Outside of a childhood obsession with mermaids, I never thought of myself as a “fish person.” This species of passionate, persistent people was foreign to me: I imagined a close-knit culture of water-whisperers caught somewhere between my grandfather’s murky basement aquarium tank full of minnows, and the shiny advertisements I saw for high-tech gear and flamboyant flies.
Funny, how all it took for me to experience a dangerously fun identity shift was one person’s willingness to welcome me into the fold. That, and my own willingness to bite.
Enter owner Stephen Christopher and Captain Caleb Hartley of Carolina Hook & Line Charters. Exactly the kind of good dudes who can’t wait for you to feel the rush of reeling in a trophy redfish or pile of flounder. And trust me—once you’re hooked, it’s easy to understand why so many people come back to Murrells Inlet time and time again.
“A lot of folks that book a trip with us have never been fishing before,” says Christopher. “They’ve never been on a boat out in the ocean. And they can be intimidated at first, and ask a lot of questions . . . and we’re here to facilitate that. To teach people, to share this passion with them. Some guides might get tired of answering the same questions day after day, year after year, but we never do. We always want people to think, ‘what an awesome experience, I’m never going to forget this.’”
Like me, you might be so new to the sport that you squeal when the rod bows at an alarming, physics-defying angle, or your freshly dead catch decides to squirm in your hands. Maybe you’re an old man of the sea, having charted the waters before on many a company morale-building excursion. At Hook & Line, every day on the water is a chance to experience the rush again, no matter how many times you’ve caught it before. It doesn’t matter if this is your first trip or your fiftieth. Captain Caleb Hartley wants you to leave grinning.
“I love when people are surprised at how much they enjoyed it, or how much fun their kids had driving the boat. Even small stuff like that, they’ll have forever. If you actually care about folks having a good experience on the water, and you’re not just on autopilot, treating it like another transaction . . . I think that’s why people come back to us. And at the end of the day, that’s what is most important,” Hartley reflects.
Murrells Inlet, home base to Hook & Line, isn’t huge, but the prime in-shore fishing that this historic village boasts has attracted a large number of charter companies—many of which have more guides or boats than Hook & Line’s modest outfit. Just down the coast, Charleston is an even bigger pond. And all that competition is precisely why Christopher and Hartley pour twice the heart, grit, and time spent on deck into their excursions.
“There’s so much work that goes on behind the scenes to deliver a perfect experience,” says Christopher. “Rigging up the boat, setting rods and lines, gear and tackle, hauling hundreds of pounds of ice. Cleaning fish, catching bait. All before you even leave the dock. We’re lucky to have captains like Caleb, who put in countless hours. Even on his day off, he’s out looking to see where the fish are, where they might be hitting next. That takes love,” the owner adds, kindly finding another word for obsession.
If it’s true that no trip is ever the same—after all, tides change, the weather shifts, the pressure in the inlet does a backflip—the gift of a day on the water is a constant. There’s the thrum of a boat engine under your feet, and the wind running fingers through your hair. The smell of saltwater and marsh mud. Easy smiles, a cooler of cold beer, and the occasional visit from curious marine mammals—all in good company.
“Especially in spring and early summer, when the bait rolls in, you’ll see dolphins every day, and massive leatherback turtles. We have these huge manta rays, ten- or twelve-feet wide, which leap out of the water. Just seeing that stuff is insane. Never gets old,” Christopher laughs. These close encounters all follow the migration of schools of mullet and Atlantic menhaden (also known as pogies) into Murrells Inlet from the beach to spawn.
Of course, if you’re like most of Hartley’s regulars and in possession of a healthy appetite, you’re most likely counting on his hard-earned, sherpa-like ability to track down “good eatin’ fish” like flounder and redfish. In the winter months, you’ll find black drum, sheepshead and sea trout abundant; and in late spring, big schools of blue fish, king mackerel and Spanish mackerel, as well as predator species like sharks. “Everything changes month to month, and that’s the challenge for guides,” Christopher points out. “Knowing when the bait is coming in, what tide you’re working with, what the moon phase is. There are so many different factors. Even if you’ve been a guide for years, there’s always a new challenge, something new to figure out.”
For these two lifelong friends and self-proclaimed “fish people,” it’s life off the water and the vibe around town that led them to drop anchor. “Murrells Inlet is a special place,” Christopher insists. “What’s really cool about this community is that it’s so tight-knit. We’re a small fishing village, but we’ve got world-class food, really cool bars—it appeals to a wide array of people, casts a wide net. There’s just something about being in a small inlet like this. People are friendly, happy.”
I might still be working on my nautical lingo and discretionary income, but the sun is out, my Wi-Fi is down, and there’s always a warm welcome waiting at Carolina Hook & Line Charters. If Christopher and Hartley are right, and nothing will ever compare to my first trip—except, of course, every trip to come—then I can’t wait to hit the water again and again and again.
Carolina Hook & Line Co., 4037 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC; (704) 860-0548, carolinahookandline.com.
Hook & Line Excursions
These in-shore and near-shore trips take you out into marshes, deep saltwater creeks and oyster flats.
- Full Day: 8-hour trip
- ¾ Day: 6-hour trip
- Half Day: 4-hour trip
Find Cloud Nine just around the coastline with a local’s guide to Murrells Inlet
Stephen Christopher at Carolina Hook & Line Charters can’t not gush about the beautiful, tight-knit fishing village he calls home: Murrells Inlet. And he’s not alone—ask anyone who has walked alongside or paddled the deep marsh creeks of this coastal gem, and it becomes clear why so many visitors, like Christopher, stayed to drop anchor.
“I came down to visit friends, and Murrells Inlet was exactly what you’d dream a small coastal town would be like—It was so chill and laid back, and I really just fell in love with the area and the people,” says Christopher. “It’s a different vibe from big cities like Charleston, but has so much to offer for its size. We’ve got world-class food, really cool bars—it appeals to a wide array of people. It casts a wide net. People are warm and welcoming, and there’s no rush—just endless chances to soak up time on the water.”
So who better to turn to for an insider guide to vacationing in this Lowcountry destination than the team at Carolina Hook & Line Charters? We thought so, too. Check out their curated itinerary below.
WHAT HIS CREW LOVES TO DO
Hang out at the Marshwalk. “There’s several restaurants/bars, all with unique vibes. A few faves: The Mullet Hut (the famous Rum Punch is a must try), Creek Ratz (the go-to spot for lunch and a happy hour PBR), and Graham’s Landing (just straight up good seafood with a marsh view).”
Hang on the boat after charters. “This is where the stories get told, dock fish are caught, beers are had and real memories are made.”
TO-DOS FOR GUESTS IN TOWN
Hang out on the Marshwalk. “There’s plenty of restaurants to choose from. Also, the night life is solid for those who enjoy that. Go-to bars would be Bubbas Love Shack, Tuna Shack and Wahoos Fish House.”
Hit up the beach. “Surfside & Garden City Beach are right beside Murrells Inlet, and it’s where most folks go for a day or week of laid back beach relaxation.”
Brookgreen Gardens. “Immaculate sculpture garden full of local history, art and the natural ecosystem. A must do for sure!”
Huntington Beach State Park. “Also a place for folks to go to the beach, just south of the Marshwalk. There are plenty of bike trails, a lighthouse you can climb, a maritime forest, campsites and of course, alligators!”
The Oyster Recycle Center. “Right beside Huntington Beach State Park, this is the spot a lot of folks go to for kayaking, since there is an easy, spacious marsh beach to launch from.”
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