The best fossil hunting boat tours in Charleston all run out of Shem Creek to the boat-access-only fossil beaches around Morris Island and the harbor islands. For most people the 4-hour Morris Island Shark Tooth & Fossil trip ($125 per person) is the sweet spot; private groups book the whole-boat Shark Tooth & Sea Shell charter (from $400). You keep every tooth you find.
You can hunt shark teeth off a public beach for free — but the boat-access spots around Charleston are where the real fossil beds are, and they don't get picked over. A guided fossil hunting boat tour handles the navigation and the tide and drops you on the productive sand. Here are the trips worth booking, what each one actually costs, and how to pick.
Morris Island Shark Tooth & Fossil — Best for Most People
This is the classic. Four hours out of Shem Creek to Morris Island, the undeveloped barrier island where megalodon, mako, tiger, and sand tiger teeth wash up on every tide. You buy seats by the person, so it's the most affordable way to reach the island, and the captain stays with the group to help everyone find teeth.
- Duration: 4 hours
- Price: $125 per person (shared seats, up to 6 guests)
- Departs: Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant
- You keep: every tooth, shell, and fossil you find
Shark Tooth & Sea Shell Hunting — Best Private Charter
Want the boat to yourselves? This is a private whole-boat charter — good for families and groups who'd rather not share. You set the pace, and you can add a dedicated fossil guide who does nothing but help your group find teeth.
- Duration: 3 hours from $400, or 4 hours from $500
- Price covers 1–2 guests, then +$50 per extra guest (up to 12)
- Optional private shark-tooth guide: +$150
- Departs: Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant
Harbor Island Hopping & Shark Tooth — Best for Variety
If you want more than heads-down hunting, this private trip mixes shark tooth beaches with a harbor cruise — dolphins, the Ravenel Bridge, and a sandbar stop aboard the Roamer IV, which seats up to 23. Good for bigger groups and mixed-interest crews.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Price: from $375 (covers 1–4 guests), up to 23 aboard the Roamer IV
- Departs: Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant
Crab Bank Island Shark Tooth — Best Quick & Seasonal
When it's running, the Crab Bank hop is the short, low-cost option — a 2-hour shared trip to a nearby island, sold by the seat. It's seasonal, so check the calendar before you count on it.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Price: $75 per person (shared, seasonal)
- Departs: Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant
What You'll Find
Across all of these the finds are the same cast of characters: fossilized shark teeth — megalodon, mako, tiger, sand tiger, and the colorful hemipristis 'snaggletooth' — plus shells, sand dollars, and the occasional piece of fossil bone. Most teeth are a quarter-inch to an inch and dark from millions of years in the sediment.
How to Choose
- On a budget, or solo/duo? The shared Morris Island trip at $125 per person
- Want privacy or have kids? The private Shark Tooth & Sea Shell charter
- Big or mixed-interest group? Harbor Island Hopping on the Roamer IV
- Short on time and it's in season? The Crab Bank hop
All prices are base rates (a 3% card surcharge applies at checkout), and every trip leaves from Shem Creek about 14 minutes from downtown Charleston. New to it? Start with our complete guide to shark tooth hunting on Morris Island, or the family guide to finding megalodon teeth in South Carolina.
Pricing, BYOB rules, weather policy, and departure details are all on our FAQ page — or call (843) 508-1600.
Frequently Asked
What is the best fossil hunting boat tour in Charleston?
For most people, the 4-hour Morris Island Shark Tooth & Fossil trip at $125 per person is the sweet spot. Private groups usually pick the whole-boat Shark Tooth & Sea Shell charter, which starts at $400.
How much do Charleston fossil hunting tours cost?
Shared seats start at $75 per person (seasonal Crab Bank) and $125 per person (Morris Island). Private charters run from $375 to $500 base, plus a 3% card surcharge.
Where do the fossil tours leave from?
All of them depart from Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, about 14 minutes from downtown Charleston.
Do you keep the fossils you find?
Yes — every tooth, shell, and fossil you find is yours to keep.
What will we find on a Charleston fossil tour?
Fossilized shark teeth — megalodon, mako, tiger, sand tiger, and hemipristis — along with shells, sand dollars, and occasional fossil bone.
Local captain with LowCountry Coastal Excursions, running tours out of Shem Creek since 2017.