Pole Cat Charters is located on beautiful Hilton Head Island, known for its world-famous fishery, especially when it comes to huge Redfish and reef-dwellers! With Captain Jon DeLoach at the helm (you can call him Capt. Gumbo), this charter boasts quick access to the best fishing grounds around. As your captain says, you’ll have more fishing time than running time – get ready to come face-to-gills with plenty of world-famous species.

Capt. Gumbo moved to Hilton Head Island in 1977, and began fishing the north end of the island 5 years later. He’s been reeling in a vast array of saltwater superstars ever since! He offers a variety of inshore and offshore trips, in which he loves to educate and entertain every guest, from brand-new fishermen to angling aficionados. Whether you’re looking for a quick cruise around inshore waters, or want to head further out to tangle lines with huge reef fish, he’s got you covered.

You’ll be fishing from your captain’s 27’ Pro Sport catamaran, built to transport up to 6 guests out to the hottest spots around. Capt. Gumbo warmly welcomes children on board, so this vessel is the perfect choice for a fun family vacation! She’s decked out with GPS, fishfinder, life jackets in a variety of sizes, and a full toilet for your comfort. There’s room for all guests to fish at the same time, so get ready for some friendly competition.

The species you’ll be targeting depends on when you visit and how far you want to travel. Head up to 25 minutes out from the dock, and you’ll be hooking anything from Redfish, to Spanish Mackerel, Tarpon, and more. Those looking for a longer adventure will travel up to 45 minutes out to offshore waters, for the chance to hook Cobia, huge Redfish, a variety of Grouper and Snapper, Sheepshead, Black Drum, and plenty more.

Your captain will make sure you’re provided with rods, reels, bait, tackle, and a fishing license. All that’s left is to come aboard Pole Cat Charters for an incredible angling adventure!



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    3 Hour Trip (AM)
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    3 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    US $450
    Spend your morning cruising the estuaries of Hilton Head Island, where you'll find a whole host of species on offer! This 3-hour trip is the perfect choice for families with little ones, new anglers, and more experienced fishermen who want to reel in a variety of inshore and nearshore fish. You'll be targeting Sheepshead, Redfish, and Black Drum in the Winter, and summer will see Tarpon, Shark species, Spanish Mackerel, and more making an appearance. Rods, reels, bait, tackle, and license included.
  • Private trip
    3 Hour Trip (PM)
    In demand! Last booked: 4 days ago
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    3 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
    US $450
    Join Capt. Gumbo on this 3-hour trip, perfect for new anglers or seasoned fishermen who want to spend less time on the water and still reel in an impressive catch! You'll head between 20–25 minutes from the dock, and will have the chance to hook Sheepshead, Tarpon, Spanish Mackerel, Redfish, and more, depending on the season. You'll be provided with top-quality rods and reels, as well as bait, tackle, and your fishing license.
  • Private trip
    4 Hour Trip (AM)
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    US $600
    This 4-hour trip allows for more time on the water, which means you'll increase your chances of hooking a variety of impressive fish! You'll be cruising the estuaries around the Sound, heading up to 25 minutes from the dock, and can expect to hook Sheepshead, Redfish, and more during the winter, and whatever else is biting. Summer will see you reeling in Cobia, Shark species, Tarpon, and more. Your trip includes top-notch rods and reels, bait, tackle and a valid fishing license for all guests.
  • Private trip
    4 Hour Trip (PM)
    In demand! Last booked: 1 day ago
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
    US $600
    Spend your afternoon cruising the waters of Hilton Head Island, including the estuaries around Port Royal Sound. Depending on when you visit, you'll have the chance to hook an impressive variety of species – winter will see you targeting Sheepshead, Redfish, and more, whereas summer means Cobia, Shark species, Tarpon, and plenty more. Your captain will provide you with top-notch rods and reels, bait, tackle, and a fishing license for all guests.
  • Private trip
    6 Hour Trip
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    US $900
    This 6-hour trip gives you plenty of time to head further out onto the waters surrounding Hilton Head – get ready to cruise up to 45 minutes from the shore! You'll have the chance to target a variety of species, including Redfish, Black Drum, Sheepshead, and even Cobia or Barracuda. You'll head to the local reefs and wrecks, so expect Snapper and Grouper species, too. Your captain will provide top-notch rods and reels, bait, tackle, and a fishing license for all guests.
  • Private trip
    8 Hour Trip
    FREE Cancellation 1 day notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    US $1,200
    This full-day trip will give you plenty of time to head up to 45 minutes offshore, where you'll come across the wrecks and reefs of Hilton Head Island. These fishing grounds are hotbeds of angling activity, so expect to hook anything from Redfish, to Sheepshead, to a variety of Snapper and Grouper, and maybe even Barracuda or Cobia. Your captain will make sure you're provided with top-notch rods and reels, bait, tackle, and a valid fishing license for all guests.
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FAQs about Pole Cat Charters

Pole Cat Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $450 per group - 3 Hour Trip (AM) (3 hours)
  • US $450 per group - 3 Hour Trip (PM) (3 hours)
  • US $600 per group - 4 Hour Trip (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $600 per group - 4 Hour Trip (PM) (4 hours)
  • US $900 per group - 6 Hour Trip (6 hours)
  • US $1,200 per group - 8 Hour Trip (8 hours)

When you book a trip with Pole Cat Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet Enclosed
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live Bait Well
  • Ice Box

Trips booked with Pole Cat Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle (Shimano)
  • Live Bait (Type depends on time of year)
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Fishing License

Pole Cat Charters offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore Fishing
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Offshore Fishing
  • Reef Fishing

Pole Cat Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Spinning
  • Deep Sea Fishing

Top targeted fish species with Pole Cat Charters include:
  • Barracuda (Great)
  • Black Drum
  • Cobia
  • Redfish
  • Seabass (Black)
  • Sheepshead
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Tarpon

Meet the Captain

Jon Deloach
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, United States
ID & license verified
152 Customer reviews
Response time 2 hours
Member since December 2018
Captain Jon DeLoach (you can call him "Gumbo!") has more than 20 years of local fishing knowledge and experience when it comes to the waters surrounding Hilton Head Island, SC. He moved to Hilton Head in 1977, and began fishing the north end of the island five years later. He's been reeling in a vast array of saltwater superstars ever since! Capt. Gumbo offers a variety of inshore and offshore trips, in which he loves to educate and entertain every guest, from brand-new fishermen to angling aficionados. He also has some serious bragging rights under his belt – since becoming a charter captain over 14 years ago, Capt. Gumbo has led several winning tournament teams.

About this listing

Targeted species

Barracuda (Great) Great Barracuda
Black Drum Black Drum
Cobia Cobia
Redfish Redfish

Boat specs

Pro Sport (Catamaran) originally built in 2003. Powered by 2 150HP Yamaha engines, with a maximum cruising speed of 20 knots.

Length
27 ft
Capacity
6 persons

Types of fishing

Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing
Reef Fishing

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Spinning
Deep Sea Fishing

Amenities

Toilet
Enclosed
GPS
Fishfinder
Live Bait Well
Ice Box

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Shimano
Live Bait
Type depends on time of year
Catch cleaning & filleting
Fishing License

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 1 day prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 1 day before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

Listing policies

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
No babies
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed

Payment

Book with 15% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 15% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

Cash
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
Checks

Hilton Head Island Fishing Calendar

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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.8 / 5
out of 5 stars from 152 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (101)
Great time.
Great time.
Great time.
+98
Angler rating
127
16
3
3
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
93%
Friendly captain
98%
Recommend this charter
93%
Appropriate for children
96%
Satisfied with the boat
99%
Caught fish
75%
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Showing:
5 of 152 reviews
Jim P.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

We made memories for a lifetime

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip (AM) on November 24, 2023
Captain Gumbo went above and beyond to reschedule the trip when the weather would be better, and he moved us around trying...
Jim P. recommends Pole Cat Charters
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Jason G.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing trip in August

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip (PM) on August 2, 2023
Jason G. recommends Pole Cat Charters
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Jason G. recommends Pole Cat Charters
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Lydia A.
Shelby, NC
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Jon

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip (AM) on June 15, 2023
We started our day uncertain if weather would hold out! Fortunately Jon was on top of it and let us know first thing! 4 of...
Lydia A. recommends Pole Cat Charters
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Lydia A. recommends Pole Cat Charters
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Justin E.
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Awesome day!

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip (AM) on July 17, 2023
We fished two different spots, Captain Gumbo gave a lot of information about the area and fishing techniques. Boat was clean...
Justin E. recommends Pole Cat Charters
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Justin E. recommends Pole Cat Charters
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DAVID C.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great experience!

VERIFIED   6 Hour Trip on November 21, 2023
Great captain who was very knowledgeable of the area.  Had a great time and Captain Jon got us on the fish quick.  Can’t...
DAVID C. recommends Pole Cat Charters
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DAVID C. recommends Pole Cat Charters
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