Gettin' Salty

Photographs by:

Paul Grimshaw

Paul Grimshaw recently boarded a charter fishing boat, Reel Salty, for his article “A Day in the Life”. The captain and first mate provided lots of interesting fodder for adventure piece, as did the boat’s guests. Learn what it takes to own a fishing boat, and make a living in the fishing industry.

Charter Captain Crystal Coble and First Mate Jaylen Tinsley pilot Reel Salty out of the creeks that edge up to the famed Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk.

Customer Debbie Helms and Captain Coble watch with all smiles as others aboard catch fish.

1:23pm: Customer Lewis Huskey hangs on as the boat moves to a hopefully more productive location.

1:23pm: Captain Coble chats with other captains in the area to discuss everything from weather, to successes with particular baits. There can be between 40 and 50 charters operating on a single day just in and around Murrell's Inlet

2:41pm: Lewis Huskey proudly shows off his catch, a flounder of around 17 inches, a "keeper"

Charter customer Debbie Helms is all smiles with her first flounder of the day, though it's undersized and will be released.

Taking a midafternoon break, captain, crew and customers show off some of the flounder that will be the evening's meal for some fortunate fishermen and their families