The Carolina Hook & Cook

Hilton Head Fishing Charters—Tale Hunter

I get grumpy if I stay off the water too long. It’s my happy place.

Not just for me, but my family as well. Fishing is an activity we have all enjoyed together since we blended in 2019. When Team Chaos is headed to the coast, surf rods and tackle are mandatory, as is a reservation with our favorite local fishing guide.

But in preparation for our recent trip to Hilton Head this Labor Day, we learned that our go-to Captain was out of the game. I am a firm believer that nothing happens by chance, rather everything happens for a reason even when we are not wise enough to see it. Not to be discouraged, I started searching for a new charter in the area. 

And that is how we ultimately crossed paths with Captain Ben Lynam and his wife Shaylin who now run Hilton Head Fishing Charters—Tale Hunter. They offer multiple excursions for all skill levels from shorter (2-hr) introductory trips for beginners, to longer inshore (4-hr) and offshore (6-hr and 8-hr) charters. Ben can get you onto most any saltwater species you can fathom depending on the season including Bull Reds in the fall, Sheepshead and Black Drum from February to late April, Cobia/Mackerel/Snapper into early June, and Tarpon/Jacks/Sharks in the summer. His fleet includes two boats which each hold a maximum of six passengers.

But one of the key differentiators of Tale Hunter, in my opinion, is that they offer a combination experience with Skull Creek Dockside or Skull Creek Boathouse (of SERG Restaurant Group) that Captain Ben has aptly coined the ‘Hook & Cook.’ 

After all, the only thing better than catching fish on vacation, is having someone else prepare it for you within a stone’s throw of the dock. 

Hook It

Images by James Lewis

When it comes to native experience, Ben grew up on the island. Other than a brief five year stint fishing in the Florida Keys (where he met his wife), he has fished these waters for over 20 years. He knows the area so well that he offers a guarantee on his 4-hr trips, ‘if we get skunked…we will reduce the cost by $200.’ Or as your old Magic 8 Ball might say after a quick shake, “Outlook Good.”

While Ben can control most things, one exception is the weather. But this is where his experience really shines. Case in point, we had originally booked our excursion for Monday afternoon, but some pop-up storms resulted in us pushing to Tuesday mainly because Captain Ben wanted to ensure that we all (including our children) had a positive experience. But on Tuesday an unwanted weather front threatened to arrive earlier than forecasted, so we decided to modify our outing to a 2-hr ‘play it by ear trip’ (as opposed to a full four hours). Shortly after arriving at the dock, we took off down Skull Creek into the Intercoastal Waterway and found a spot to anchor that offered some protection from the wind. You could see the action blowing up all over the surface and below on the fish finder including Sharks, Tarpon and Bull Reds. And when I tell you we tore into them, I’m not exaggerating. I wasn’t sure who was having more fun, the kids or Captain Ben. Even better, the incoming front miraculously held off long enough to get our full four hours in! That’s a win on all fronts (pun intended). 

But the show didn’t end there. Once back at the marina we watched the resident sharks, including a ghostly albino Lemon Shark, circle the dock to feed on whatever Ben tossed into the water while cleaning our catch. After settling up, we moved onto Phase 2!

Cook It

Images by James Lewis

The two restaurants that participate in the ‘Hook & Cook’ are literally steps off the dock and back right up to Skull Creek. And while you can’t go wrong with either place, we opted for the Skull Creek Boathouse mainly because we have been there before with our kids on prior visits to Hilton Head. What we love the most about this place is the vibe. When you look around the Marker 13 Buoy Bar and Sunset Landing patio, what you see are smiling faces of people simply enjoying the moment with the people they care about. Think cold drinks, live music, and great food even if you don’t BYOF (Bring Your Own Fish) served daily from 11am to 10pm and you’ve got the gist of it. When it comes to serving up your catch, they charge $15.50 apiece which includes your fish prepared up to three ways (blackened, grilled, and/or fried) as well as one side per person such as crispy crinkle cut fries (my favorite), seasonal vegetables, collards, macaroni and cheese, grits, Savannah red rice, and more. We requested all three styles with seasonal vegetables and crinkle fries. The blackened and fried fish received the highest praise at our table. Of course we added a basket of hushpuppies to the mix as well as a Super Crunch sushi roll (why not?). After closing out the check, I brought the car around while Amanda and the kids hit the Skull Creek General Store for a little swag.

Bottom line, there aren’t too many places in the South that offer this kind of experience on an individual or family level. The next time you find yourself in or around Hilton Head looking for an old fashioned ‘Hook & Cook,’ book a trip with Captain Ben and hold onto your hat. 

Fish on!