Captain
John Cloyd

Member since April 2022 Hilton Head Island, United States
Background
Captain John comes from Louisville, KY. He grew up playing every sport imaginable and fishing for Bass. He went to college to play baseball and ended up at a school close to the coast, USCB. Captain John received his undergraduate in business administration and started his own charter business shortly after.
Techniques
Captain John loves to live bait fish however when conditions and angler's skills allow for it, sight fishing is preferred!

Hey, I'm Captain John Cloyd

Hilton Head Island, United States
Background
Captain John comes from Louisville, KY. He grew up playing every sport imaginable and fishing for Bass. He went to college to play baseball and ended up at a school close to the coast, USCB. Captain John received his undergraduate in business administration and started his own charter business shortly after.
Techniques
Captain John loves to live bait fish however when conditions and angler's skills allow for it, sight fishing is preferred!
Anglers Choice
148
Reviews
6
Fishing Reports

My Charter Listing

Performance Fishing Charters

Excellent
4.9 / 5
(148 reviews)
Angler's choice
Hilton Head Island
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $500

Fishing Reports

Lowcountry Winter Bite: Redfish, Black D
Lowcountry Winter Bite: Redfish, Black D
Feb 19, 2026 Hilton Head Island
Fishing around Hilton Head has been steady and productive for late winter patterns. Water temps are still on the cooler side, but we’re seeing consistent action from redfish, black drum, and sheepshead throughout the tides. Redfish are schooled up and feeding well on lower tides. We’re finding them stacked in deeper holes in the creeks and along mud flats that warm up during the afternoon sun. On higher water, they’re pushing onto flooded grass edges and oyster points. Sheepshead fishing has been strong around docks, pilings, and oyster clusters. These fish are feeding aggressively as they stage around structure. As water temps slowly begin to climb, the bite should continue to improve. Expect redfish schools to stay grouped up for a bit longer before spreading out as we transition toward spring patterns. If you’re planning a trip soon, now is a great time to get on the water. Plenty of action and less boat traffic this time of year.
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Bull Red Blitz
Bull Red Blitz
Sep 13, 2025 Hilton Head Island
Bull Red Blitz: The Lowcountry Ignites As autumn settles over the South Carolina Lowcountry, so does one of the most electrifying inshore migrations of the year—the arrival of bull red drum in full force. Right now, the bite is blazing, with anglers encountering oversized reds measuring up to and beyond 45 inches. These heavyweight bruisers are staging in classic fall patterns—stacking up near inlets, sandbars, creek mouths, and deeper channel edges. Feeding aggressively ahead of their offshore spawn, they’re inhaling fresh cut bait with reckless abandon, offering anglers an unforgettable fight and a true test of gear. “This is the time of year we wait for,” says one seasoned local guide. “The bulls are fired up and ready to eat—cut mullet, menhaden, blue crab—it doesn’t matter if you find the right water.” Most hookups are coming on heavy Carolina rigs rigged with circle hooks and stout tackle to muscle these fish in strong current. Anglers are encouraged to practice responsible catch and release—minimizing time out of the water, supporting fish properly, and avoiding over-handling to protect this vital breeding stock. With perfect conditions lining up—cooler temps, moving tides, and active baitfish—the Lowcountry’s bull redfish season is peaking. For anglers chasing their next big pull, the window is wide open.
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Inshore bite is on fire!!!
Inshore bite is on fire!!!
Feb 18, 2025 Hilton Head Island
The sheepshead are still hanging inshore prior to leaving for the nearshore reefs to spawn. Mainly catching them on fiddlers crabs. The red drum sre still showing up in nice numbers. This will start to slow down as we get further into march and april. Sheepshead are some of the tastiest fish in the sea so if youre looking for meat, lets get on em!
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Sheepshead Fishing Report
Sheepshead Fishing Report
Jan 25, 2025 Hilton Head Island
The Sheepshead bite is starting to fire off recently! Fish are moving from the inshore waters to their offshore spawning areas. Many sheepshead to catch inshore still, mainly around docks and bridge pilings. In the next week or two we will start seeing large numbers on the near shore wrecks. If youve love a good fighting fish and an even bette tasting one, book a sheepshead trip and lets go fishing!
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Fall Bull Red Bite is on Fire!
Fall Bull Red Bite is on Fire!
Sep 21, 2024 Hilton Head Island
The fall migration of Bull Red Drum is in full effect! Seeing double digit totals on some half day trips! This should last well jnto November as water temps continue to fall. Cut bait on the bottom has been the ticjet!
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Early Spring Inshore Action!!
Early Spring Inshore Action!!
Feb 28, 2024 Hilton Head Island
Lately we have been forced to fish in the creeks due to high winds. However that doesn’t mean were off the fish! Weve been seeing steady nunbers of red drum and sheepshead coming from the creeks around structure. The red drum are starting to go into their spring phases and break up from the massive winter time schols they were previously in. Sheepshead are starting to make their way out to the local reefs and wrecks as well.
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 148 reviews
See details
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (172)
Capt. John put us ON THE FISH!
Awesome Experience!
Awesome Experience!
+169
Angler rating
135
7
2
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
96%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
95%
Appropriate for children
95%
Satisfied with the boat
99%
Caught fish
93%
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5 of 148 reviews
Chris S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

PFC

VERIFIED   NEW  Jack Crevalle Sight Fishing Trip on August 4, 2026
Captain John was an absolute delight, very knowledgeable and personable. Interesting guy! Put us on fish immediately, and did...
Chris S. recommends Performance Fishing Charters
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Edward G.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Went out and hammered some redfish!!!

VERIFIED   4 Hour – Inshore/Nearshore - 11:00 AM on June 24, 2026
Went out on a one man charter with Capt. John with one thing in mind, hammering redfish. It seemed like every stop produced...
Edward G. recommends Performance Fishing Charters
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Alan S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Highly Recommend Captain John

VERIFIED   4 Hour – Inshore/Nearshore - 11:00 AM on June 16, 2026
I took my 15 and nine year-old sons out for a four hour trip with Captain John and had a wonderful time. The captain was very...
Alan S. recommends Performance Fishing Charters
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Scott H.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great day on the water

VERIFIED   King Mackerel Trip on June 8, 2026
Started out early and Capt John and he was immediately on the bait fish stocking us up for the day. Boat was exceptional- great...
Scott H. recommends Performance Fishing Charters
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2 persons find this review helpful
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George F.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great day on the water!

VERIFIED   5 Hour – Inshore/Nearshore (AM) on March 9, 2026
Had a wonderful time fishing with Captain John!  Caught several huge Black Drum.  the boat was spotless and easy to move...
George F. recommends Performance Fishing Charters
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