Coastal Eco-Charters

I take pride in delivering first-class service to all of my customers.

Read what satisfied clients have said about their Coastal Eco-Charter.

"Thank you to all the wonderful people I have met!"

Captain Michael,

    My wife and I wanted to thank you for our wonderful vacation from our vacation.  It felt so good to get out on the water and take in all the wonderful things Myrtle Beach has to offer outside the hustle and bustle.  It was a pleasure spending the afternoon with you and intern Erin while fishing and learning about the tidal waterways and the diverse life it supports.

     My wife and I agree, we wish we would have booked a trip sooner.  We'll be back.  Thanks again.

Josh & Annie, PA.

Capt. Michael,

I just wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful time on our charter with you.  You were very knowledgeable of the area and extremely courteous. Thanks for the recipe ideas we tried the stuffed flounder and it was amazing.  If we are in the area again you will definitely be the one that we would want to fish with. 

Thanks again for a great trip.

James E. Chesapeake, VA

 "Hello Captain Michael,

     Just wanted to tell you again what a blast the family and and I had on your charter a couple of weeks ago.

    It was one of the highlights of the week there. We will definitely look you up again in the future."

Larry, Virginia

Hey Capt. Michael!

     We just wanted to drop you a line and say thanks again for the adventure. We visited with you in early August and we had a blast! 

     The tour was very personable and affordable, and we don't think there is any better of a value in Myrtle Beach.

     We learned a lot and saw things that a lot of others who visit Myrtle Beach have never seen. Was well worth it. 

     We will be back again when we take our next vacation! 

     Hope all is going well for you and we wish a very good year in the classroom!

Wesley, Cameon, Susan and Steve,
NorthCarolina                                                

Captain Michael,

     Thank you so much for our wonderful journey. You were very accommodating and extremely knowledgeable.

     Our son had a great time on your boat and he was pleased that he learned some new information from you.

     Again, thank you for a wonderful day!!!

Lynn, North Carolina

Capt. Michael,

     Thanks again for the tour, we really enjoyed it. One of the highlights of our trip.

Mary Ann, Ontario

Captain Michael,

     We just wanted to thank you for a wonderful time last week! It was one of the highlights of our trip! We will definetly be coming back in July, and have already passed your name around!

     Thanks again for a great time!! Hope to see you soon.

Felix, South Carolina

Hi Captain Mike,

Just a quick note to say thank you for the great trip you gave us. You will be highly recommended! I will be seeing you next year if we come down.

P.S. You are a great guy, and a great guide I loved the smiles you brought to my kids faces. Keep up the awesome job your doing.

Gary, Beth, Matthew, & Rachel
New York

Hi Captain Michael,

PUBLISHED MEDIA

"Coastal Eco-Tours: Take a Ride With Captain Rutenberg"

 By Dariel Bendin, Coast Magazine

May, 2008

     Captain Michael Rutenberg's love of local marshlands and sea waters is evident the moment you meet him. Preserving the environment is his passion - and a lifelong endeavor.

     He is the owner/operator of Coastal Eco-Charters, a brand new offering at Harbourgate Marina in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Michael Rutenberg is the brother of renowned South Carolina artist Brian Rutenberg. Both grew up on the water, and developed a love for the ocean and the local salt marshes. Brian incorporates his background into his paintings, while Michael takes a more hands-on approach to preserving the environment through what he calls "natural habitat boat tours."

     He will take up to four passengers at a time in "Straight A's," his family-friendly, very comfortable 17-foot Sea Hunt 172 for a trip along the Intracoastal Waterway . Every trip is customized to meet his passengers' needs. If your interest is birding, Rutenberg will focus on that, maybe traveling up to Sunset Beach, North Carolina or exploring one of the many tidal creeks.

     If your kids want to learn about fishing, you'll head to a different spot and anchor out by the jetties for a while. He'll tell you all about the seasonal movements of the fish as well as the food cycles of the estuary. Learn some scientific facts about catching more fish. Capt. Rutenberg will also teach you all about navigating, boating rules and how to tie nautical knots.

     Equipped with an onboard microscope and other equipment, "Straight A's" will stop at various spots along the Waterway, so your kids can measure the salinity of the water and learn about the local water quality. "Education is the frontline of conservation. I want kids to learn on these trips," says Captain Rutenberg.

     For me, the Coastal Eco-Charters excursion was an eye-opener. The Captain showed me problems along the Waterway, even as he shared his considerable knowledge about the local sea life. "There, look at that crumbling sea wall," he exclaims, clearly bothered by the sight. "It’s such a poor choice. It doesn’t do the job, and the homeowner will probably replace it – either with something even more harmful or with timber that will rot again. Horry County should not allow them."

     What exactly was the problem with sea walls, I wanted to know. Until now, it had never occurred to me that it was more than an aesthetic choice. "A sea wall blocks movement of sediment, marsh and plants. Erosion and accretion, it’s natural. " In coastal terms, accretion is the process where coastal sediments return to the visible portion of the beach or waterway bank after erosion – due to a storm or other event – has taken place. With a sea wall in place, there’s no opportunity to replace the lost sediment. As he was explaining this, a stunning great egret flew just past us.  "Do you see that? Do you see how, when it flies, it creates a keel aerodynamic. So efficient," he explains, admiringly.

     As we travel north up the Intracoastal through Little River, he shows me other waterfront properties, with no sea walls at all, just the natural barrier provided by the tall spartina grasses that do a superb job of protecting the homes form high waters, even as they promote the natural processes of erosion and accretion. Suddenly a bird dives for a meal just near us. It’s an anhinga, related to cormorants found in other parts of the country. The black anhinga is native to this area. You’ll see them on posts, often with their wings spread to dry. Since these birds dive deep in the water, they don’t have the waterproofing oil in their feathers that birds such as ducks do.

     At one point we see a large open pipe emptying directly into the Waterway. "It's most likely full of pesticides or other non-point source release," he tells me. The term non-point source refers to a release of material into the water that cannot be tracked. This is problematic because it affects the water quality, and poor water quality contributes to the loss of habitat. If the larval stage of species, such as the blue crab, can’t survive, it affects both the fish that feed on the planktonic crustaceans as well as the adult population of the blue crab. And where would Little River be without its beloved blue crab?

     It is Captain Rutenberg’s hope that North Myrtle Beach will become a destination for eco-tourism. Susie Watson , manager for Harbourgate Marina is doing her best to make that happen. “We're working hard toward becoming a clean marina, “ she says. “Technology for boat owners and manufacturers is moving in that direction and we support it.” 

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