Tourism News
Deep-sea fishing in Myrtle Beach: A ride aboard the Voyager
Myrtle Beach, SC | Fishing is a lot like real estate – location, location, location.
That's why the Super Voyager Deep-Sea Fishing out of Calabash, N.C., the self-proclaimed Seafood Capital of the World (about 30 miles north of Myrtle Beach), has all the prime real estate covered.
Whether you want the high end – a 12-hour deep-sea fishing trip out to the Gulf Stream for some hard-core sport angling – or the low maintenance – a six-hour cruise for more leisurely fishing – Voyager has the right one for you.
There's two kinds of fishing: one with the emphasis on “fish” for those who want to go after big game, and one that focuses more on the “ing” for those who just love to wet a line. The fish are a bonus.
If you fall into the former category, the 12-hour Gulf Stream trip is for you. The Super Voyager III, a 100-foot double deck fishing vessel, departs at 7:15 a.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It's a three-hour ride out and back, but it's worth every minute to get to the big ones on the bottom about 60 miles offshore.
The Gulf Stream is loaded with snapper, triggerfish, grouper, amberjack and king mackerel, just to name a few, and the odds of landing a wall-hanger or dinner for five are much greater in the Gulf Stream. Fill up the cooler and you've got an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet for friends and family for only $85.
But for those who don't have the time or sea legs for a full-day of fishing, the $28 half-day tours on the 70-foot Starship sail daily at 8:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. At only five to 10 miles offshore, the fish are smaller and more limited in species, but common keepers include sea bass, grunts, porgies and even sharks.
But regardless of the length of the trip or the size of the catch, the boat ride itself is an enjoyable experience.
The vessels cruise past islands and inlets through the Little River Neck to reach the sea, where the sun, wind and waves, depending upon the weather, are a nice warmup to the fishing fun to come. The air-conditioned cabin features table benches and serves cheap refreshments for a break from the outdoors.
Once you reach the fishing hole of choice, the captain and first mates do all the dirty work. From a quick lesson on how to handle the rods and reels, to baiting and de-fishing the hooks, they do it all in a friendly matter. And they have some great fishing stories too, except theirs are true.
Once the captain gives the order to drop lines, the boat comes to life with eager anglers looking to get the first catch of the day. The boats provide all the equipment and bait, and for $5 you can enter the fishing pool, with the cash going to whoever hauls in the biggest fish, or buy shrimp to increase your odds.
The half-day trip is great for children and the elderly, enough to get a good taste of deep-sea fishing without going overboard (so to speak). But if neither floats you boat, there are a couple of alternatives.
For those who want more fishing and more adventure, a 24-hour overnight trip departs for the Gulf Stream at 9 p.m. Friday and returns at 9 p.m. Saturday for a double-limit journey. The next one sails on Oct. 1-2 and costs $185.
For those looking to enjoy the ocean without having to hook a big one, two-hour dolphin adventures sail Monday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The sight-seeing cruise features up-close looks at dolphins and costs only $18 for adults.
So whether you're looking to bag a big one or just enjoy a relaxing day at sea, Super Voyager has what you're looking for and more. And that's not a fish tale.
