Captain Kidd Sport Crabbing at Shelter Cove
A family crabbing boat from Shelter Cove Harbour: a short narrated cruise, then catch-and-release blue crabbing in the marsh, the Gullah way.
Families describe the crew as patient, funny and brilliant with young children, and captains and mates are praised by name.
Book Captain Kidd Sport Crabbing
Live availability for each trip. The fireworks trip runs on Tuesdays.
Captain Kidd
Tuesday Fireworks & Sunset Sport Crabbing
Seasonal: next dates not posted yet
Booked through FareHarbor, the island operators’ own booking system. HHI.com may earn a commission.
- Where
- Dock C, behind San Miguel’s
- From
- $39
- Ages
- all ages
The Captain Kidd is the blue boat with the giant crab on its roof, on Dock C at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina on Hilton Head Island. It was built for crabbing with families: fully shaded, with a full-size restroom and a touch tank of whatever sea creatures are in season. After a short cruise narrated by the captain, the boat anchors in the shallow saltwater marsh and the crew shows everyone the traditional Gullah way to catch blue crabs, a line baited with a chicken neck and no hook at all. Children get kid-sized poles to drop and pull up their lines, everything is catch-and-release, and whoever catches the most crabs by the bell wins a prize.
Captain Kidd Crabbing Trips
Sport Crabbing Adventure: the everyday trip, 1 hour 45 minutes, from $39 for adults and children 4 to 12, and $10 for children 3 and under.
Sunset crabbing: a summer evening trip timed for the light going down.
Tuesday Fireworks Crabbing Adventure: on Tuesday nights in summer, crabbing and then the HarbourFest fireworks from the boat, from $55.
Finding the Boat
Park behind San Miguel’s restaurant and walk down to Dock C, the shortest way to the boat; the docks are lettered A to K along the water. Arrive 30 minutes before departure, because the boat leaves on time. Captain Kidd shares its crew and booking desk with a family of harbour boats, including the Captain Hook party fishing boat.
More Family Trips at Shelter Cove
Captain Mark's Dolphin Cruise: narrated dolphin, sunset and Tuesday fireworks cruises on the Holiday from Shelter Cove Harbour, Monday to Saturday.
Dolphin Seafari at Shelter Cove Harbour: a family-run 90-minute dolphin cruise on Broad Creek from $40, plus donut mornings, sunset and fireworks trips.
Captain Hook at Shelter Cove Harbour: a 70-foot party fishing boat with 5.5-hour offshore trips, inshore shark fishing and a Tuesday fireworks trip.
Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina: HarbourFest, Tuesday fireworks over the water, free family shows, dolphin tours, fishing charters, kayaks and boat rentals.
Shannon Tanner’s free family shows at Shelter Cove Harbour: two shows a night on summer weeknights, the Oyster Reefers on Thursdays, and how to go.
Hilton Head fireworks: Tuesday shows at Shelter Cove in summer, the Fourth of July displays, New Year's Eve and fireworks cruises, with 2026 dates.
What reviewers say
Families describe the crew as patient, funny and brilliant with young children, and captains and mates are praised by name. Parents of three-year-olds say it was the right trip for their age, and nervous children end up holding the crabs and shrimp they caught. Adults enjoy it as much as the children, the crew teaches along the way about the marsh and its wildlife, and several families are on their second trip or planning the next one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated
How long is the Captain Kidd crabbing trip?
The Sport Crabbing Adventure is 1 hour 45 minutes, including a short narrated cruise out to the marsh and back to Shelter Cove.
Is Captain Kidd crabbing good for young children?
Yes. It is built for families, with kid-sized poles, a shaded deck, a restroom and a touch tank, and children 3 and under pay $10.
Do you keep the crabs on Captain Kidd?
No. The trip is catch-and-release: everyone crabs with baited lines the Gullah way, counts their catch and lets the crabs go.
Where does Captain Kidd leave from?
Dock C at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, behind San Miguel’s restaurant. Arrive 30 minutes before departure.
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