Family fishing in Myrtle Beach: best trips for kids

Family fishing in Myrtle Beach: the best trips for kids

The best family fishing trip is short, calm, and full of bites. On the Grand Strand that usually means a pier, a 2-to-4-hour inshore charter, or a half-day headboat, not a 12-hour Gulf Stream run. Here is how to choose, and how to make it fun.

Last reviewed October 29, 2026 · Information only · Rules can change, check SCDNR

Family fishing at a glance

Best first trip

A pier, or a 2 to 4 hour inshore charter

Budget option

A half-day headboat; rod, reel, and bait included

License

Kids under 16 do not need one; adults do unless on a licensed pier or charter

Avoid for young kids

Full-day and Gulf Stream trips

Best seasons

Spring and fall; early mornings in summer

Pick the right trip

A fishing pier is the easiest start. No boat, no seasickness, restrooms and snacks nearby, bait and rod rentals on site, and you can leave when the kids are done. Licensed piers cover everyone's license. See fishing piers.

An inshore charter (2 to 4 hours) is the best boat trip for kids: calm marsh water, short runs, and a captain who will focus on your family. Expect redfish, flounder, trout, and plenty of small fish. See inshore fishing.

A half-day headboat is the budget boat option. Rods, reels, and bait are supplied, mates help kids bait and land fish, and the catch is mostly sea bass and other bottom fish. Pick a calm day. See headboat fishing.

Skip full-day and Gulf Stream trips with young kids. The ride is long, the sea is bigger, and there is nowhere to go if someone is unhappy.

Licenses and limits

Children under 16 do not need a South Carolina saltwater license. Adults do, unless they are on a licensed pier or a licensed charter or headboat. Size and bag limits still apply to fish a child keeps. See SC saltwater license.

Make it fun

Go early in summer, before the heat and the afternoon storms.
Keep it short. Two hours of action beats six hours of waiting.
Bring snacks and drinks, and a hat and sunscreen for everyone.
Let them reel. Even if an adult hooks the fish, let the kids bring it in.
Take a photo, then release small fish; it is a good first lesson.
Pack a plan B: a walk on the pier, a look at the boats, an ice cream.

Safety

Life jackets: bring one that fits a small child, even if the boat carries them.
Hooks and fins: teach kids to let an adult or mate handle fish with spines, teeth, or stingers.
Sun and heat: shade is limited on piers and small boats.
Seasickness: the CDC says susceptibility peaks between ages 7 and 12. Start calm and short. See seasickness.

In pictures

Fishing rods leaning on a pier railing over blue Myrtle Beach water

Beach umbrellas and chairs along the sand at Myrtle Beach

The Myrtle Beach State Park fishing pier with waves rolling under it

A southern kingfish, called whiting locally, lying on a dock

Photo credits and licenses · Photos are illustrative, not a specific local boat, business, or catch.

Find local help

Listings come from public records or from the business itself. A listing is not a recommendation.

Common questions

What age can kids go deep sea fishing?

Each boat sets its own minimum age, and many welcome kids on half-day trips. For most children under about 10, a pier, inshore trip, or half-day headboat is a better first experience than a long offshore day.

Do kids need life jackets on a fishing boat?

Boats must carry a suitable life jacket for every person aboard, and rules about when children must wear one depend on the boat's size and type and on state and federal law. Charter and headboats carry life jackets, but bring one that fits a small child, and ask the captain about the boat's rules.

What will kids catch from a pier?

Mostly small whiting, spot, croaker, pinfish, and the occasional flounder, ray, or small shark. Lots of bites keeps kids interested.