We happened to have a great day on the water for some excellent fishing. I didn't have any…read moreexpectations since I'm not a seasoned fisherman. I think this might have been my first fishing expedition and I would do it again. I suggest getting there early enough to get situated. What I didn't know was you could bring backpacks and flexible coolers which are stored inside the boat area. Most people brought sandwiches and snacks for the journey. They also have a concession stand inside which serves food, snacks, soft drinks and beer. The prices are reasonable. Even the $85 for the 5.5 hour excursion seemed very reasonable as well. They provide all the equipment and bait. You just need to bring your skills or possibly patience. The crew helps to show you how to fish and takes care of anything you may catch and want to bring back. They do the fileting as well as packing of the fish. For my group, we just wanted to hang out and enjoy the open seas. Most of us caught something, but nothing worth keeping. All catch and release. We start out going through the tributaries towards Calibogue Sound towards Daufuskie Island. There are some artificial reefs we were able to anchor near. The Captain knows where most of the fish are. Some folks on our excursion caught some decent size fish which they were keeping. I caught a Croaker, but tossed it back. A family with small children had some sea sickness so it's important to bring Dramamine or buy some on the ship. My take it--- if you're a first time or casual fisherman, this is for you. if you're more of a professional, get a charter.

Just go! I was on the fence with the mixed reviews but frame your thinking correctly and you'll be…read morehappy. We had a fun time, saw some dolphins too and as far as I could tell everyone caught a few fish! We got to keep our croaker and whiting to eat at home, the others we tossed back. You may get sick. There's medicine on board and the crew is super attentive with cold wet towels, which is super revitalizing believe it or not. The crew is moving nonstop to help everyone but they're always chill and patient.

My family chartered two six hour fishing trips with Big Fish Charters this week. Our Captain,…read moreNick, and his first mate Kaylee, knew all of the best spots for pulling up Huge Spanish Mackerel and King fish. We had two days filled with excitement and built memories our family will never forget. We all caught tons of fish!! Nick and Kaylee shared fishing tips and helped guide us into becoming better fisherman. Nick and Kaylee were super positive and helpful with our children, helping them build confidence in their fishing skills. If you are an art lover, ask Kaylee, a SCAD alum, about her beautiful fish print paintings. If you are looking to Charter a boat, do not hesitate to book with Big Fish Charter!!!! We look forward to rebooking with Big Fish Charters as soon as we can!!!

Had an epic day with Captain Nick and Fist Mate Kaylee! We were super inexperienced fishermen but,…read morefrom start to finish they treated us exceptionally! Captain Nick knows the best spots the fish like to hide. Catching fish on our first cast! The boat is in great condition and they keep it super clean! Look no further and book them right now!

As a surprise, my wife booked us on a 2 hour kayaking tour of Jarvis Creek. Besides us, there were…read more2 other couples who were waiting with us for the tour. Mark was our tour guide. He explained all of the safety rules in great detail ensuring that everyone fully understood. We signed waivers allowing us to proceed on the tour. You get a choice of what type of watercraft to select. There was a 2 person ride-above, a 2 person kayak, a 2 person canoe as well as single kayaks. We took the 2 person kayak. Life jackets are mandatory and provided, but we also brought our own. Water is recommended to take along as well. Aqua socks are also recommended. Flip flops and other open toed shoes are a strong "no-no" Mark made it clear that with all of the oysters in the creek, a flip overboard could cut the bottoms of your feet. We launched our own kayak by first carrying it down the ramp where Mark was able to stabilize while we got inside. Our tour was supposed to be 2 hrs, but ended up at 2 1/2 hours with 3 miles of paddling completed. We started against the current and eventually were able to ride the current back. During the journey, Mark would point out the different birds and wildlife in the area. There were many oyster bed protruding from the water with many "spitters". We almost ran aground on one of the beds during the first part of the tour, but were able to free ourselves using the paddles. We and the rest of the group were fortunate not to flip. The waters are typically quite shallow, but due to the brackish nature, you can't see the bottom. We saw a couple of fish jumping, but the waters are too shallow for dolphins. We were also fortunate that the temperature stayed around 80 and was mostly cloudy. It could be quite humid and hot during the summer which could make the journey a bit uncomfortable. Mark did a great job getting everyone back safely and always followed COVID precautions by keeping his scarf/mask on when he was on land speaking with us.

We went for the nature tour. It was great. This is the third year in a row that we have done it…read more Our guide was super knowledgeable about the area and kept the kids entertained with facts and history. The tour was about 2 hours, with instruction at the beginning, so about 1.5hrs water time, which was more than enough for our crew.

Unfortunately, our excursion did NOT live up to what was advertised. The trip was promoted as…read moreincluding shark fishing, "GUARANTEED DOLPHINS" and seashell collecting. We did NOT experience any of this. We completely understand that weather and wildlife can be unpredictable, but I had discussed my concerns regarding the weather with a representative from the company prior to our arrival to the pier and was reassured a 100% money back guarantee if there was a weather-related cancellation and was reassured by Nadine and the website that there was a 100% refund if dolphins were not seen. THIS IS A SCAM. The only dolphin we saw was one near the pier that appears to be there regularly--not a dolphin sighting as part of the excursion. Due to weather, the trip was cut down to only one hour on the boat. There was also an additional 20-minute delay because of the boats was broken, further reducing our already limited time. After about an hour on the boat, we had not seen a single dolphin or shark and storms were headed our way so the captains made the right decision to return to the pier. To me the disappointing part was that I paid for two boats for nine people and at the end was still charged for a third of the cost as the owner claimed that we got "an experience", two shark teeth souvenirs for my kids and about 4 cans of soda in total that we should pay for a full hour of the boat ride and "experience" even though none of the "guaranteed" experiences were provided. I offered instead to tip the captains of both boats and pay for fuel costs but the owner insisted on charging me for the full hour of "experience" which I think was absurd. In all, we paid about $400 for an uneventful boat ride for 9 people. The experience and Captain Heath's response to our concerns was very disappointing. I would not recommend this cruise unless the weather is guaranteed to not include storms. If there's a storm and your trip is cut short, expect to still pay for your ride!

Great time. Captain Paul was knowledgeable and gave us a fantastic tour. Loved all of the dolphins…read moreand enjoyed the sunset. His narration was fact filled and on point. I highly recommend this tour and Captain Paul. Our two granddaughters, ages 7 and 9, thoroughly enjoyed, along with the four adults.

We did not go on a fishing charter but used them to check out marinas for the potential to bring…read moreour boat down during the off season. I contacted 4 other charter companies and NO ONE responded back. Bulldog Charters got right back to me and knew exactly what we wanted. Campbell was our boat capt. on Hero and provided excellent service. He knew what marinas to take us to and explained the boating in the area. Also quite knowledgeable and experienced about fishing in the area. We would highly recommend this fishing charter service. Thanks Captain Christiaan and his great team.

This was our second time getting to go out fishing with Christiaan and Ian on the Bulldog. We had…read moreanother excellent time, and caught multiple sharks and a big Cobia! We enjoyed the boat ride out to the fishing sites, and the friendly company! Highly recommend booking a fishing trip on The Bulldog with Captain Christiaan and Ian.

My boyfriend, parents, and I came to Tybee Island for our college graduation celebration. We…read moredecided to do a fishing trip as part of our present from my parents. We searched through one of the Tybee Island visitor books to choose our charter company. We first called another company, but when they finally returned our call, they were too booked already. The nice gentleman did highly recommend Tybee Island Charters to us. We called Tybee Island Charters, who immediately answered the phone. We spoke with Captain Elizabeth who was very friendly, professional, and informative. She explained the tour options for what we were looking for, the prices and what was included (and not included), what kind of boat we would be on, thorough directions to the boat dock, and extra tips (such as bringing food or drinks, that the number of anglers was optional, etc.). They were very genuine and up front with any and all information about the services they offered. We chose to do a 4 hour inshore fishing trip (2 anglers) with Tybee Island Charters for $300, which I thought was very reasonable, though I am no fishing expert and have never paid for a fishing tour before. Their prices were comparable to the other inshore fishing tours on the island. Captain Elizabeth was very knowledgeable about the waters, wildlife, and fishing. She was able to name and give facts/stories/history about every single bird, fish, crab, oyster, dolphin, etc. we saw while on the trip. It was like we received their eco-tour as an added bonus. The wildlife and scenery did not disappoint us either! She also knew a lot about the Tybee Island area, people, and history, even leading us to our favorite restaurant from the trip, Sundae Cafe. Learning about the Island from a local was extremely helpful to us first time tourists! During the trip, Captain Elizabeth was very welcoming and made sure we were comfortable and had what we needed. Everything was prepared before we arrived, so we literally pulled up to the dock, loaded our cooler, and headed out to sea! She gave us professional tips on where/how to cast and what types of equipment and bait we were using (even giving us options on what to use). She baited our hooks and unhooked/measured the fish for us, as is customary on a guided fishing tour, but it was nice to only have to do the relaxing and exciting part of fishing! She took us to three or four fishing locations that she said she has been successful at before, and the fish did not disappoint! We had a bite on almost every cast, including the first of the day. Though many were not big enough to keep, we enjoyed reelin' em in all day. We ended up coming home with 7 whiting, which Elizabeth cleaned for us back at the dock. When keeping the fish, she measured them properly and only kept those that were the legal length. Again, she was very professional and seemed knowledgeable about Georgia fishing laws and followed them... even mentioning that the local marine science center had asked her to collect smaller fish for them, but she told them she wouldn't do so until she had the proper permit from the Georgia DNR (Dept. of Natural Resources). My parents noted that while they waited for us to return to shore, Captain Cecil had entertained them at the boat dock (which was at their own personal home). He even closed the gate so that our dogs could run freely in their backyard with his dog. They chatted and told stories (about their 40 year history in fishing Tybee waters) for quite a while. They said it was like just hanging out at an old friend's house. This is a long review, but I can't think of enough good things to say about Tybee Island Charters! It was the highlight of our trip and I would call them to book another tour the instant I come back to Tybee Island. If you're looking for a genuine, local, Mom & Pop, honest operation, that gives you more than your money's worth and a fabulous, laid back experience, then give Cecil & Elizabeth at Tybee Island Charters a call.

I'm only giving them one star because we caught fish. Other than that, I'd give them negative…read morestars. I chartered one of their boats for a 10 hour deep sea fishing trip, 40 miles offshore. We did catch fish, that's the only thing I can say that's positive about Tybee Island Charters. I caught an under sized fish. The Captain (Captain Elizabeth) took the fish off my hook and put the small fish on another rod and used it as bait, instead of throwing it back. She bragged about how she usually keeps undersized fish as well as fish that you aren't allowed to keep, such as Red Snapper. (Red Snapper are illegal to keep in ALL waters off of Georgia) She was even proud of the fact she had kept a small flounder once and was caught by Georgia Fish and Game Officers, but only received a ticket for breaking the law. While we were fishing I had to keep asking the captain and her mate how many fish we had caught, as I didn't want to go over the limit. They disregarded my question and said to keep fishing. I finally demanded someone count the fish, so we wouldn't go over the limit. They counted and said we had 17, and we could keep 3 more. After 3 more were caught we stopped keeping the fish. As the Captain was pulling the anchor up, she noticed something wrong with the engine. There was a leak in the engine, that was causing the engine to over heat. Once again I want to say we were 40 MILES offshore. The Captain later told me she knew there was a leak BEFORE we left, but she didn't think it would be an issue. 40 miles offshore with a leaky engine. I'm not a mechanic but even I know that's a recipe for disaster. We were stuck 40 miles offshore, waiting for a boat to tow us back in. While we were waiting for the tow boat, the Captain decided to fillet all of the fish we caught. Yet another violation she committed on this charter. As they were filleting the fish they realized 23 fish had been kept. Another violation... The 10 hour fishing charter turned into a 19 hour trip from hell. I would not recommend Tybee Island Charters to ANYONE!!!!! I requested a partial refund for the troubles she put me and my cousin through. At first Captain Elizabeth said she would mail me a refund. A few weeks after the trip I contacted her and she said she changed her mind and was not going to refund any money.

We had Captain Justice for inshore trip. Caught 14+ redfish. Justice knew the spots and what to do…read more Great trip for the novice fisherman that wants redfish for dinner. No brained to use Justice again.

Our boys can't stop talking about our fishing experience on The Shadow private charter. Tommy is a…read morepro! A great guy who knows the island and his craft. He and his nephew took us to a nice spot in the Sound, gave the boys some good coaching, and the boys ended up catching a baby shark and several hammer heads. Definitely a highlight of any beach vacation we've ever taken. Highly recommend the early evening 2-hour experience if you're doing it just for fun, not serious fishing.

We rented 2 single kayaks for 2 hours and had a great experience. It was very easy to communicate…read moreto book (we texted the company to set up a time the day before) and the landing (Old Oyster Factory) was a great landing to paddle out from. It was super high tide, so we were able to explore lots of the surrounding creeks and saw some wildlife. The equipment / boats were great and they got us into the water fast. We'll definitely rent from them again. Also, eating lunch after a 2 hour kayak trip at the Old Oyster Factory is hard to beat!

We had a great time on the water! We rented Kayaks-without the tour so getting to go off where we…read morewanted in the marsh was awesome! They had everything you needed as well.