Our Beaufort Charter Captains & Fleet
Clean, Safe, Well-equipped Boats & Friendly Local Captains
At Sea Islands Adventures, our goal is simple: for every guest to step back onto the dock feeling like they got more than their money’s worth. To achieve that, our captains work harder than anybody out there to make sure you catch fish, and, just as importantly, to make sure you and your group have fun. Because at the end of the day, that’s what counts.
Another part of our commitment to value is using great equipment. Our boats are meticulously maintained, clean, safe, and fully equipped for fishing, and we provide carefully selected, top-shelf rods and reels. We’re fortunate to have built partnerships with the great companies and organizations below, which provide much of our tackle and other gear.
Capt. Tommy Buskirk
Capt. Tommy Buskirk was born and raised in Beaufort, Sout Carolina. Growing up, he spent weekends and summers on the water with his father and family. According to folklore he spent a few of his first nights sleeping in a dresser drawer at Pritchard’s Island fish camp. He vividly recalls fishing the creeks with his father and catching his first redfish at age five, not so certain he wouldn't be pulled overboard.
Captain Tommy has a background in education, earning his bachelor's degree and teaching elementary school in 2017. He now seeks to teach others about his favorite way to experience his hometown: going on an adventure to catch fish! Rest assured, he will put his 20+ years of local fishing knowledge to work to show your crew the best Beaufort inshore fishing opportunities!
C-Hawk 25
Operated by Capt. Tommy, our C-Hawk 25, Miss Sadie, was chosen and outfitted from the ground up as a Beaufort charter boat. With a huge 9’6” beam and open layout, she offers plenty of room for up to 6 anglers plus a captain and mate. Her sharp entry and flared bow slice comfortably through chop, while her relatively shallow deadrise makes her stable, efficient, and capable of fishing even shallow backwaters. Higher sides provide extra peace of mind with children on board. Miss Sadie is loaded with twin Power-Poles, a Minn Kota trolling motor, two big livewells Simrad electronics, and comfortable closed-cell foam flooring throughout.
Miss Sadie
Length: 25’
Beam: 9’6”
Power: Suzuki 300 hp
Fuel: 112 gallons
Cap: 6 anglers + capt. & mate
Rigging: Twin Power-Pole shallow water anchors; Minn Kota 36V trolling motor; two livewells; Bluetooth stereo, foam flooring
Capt. Scott Willard
Captain Scott Willard is a Beaufort native with over 40 years of fishing experience. Scott is a husband, father, blue collar, jack of all trades fisherman. He boasts a wealth of knowledge from offshore fishing trips with his brother (local legend Don Willard), to his inshore fishing with his son Nick, daughter Megan, and wife Twiggy.
Scott is a true waterman and Beaufortonian. He is on the water every chance he gets and loves sharing his passion with others. He says his favorite thing about fishing in Beaufort is “The anticipation of what might get caught. You target certain species, but you really never know what you might get into.”
PathFinder 2200
Operated by Capt. Scott, our Pathfinder 2200 Tournament Edition, Miss Oakley Mae, was fully restored and repowered in 2020 with a quiet, clean Suzuki four-stroke outboard. Nimble and light with expansive casting decks, she’s ideal for prowling the creeks and coves, but still ready to handle choppy inlets when needed to reach the fish. With a state-of-the-art Minn Kota trolling motor, Garmin electronics, a Power-Pole shallow water anchor and forward and aft livewells, she’s rigged to fish and can accommodate up to 5 anglers plus a captain. Miss Oakley Mae was Sea Island Adventures’ first charter boat and just seems to get better with age.
Miss Oakley Mae
Length: 22’2"
Beam: 8’6”
Power: Suzuki 200 hp
Fuel: 60 gallons
Cap: 5 anglers (or 1,200 lbs.) + capt.
Rigging: Power-Pole shallow water anchor; Minn Kota 24V trolling motor; two livewells; Garmin electronics; Bluetooth stereo
Capt. Jackson Davis
Capt. Jackson is a true waterman; he has been on, around, or in water his whole life. From growing up in pristine freshwater lakes of the Adirondacks fishing for bass, perch, and trout to the Great Lakes fishing for salmon and various trouts, to the south where his adventures have taken him to Louisiana, the Keys, and up most of the Atlantic Coast.
Having a knack for inshore led to nearshore and offshore excursions, where Capt. Jackson showed a fire like no other mastering his trade. He has a background in pelagic tactics such as trolling, live baiting, kite fishing, high speed trolling; as well as bottom fishing in various forms such as jigging and deep dropping, and he has made a name for himself in the swordfishery off our coast.
While he comes from a tournament background, Capt. Jackson is there to make sure you and your guests are all smiles on your bluewater adventure of a lifetime!
McKee Craft 28
The quintessential pocket battle wagon, our 28-foot McKee Craft boasts a nearly 10-foot beam, a true deep-V hull, and twin 250 hp outboards for long runs in changing conditions. She is rigged to do almost anything offshore with outriggers and downriggers for trolling, electric reel outlets for deep-dropping and swordfishing, a powerful 2kW transducer for spotting fish and structure in deep water, and radar for safe navigation at night and around afternoon thunderstorms. A refit this winter will add a trolling motor for holding position offshore and 4 tuna tubes for keeping large live baits alive.
28 McKee Craft
Length overall: 30'
Beam: 9'11”
Power: Twin Yamaha 250 hp
Fuel: 285 gallons
Cap: 6 anglers + capt. & mate
Rigging: Garmin & Simrad electronics w/ 2kW transducer, 4 electric reel outlets, outriggers, 75-gallon livewell
Capt. Kellan Beam
Capt. Kellan Beam, the newest Sea Island Adventures captain, is originally from upstate South Carolina, where he grew up fishing freshwater lakes and farm ponds for largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill.
Later in life, while serving in the Navy as an instructor at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Charleston, Capt. Kellan fell in love with saltwater fishing. He has been fishing the lowcountry waters from Charleston to Beaufort ever since — often with his wife, Bri, and their dog, Mo.
As a charter captain, Kellan thrives on seeing clients having fun doing what he’s so passionate about and works hard to ensure an unforgettable adventure. His 21-foot Sportsman Heritage is both fishy and comfortable, perfect for everything from inshore redfish to nearshore sheepshead to sunset cruises.
Sportsman 211 Heritage
Capt. Kellan’s beautiful Sportman 211 Heritage is a perfect combination of fishability and luxury. For fishing, she’s rigged with twin livewells, a 36V GPS trolling motors, state-of-the-art electronics, and a 10’ Power-Pole. When it’s time to relax, removable forward cushions and backrests provided comfortable lounge-style seating, while a full-width transom bench accommodates three more adults in cushioned comfort.