fishing Charter

The beaches. The parks. The bike trails. The food and recreation like tennis and golf. There’s plenty to do here. But do that AFTER you book your Hilton Head Island fishing charter. This is another one of those places that you can do almost anything, but none of it will be more fun or rewarding than taking a day or two to book a fishing charter with FishAnywhere and hit the water.