The Tides That Raised Him: Crab Creek Charters’ Seth Solomon

An Unexpected Legacy

He grew up in the creeks, long before smartphones, charter apps and GPS. When boating life was a rite of passage and not just an attraction. 

Around the age of five or six, Seth got his first crash course in boating — courtesy of his older brother, who’d leap out of the boat and leave him drifting, so to speak. It was all part of growing up on Tybee, and as a fourth-generation islander, he understood that the water teaches as much as the people do. His own journey as captain wouldn't begin for years, but the fork in the tide had already found him. Sooner or later, it would steer him back around.

After his dad retired in 2011 from Kinder Morgan (the high-pressure natural gas lines that connect with the big tanks you see across the marsh out on Elba Island), the two of them sat on the couch, put their heads together, and slowly began shaping what would become Crab Creek Charters. His father took on a part-time water taxi route to Daufuskie Island, while Seth juggled firefighting and other trades — none of it full-time, and certainly not easy to balance. There was no clear blueprint, just long days and lessons learned along the way. When his father passed in 2016, Seth found himself holding an inheritance he hadn't expected to collect so soon.

So now, here he was — trying to grow a business while life at home moved even faster. He had a wife, then a baby, then a hurricane hit the island, then another baby. By 2020, they were a family of five. When the pandemic shook the world, balancing work and home became a full-time undertaking.

"Boats are wonderful," Seth said. "But they require a lot of work and dedication.”

That year, he handed the boat over to his brother, but fate wasn't giving up that easily. Just weeks later, his uncle offered him the boat that would become the new face of Crab Creek Charters.

"So now we're getting back to charters," he chuckled. The tide had circled back on cue.

"A late afternoon creek cruise with Seth is as Tybee as it gets —just a few of us in a small boat, mandolin music, dolphins at sunset, and Seth's deep knowledge of the local waterways and wildlife. It's peaceful, authentic, and unforgettable." 

- Dee Ann G.

What You See is what We Sail

Seth's humility is quietly overwhelming when asked what sets his charter apart. For him, it's not just about the boat ride — it's about sharing the stories and personality of an island that has changed shape over time. It's about honoring what it was, and inviting guests to witness its metamorphosis now.

His curated sunrise and sunset charters are intentional and intimate — designed not for spectacle, but for stillness. And of course, there are a few indulgences to enjoy along the way. Think fresh cinnamon rolls and hot coffee in the morning, or Farace's Finest pizza as the sun dips low in the evening.

“Sunrises and sunsets are always emotional, and it's a blessing to be part of someone having such an enjoyable experience,” Seth said. “For some, it brings back military memories. Being able to connect out there in the twilight hours — that's my favorite time.”

You'll venture into remote corners of the coast that larger charters can't reach. Seth knows countless ways to get to Little Tybee, and depending on the tide — which can rise five or even ten feet — he chooses the route with care, always respecting the cadence of nature and the space of fellow boaters.

Most trips include just two people. Occasionally, four adults and two kids. More often, two adults and three children. And of course, dogs are welcome.

“I couldn't trust someone who leaves their dog behind,” he grinned. Watching happy dogs run free on an uninhabited island is just another day in paradise for him.

"There's something special about being on an empty beach that's natural, raw, and not manmade," he said. "Tybee didn't have a beach when my dad was a kid — and it wasn't a full beach when I was a kid."
How often are you privy to memories like that on your boat ride?

Spend enough time with Seth, and he'll show you how the creeks have changed. He'll point out oyster beds that collapsed in the 1980s from pollution — and how they're now making a comeback, naturally.

"The currents have really picked up due to dredging and erosion," he said. "Now the tides are uncovering old oyster beds — and they're regrowing." A quiet nod to the island's own natural evolution.

Reaping What He Sows

One of the most honest ways to describe Seth is that he's true to his character. Plenty of people can talk about Tybee from a distance — rattling off statistics, quoting articles, or throwing around buzzwords like “eco-friendly.” But with this charter, it's different. Seth isn't grandstanding about protecting the environment to a boat full of strangers — he's living it, every single day.

He's what you might call a man with a salty thumb — in more ways than one. When he's not on the water, you'll find him in his garden, growing life the way he knows best: with sea salt.

"That's gardening. That's life," he says, matter-of-factly.

Seth sees sea salt as a healing approach. The periodic table in perfect balance with the world. It's tied to everything: plants, animals, and us. His fig, pear, olive, and avocado trees are living proof.

One day, he hopes to have a small market garden — just a little stand at the end of the driveway to start. A simple way to meet his neighbors, feed the community and keep tending the life he's building — whether by land or tide.

"I have so enjoyed getting to know the kind spirit that is Captain Seth. He is a true Tybee gem! He knows the island and her marshes like the back of his hand, and if you listen closely you can gain an abundance of knowledge from him about Tybee, and on slowing down and enjoying life." 

- Brittany W.

The Circle Closes

Five years in, and Seth is thankful to be here — with 2025 marking his first official year running Crab Creek Charters full-time. Thanks to a long-standing connection with The Crab Shack, he's now secured dock insurance, which he calls an outstanding milestone.

But that connection? It goes way back. Seth and Justin, part-owner of The Crab Shack, were once teenagers slinging plates together in the kitchen and riding around with the big kids (on the roof!).

“I'm very blessed to be doing what I'm doing in this location," Seth said. "I can walk across the street and get to work.”

The bond runs deeper than business. At one point, Seth and his wife had chickens — a birthday gift that was once a flock of 30, then somehow whittled down to 12. Turns out, the chickens kept wandering over to The Crab Shack, drawn to the exotic bird feed by the pond.

"How could I compete with that?" he laughed. Eventually, they had to enclose the coop. And for a brief time? They even had sheep. "They used to love going for a morning run," he said with a sheepish grin.

It's not the turn you might expect from a charter connection, but that's exactly the point. These are the experiences and stories that personify Seth Solomon's authenticity and the mission behind Crab Creek Charters — moments built on bonding, joy, simplicity, respect, character, and realness.

So when you book your first charter with Seth, understand that it won't be what you expect. It'll be something much more.