Bulldog Fishing Charters is the most reviewed charter on Hilton Head and one of the best boats in the port for a first timer or a family, a 32 foot sportfishing boat run by Captain Christiaan, a second generation island captain with more than 30 years on the water. The boat works the nearshore reefs and wrecks out of Skull Creek for sharks, cobia, and mackerel, and the review trail behind it, more than 350 entries on TripAdvisor, is the deepest of any operator we rank here. It sits in the top half of our field on the captain and that long record, marked down only on pricing and a menu that stays closer to shore than the offshore boats.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.8 Bulldog is a strong choice and the third boat in our Hilton Head ranking, just behind Top Shot Sport Fishing and ahead of Cool Cat Sportfishing. It earns the spot on the two factors that decide most days, the captain and the track record: a second generation captain backed by the deepest review trail in the port, where the recurring note is patience with beginners and children. Two things hold it just below the boats above it. The posted rates add tax on top rather than stating one all in number, which is less clear than the all inclusive pricing at Top Shot, and the trips stay on the nearshore reefs, about 45 minutes out, rather than running to the offshore bottom or the Gulf Stream. Book it for a half day on the reefs or a shark trip with kids.
The boat
The Bulldog is a 32 foot sportfishing boat with a clean head, cushioned seating, and shade, set up for a comfortable nearshore day with up to 6 anglers, the Coast Guard limit on a six pack boat. It is a solid, well kept mid size boat rather than a long range offshore platform, which suits the trips it actually runs: the 6 hour trip heads out through Skull Creek and Port Royal Sound and cruises about 45 minutes to the man made reefs and wrecks. For the nearshore fishing that is the heart of Hilton Head’s deep sea menu, the boat is well matched, though it gives up the steadier ride and the range of the twin engine catamarans on the longer runs.
The fishing and what you target
Bulldog fishes the nearshore reefs and wrecks, and the target shifts with the season. Sharks are a year round draw and the backbone of the short trips, with blacktip, spinner, and other coastal species, and the spring brings cobia into Port Royal Sound and king and Spanish mackerel onto the wrecks. The reefs give up grouper and snapper on the bottom, and tarpon show in the warm months. The shark trips in particular are a reliable bet when a family wants steady action and a big fish on the line, which is a large part of why the boat’s reviews skew so positive with first timers.
Trips and prices
Bulldog sells by the whole boat for up to 6 anglers, private only, by the hour: $625 for 3 hours, $750 for 4 hours, $900 for 5 hours, $1,200 for 6 hours, $1,350 for 7 hours, and $1,700 for 8 hours. Bait, tackle, and the boat’s license are provided. The one knock on the value is that the rates are quoted plus tax rather than as a single all in figure, so the number at checkout runs a little higher than the headline, which is worth knowing when you compare it against the all inclusive pricing elsewhere in the port. Our cost guide breaks down what each trip length buys, and since this is a strong boat for a first trip, the first time guide walks a beginner through the rest.
The crew
Captain Christiaan is a second generation Hilton Head captain who followed his father into the business and has fished the island for more than 30 years, running the boat with his mate Jarrett. The review record is the deepest in the port, more than 350 entries on TripAdvisor, and the theme that recurs is a crew that is friendly, professional, and unusually good with inexperienced groups and kids, with families who come back year after year. That standing with first timers is the clearest reason the boat sits where it does. The honest qualifier is that the same record is lighter on the serious offshore angler, since this is a nearshore reef operation rather than a bluewater one.
Booking and what to know
Book through the operator’s site or by phone. The boat leaves from 1 Hudson Road on the north end of the island, near Skull Creek, the same stretch of dock as Stray Cat and Cool Cat, and runs out through Skull Creek and Port Royal Sound to the reefs. No fishing license is needed, since the boat covers it, and bait and tackle are provided. Bring food, drinks, sunscreen, and a hat, and remember the rates carry tax on top when you budget. The shark trips are short enough for young children, which makes this a good first charter.
How we scored it
Bulldog scores 7.8: the most reviewed charter on Hilton Head, a second generation owner captain with more than three decades on the water, and the best boat in the port for a beginner or a family. Captain and crew and track record are its top factors. It sits just below the boats above it because the pricing adds tax rather than stating one all in figure, and the trips stay on the nearshore reefs rather than running offshore, so a serious bluewater day is better booked on a catamaran. See how we scored this boat, and compare it against the rest of the Hilton Head fleet.