Charleston is well known as a small town with beautiful views of the marina and excellent fishing. The best way to experience fishing in the area is going out with one of the three charter companies.

Captain John Blanchard at Sharky’s Charters

Captain John Blanchard single handedly runs Sharky’s Charters. John started as a commercial fisherman but decided to switch to guiding and has lead charters for four years now.

He is the captain and typically takes out smaller groups of four to six. This is a great way to get more valuable one-on-one instruction.

When asked what his favorite part of being a guide was, he said that he likes meeting people and forming friendships with his customers, who frequently return for fishing trips. He also loves sharing his passion with others and remarked “If you do what you love, you don’t work a day in your life.”

Captain Kurt Smith at Betty Kay’s Charters

Captain Kurt Smith is one of the two captains at Betty Kay’s Charters and has about 18 years of experience. He will be taking over as owner of the company in the upcoming months.

Kurt takes pride in his charter company’s commitment to customer service and making sure that every customer has a fun trip and great experience. He thinks that the value provided by hiring a guide is immeasurable, as they have all the “local insight” and know where the fish are better that any visitor could figure out on their own.

Betty Kay’s is able to accommodate larger groups and more people depending on trips, fitting about 20 passengers on a boat.

Weather dependent

Fishing charters are universally weather dependent. If the ocean is too rough or winds are too strong, trips must be canceled for that day. Flexibility is critical for having a safe trip.

If you or someone you know is interested in fishing in the Charleston area, try giving one of the local charter companies a call!