What would you recommend to anglers fishing in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina for the first time?

Find a great captain with a good knowledge of the area and local conditions. Listen to the advice provided and you will be successful. What works where you normally fish might not work here. I fish frequently in NJ. Bait that will catch black drum there doesn’t work here. An experienced Capt will know that. Don’t try to be the Capt or guide.

Charter fishing is the ticket. Surf fishing is ok if you can get good access to the beach. Charter trip will get you on fish and there is some awesome water inshore and nearshore, you don't have to go offshore, but if you have the time and money, go for it.

Can’t complain when you catch 30 fish! Loves the action. Anglers who are experienced should be advised to use this app/booking service to secure expectations of what they would like to catch. Great experience all around.

We learned this part of the summer was not the most ideal time with how hot it was. But it was our first time and we are not experts so what we did catch was good for our first time. There was a massive heat wave this week. It is no fault to southern summers.

Book With Captain Heath and Dolphin Discoveries Family Fishing and Nature Tours if you are brand new to fishing or a veteran angler as this is an enjoyable trip. Three hours is probably the right time if you are new to fishing. My wife could have stayed another two hours and kept fishing. As I write in all my reviews a 3-hour trip doesn't always mean 3 hours of lines in the water as there is transit time to the fishing spots so take that into consideration. Even if we wouldn't have caught a fish this is a great trip as we still were able to see dolphins and learned a lot about the area from Captain Heath.

Choosing the sunset trip allows you to see some beautiful, breathtaking views and makes for the perfect backdrop in your pictures of all your catches. It also isn’t as hot as other times during the day.

Be prepared to not catch the species you're going after. The kings and Spanish mackerel weren't biting due to an 11' lemon shark being on the reef while we were there. Still caught fish all day and had a blast.

It was an afternoon trip since it was a last minute booking. I know that sometimes afternoon trips can be slow but we were on the fish after a few spots. Once there is was one after the other till the end.

You have to have realistic expectations when going on these fishing excursions. Sometimes you get the fish and sometimes the fish get you. Landing fish or sharks is never a guarantee, so be prepared to embrace the experience of being on the water and becoming closer to nature. With that said, I have been fortunate to have caught many fish and shark on all of the excursions around HHI. Bring water. Bring snacks. Wear sunscreen. Bring sunglasses. Wear light clothing that covers and protects your skin. A long sleeve shirt is best. Invest in a neck gaiter that you can use to cover your face.

We had an incredible day on the water with Captain Craig Ryan! From the moment we stepped onto his well-maintained, comfortable boat, we knew we were in good hands. Craig is not only a knowledgeable and experienced captain, but also friendly and patient — making it a perfect trip for the whole family. We caught a great haul of fish, including some impressive king mackerel and Spanish mackerel. Craig knew exactly where to take us and made sure everyone had a chance to reel something in. He made the whole experience exciting and stress-free, even for the kids. If you’re looking for a top-tier fishing charter with a seasoned guide who genuinely loves what he does, we highly recommend booking with Craig Ryan. We’ll definitely be back for another trip!

I don't get the opportunity to fish salt water very often and know very little about it but this was a spur of the moment trip. Locals told me March isn’t necessarily the best time of the year to go but it can have its good days. I will definitely be going back to Hilton head to fish but will be going back in the summer/fall when the fishing is a little better. Still had a great time and caught fish.

Book a crab trip and a shrimp trawling trip. Use the bait species you catch and then surf fish or pier fish with the bait. This is so much fun for our 8-12 year old boys. Then consider setting your own crab traps the next day! Enjoy

Be flexible with your days and the type of fishing if you can. The winds are very strong this time of year and you may be limited to fishing inshore in the bays and creeks. Days will get blown out as well. Be flexible. I would also recommend having good clothing for the weather. Layers are appropriate this time of year and especially wind protection.

The intracoastal is an excellent experience first or many times. The current between the islands and the headwaters of the Atlantic brings you a very good fishing oppty. The water depth is close to 30-40’ so plenty of species. Its also calmer than offshore ocean generally so less likely for queezy feeling and there is plenty of breeze.

The only reason for not rating 5 stars is Hilton Head in July is very hot and humid. We were lucky in that it was overcast with a light wind, but on the few occasions when the sun came out and before the light wind picked up, it was unbelievable hot. My kids certainly felt the heat when it was there so if you have kids sensitive to the heat, I'd be mindful of that. Wear hats, sun protective clothing and bring A LOT of water like we did. In general, I'd reach out to Captain Jon either before or after booking to get his thoughts on the day. He's not the least bit interested in taking your money if the conditions aren't ideal or if there's a chance you're not going to enjoy the day.

Weather is a little unpredictable in February but this has to be expected. You have to be open minded to the fact that the fish may not necessarily be in abundance of catching. But that is pretty normal in a sport like this considering the weather/temperature this time of year! I would still recommend it though, because why not? Especially if you want to enjoy the time on a boat and doing something you love.

Captain Matt Crowe has been handling a boat, and fishing these waters since he was 8 years old. If you are going inshore he is the man. He has been guiding for 8 years, and can show serious anglers or a family out for a fun time. He can make it fun, educational, and interesting, and you will catch some fish. Take picture. This area is beautiful. Red fish, speckled trout, flounder, black drum, sharks, what ever you want in the way of an adventure.

Check with the charter service for the best times of the year for different fish to catch. Captain Dave told me there will be plenty of great eating fish to catch around the October, early November time frame. We'll be scheduling another trip with Above and Below Charters around that time frame. Captain Dave and CJ are excellent in this field with nice, well maintained boat and fishing gear. Very easy to fish with and very willing to teach.

I wholeheartedly give this in-land fishing charter a well-deserved 5-star rating. The expertise of the guides, the quality of the equipment, the breathtaking fishing spots, the outstanding customer service, and the overall experience were truly exceptional. If you're looking for an unforgettable fishing adventure, book a trip with this charter and get ready to create memories that will last a lifetime!

If you are looking for an introduction to fishing for kids and families, take a quick shark trip in Hilton Head. The 3 hour tour is perfect for a family. it keeps the kids engaged the entire time. You'll head out and be plucking shark, croakers, whiting and so much more while learning about the local fishing. We have taken two trips now with our kids, and both times captain and crew have been so engaged with the children to create a wonderful fishing experience.

I recommend reading the reviews of the different boat captains when deciding on a fishing trip in Hilton Head in June. Temperatures were extremely high and you should bring plenty of water out for a day of fishing. In fact, in deciding how much to take add about 50 percent more to your plan. Avoid alcohol when temp indexes exceed 100 degrees. Also know what fish you are targeting and select a trip which is suitable for that species. Watch winds carefully and select a boat which is large enough to be comfortable for your party size.

Book your trip with Captain Kurt of Aqua Excursions, and enjoy! Debating the cost? I did, and yet is was worth every dollar. Grandfather on a fixed income here, and it was the most satisfying money I have spent in a very long time. We, three generations (Father, son, and Grandson together) are going out again tomorrow Saturday. Thanks again, Captain Kurt. Trust me, you and yours will have a lot of fun together.

This was my first time ocean fishing so I don't have a good reference point. If you have a flexible schedule you my want to check with the captain to see when/if the fishing is good and schedule accordingly. I was limited with a two day window. A wind kicked up on first day that didn't allow us to get out on the ocean and the second day was supposed to be worse. We fished in the sound and did not have much luck, 2 small sharks.

We booked with Black Dog Fishing Charter in Hilton Head with Captain Jon. I highly recommend this trip to anyone that wants a great day out on the water catching fish. Captain Jon was very knowledgeable on where to go so that we were successful in catching fish. Everything was supplied for us so there was no stress involved. A great experience for a family or individuals! The trip is well worth the money!

Listen to your Captain. They not only know what’s running and biting they know how and where to fish. Be patient and remember it’s called fishing not catching. If your Captain works hard, is friendly and tries to help you, tip appropriately.

Intracoastal fishing can be just as much fun as off shoar fishing. I have done both. You actually get more fishing time doing intracoastal. Intracoastal fishing can provide some very good table fair fish.

Be aware if you might suffer from seasickness- possibly take whatever you need the night before?? Sunscreen up, small umbrella for additional shade, bring water. Be aware some marinas have a longer ride to the fishing spots, but there are dolphins along way!

Captain Craig was great. He was very knowledgeable and had us on fish quick. He was great with our 2 boys. They had the best time catching sharks and sea bass! We couldn’t have asked for a better day on the water! Thank you Captain Craig!

Wait until July to August if you want to get offshore and onto some bigger sharks, but earlier in the summer if you want to stay inshore and catch the little guys all day, also if seasick is something you deal with, would definitely stay inshore too in my own experiences

I thought fishing in Hilton Head would be easier but it's hard, the tides are huge, the current is really strong and the water is really muddy. Also, there are no good public docks, those that are available are small & heavily trafficked by boats. I feel that the only way to get to any good fishing spots is if you a) have a boat or b) own a multimillion-dollar house with a private dock.