You will find anglers in Hilton Head deep sea fishing for a variety of big game fish 30 miles offshore and beyond. This technique is the way to land a big and colorful catch, whether it’s feeding on the bottom or chasing baits along the surface. With a variety of wrecks, open waters, and the Gulf Stream at your disposal, there’s no shortage of opportunities to bring home your next biggest catch. 

What to Catch and When to Target it

Deep sea fishing reaches its height in summer, when big pelagics like Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, and Sailfish are passing through the Gulf Stream 60-80 miles offshore. You will encounter some of these species swimming in the 40 mile range on occasion, but your chances of catching them are best when you spend a full day in the Gulf Stream.

On the other hand, you can enjoy great bottom fishing much closer to shore. Fishing 30 miles out and beyond gives you a chance to make the most of live bottom and structures such as the Navy Towers. You can target large Snapper, Grouper, Triggerfish, and Black Seabass in cooler months. Species closer to the surface such as King Mackerel, Cobia, Barracuda, and Amberjack make their appearance near the wrecks in spring and summer.

In some cases, you will find local anglers “deep sea fishing” 10-20 miles from shore. While this cannot compare to the experience you get in the Gulf Stream, fishing the wrecks closer to shore is a great chance to bring home Snapper, Grouper, Sheepshead, Seabass, and other eating fish. Whereas a true Hilton Head deep sea fishing charter lasts 10-12 hours, these nearshore deep sea trips last around six hours. 

How to Fish

While targeting species near artificial wrecks and reefs, it’s common to drop anchor and bottom fish with live bait, or to try your luck with some high speed jigging. These techniques will help you land Snapper, Grouper, Triggerfish, Seabass, and more.

Casting plugs and trolling along the surface will attract the attention of Barracuda, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna, Sailfish, and other pelagic fish. Live bait, cut bait, and artificials are all effective. You can lure Tuna, Sharks, and other species to the boat by chumming.