Flats Boat Fishing Charters in Hilton Head
Information on outstanding fishing charters in the Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island, Palmetto Bluff, and Bluffton, South Carolina area. Hilton Head fishing is the finest in the lowcountry!
There are a variety of options for Hilton Head fishing charters, and the best choice for you depends on what type of fishing you'd like to do, the size, composition, and experience of your group, and the location you'd prefer exploring with your professional fishing guide.
There are a variety of options for Hilton Head fishing charters, and the best choice for you depends on what type of fishing you'd like to do, the size, composition, and experience of your group, and the location you'd prefer exploring with your professional fishing guide.
Flats Boats
A "Flats Boat" or "Skiff" is a specially designed craft with an extremely shallow draft. That means it floats in inches of water. They are typically setup with a platform where the guide stands, using a push pole to propel the boat almost silently, stalking skinny water fish. Flats boats are also used to fish deeper waters as well, and some of them are designed to be comfortable in a wide range of inshore and nearshore situations. They are usually 16-21 feet in length.
Due to the shallow draft and smaller footprint, these boats are typically limited to just 1 or 2 anglers when used for poling in the marsh. Some larger Flats Boats can accommodate 3, maybe 4, depending on the type of fishing. Be realistic when planning your charter trip; any boat with 4 anglers is not going to float in 6" of water like a true flats skiff with a solo angler and guide. Parties of 3 or more anglers are advised to split into separate pairs for serious flats fishing.
Due to the shallow draft and smaller footprint, these boats are typically limited to just 1 or 2 anglers when used for poling in the marsh. Some larger Flats Boats can accommodate 3, maybe 4, depending on the type of fishing. Be realistic when planning your charter trip; any boat with 4 anglers is not going to float in 6" of water like a true flats skiff with a solo angler and guide. Parties of 3 or more anglers are advised to split into separate pairs for serious flats fishing.
"Skinny Water" Fishing
Some of Hilton Head's best fishing is in just inches of water.
Targets like Redfish (Red Drum) are a prime example. They use shallow water to hide from predators, and as a means to access food for themselves.
Shallow creeks, oyster rakes, sand flats, mud flats, and grass flats are areas where these Reds can be found, sometimes so shallow they can't even cover their entire body with water. At times, Redfish can get so wrapped up in picking food off the bottom that they are virtually standing on their heads and sticking their tails up out of the water. Chasing "tailers" on a flats boat is a unique fishing experience and the Lowcountry is the perfect place for it.
Targets like Redfish (Red Drum) are a prime example. They use shallow water to hide from predators, and as a means to access food for themselves.
Shallow creeks, oyster rakes, sand flats, mud flats, and grass flats are areas where these Reds can be found, sometimes so shallow they can't even cover their entire body with water. At times, Redfish can get so wrapped up in picking food off the bottom that they are virtually standing on their heads and sticking their tails up out of the water. Chasing "tailers" on a flats boat is a unique fishing experience and the Lowcountry is the perfect place for it.
Deck Boat & Bay Boats
There is still a chance to fish skinny water with larger groups. While flats boats are designed for the extreme shallow waters, some other relatively low draft designs are found in somewhat larger boats that can still fish the flats and shallow creeks at many parts of the tide. Deck Boats are usually in the 19-23 foot range and feature more in the way of cushioned comfortable seating, perfect for a family outing, "casual" fishing, and general cruising in addition to inshore fishing. They usually accommodate 3-4 guests.
Bay Boats are usually in the 21-26 foot range and have a usually deeper v hull than flats boats (for a better ride in open water) while retaining somewhat of a shallow draft for skinny water fishing. A big advantage of Bay Boats is capacity, often accommodating 4-6 anglers compared to a true Flats Boat which is usually limited to 1 or 2 guests.
Bay Boats are usually in the 21-26 foot range and have a usually deeper v hull than flats boats (for a better ride in open water) while retaining somewhat of a shallow draft for skinny water fishing. A big advantage of Bay Boats is capacity, often accommodating 4-6 anglers compared to a true Flats Boat which is usually limited to 1 or 2 guests.
Hilton Head Fishing Charters on Flats Boats & Skiffs
Luck affects everything. Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish.
Ovid
Featured Listings of Hilton Head Fishing Charters on Flats Boats & Skiffs:
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Stingray Fishing Charters HHI
Live Oac's Stingray
Yellowfin 17 Skiff
Check out the flats and inshore waters aboard Live Oac's Stingray. This Yellowfin 17 Skiff offers a fantastic ride and the ability to get into super skinny water where the redfish like to hide, along with one of our favorite sharks: the bonnet hammerhead! (AKA "bonnethead" or "shovelhead"). Prowl the creeks around low tide for a chance to sight cast to a shark, an exhilarating fight on our light inshore tackle.
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Backcountry Hilton Head
Backcountry Hilton Head
18' Beavertail Vengeance - Capt. Graham Cotter
As an adventure guide for over 20 years, Capt. Graham Cotter specializes in sight fishing the backcountry flats and creeks. Both fly fishing and conventional fishing are possible from his Vengeance 18 skiff. Graham also offers fly fishing instruction for beginners and experienced anglers.
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Cleopatra Charters
Cleopatra Charters
18' Hewes Bonefisher
Capt. Jimmy Reese
Capt. Jimmy Reese is one of Hilton Head's most experienced flats fishing charter captains, and he'd love to share that expertise with you on a Hilton Head Fishing Charter aboard Cleopatra. CleopatraCharters.com -
LoCo Fly Charters
LoCo Fly Charters
17' Maverick HPX-S
Capt. Mark Nutting
Hop aboard LoCo Fly Charters' 18' Maverick skiff with Capt. Mark who is a fly fishing specialist. Beginners are welcome and light tackle is available as an alternative. LoCoFlyCharters.com -
Off The Hook
Off The Hook
18' Hells Bay Skiff
Capt. Brian Vaughn
Capt. Brian is a light tackle and fly fishing specialist with decades experience guiding charters. OffTheHookCharters.com
Deck Boats and Bay Boats for Hilton Head Fishing Charters:
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Black Tip Shark
Live Oac's Black Tip Shark
21' Hurricane Deck Boat — Capt. Travis Meissner
Black Tip Shark is Live Oac's 21' Hurricane Deck Boat, a great inshore boat for family fishing fun. Guided by Capt. Travis Meissner, who has been leading trips with Hilton Head's Live Oac for nearly a decade, we fish for small and mid sized coastal sharks, redfish, and more during summer evenings when it's cooler and more comfortable.
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Awesome Adventure Charters
Awesome Adventure Charters
23' Jones Brothers & 24' Everglades
Capt. Kai Williams
Private fishing charters with Awesome Adventure Charters include light tackle and fly fishing Hilton Head's inshore and nearshore waters. AwesomeAdventureCharters.com -
Bay Runner
Bay Runner
Pathfinder 2400
Capt. Miles Altman
Over 4 decades in the charter and seafood business, Capt. Miles brings a wealth of knowledge to your service aboard his Hilton Head fishing charters with Bayrunner. bayrunnerfishinghiltonhead.com -
Mighty Mako
Mighty Mako
Custom 25' Center Console
Capt. Dave Fleming
Capt. Dave has three decades guiding experience and his resume includes thousands of satisfied and appreciative vacationing anglers. The Mighty Mako has a huge amount of fishing space, with a wide 9 foot beam. It's shallow 10 inch draft allows access to tight spots you can't reach in other boats, and this can make the difference in finding the fish. MightMako.com -
Fishin' Coach
Fishin' Coach
22' Century Bay Boat
Capt. Dan Utley
Captain Dan is an expert inshore fisherman with the patience to "Coach Up" beginning angler and the knowledge to challenge the experienced fisherman. FishinCoach.com -
Off The Hook
Off The Hook
25' Hells Bay
Capt. Brian Vaughn
Capt. Brian is a light tackle and fly fishing specialist with decades experience guiding charters. OffTheHookCharters.com
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