Half-day inshore
Flat water, short run, constant bites. Redfish, trout and flounder. The trip to book if anyone in your group has never been on a boat.
$300–500/boatRange under verification
Check ratesThe hub
Myrtle Beach fishing charters, sorted by trip instead of by price
Six trip types leave the Grand Strand. This page prices each one, says who it suits, and points you at the dock it actually sails from.
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The short answer
What kinds of fishing charters run out of Myrtle Beach?
Six, and they are not variations on each other. Head boats sell you a single seat on a shared boat for $40–100/person. Inshore charters stay in the creeks and inlet, $300–500 for the boat. Nearshore and shark trips run a few miles off the beach. Full-day offshore trips reach live bottom 25 to 40 miles out at $800–1,500. Gulf Stream runs go 50 to 70 miles and take twelve hours. Private charters are any of the above with the boat to yourself.
Pick by how far out you want to be and who is coming, not by the headline number. The cheapest trip is a bad deal if half your group is seasick by hour three.
Ranges under verification · Murrells Inlet, Little River & North Myrtle BeachTrip types
Which fishing charter should you book?
Start with how far out you want to go and who's coming. The price follows from that, not the other way round.
Full-day offshore
Bottom fishing over live reef for grouper, snapper and amberjack. Long enough to reach real structure, short enough to be back for dinner.
$800–1,500/boatRange under verification
Check ratesHead boat
You buy one seat, not the whole boat. Rod, bait and license included. Crowded on summer weekends — go on a weekday morning.
$40–100/personRange under verification
Check ratesGulf Stream run
Mahi, tuna and wahoo in blue water. Leaves before dawn and it’s a long ride each way. Skip it if anyone gets seasick.
$1,400+/boatRange under verification
Check ratesShark trip
Blacktip and spinner sharks a few miles off the beach, June through August. Big fight, short run, and everyone gets a turn on the rod.
$500–700/boatRange under verification
Check ratesPrivate charter
The whole boat and the captain’s full attention. Worth it for groups of four or more — split six ways it often beats head boat seats.
$400+/boatRange under verification
Check ratesPrivate charters
Is a private fishing charter worth it?
A private charter means you book the whole boat rather than a seat on it. Nobody else is aboard, the captain fishes your group only, and you set the departure time and the target species inside what the season allows.
The maths is simpler than people expect. A head boat seat is $40–100/person. A private inshore trip is $400+ for up to six anglers. At two people the head boat wins easily. At four it is roughly a wash. At five or six, the private boat is usually cheaper per person — and you get the captain's full attention and no waiting your turn at the rail.
Book private if your group is four or more, if anyone is nervous on the water, if you have young kids who may need to go in early, or if you want to target one species rather than take what the drift gives you. Book a head boat seat if you are one or two people and mostly want to be out there.
What a private charter does not include
- Food and drink — bring a cooler, most boats have room for one
- The mate's tip, customarily 15–20% of the trip and paid in cash at the dock
- Filleting, on some boats — ask before you book if you plan to keep fish
- Fuel surcharges on long offshore runs, which a few operators add separately
Departure points
Where do Myrtle Beach fishing charters leave from?
"Myrtle Beach fishing charter" almost always means a dock somewhere else. Here's who leaves from where, and how far you'll drive before sunrise.
Murrells Inlet · ~20 min south of Myrtle Beach
The deepest fleet on the Strand and the one most visitors end up on. Inshore, nearshore and offshore boats all tie up along the MarshWalk, so you can walk the docks and read the boards before you book.
Little River · ~35 min north
Head boats and the long Gulf Stream runs. It has the quickest ocean access on the north end, which is why the 12-hour trips tend to leave from here — less of your day spent in the inlet.
North Myrtle Beach · ~25 min north
Private inshore and shark trips, plus most of the family-boat operators. Good middle ground if you are staying on the north end and do not want a long drive before a 6am departure.
Myrtle Beach · In town
Fewer working docks than the name suggests. Most charters sold as "Myrtle Beach" actually sail out of Murrells Inlet or Little River — check the departure address before you book, not after.
Before you book
Common questions about Myrtle Beach fishing charters
How much is a fishing charter in Myrtle Beach?
A head boat seat runs $40–100/person. A private inshore charter runs $300–500 for the boat, and a full-day offshore trip runs $800–1,500. These are ranges across Grand Strand operators and are currently under verification against live listings.
Do I need a fishing license for a Myrtle Beach charter?
No. Licensed charter and head boats in South Carolina carry a saltwater licence that covers everyone fishing aboard. You do not buy your own for a charter trip.
What is included in a Myrtle Beach fishing charter?
Rods, reels, bait, tackle and the licence are standard on both head boats and private charters. Food, drinks and the mate’s tip are not. Most operators will clean and bag your catch; some charge for filleting.
How far in advance should I book a Myrtle Beach fishing charter?
For a July or August trip, book in March. Search demand for Grand Strand charters spikes in March when families lock in summer dates, and again in July when everyone else is already here. Booking in March gets you first pick of captain and tide.
Is a head boat or a private charter better for a family?
It depends on group size. Head boat seats at $40–100/person are cheapest for one or two people. Once you are four or more, a private inshore charter at $300–500 for the whole boat often costs about the same per head and gives you the captain’s attention, your own schedule and no crowd.
What can you catch on a Myrtle Beach fishing charter?
Inshore in the creeks and inlet: redfish, speckled trout and flounder. Nearshore: black sea bass, Spanish mackerel and sharks in summer. Offshore over live bottom: grouper, snapper and amberjack. Out in the Gulf Stream: mahi, tuna and wahoo.
Go deeper
The rest of the guide
Myrtle Beach fishing charter prices
Every trip type in one table, with what's included and what isn't.
Deep sea fishing in Myrtle Beach
How far out "deep sea" really is, and what you catch at each distance.
Murrells Inlet fishing charters
The deepest fleet on the Strand, and how to book it from the MarshWalk.
When to book a Myrtle Beach charter
Twelve months of demand data. March is when the planners move.
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