Yes — if you want a working boat, not a sightseeing boat. The Shrimp Trawling Expedition aboard Vagabond Cruise’s Tammy Jane is a 2-hour trip out of Harbour Town in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where the crew hauls a real trawl net in the waters off Daufuskie Island, guests help sort the catch on deck, and whatever shrimp come up are split evenly among the parties aboard to take home. Booked direct with the operator, it starts from $49.95 per person. One honest warning up front: the catch is never guaranteed — it is still fishing.
What actually happens on a shrimp trawling cruise?
This is a hands-on working-boat trip, not a narrated harbour tour.
- The crew explains how the boat and trawl gear work
- The net goes in for a trawl in the waters off Daufuskie Island
- When the catch comes up, guests can step up to the sorting table and help work through it
- Bycatch — fish, crabs, and other creatures caught with the shrimp — is identified and returned alive
- The shrimp from the haul are divided evenly among the parties on board to take home and cook
If you would rather watch wildlife than work a sorting table, our guide to the best dolphin cruises in Hilton Head is the better fit.
How much does the shrimp trawling cruise cost?
Book direct for the standard fare. Per Vagabond Cruise’s own Tammy Jane page, re-checked October 30, 2026:
- Shared Shrimp Trawling Expedition: from $49.95 per person, 2 hours
- Private charter of the whole boat: from $1,200 for non-peak days (plus tax and service charge, minimums apply), up to 29 guests for 2 hours, including crew, fuel, a group photo, and bottled water
Reseller prices cluster confusingly close to the direct fare. Viator lists the same cruise at $50 per adult, currently discounted to $47.50 in a sale ending November 11, 2026; Expedia lists $50 per adult. Neither is the standard direct price, and a sale figure can end at any time.
The private charter figure is a separate product, priced per boat for groups and events — do not compare it with the per-person fare. The spring Crabbing Expedition and classroom field-trip trawls are different products too; neither price applies here.
When does it sail?
The operator offers morning, afternoon, and sunset departures. Schedules thin out in late October, at the tail of shrimp season, and times change with the season — check the operator’s booking calendar for your week, and confirm the sunset trip is still running before planning an evening around it.
Boarding is 30 minutes before departure on the Harbour Town Pier by the lighthouse; the reservation office is just behind the lighthouse. Allow extra time: parking in Harbour Town is limited, and you still have the Sea Pines gate and the walk to the pier ahead of you.
Where does it leave from, and what about the Sea Pines gate fee?
The Tammy Jane departs Harbour Town Yacht Basin, 149 Lighthouse Road — inside Sea Pines Resort.
If you are not staying in Sea Pines, budget for the resort’s day-visitor gate fee of about $9–10 per car, valid all day and payable by cash or card at the gate. Some reseller listings describe this fee as cash only; that is wrong. Keep the gate pass: many Sea Pines Resort restaurants reimburse or credit the gate fee when your check tops $30 — mention the pass to your server.
What should you know before you book?
- The catch is not guaranteed. The crew splits whatever shrimp are caught evenly among the parties aboard and works to send guests home with some — but a light haul is possible, and no quantity is promised. Book it for the experience, with any shrimp as a bonus.
- It is a working deck. You will be around nets, a sorting table, and a fresh catch. Dress for a boat, not a restaurant.
- Bring a way to carry shrimp home. If the haul is good, you will leave with fresh, never-frozen Carolina shrimp — a small cooler in the car makes the trip back to your kitchen or rental much easier.
- It is educational as much as it is scenic. The crew talks through the local salt marsh, the shrimping industry, and the marine life that comes up in the net — a strong pick for curious kids and anyone who eats Lowcountry shrimp.
Is the shrimp trawling cruise worth it?
For anyone who wants one trip genuinely specific to this coast — yes. At $49.95 per person direct for 2 hours on a working shrimp boat, with a real trawl, a sorting table you can join, and a share of the catch when the net cooperates, there is nothing else quite like it in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Skip it if you want guaranteed dolphins, a narrated sightseeing cruise, or a promise of shrimp — the dolphin and sunset cruise guides cover those trips better. For anything else happening during your stay, see our Hilton Head events calendar.
FAQ
How much is the shrimp trawling cruise in Hilton Head?
From $49.95 per person for the shared 2-hour expedition when you book direct with Vagabond Cruise, re-checked October 30, 2026. Resellers list the same trip at $50 per adult (Viator currently discounted to $47.50). A private charter of the whole boat starts at $1,200 for non-peak days, plus tax and service charge.
Do you get to keep the shrimp you catch?
Yes — the shrimp from the haul are split evenly among the parties aboard to take home. The amount is not guaranteed: it is still fishing, and some trips catch more than others.
How long is the trip, and when does it leave?
The expedition lasts 2 hours, with morning, afternoon, and sunset departures offered. Late-October schedules are thinner, so check the operator’s booking calendar for your dates. Boarding is 30 minutes before departure at Harbour Town Pier.
Do you have to pay the Sea Pines gate fee to reach the boat?
Yes, if you are not staying in Sea Pines. The day-visitor gate fee is about $9–10 per car, valid all day, payable by cash or card — despite reseller listings that call it cash only. Many Sea Pines Resort restaurants credit the fee back on checks over $30; keep your gate pass and mention it to your server.
Is the shrimp trawling cruise good for children?
It suits curious, school-age children well: the crew explains the gear and marine life, bycatch is identified and released alive, and kids can watch the sorting table. It is a working boat, not a character cruise — families with very young children may prefer the pirate ship adventure, which also sails from Harbour Town.
What is the difference between the shrimp trawling trip and the crabbing trip?
They are separate seasonal products on the same boat. The Shrimp Trawling Expedition hauls a trawl net through shrimp season; the Crabbing Expedition is a spring trip built around crab pots. Prices and schedules for one do not apply to the other.
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