When king mackerel are around Hilton Head
Kings are a summer fish off Hilton Head Island, per the Hilton Head Island guide. The island’s official fishing guide lists king mackerel among the summer arrivals, along with amberjack, cobia and Spanish mackerel.
This guide is for skippers running their own boat. It covers the named DNR artificial reefs with PA numbers and depths in feet, where boats run, how locals fish for kings, and who targets them from this port. For the regional migration picture, see the Atlantic southeast king mackerel guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide). The coastal and offshore gamefish guides cover the rest of the lineup.
Summer traffic means several species share the same grounds:
- Kings
- Spanish mackerel
- Cobia
- Amberjack
Where boats run
Boats run in three tiers, nearest to farthest: nearshore wrecks and reefs, Betsy Ross Reef, and Navy Towers R7. Each tier costs a different amount of fuel and time, so choose the tier before choosing bait.
Nearshore wrecks and reefs
Boats work the nearshore wrecks and reefs first. The named DNR artificial reefs in this band are Hilton Head Reef (PA-49, 50 ft), White Water Reef (PA-47, 30 ft) and Eagle’s Nest Reef (PA-48, 60 ft). Anyone new to the water should start here.
Betsy Ross Reef
Betsy Ross Reef is DNR reef PA-44, at 90 ft. DNR lists king mackerel among the species at this reef.
Navy Towers R7
Navy Towers R7 sits about 50 miles out, per the Hilton Head Island guide, and is the far end of the run. Before a trip that far, check the NWS Charleston marine forecast for wind, wave height and period.
Reading the tide (station 8669167)
The reference for this port is NOAA tide station 8669167 at Port Royal Plantation, Hilton Head. It is a tide station, not a buoy. Read it when planning the run out and back.
Grounds and structure
The named structure off the island, sorted by depth from shallow to deep:
| Name | PA ID | Type | Depth (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish America Reef | PA-45 | reef | 9 |
| Gaskins Bank Wreck | n/a | wreck | 10 |
| General Gordon Reef | PA-41 | wreck | 18 |
| White Water Reef | PA-47 | reef | 30 |
| Beaufort 45 Reef | PA-42 | reef | 45 |
| Hilton Head Reef | PA-49 | reef | 50 |
| Eagle’s Nest Reef | PA-48 | reef | 60 |
| Betsy Ross Reef | PA-44 | reef | 90 |
DNR lists Beaufort 45 Reef by coordinates only. Chart data is not for navigation. The shallowest spots, at 9 to 18 ft, belong on your local structure map. The three reefs below are the main king grounds.
Betsy Ross Reef (PA-44)
At 90 ft, this is the deepest named reef here. DNR lists king mackerel among its species.
Hilton Head Reef (PA-49)
At 50 ft, this reef sits in the middle of the nearshore band.
Eagle’s Nest Reef (PA-48)
At 60 ft, this reef is just deeper than Hilton Head Reef.
How kings are fished here
Locals use two methods, live bait and trolling. For biology and general rigging, see the species guide.
Live bait
Live bait is the first of the two methods.
Trolling
Trolling is the second.
Wire leader and J-hook
Tale Hunter Hilton Head Fishing Charters advises switching to a wire leader and J-hook when king mackerel are around.
Who fishes for them
Local charters list king mackerel, and one tournament is built around them.
Charters
- Tale Hunter Hilton Head Fishing Charters, https://hiltonheadfishingcharters.fish. Capt. Joe Smith is named on its Betsy Ross Reef article.
- Izzy-a Hilton Head Fishing Charters, https://www.izzy-a.net. It lists king mackerel.
- Above and Below Charters (Salty Mistress Sport Fishing), https://saltymistresssportfishing.com. It runs a 2002 Rampage 38 Express with twin Caterpillar diesels.
Hang Em’ High Kingfish Invitational
The Hang Em’ High Kingfish Invitational is a king mackerel tournament out of Hilton Head Island, usually held in November.
FAQ
When is king mackerel fishing out of Hilton Head Island in season?
Summer, per the Hilton Head Island guide.
How far is Navy Towers R7?
About 50 miles offshore. It is the far end of where boats run.
How deep is Betsy Ross Reef?
90 ft. It is DNR reef PA-44, and DNR lists king mackerel among its species.
What rig do locals switch to?
A wire leader and J-hook when kings are around, per Tale Hunter.
Which tide station covers Hilton Head?
NOAA tide station 8669167 at Port Royal Plantation.
Where are the size and bag rules?
On the South Carolina regulations page. Federal rules apply past state waters.
