Deep Sea Fishing in Myrtle Beach SC
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Offshore charter travels up to 40 miles from North Myrtle Beach shoreBottom fishing targets Black Sea Bass, Grouper, Snapper, and Amberjack speciesSeasonal trolling option available for King Mackerel and MahiMahi catches
When you're ready to leave the crowds behind and hit the deep blue, this offshore charter with Nauti Buoy Fishing Charters delivers exactly what serious anglers are looking for. We'll run you up to 40 miles off the North Myrtle Beach coast where the continental shelf drops off and the big fish live. This isn't your typical pier fishing trip – we're talking about getting into waters where grouper, snapper, and amberjack call home. With just 4 anglers max on board, you'll have plenty of elbow room and personal attention from our captain who knows these waters like the back of his hand.
Your day starts early with a smooth ride out to our fishing grounds, watching the shoreline disappear as we head into the Gulf Stream influence. The focus here is bottom fishing – we're talking about dropping heavy tackle down 60 to 120 feet where the structure holds fish. Our captain reads the bottom like a book, finding ledges, rocks, and wrecks that concentrate fish. You'll be using circle hooks with cut bait, squid, and sometimes live bait when we can catch it fresh. The boat's equipped with quality rods and reels that can handle whatever decides to grab your bait. When conditions are right and the season aligns, we might switch gears to trolling for pelagics like king mackerel and mahi-mahi. That's when things get really interesting as we cover water looking for birds, weed lines, and temperature breaks that hold the good stuff.
Bottom fishing at these depths requires the right approach, and we've got it dialed in. We're using 6/0 to 8/0 circle hooks on heavy mono leaders to prevent cutoffs from sharp-toothed critters. Sinker weights range from 6 to 12 ounces depending on current and depth. The key is keeping your bait right on the bottom where grouper and snapper feed. When we're trolling, we'll pull ballyhoo, spoons, and diving plugs at 6 to 8 knots, covering different depths in the water column. Our downriggers and planer boards let us spread out the spread and find where fish are holding. The electronics on board include GPS, fish finders, and bottom mapping that show us exactly where to drop lines. Don't worry if you're new to offshore fishing – our crew will walk you through everything from setting the hook to fighting fish properly.
Gag Grouper are the bread and butter of our bottom fishing trips, and for good reason. These bruisers average 5 to 15 pounds but can push 30 pounds or more when you hook into a real bull. They live around rocky bottom and ledges, ambushing anything that swims by. What makes them so fun is the initial run – they'll try to get back to their hole and break you off, so you've got to turn them quick. Best fishing is spring through fall when they're most active. The meat is white, flaky, and absolutely delicious, making them a customer favorite for the cooler.
Black Sea Bass might be smaller than grouper, but they make up for it in numbers and fight. These guys are scrappy pound-for-pound and often come in doubles when you find a good school. They average 1 to 3 pounds but the big ones can hit 5 pounds. They love structure just like grouper but tend to suspend a bit higher off the bottom. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall. They're excellent table fare and perfect for anglers who want consistent action with bent rods.
Grey Triggerfish are the wild cards of our trips – they can be finicky biters but when they're on, it's game on. These fish have incredible eyesight and can be line-shy, so we sometimes have to downsize tackle to fool them. They average 2 to 5 pounds with occasional fish pushing 8 pounds. What makes them special is their unique appearance and the fact that they're relatively new to our area, showing up more frequently in recent years. They're great eating and put up a solid fight on appropriate tackle.
Barracuda are pure adrenaline when we're trolling. These speed demons can hit 30 mph and their strikes are explosive – one second your line is trolling peacefully, the next it's screaming off the reel. They average 10 to 20 pounds in our waters but can reach 30 pounds or more. Summer months are prime time when they follow bait schools along the beach. Their teeth are razor sharp, so we use wire leaders when targeting them specifically. They're not the best eating fish, but the fight alone makes them worth catching.
Mahi-Mahi or Common Dolphinfish are the crown jewel of our trolling trips. These gorgeous fish with their golden colors and unique profile are what every offshore angler dreams about. They average 10 to 25 pounds but bulls can exceed 40 pounds. They travel in schools, so when you find one, there's usually more around. Peak season is late spring through summer when they follow the Gulf Stream closer to shore. They're incredible table fare and put on an aerial show when hooked, jumping and tail-walking across the surface.
This offshore charter delivers exactly what you're looking for – quality fishing with a crew that knows how to put you on fish. Whether you're after bottom fish for the dinner table or hoping to tangle with pelagics that'll test your tackle, we've got the experience and local knowledge to make it happen. The 4-angler limit means you're not competing for space or attention, and our captain's commitment to finding fish shows in the results. North Myrtle Beach's offshore waters are some of the most productive on the East Coast, and this trip puts you right in the heart of it. Don't
This 22-foot SeaSwirl dual console is your ticket to serious offshore fishing adventures off North Myrtle Beach. Built in 2005 and powered by a reliable 200HP Yamaha, she'll cruise at 28 knots to get you out to the productive waters up to 40 miles offshore where the big fish live. Perfect for groups of 4 anglers who want room to move around while battling bottom dwellers like grouper, snapper, and sea bass. The boat comes loaded with everything you need - fish finder to locate structure, GPS to mark your honey holes, wireless trolling motor for stealthy positioning, and an icebox to keep your catch fresh. When conditions are right, we can switch from bottom fishing to trolling for kings, mahi, and barracuda. There's even a head onboard for those long days chasing fish in blue water. Whether you're dropping lines on the bottom or pulling lures behind the boat, this SeaSwirl has the space and power to handle whatever the Atlantic throws at you.
SphyraenidaeBarracuda are pure excitement on light tackle with their torpedo-shaped bodies built for speed. They can hit 35 mph and reach up to 6 feet, though most we catch run 2-4 feet. You'll find them cruising shallow waters, weedlines, and around floating debris where they ambush baitfish. Summer months are prime time when they're most active in our area. What guests love is the explosive strike and acrobatic fight - these fish will jump and make screaming runs that'll test your drag. They're also excellent eating despite what some people think. Cuda hunt by sight and love shiny objects, so silver spoons and flashy lures work great. Here's a tip: use a wire leader because their razor-sharp teeth will cut through mono in a heartbeat. When trolling, vary your speed to trigger strikes from following fish.
Centropristis StriataBlack Sea Bass are one of our most reliable bottom fish and great fun on lighter tackle. They typically run 1-4 pounds with some pushing 8+ pounds during peak season. You'll find them around structure in 60-120 feet - wrecks, rocky bottom, and artificial reefs are prime spots. Late spring through summer is when they really turn on as they move inshore to spawn. What guests love is their scrappy fight and excellent table fare - firm, white meat that's hard to beat. These fish are curious and will often hit just about anything you drop down. Here's a local trick: when you feel that first tap, don't set the hook right away. Black sea bass like to mouth the bait first, so give them a second or two to really take it before you drive the hook home.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag Grouper are solid fighters that'll test your tackle around our offshore reefs and wrecks. These guys average 20 inches but can push 50+ inches and 80 pounds when you find a real trophy. They love structure - rocky bottoms, ledges, and artificial reefs in 60-180 feet of water. Males are darker with distinctive reticulated dorsal fins, while females show more marbled gray patterns. Spring through fall gives you the best action when they're feeding heavy on crabs, shrimp, and baitfish. What makes them special is the fight - once hooked, they'll try to drag your bait straight back to their cave. The meat's firm and white, perfect for the dinner table. Pro tip: keep your reel locked tight and don't give them any slack, or they'll wrap you around the structure and cut you off every time.
Balistes CapriscusGrey Triggerfish are some of the trickiest fish we target, but that's what makes them fun. They average 12-17 inches but can reach 24 inches and 13 pounds. You'll find them around hard bottom, reefs, and structure in 60-180 feet of water. Summer and fall are prime time when they're most active. What makes triggers interesting is their feeding behavior - they're notorious bait stealers with small mouths and sharp teeth that can cut through just about anything. The meat is surprisingly good, firm and sweet. These fish are smart and will test your patience. Here's the key: use small hooks with tough bait like squid cut into inch-wide strips. When you feel them pecking at your bait, resist the urge to set the hook immediately. Let them take it and start swimming before you reel fast and steady.
Coryphaena HippurusMahi-mahi are the crown jewel of our trolling trips with their brilliant colors and aerial acrobatics. These beauties average 15-29 pounds but can reach 50+ pounds. We find them around floating debris, weedlines, and current edges in blue water 15-40 miles offshore. Peak season runs May through September when they follow the warm Gulf Stream waters. What makes mahi special is their spectacular fight - they'll jump, dive, and change colors like a light show. Plus, the meat is outstanding - firm, white, and mild. They're fast growers that travel in schools, so where there's one, there's usually more. Here's the secret: once you hook one, keep a bait in the water because the school will often stay around the boat. Ballyhoo skipping on the surface drives them crazy.
Myrtle Beach