Headboat fishing in Myrtle Beach: what to expect on a party boat

How a headboat works

You buy a ticket for yourself, show up at the dock, and fish shoulder to shoulder with other anglers along the rail. The crew provides heavy bottom rods, rigs, and cut bait (often squid and cut fish), and mates walk the rail to bait hooks, untangle lines, and help land fish. The boat anchors or drifts over reefs, ledges, and wrecks. When the captain says "drop 'em," you lower your rig to the bottom and wait for a bite.

Headboats on the Grand Strand go by several names: party boats, deep sea fishing boats, and bottom fishing trips. The longest-running fleets operate out of Murrells Inlet and Little River; Hurricane Fleet, for example, says it has run trips for more than 75 years.

Which trip length to choose

• Half day (about 4 to 5 hours). Fishes closer reefs and live bottom. Mostly black sea bass, porgies, grunts, and pinfish, with an occasional bigger fish. Best for families and first-timers.
• Three-quarter and full day (about 7 to 10 hours). Runs farther to better bottom, with more chance at triggerfish, vermilion snapper, grouper, and amberjack.
• Gulf Stream (all day, 10+ hours). The longest run and the deepest water, for the biggest bottom fish. Some include drifting or trolling time for mahi or wahoo.

What you can keep

Headboat mates measure fish and enforce limits; many bottom species have size limits, bag limits, and closed seasons in federal waters. Black sea bass are the bread-and-butter fish; red snapper are only legal on announced days. Ask the crew what you will likely be able to keep on your date. See size and bag limits.

What it costs

Prices are set by each fleet and change with the season and trip length. Visit Myrtle Beach has published a typical range of $40 to $100 per person, with Gulf Stream trips priced higher. Expect possible extras: a rod rental fee, fish cleaning, a jackpot pool for the biggest fish, food and drinks from the galley, and a tip for the mates.

Tips for a better headboat day

1. Arrive early for a good spot at the rail.
2. Keep your line straight down. Too much line out tangles with neighbors; reel up a few turns when you touch bottom.
3. Tell the mate when you hook something big. They will help clear lines and gaff it.
4. Bring a small cooler bag, towel, and pliers. Fish spines are sharp.
5. Tip the mates in cash, especially the one who baited your hooks all day. See tipping and etiquette.
6. Take seasickness precautions before you board; the boat will not turn back for one passenger. See seasickness.

Headboat or private charter?

A headboat gives you ocean fishing at a fraction of the price of a private boat. A private charter is better for trolling, for targeting a specific species, and for groups that want the boat to themselves. See types of fishing trips.