Offshore, deep sea fishing is one of the most popular activities when people visit Hilton Head Island. There are countless charters available to take you and your crew out to sea and help you haul in the catch of the life time. In this post, we’ll explore just what makes Offshore Fishing one of the best activities to try while vacationing on Hilton Head Island.
Offshore Fishing in Hilton Head, SC
Offshore Fishing in Hilton Head: What To Expect
While there are plenty of great fishing spots actually on Hilton Head, if you are looking for a completely unique fishing experience, you can hire a charter to take you offshore. Most fishing charters will take you 5-25 miles from the Island. There you’ll encounter blue-green ocean, natural and artificial reefs. It is here where you’ll find some of the best fish. Because of Hilton Head’s geographical location, this relatively short trip out to see (25-40 miles), we see a variety of fish because of the nearby warm Gulf Current.
Fishing (Almost) Year Round
Thankfully Hilton Head is blessed to have great weather nearly year round. And as mentioned earlier, the warm gulf stream runs just off our coast. This means that fishing is great throughout nearly the entire year! Learn more about the types of fish you can expect to catch in the following lists:
Fall & Spring Fish
- Grouper
- Snapper
- Black Seabass
Summertime Fish
- Amberjack
- Cobia
- Spanish Mackerel
- King Mackerel
How Long Does A Fishing Trip Last?
The short answer for how long an offshore fishing trips will last is “it depends.” Fishing trips that take you 5-25 miles offshore will last anywhere from 3-6 hours. The further out your charter ventures, the longer your trip will last.
For example, if you really want to experience true deep sea fishing, some charters will go 60-80 miles offshore, right into the gulf stream. These trips typically begin at dawn and run about 12 hours.
12 Hour Fishing Trips
The most exhilirating offshore fishing trips in Hilton Head are all day affairs. These deep sea fishing charters will leave the marina just before dawn and spend upwards of 12 hours boating to their favorite spot, fishing, and returning to shore.
These 12 hour affairs are for those looking for a truly unique experience. These charters will take you up to 80 miles out to sea, which will put you right in the middle of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. These warm waters are teeming with prize fish. We’re talking about Mahi Mahi, Blackfin Tuna, Sailfish, Snapper and more! You can expect to bring dinner home and bring the phrase “boat to table” to life!
Fishing Regulations
We’d be remiss if we didn’t provide all pertinent information for you prior to you heading out on an offshore fishing trip. Here’s a list of a few regulations South Carolina enforces for all sport fishing in the state:
- Anglers 16 years and older must have a license for recreational fishing.
- A license is necessary regardless of where you cast from; boat, pier, land, the beach, all must have a license.
- Many charters will provide the license for you and your guests during your tip.
- If fishing on your own, however, be sure to purchase a license online form the South Carolina Department of Resources here.
- Few species are illegal to catch in South Carolina, though size and bag limits do apply.
- You cannot fish sharks or stringrays from the shore at anytime.
Offshore Fishing During Your Hilton Head Vacation
Hilton Head Island provides a unique range of experiences and activities to do while vacationing. Offshore fishing is one that you and your guests will remember for years to come…and like any good fishing story, the fish you catch will keep getting larger and larger as the years pass on!
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