There is nothing in near-shore fishing quite like a shark on the line.
Our Shark Fishing Day Charter runs up to 12 miles off Murrells Inlet, targeting the powerful coastal shark species that patrol South Carolina’s near-shore waters year-round. Blacktips, sharpnose, hammerheads, tigers, and the occasional mako — all of them live within range of this trip, and all of them fight harder than anything else we target at this distance from the dock.
Some you’ll fight and release. Some you can keep — and they’re excellent on the table. Either way, it’s an explosive, unforgettable day on the water that’s great for families, great for groups, and genuinely thrilling for anyone who’s never had a serious predator on the end of their line.
You’ll leave the dock at Murrells Inlet and run to near-shore structure, sandbars, and open water within 12 miles of the inlet — prime South Carolina shark territory. The captain sets a chum slick to draw sharks to the boat, rigs heavy live and cut baits, and puts the spread out at multiple depths while the slick does its work.
Then you wait. And then it happens.
Most trips mix:
Your captain and mate know current state and federal regulations inside and out. Legal species are yours to keep if you choose. Prohibited and undersized fish are handled carefully and released. We run a clean, compliant, responsible boat — and you’ll still have the fight of your life either way.
Trips run year-round, weather permitting, with species composition and size shifting through the seasons.
What to bring: food, non-glass drinks, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and soft-soled shoes. Closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended — things get lively on deck.
All sharks are caught and released. No sharks are kept or killed on this boat.
The workhorse of the South Carolina shark charter. Blacktips are fast, aggressive, and powerful coastal sharks that show up in numbers from spring through fall. They’re best known for what they do at the end of a fight — spinning and jumping clear of the water in a display that is every bit as exciting as it sounds. Most fish run 3 to 6 feet and are strong enough to test any angler on the boat.
Named for their yellow-brown color, lemon sharks are strong, stubborn fighters that hold in nearshore and coastal water through the warmer months. They run big, pull hard, and make for an unforgettable fight before release.
Bull sharks are the bruisers of the inshore and nearshore zone, thick-bodied, powerful, and built for a slugging match. They are one of the most exciting sharks we target, and every fish is fought and released with care.
The apex predator of the near-shore Atlantic. Tiger sharks are large, powerful, and completely indifferent to the fact that you’d like them to stop running. They patrol South Carolina coastal waters and occasionally show up looking for an easy meal — which turns into the hardest fight of the day. A tiger encounter is never guaranteed, but when it happens, nobody forgets it.
The most common catches are blacktip and Atlantic sharpnose sharks, which are reliably present in South Carolina near-shore waters through most of the year. Hammerheads and tiger sharks are bonus encounters during the warmer months. Mako sharks are an occasional offshore surprise when conditions are right.
Atlantic sharpnose typically run 2 to 4 feet. Blacktips average 3 to 6 feet. Hammerheads, tigers, and makos can be significantly larger — encounters with sharks over 8 feet happen on South Carolina near-shore water more often than most people expect. Your captain manages every fight safely regardless of what shows up.
Yes. Your captain and mate are experienced in handling sharks at boatside and have the equipment to do it correctly. Guests are coached on positioning, when to step back, and how to fight the fish properly. Listen to the mate and you’ll have the time of your life.
None at all. The mates walk every guest through the process from the moment the rod bends. That said — be ready. A shark bite doesn’t give you much warning, and the first run will surprise even anglers who think they know what to expect.