Average Cost of Fishing Charters in Charleston, SC (A Guide)
The waters around Charleston are full of fish. There are many great fishing spots in the area. Anglers can experience fishing near artificial reefs, nearshore structures, creeks, and salt marshes. Anglers should consider charter costs carefully before booking.
The average cost of Charleston fishing charter trips that last 4 hours is $588, 6 hours is $1065, 8 hours is $1227, 10 hours is $1901, and 12 hours is $2245.
Most charters offer inshore fishing trips in Charleston but offshore fishing can be excellent too. Charter costs depend on the demand and vary throughout the year.
In this guide, we’ll provide angling enthusiasts with the statistics on the charter costs in the region. Use these data to plan a budget for your fishing trip and select the best time of the year to fish Charleston.
Charleston Fishing Charter Prices by Trip Length
4-hour trips
A 4-hour fishing trip would be the perfect choice for anglers, who fish in inshore waters. Based on 21 charters surveyed, you can find 4-hour trips in Charleston for an average of $588, with the highest cost being $900 and the lowest being $450.
With 4-hour Charleston fishing trips, anglers can’t go far offshore. Such trips allow anglers to fish in sheltered waters near the town. Anglers spend approximately 30 minutes – 1-hour traveling and have about 3 – 3.5 hours on fishing. During inshore fishing trips in Charleston anglers usually target black drum, red drum, flounder, spotted seatrout, and many other species.
Angling enthusiasts don’t need to spend the whole day on the water if they book a 4-hour trip. That’s why such fishing trips are known as half-day trips. Such trips are a good option for beginners, families, and older kids.
6-hour trips
Such fishing trips give anglers 2 additional hours. So, fishermen spend more time on a boat. That’s why it would be better for anglers to prepare food as well as drinks for their fishing adventures in Charleston. Based on 13 charters surveyed, you can find 6-hour trips in Charleston for an average of $1065, with the highest cost being $2640 and the lowest being $600.
A trip that lasts 6 hours allows anglers to fish in inshore and offshore waters. When booking 6-hour trips, anglers usually fish in inshore waters. It takes anglers about 1 – 2 hours to get to the necessary fishing spots. As a result, fishermen can dedicate approximately 4 – 5 hours to fishing.
With a 6-hour fishing trip, anglers can also go fishing in offshore waters. However, you will need to travel more and have less time for fishing if you choose to go on an offshore trip.
8-hour trips
Based on 15 charters surveyed, you can find 8-hour trips in Charleston for an average of $1227, with the highest cost being $1900 and the lowest being $850.
Longer trips are worth considering if you are planning to fish in offshore waters. If you are booking an 8-hour fishing trip in Charleston, you must be prepared to spend all day on the water. During full-day trips, it’s possible to catch such species as amberjack, mahi-mahi, snapper, wahoo, and others.
Anglers, who book an 8-hour fishing trip, must be prepared to spend all day on the water. With an 8-hour trip in Charleston, it’s possible to go further offshore to enjoy fishing in deep waters. Anglers usually spend approximately 1 – 2 hours traveling and about 6 – 7 hours on fishing. A chance to catch a bigger fish increases during 8-hour trips.
10-hour trips
Based on 19 charters surveyed, you can find 10-hour fishing trips in Charleston for an average of $1901, with the highest cost being $2200 and the lowest being $1600.
Some anglers want to spend more than 8 hours on the water. Avid anglers should consider booking 10-hour trips in Charleston. It makes sense to book 10-hour trips if you want to go much further offshore to experience fishing in deep waters. With 10-hour trips, anglers spend approximately 2 hours traveling and 8 hours on fishing.
It’s important to know that longer trips are canceled more frequently than shorter ones. That means that fishermen should listen to the weather forecast in Charleston when booking 10-hour trips.
However, predicting the weather for a fishing trip that lasts 10 hours is not always easy. Sometimes, the weather changes quickly. So, trips are canceled when the weather turns bad. Also, captains choose to cancel fishing trips if they see the signs of bad weather.
12-hour trips
It’s also possible to book 12-hour fishing trips in Charleston. Such trips give anglers a lot of time and allow them to get the most out of their fishing adventures. Based on 9 charters surveyed, you can find 12-hour fishing trips in Charleston for an average of $2245, with the highest cost being $3200 and the lowest being $1900.
However, not all charters offer trips that last 12 hours. It’s also important to note that some charters can be busy. That’s why booking a 12-hour fishing trip can be hard. So, book a charter ahead of time. Trips that last 12 hours are long, so they require special preparation. Anglers, who are planning to go on a long fishing trip, should have plenty of water and at least 2 meals.
It’s necessary to take into consideration such a factor as the weather when booking a 12-hour trip. It goes without saying that fishing in bad weather should be avoided. Strong winds and heavy rains put boats as well as anglers at risk.
That’s why 12-hour trips are often canceled. A trip will be canceled if a captain sees the signs of bad weather. When fishing trips are canceled, anglers either get a full refund or a trip is rescheduled.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Charleston
These Charleston-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Flood Tide Charters | Charleston, SC |
| Captain J Hook Fishing Charters | Mount Pleasant, SC |
| Mudbug Charters | Charleston, SC |
| Charlestowne Charters | Charleston, SC |
| Fin & Tonic Charters | Mount Pleasant, SC |
| Heritage Fishing Charters | Charleston, SC |
| Pluff Mud Fishing Charters | Charleston, SC |
| Brown Dog Sportfishing | Folly Beach, SC |
| Tight Line Charters | Mount Pleasant, SC |
| Simon Says Private Charters | Mount Pleasant, SC |
| All In One Charters | Mount Pleasant, SC |
| Captain Hawkins Fishing Charters | Folly Beach, SC |
| Captain Kaleb Charters | Mount Pleasant, SC |
Seasonal Guide: Charleston Charter Costs
Spring
Winter is coming to an end, water temperatures rise and fishing is getting better in Charleston. Many fish species start feeding actively in the early spring. As a result, excellent fly fishing opportunities are created. Spring is a good time to experience inshore and offshore fishing in the region.
The demand for fishing in Charleston starts growing in April. That’s why fishing in the area is becoming more expensive. Spring is a great time to book longer trips. The weather is cooler, but it’s not too hot. That’s why anglers can spend more time on the water.
Spring fishing trips in Charleston are very productive. The top catches include amberjack, barracuda, billfish, bluefish, black seabass, cobia, flounder, jack crevalle, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, redfish, sheepshead, marlin, mahi-mahi, sailfish, tuna, trout, sailfish, sharks, wahoo, etc. Oftentimes, anglers catch a big fish in the late spring.
Summer
Traditionally, the weather is rainy in Charleston in June. So, fishing in the region can be impossible due to the summer storms. Many anglers prefer to go fishing in the harbor in the early summer. Inshore fishing is excellent in July. Great fishing opportunities are created for fishermen in the late summer.
Summer heat is another big challenge for anglers in the area. Many anglers prefer to book short trips. The trips are planned for morning and evening hours. This helps anglers avoid fishing in hot weather. If the weather allows, anglers can experience big game fishing in the region.
Generally speaking, the demand for fishing in the region is higher and fishing is more expensive during the summer months. July is a peak tourist season in Charleston. So, anglers must be prepared to pay higher charter costs this month.
Summer fishing is excellent in Charleston. Anglers can catch such species as amberjack, barracuda, billfish, bluefish, cobia, jack crevalle, blue marlin, flounder, white marlin, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, snapper, spadefish, mahi-mahi, tarpon, tuna, sharks, sailfish and wahoo.
Fall
It’s getting cooler and that’s why more comfortable conditions are created for fishing in Charleston during the fall months. Fall is a great time of the year for fishermen, who want to avoid the summer heat. Many anglers choose to fish inshore in the fall. Offshore fishing is also good. In the late fall, anglers prefer to fish near underwater structure.
The demand for fishing in Charleston is lower during the fall months. The travel season comes to an end in November. So, fishing in the region becomes cheaper. Nevertheless, anglers can still get good results in the fall. Among the species that it’s possible to catch in the fall are mahi-mahi, tuna, tarpon, redfish, trout, flounder, red drum, tuna, and sheepshead.
Winter
Winter fishing is possible in Charleston during the winter months. However, anglers have to search for fish. Winter is a time of the year when anglers can target migratory species.
It’s cold in the region during the winter months. That’s why many fish species are inactive. Anglers fish in inshore waters between December and January. It’s getting warmer and anglers can go offshore in the late winter. Good fly fishing opportunities are created for anglers in February.
Fishing in winter is not very productive in Charleston because many species stay inactive due to the cold weather. Anglers have a chance to catch such species as black seabass, kingfish, redfish, sheepshead, triggerfish, and tuna during the winter months.
Factors Impacting Charter Costs
Charter costs in Charleston depend on many different factors. The demand for fishing, gas prices, bait prices, the day of the week when you go fishing and some other factors have an impact on charter costs in the area.
A fishing season in Charleston starts in the spring and ends in the fall. The demand for fishing is higher during this period of the year. Fishermen must be prepared to pay higher costs.
When demand for fishing is high, bait prices increase as well. So, fishing is becoming more expensive. Boats use gas as fuel. That’s why charter costs increase when gas prices go up. Bigger boats consume much more fuel than small ones. That’s why such charters are more expensive.
More anglers choose to fish in Charleston on weekends. So, anglers have to pay higher costs on weekends. On the other hand, it’s cheaper to book a trip on weekdays. If you book a trip on weekdays, you’ll manage to save some money.
The costs of the seasonal trips in the region are higher. For example, cobia arrives in Charleston in March. Redfish gets active in the spring as well. The chance to catch a big shark increases in the late spring. Fishing for tarpon is the most productive in the late summer. The seasoned anglers have to pay a higher price for a charter.
Cost of Shared Fishing Charter
Shared fishing charters make it possible for fishermen to save on their trips. When booking this type of charter, it’s necessary to pay a flat rate for a certain number of anglers. However, anglers can split a flat rate with the group of anglers. If more anglers would like to join the group, then it’s required to pay a flat rate as well as extra costs for a trip.
The extra costs for every additional angler are added to the total amount. As a result, charter costs increase. However, a shared fishing charter is much cheaper compared to fishing trips for 1 – 2 anglers.
Additional Costs with Charter Fishing
In most cases, charters provide anglers with everything they need to experience fishing. However, fishermen may need to bring their own gear and buy the additional things for a trip. That means that anglers should take into account the additional costs of charter fishing.
If you book longer trips, then you need to buy food and drinks. So, plan a budget for a fishing trip accordingly.
Sometimes, anglers need to go to the local bait stores to purchase baits for their fishing trips. So, take into consideration the costs of baits when planning a budget for your fishing adventures in Charleston.
And of course, fishermen have to respect the local rules and regulations. Whether you are fishing in salt waters or fresh waters, you have to purchase a license. A license is required to fish legally in Charleston. The cost of a license depends on its length. So, add the extra costs to a budget.
Would you like to have your fish cleaned on the boat? Bear in mind that some charters offer a fish cleaning service. The cleaning of fish increases charter costs.
The additional charter costs depend on the type of a Charleston fishing trip. It would be better to increase the budget for a fishing trip by 15 – 25% to cover the extra costs.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Charleston, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Folly Beach, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of charter costs in Virginia Beach, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of charter costs in the Outer Banks, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Holden Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
