At Mighty Mako Sportfishing Charters, they strive to make each fishing trip and memorable and rewarding experience. The Mighty Mako has been fishing out of Palmetto Bay Marina for 30 years.
With over 25 years of guiding experience, Captain Dave has been providing island vacationers, and locals, an intimate and personal experience of the island’s surrounding waters and its inhabitants. All fishing charters are customized to fit one’s needs in order to provide the best possible experience while out on the water.
Captain Dave enjoys introducing young kids to the thrill of catching fish and has seen many of them grow up to be fine adults and parents, who are now fishing aboard the Mighty Mako with their own children. The cycle continues.
Captain Dave answers all questions with honesty and understanding and is eager to point out the various nature inhabitants that one encounters while out on the area waters. Not all anglers are the same, so it is important to communicate with the captain what one would like to achieve from each outing to make it the best possible experience for all. Captain Dave takes each trip seriously, while not taking himself too seriously, and keeping things coastal/casual.
The boat is a custom Carolina Sport Fisher designed with one thing in mind. Fishability! Wide beam, stable platform, and plenty of room to maneuver without bumping into one another, all while managing large fish. The boat is meticulously clean and well-maintained, while the Shimano reels and lightweight tackle are kept in pristine condition.
Palmetto Bay Marina (home to the island’s original fishing fleet) is within minutes of anywhere on the island. The Mighty Mako is not trailered around to various public landings with no facilities while demanding cash as payment. The Mighty Mako has been at the same Marina for 30 years and offers all forms of payment, as well as clean restrooms, a Marina store, and amenities that one expects from a reputable fishing charter service.
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (59)
Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Appropriate for children
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
100%
Caught fish
100%
Aug 2, 2025
3 Hour Trip – Inshore Fishing (PM)
Captain tailored the fishing excursion to our kids and coached and guided them to be able to catch 5 sharks, and 7 croakers. The kids had such a great time and my son is now calling himself the Shark Slayer. There was also a super friendly and fun dolphin at the dock and it followed us out for awhile. We would definitely fish with Captain David again; he has been doing this for 30 years and knows the spots to go to make a great time for the group. Highly recommend!
Captain tailored the fishing excursion to our kids and coached and guided them to be able to catch 5 sharks, and 7 croakers. The...
Jul 13, 2025
3 Hour Trip – Inshore Fishing (PM)
I can’t say enough good things about our trip out with Dave on the Mighty Mako! We caught several sharks , some whiting, a star fish, a sting ray and even saw several dolphins. He was extremely friendly, attentive to the whole group and kept our 12 year old entertained the entire time! We had the best time! If you are looking for a great guide he comes highly recommended!
I can’t say enough good things about our trip out with Dave on the Mighty Mako! We caught several sharks , some whiting, a star...
Jul 3, 2025
3 Hour Trip – Inshore Fishing (PM)
I cannot say enough about how amazing Cpt. Dave is! We had such a wonderful experience with him! He was personable, knowledgeable, friendly, and just everything you would want in a fishing boat captain! He was great with our kids and our golden retriever! The experience and the memories we made are priceless, and we couldn’t be more grateful to Cpt. Dave for that!! When we come back to visit the area, there is no doubt in my mind that we will book a trip with him…and recommend him to anyone visiting the island! Marlin says thanks, too 🐾
I cannot say enough about how amazing Cpt. Dave is! We had such a wonderful experience with him! He was personable, knowledgeable,...
Jul 9, 2025
4 Hour Trip – Inshore Fish (PM)
Awesome fishing trip. My kids and wife all had a blast catching sharks and fish. They also loved the special surprise at the end of the trip! Captain Dave is a great guy and we will definitely book another fishing trip on the Mighty Mako next time we’re in Hilton Head!
Awesome fishing trip. My kids and wife all had a blast catching sharks and fish. They also loved the special surprise at the end...
Jul 6, 2025
3 Hour Trip – Inshore Fishing (PM)
Right off the bat David was wonderful and very patient with my 10-year-old son who asked a lot of questions. He made us feel comfortable and set up the back lines to try to catch us something big. My hubby wrestled in a giant sting ray which the kids pet in the water and released. We also caught and released several hammer heads and sand sharks. Really fun day on the water!
Right off the bat David was wonderful and very patient with my 10-year-old son who asked a lot of questions. He made us feel comfortable...
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Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (59)
Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Appropriate for children
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
100%
Caught fish
100%
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
3 Hour Trip – Inshore Fishing (PM) on August 2, 2025
Captain tailored the fishing excursion to our kids and coached and guided them to be able to catch 5 sharks, and 7 croakers. The kids had such a great time and my son is now calling himself the Shark Slayer. There was also a super friendly and fun dolphin at the dock and it followed us out for awhile. We would definitely fish with Captain David again; he has been doing this for 30 years and knows the spots to go to make a great time for the group. Highly recommend!
Captain tailored the fishing excursion to our kids and coached and guided them to be able to catch 5 sharks, and 7 croakers. The kids had such a great time and my son is now calling himself the Shark Slayer. There was also a super friendly and fun dolphin at the dock and it followed us out for awhile. We would definitely fish with Captain David again; he has been doing this for 30 years and knows the spots to go to make a great time for the group. Highly recommend!
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
3 Hour Trip – Inshore Fishing (PM) on July 13, 2025
I can’t say enough good things about our trip out with Dave on the Mighty Mako! We caught several sharks , some whiting, a star fish, a sting ray and even saw several dolphins. He was extremely friendly, attentive to the whole group and kept our 12 year old entertained the entire time! We had the best time! If you are looking for a great guide he comes highly recommended!
I can’t say enough good things about our trip out with Dave on the Mighty Mako! We caught several sharks , some whiting, a star fish, a sting ray and even saw several dolphins. He was extremely friendly, attentive to the whole group and kept our 12 year old entertained the entire time! We had the best time! If you are looking for a great guide he comes highly recommended!
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
3 Hour Trip – Inshore Fishing (PM) on July 3, 2025
I cannot say enough about how amazing Cpt. Dave is! We had such a wonderful experience with him! He was personable, knowledgeable, friendly, and just everything you would want in a fishing boat captain! He was great with our kids and our golden retriever! The experience and the memories we made are priceless, and we couldn’t be more grateful to Cpt. Dave for that!! When we come back to visit the area, there is no doubt in my mind that we will book a trip with him…and recommend him to anyone visiting the island! Marlin says thanks, too 🐾
I cannot say enough about how amazing Cpt. Dave is! We had such a wonderful experience with him! He was personable, knowledgeable, friendly, and just everything you would want in a fishing boat captain! He was great with our kids and our golden retriever! The experience and the memories we made are priceless, and we couldn’t be more grateful to Cpt. Dave for that!! When we come back to visit the area, there is no doubt in my mind that we will book a trip with him…and recommend him to anyone...
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
4 Hour Trip – Inshore Fish (PM) on July 9, 2025
Awesome fishing trip. My kids and wife all had a blast catching sharks and fish. They also loved the special surprise at the end of the trip! Captain Dave is a great guy and we will definitely book another fishing trip on the Mighty Mako next time we’re in Hilton Head!
Awesome fishing trip. My kids and wife all had a blast catching sharks and fish. They also loved the special surprise at the end of the trip! Captain Dave is a great guy and we will definitely book another fishing trip on the Mighty Mako next time we’re in Hilton Head!
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
3 Hour Trip – Inshore Fishing (PM) on July 6, 2025
Right off the bat David was wonderful and very patient with my 10-year-old son who asked a lot of questions. He made us feel comfortable and set up the back lines to try to catch us something big. My hubby wrestled in a giant sting ray which the kids pet in the water and released. We also caught and released several hammer heads and sand sharks. Really fun day on the water!
Right off the bat David was wonderful and very patient with my 10-year-old son who asked a lot of questions. He made us feel comfortable and set up the back lines to try to catch us something big. My hubby wrestled in a giant sting ray which the kids pet in the water and released. We also caught and released several hammer heads and sand sharks. Really fun day on the water!