A Live One runs Gulf Stream trips for blackfin, and blackfin tuna fishing out of Hilton Head Island means that same run, about 60 to 80 miles out, in the cooler months. If you already fish the nearshore reefs and are weighing the longer trip, this page covers when, where, what is on the chart, how the fish are worked and who runs it. For general port orientation, start with the Hilton Head Island port page.
When blackfin are here
A Live One names winter, spring and fall as best for its Gulf Stream runs, and those cooler months are the planning window for blackfin tuna season from this port. A season listed by a charter is a planning window, not a guarantee of fish.
The run to the Gulf Stream
Blackfin tuna off Hilton Head Island are fished in the Gulf Stream, about 60 to 80 miles out. That distance shapes the whole day, including your range, your fuel reserve and your weather window. Read the NWS Charleston marine forecast for wind, wave height and period before you commit to the run, and decide from the numbers.
The Atlantic Southeast blackfin guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide) covers the regional Gulf Stream picture.
60 to 80 miles
The edge moves, so the figure is a range rather than a fixed mark. Plan the run as a distance to cover, then let the day’s conditions decide where along that range you set up.
The Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint can help you picture the depth change on the way out. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Named grounds and structure near Hilton Head
The SC DNR artificial reefs near Hilton Head run from 9 to 90 ft and sit well inside the Gulf Stream, so treat them as named structure and waypoints, not blackfin grounds. The PA designations come from SC DNR. The sites are on the chart between the port and the Gulf Stream, and each depth below is a single published figure, not a survey of the site.
| Name | DNR ID | Type | Depth (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betsy Ross Reef | PA-44 | reef | 90 |
| Eagle’s Nest Reef | PA-48 | reef | 60 |
| Hilton Head Reef | PA-49 | reef | 50 |
| Beaufort 45 Reef | PA-42 | reef (DNR gives coordinates only) | 45 |
| White Water Reef | PA-47 | reef | 30 |
| General Gordon Reef | PA-41 | wreck | 18 |
| Gaskins Bank Wreck | n/a | wreck | 10 |
| Fish America Reef | PA-45 | reef | 9 |
Deeper reefs
Betsy Ross (90 ft), Eagle’s Nest (60 ft), Hilton Head Reef (50 ft) and Beaufort 45 (45 ft) are the deepest named sites on the list. For Beaufort 45 (PA-42), DNR gives coordinates only.
Shallow sites
White Water (30 ft), General Gordon (18 ft), Gaskins Bank (10 ft) and Fish America (9 ft) are local chart context on the way out.
Tide station
NOAA tide station 8669167 at Port Royal Plantation is a tide station, not a buoy. It reads tide at the island and does not measure sea state 60 to 80 miles out, so pair it with the forecast above.
How blackfin are fished from this port
On Gulf Stream runs from Hilton Head, blackfin are fished by slow trolling and high speed trolling. The blackfin tuna fishing guide covers the biology and general technique.
Slow trolling
One of the two methods used locally on Gulf Stream runs.
High speed trolling
The other method used locally on Gulf Stream runs.
A Live One
A Live One is a Freeman 29 catamaran operated by Live Oac Adventures offshore fishing. It lists blackfin tuna and names the cooler months for its Gulf Stream runs. For anyone comparing a Hilton Head tuna charter against running their own boat, it is the local operator that lists the species.
FAQ about blackfin tuna fishing out of Hilton Head Island
How far is the Gulf Stream from Hilton Head Island?
About 60 to 80 miles out. The tide station does not report conditions there, so check the official forecast.
When is blackfin tuna season out of Hilton Head?
Winter, spring and fall, per A Live One.
How are blackfin tuna fished from Hilton Head?
By slow trolling and high speed trolling on Gulf Stream runs.
Is there a Hilton Head charter that targets blackfin tuna?
A Live One, a Freeman 29 catamaran run by Live Oac Adventures.
Where can I read about other tuna species?
See our tuna fishing guides. For the rules, use the regulations section above.
