Fish Call Charters, celebrating 30 years of business as of October 2026, offers light tackle and fly fishing charters around historic Charleston and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, led by Captain J.R. Waits, who has guided these waters since 1996 and has been featured in numerous national magazines and TV shows. Fish Call Charters was awarded Best Charter Boat in Mount Pleasant again for 2025.
Trips depart from Isle of Palms Marina, whether sight-casting to schools of redfish on shallow flats, stalking huge tarpon and bull reds on the outer sandbars, or targeting reef species up to 25 miles offshore. Captain J.R. runs two boats seasonally: the “Fish Call,” an Action Craft 1720 flats boat used November through March, and the “Trophy Hunter,” a 2021 Canyon Bay 24h hybrid bay/offshore boat used April through October. When Captain J.R. is already booked, he coordinates with a network of other licensed captains running 22-24′ bay boats or 18′ flats skiffs to accommodate more clients.
Summer trips (June-July) on the Trophy Hunter target trophy bull redfish and tarpon in Charleston Harbor/the Jetty, running $900 for a 5-hour half-day (the most popular trip) up to $1,450 for a 6-8 hour offshore reef charter. Dedicated tarpon trips (June-October) run $1,100 for 6 hours. Quick afternoon family trips (May-August) include a 2-hour pinfish and croaker kids trip at $500 and a 3-hour shark trip at $650. A 2-hour Harbor or Dolphin Cruise to Charleston Harbor, Capers Island, or Bulls Bay runs $500 for up to 4 people. Trips booked with Captain J.R.’s partner captains run similarly, from $750 for a 4-hour short creek charter up to $1,300 for a 7-hour, 15-mile offshore reef trip.
Every trip is catch-and-release for redfish (Captain J.R. jokes they’re “business partners” he can’t afford to kill), though guests can keep trout, flounder, black drum, and select reef species like spadefish, sheepshead, mackerel, grouper, and cobia. A credit card is required to reserve, with no charge for cancellations more than a week out, 50% for 7 days to 24 hours out, and full charge inside 24 hours. Gratuity of 15-20% is customary.
For anglers looking for a decades-experienced, award-winning fishing charter out of Isle of Palms, whether sight-casting redfish, tarpon, offshore reef, or a family-friendly kids trip, Fish Call Charters offers a nationally recognized operation with Captain J.R. Waits.
