While golf grabs more sports headlines, the Grand Strand's 60 miles of coastline and numerous inlets and creeks make fishing here a natural pastime. Fishing can be as simple as casting a line in the surf, dropping a hook off the pier, or heading out onto the ocean for a day of deep-sea fishing. Landing your own “catch of the day” doesn't require experience, and you don't even need to own a fishing rod. Fishing fleets, anchored at both ends of the beach, offer trips that include bait, tackle and instruction, making it carefree and fun.
Some fishermen claim that catching the big one is purely a matter of luck, but it helps to have an idea where the fish are, and area boat captains know just where to look! Offshore shipwrecks and natural and man-made reefs provide the perfect habitat for many species.
The most popular type of deep-sea fishing takes place on headboats, or party boats. These large boats accommodate a number of passengers and offer a smooth ride and great scenery along the way. Once the captain finds the fish and says “drop the lines,” the fun really begins! Refreshments are available for purchase onboard, so all you need is a ticket and an appetite for excitement. Catches can include snapper, grouper, and amberjack. Often your fish can be cleaned for you at the dock, making a fresh seafood dinner a real breeze.
The Hurricane Fleet, Little River Fleet and Voyager Fishing Fleet, all docked in Little River, offer half-day (around $40) and full-day (under $80) trips. In the busy spring and fall seasons, boats fill up fast so reservations are a good idea.
Chartering a sportfishing boat is the ultimate deep-sea adventure! Onboard, you'll troll for the big ones...king mackerel, wahoo, cobia, sailfish and marlin. Most charter boats carry a maximum of six passengers, captain and first mate, and even refreshments can be furnished. The fleets mentioned earlier design custom charter trips.
Pier fishing is another great way to enjoy the sport. Piers, like the Cherry Grove Pier in North Myrtle Beach, extending 1,000 or more feet into the Atlantic, are located up and down the coast and allow anglers to fish for less than $10 per day. Tackle shops on the piers rent equipment and sell the right bait for what's biting that day. Depending on the time of year, catches include flounder, blues, whiting and spot. If by chance the fish aren’t biting, the people-watching opportunities are unlimited!
Nature-watching and sightseeing trips, like Cap’n Rod’s Lowcountry Plantation Tours leaving from the waterfront in Georgetown, SC, fit the bill for those who find dropping a line just a little too taxing.
The Cherry Grove Pier in North Myrtle Beach is 985 feet of fishing fun for the entire family with the two-story observation deck, restaurant and ice cream shoppe. The Cherry Grove Pier is the home of many record catches including a world record 1,780-lb. tiger shark and a record 98-lb. tarpon.
On the north end, the Hurricane Fleet, the Little River Fleet, and the Voyager Fleet also offer opportunities for a different view of the coast with their eco- and sightseeing cruises. Trips include close-up views of a working shrimp boat! In addition to appreciating the hard work required to catch the shrimp for tonight’s seafood dinner, it's a great way to see dolphins who follow close behind the shrimp boats hoping for a free seafood dinner!
With all the Carolinas’ coastal waters have to offer, you won’t find a more enjoyable way to spend a sunny day! |
