For 30 years, Rick Hiott worked on cars, but 10 years ago he tossed away the monkey wrench and picked up a captain’s hat. “Now I am a full-time fishing guide, and I couldn’t be happier,” he says.
And being the happy guy that he is, Hiott, a charter boat captain for Inshore Fishing Charters, wants to share the good vibes with the passengers on his boat. “It makes me incredibly happy to see people in a good mood out on the boat, because the boat is where I’ve spent most of my life,” he says.
You might also say that the sea is in his blood. Hiott is a third-generation Charleston fisherman who has nabbed numerous angling honors. The Lowcountry Angler Fishing Club once even named him the Angler of the Year. “I’ve been fishing these waters longer than some of these other charter boat captains have been alive,” he says. “I’m not saying I’m better than them, but I definitely have more experience.”
Regardless of your level of experience, Hiott will gladly take you out on a fishing expedition. “Sometimes I fish with pros, and sometimes I work with people who have never held a rod before,” he says. “I have to change my techniques to accommodate beginners, but I don’t mind.”
Charleston Marinas
A sampling of local charter boats companies
Adamada Sportfishing Charters,
(843) 200-5299/(843) 677-5631
12 hours, $2,200
(not accepting charters until beginning of December 2012)
Charleston Fun Fishing Charters,
(843) 568-2521
Inshore
4 hours, $400
6 hours, $600
8 hours, $800
Offshore
6 hours, $1,000
8 hours, $1,250
10 hours, $1,500
Captain Ivan’s Sportfishing,
captainivan.com
Coastal
1/2 day, $750
Full day, $1,300
Daymaker Charters,
daymakercharters.com
Offshore
3/4 day, $1,900
Full day, $2,300
FinAddict Charters,
charlestonflyfishingguide.com
Flats, 1-3 anglers
4 hours, $350
6 hours, $450
8 hours, $550
Bay Boat, 1-6 anglers
4 hours, $400
6 hours, $500
8 hours, $600
Fin Stalker Charters,
finstalker.net
Inshore and flats, up to 4 anglers
4 hours, $400
6 hours, $500
8 hours, $600
Inshore and jettys, up to 4 anglers
4 Hours, $550
6 Hours, $650
8 Hours, $750
Each additional angler $50 per trip
Offshore, up to 4 anglers
5 hours, $750
6 hours, $950
8 hours, $1150
10 hours, $1350
Each additional angler $50 per trip
Knot @ Work Fishing Charters
knotatworkfishing.com
Inshore/nearshore, up to 3 anglers
4 hours, $400
6 hours, $500
8 hours, $600
Nearshore & offshore, up to 4 anglers
6 hours, $900
8 hours, $1,100
Offshore/gulfstream: 10-12 hours, $1,300
10% fuel surcharge on all trips.
Inshore & nearshore reef, up to 4 anglers
4 hours, $650
6 hours, $775
8 hours, $900
10% fuel surcharge on all trips.
Mistress Charters with Captain Frank Thornhill
fishmistress.com
6 hours, $1,300
9 hours, $1,700
12 hours, $2,200
The Reel Deal Charters
thereeldealcharters.com
Variety of packages from $200 for 2 hours inshore to $1,500 for 12 hours offshore (see website)
Risky Business Charters
riskybusinesscharters.com
6 hours, $1200
9 hours, $1500
12 hours, $1800
Southern Tail Charters
southerntailcharters.com
Inshore, up to 3 anglers
4 hours, $400
6 hours, $500
8 hours, $600
Teaser 2
charlestonfishing.net
Offshore, up to 6 passengers
5 hours, $1,200
8 hours, $1,600
11 hours, $2,000
Inshore Fishing Charters with Captain Rick Hiott
reelfishhead.com
4 hours, $400, 1-3 people
6 hours, $500, 1-3 people
8 hours, $600, 1-3 people
Fourth person, $50 extra
Charleston Fish Finder with Captain Ben Floyd
charlestonfishfinder.com
Inshore trips: 4 hours,
$375, 2 people /
$50, additional people
Reef Trips: 6 hours, $650,
1-4 people
Charleston Halfmoon Boat Charters
charlestonhalfmooncharters.com
4 hours, $350, 1-3 people
6 hours, $450, 1-3 people
8 hours, $550, 1-3 people
Fourth person, $50 extra
Fish Call Charters with Captain J.R. Waits
fishcall.com
4 hours, $400
6 hours, $550
3 hour, $300 (May-Oct. only)
8 hours, $750
Tarpon only charter, $700 (June-Oct.)
Head Shaker Charters
with Captain Legare Leland
headshakercharters.com
1/2 day, $400, 1-2 people
3/4 day, $500, 1-2 people
Full day, $600, 1-2 people
Additional person, $50 charge
for each
Lowcountry Charters with Captain Rob Glasser
fishingcharlestonsc.com
4 hours, $400, 1-3 people
Marsh Maven with Captain David Lane
marshmaven.com
4 hours, $300
6 hours, $450
8 hours, $550
SeaRat Charters with Captain David Sarratt
searatcharters.com
4 hours, $350, 1-3 people
6 hours, $450, 1-3 people
8 hours, $550, 1-3 people
Fourth person, $50 extra
Trio Charters with Captain Matthew Cline
triocharters.com
4 hours, $400, 1-3 people
6 hours, $500, 1-3 people
8 hours, $600, 1-3 people
Additional person, $50 for each
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