When cobia are off Murrells Inlet
Cobia fishing out of Murrells Inlet happens in spring and fall. Launch, marina and inlet detail are on the Murrells Inlet port page. This guide covers cobia only; the coastwide movement of the fish is in the Atlantic Southeast cobia guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide).
The season sets the timing, and the run sets the place.
How far boats run
Murrells Inlet boats that list cobia run 30 to 60 miles, depending on trip length. Every figure below belongs to the operator named beside it.
8-hour trips
Reel Myrtle Beach’s 8-hour trip runs 30 to 40 miles. Next Lvl’s 8-hour trip fishes "deeper reefs and ledges." Salty Hooker’s 3/4-day trip lists cobia. Use the 8-hour range as a reference for planning your own run, not as a target.
Gulf Stream trips
Crazy Sister’s 11-hour Gulf Stream head boat runs 40 to 60 miles and lists cobia. The Winyah Scarp sits about 60 miles out. Wahoo and blackfin on these runs are covered in the coastal and offshore gamefish guides. Before a 40 to 60 mile run, check the official marine forecast for wind, wave height and period.
| Trip | Operator | Run |
|---|---|---|
| 8-hour | Reel Myrtle Beach | 30 to 40 miles |
| 8-hour | Next Lvl | "Deeper reefs and ledges" |
| 11-hour Gulf Stream | Crazy Sister | 40 to 60 miles |
| Winyah Scarp area | Ledge | About 60 miles out |
Reefs, wrecks and ledges that hold cobia
The named grounds off Murrells Inlet range from 23 ft at Pawley’s Island Reef to 250 ft on the wahoo and blackfin ledges. Chart layers are not for navigation. Chart Contours helps place the 140 to 250 ft ledges against the bottom.
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Marker | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pawley’s Island Reef | 23-35 | 1 buoy | 177 degrees, 5.5 nm from the south jetty |
| Paradise Reef (with H.P. Springs Jr. and other add-on reefs) | 30-35 | 2 buoys | Add-on reefs on site |
| Ten Mile Reef | 34-45 | 2 buoys | |
| Bill Perry Reef | 65 | 1 buoy | |
| BP-25 Reef | 90-95 | Unmarked | 160′ ship |
| Will Goldfinch Reef | 175′ ship (YO-225), 33 17.005 N / 078 45.372 W | ||
| Nearshore ledges | 140-250 | Wahoo and blackfin ledges | |
| Winyah Scarp area | Ledge, about 60 miles out |
Nearshore reefs
Pawley’s Island Reef sits in 23 to 35 ft with one buoy, on a bearing of 177 degrees, 5.5 nm from the south jetty. Paradise Reef sits in 30 to 35 ft under two buoys, and H.P. Springs Jr. and other add-on reefs are part of the same ground. Ten Mile Reef sits in 34 to 45 ft, also with two buoys. At all three, the buoys are the visual mark.
Mid-depth and wreck reefs
- Bill Perry Reef: 65 ft, 1 buoy.
- BP-25 Reef: 90 to 95 ft, a 160′ ship. It is unmarked, so you run to a number rather than a buoy.
- Will Goldfinch Reef: a 175′ ship, hull YO-225, at 33 17.005 N / 078 45.372 W.
Ledges and the Winyah Scarp
The nearshore ledges sit at 140 to 250 ft and are known as the wahoo and blackfin ledges. The Winyah Scarp is a ledge about 60 miles out. These are the destinations on the long runs, and the reefs above lie along the route.
How cobia are fished out of Murrells Inlet
Out of Murrells Inlet, cobia come on a mix of live bait and bottom fishing, and often as a bonus on deep trips. Rigs and general cobia behavior are in the cobia fishing guide.
Live bait and bottom fishing
Next Lvl Sportfishing’s offshore charters mix live bait and bottom fishing.
A bonus fish on deep trips
Myrtle Beach Sport Fishing’s species page treats cobia as a bonus target on the way out and back on deep trips.
A run toward BP-25, Will Goldfinch or the 140 to 250 ft ledges passes the shallower named reefs, so keep a bait ready for the way out and the way back. That improves where you look but does not promise a fish.
- Shallow reefs on the route: Pawley’s Island, Paradise, Ten Mile
- Mid-depth stops: Bill Perry at 65 ft, BP-25 at 90 to 95 ft
- Deep destinations: ledges at 140 to 250 ft, the Winyah Scarp
Who fishes for cobia out of Murrells Inlet
Six Murrells Inlet operators list cobia. Their trips cover most of the cobia fishing out of Murrells Inlet that is offered for hire.
| Operator | Boat(s) | Trip that lists cobia |
|---|---|---|
| Marlin Quay Marina | Carolina Fly, Grand Slam (fleet menu) | |
| Crazy Sister Marina | Head boats New Inlet Princess and Crazy Sister (110 ft) | 11-hour Gulf Stream, 40 to 60 miles |
| Salty Hooker Fishing Charters | 3/4-day | |
| Reel Myrtle Beach Fishing Charters | Captain Matt, 32′ center console; departs Murrells Inlet Marina | 8-hour, 30 to 40 miles |
| Next Lvl Sportfishing | Hidden Agenda, 29′ Sea Hunt | 8-hour, "deeper reefs and ledges" |
| Myrtle Beach Sport Fishing | "Two Boats" | Deep trips, cobia as a bonus |
Crazy Sister lists Hidden Agenda as a 30′ center console.
FAQ: cobia fishing out of Murrells Inlet
When are cobia off Murrells Inlet?
Cobia are off Murrells Inlet in spring and fall. Month detail is not listed on the port’s own charter run pages. Once the fish are around, start with the reefs, wrecks and ledges above, from Pawley’s Island Reef at 23 ft to the ledges at 140 to 250 ft.
How far do boats run for cobia from Murrells Inlet?
Reel Myrtle Beach’s 8-hour trip runs 30 to 40 miles. Crazy Sister’s 11-hour Gulf Stream head boat runs 40 to 60 miles and lists cobia. The Winyah Scarp is about 60 miles out. Next Lvl’s 8-hour trip fishes "deeper reefs and ledges."
Which reefs near Murrells Inlet are marked with buoys?
Paradise Reef and Ten Mile Reef each have 2 buoys. Pawley’s Island Reef and Bill Perry Reef each have 1 buoy. BP-25 Reef is unmarked, so you run to a number rather than a mark.
Where is the Will Goldfinch Reef?
Will Goldfinch Reef is a 175′ ship, hull YO-225, at 33 17.005 N / 078 45.372 W. Chart layers are not for navigation. Use the coordinates for planning and rely on your own charts and the official marine forecast for the run.
Do Murrells Inlet head boats list cobia?
Yes. Crazy Sister’s 11-hour Gulf Stream head boat lists cobia and runs 40 to 60 miles. The Crazy Sister Marina head boats are New Inlet Princess and Crazy Sister (110 ft).
Where do I find cobia rules for this port?
SCDNR covers state water and NOAA Fisheries covers federal water. Runs from Murrells Inlet cross both, so check both agencies before you fish. Rules change by season and quota.
