September 7

Morning surface water temperatures are around 83 degrees in Charleston Harbor and the creeks are full of bait. 

While many of our coastal contacts have reported a tougher tarpon bite the last few days, Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that by yesterday the fishing had improved and even though they had to work hard to get bites they did manage to hook four. While they all eventually jumped off, atypically, they did fight them for a while. It seems that conditions are normalizing after the storms and more menhaden are off the beaches again.

Soon the mullet run will also be getting underway, and that should concentrate fish around mullet pods in the inlets and the oceans.

It’s been tough to get to the jetties with recent winds, but inside the harbor Addison reports that they have also managed to hook into some bull red drum. They have been about 20 feet deep off the shipping channel, and they have wanted cut mullet and menhaden. 

Inside the creeks it’s been a fantastic bite, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that they are smoking the redfish of every size.  Live shrimp are so thick you can get 50 in a throw of the cast net, and under a popping cork live shrimp are catching fish when the tide is moving in both directions. The key is fishing around oysters, and Rob says it would be a challenge to find an oyster bed that didn’t hold reds right now.

They are also picking up some trout and black drum on the same rig in the same areas. 

Addison is also finding a great redfish bite back in the creeks, and he’s mixing up float rigs and bottom rigs. As long as the tide is out of the grass then the fishing is wide open. 

In addition to the usual suspects of whiting and croaker (less pompano this week), Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that speckled sea trout just under 14 inches are being caught in the breakers. A variety of sizes of redfish from over the slot to just under are being caught all over the pier, and bull red drum are being caught off the diamond. 

August 24

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s in Charleston Harbor and the creeks are full of bait. 

We knew that Captain Addison Rupert with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures was a good tarpon fisherman when we started to talking to him, but Addison’s results in last weekend’s Holy City tarpon tournament exceed everyone’s expectations – including his own!  Any day you catch a tarpon in South Carolina is a good day, but on Day 1 they brought an incredible 7(!) fish alongside the boat. The second day they had two.  It was good for the win with partners Robbie Fishcher and his girlfriend Carson. 

Almost all of their fish came on live menhaden, with maybe one on a pinfish, and they were fishing the inlets and ocean to the north of Charleston. As always they put bait at the top, middle and bottom of the water column. While the fishing hasn’t been quite as good this week they did hook a big one Monday on the incoming, although crazy northeast winds have limited their ability to fish comfortably on charters since then. 

They are also picking up some over-slot redfish and sharks fishing for tarpon in the inlets. There are also bull reds at the jetties.   

It’s still a fantastic inshore bite as well, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that he is catching a mixed bag of reds, trout and flounder. Again, through October he will be fishing pretty much exclusively with live shrimp under a popping cork. For redfish and flounder the tide isn’t making a huge difference as long as you are fishing around oysters, although the lower stages have been a little better when the fish are more concentrated. Trout are feeding better along the grass at high tide. 

They have also caught a few black drum mixed in with the redfish.

In addition to the usual suspects of whiting and croaker, Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports speckled sea trout and some Spanish mackerel are coming through at the moment. They are being caught right behind the breakers, mostly on Carolina rigs with live bait fished near the pilings. 

August 17

Morning surface water temperatures are around 85 in Charleston Harbor and the creeks are full of bait. 

While there are plenty of other fish swimming around Charleston, August and September are the best two months of the year for tarpon fishing in South Carolina – and so that’s what Captain Addison Rupert with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures is spending the most time and energy targeting. Already this week they have landed some good fish, and he is hoping for more of the same in the tournament coming up this weekend. 

Tarpon will be found in the surf, inlets, around the jetties and more – particularly near big bait schools. When Captain Addison’s boat is targeting them he will put out mullet or menhaden baits on the top, middle and bottom of the water column. They are also catching sharks while pursuing tarpon. 

When not chasing silver kings they have been spending some time on the redfish, catching some nice quality fish inshore in the creeks on cut finger mullet. While lower stages of the tide have generally fished better, as long as the water has been moving the bite has been good. Meanwhile, for bull reds at the jetties the tide has not mattered as much – unlike creek redfish that can spread out in the grass, higher water doesn’t expand their habitat much at the jetties.

While mullet, mud minnows and even artificials will all work, Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that he won’t be fishing with anything but live shrimp under a popping cork for inshore redfish for some time. They are still catching excellent numbers and a wide variety of sizes to the south of Charleston, and there have even been a few nice black drum mixed in. 

A week or two ago Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that they had a flurry of activity from some bigger fish including king mackerel and tarpon, but for the past week things have been a little slower and it’s been mainly smaller pompano and black drum as well as the occasional 10-14 inch bluefish. And as always they are still catching lots of whiting and croaker. 

August 4

Morning surface water temperatures are around 85 inshore around Charleston and the creeks are full of bait. 

It’s still an awesome bite for redfish around Charleston, but Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that this week the trout have joined the party.  Some nice ones have been included in the mix, and they are catching them in 3-6 feet of water off the banks in the inlets and around the bigger water closer to the ocean. Everything is coming on live shrimp fished under a popping cork. 

Redfish are still practically jumping in the boat on the same rig, and Rob reports that they are still running from 10 inches up to the slot and above. It’s not unusual to catch 100 in four hours. The key is still fishing around oysters as well as grass banks, and fish are biting around the tide cycle. 

With the recent full moon the tarpon fishing has been excellent, and fishing around sandbars with two live baits on the top about six feet deep as well as two on the bottom has been the ticket. Menhaden are the best choice, but mullet will also work. Even though the bite drops off between moon phases, you can still catch them all of this month. And expect a few days before until a few days after the September full moon to be perhaps the best fishing of the year. 

Additionally, they are still picking up a surprisingly large number of flounder while chasing redfish and trout inshore.  

Rob hasn’t been nearshore much with such good inshore fishing, but the Spanish mackerel bite has been strong. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that they continue to get a good number of black drum off the pier, and the pompano have also showed up this week. They are also catching Spanish mackerel here and there, whiting, and stingrays.  

July 27

Morning surface water temperatures are around 85 inshore around Charleston.

Last year about this same time the redfish turned on like crazy around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that this year is more of the same! He’s been out every day and they are finding incredible action, catching over 100 fish the last two trips. They are running from 10 inches up to the slot and above, and everything is coming on popping corks with live shrimp. The shrimp are so thick in the creeks that you could walk on them!  All they are doing is fishing around oysters, and they are catching fish around the tide cycle.

Yesterday they also caught a few black drum in the same areas, while trout have been harder to locate. You have to fish very early to have any luck with the trout.  

Finally, they are picking up a surprisingly large number of flounder while chasing redfish.

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that fishing off the pier has been good despite the heat, and just today there were six 15-18 inch trout caught. About eight 14-16 inch black drum were also landed, as well as tons of smaller spadefish. Sheepshead and pompano have also been around. 

July 13

With our regular correspondents out of town for ICAST and on vacation in Canada, we sincerely apologize for the lack of new fishing report for Charleston. That it follows our vacation last week makes the break even longer. We promise an updated report next week.

For now, the reopened Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that before the Fourth they had a couple of nice king mackerel caught, weighing in at 24 and 21 pounds, respectively. They also had a 130-pound tarpon landed! 

Perhaps because of the heat this week has been a little slower, but they have been seeing a lot of whiting and black drum. 

June 29

Morning surface water temperatures are around 79 inshore around Charleston.

Better weather has made for better fishing this week around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that with the wind finally calming down they have been able to get to the nearshore reefs where there has been some hot action. At the Betsy Ross and Edisto 60 they have been catching cobia on artificials, and there are also tons of amberjacks around. Closer inshore the Spanish mackerel fishing has been good either trolling with Clarks spoons or casting at fish. 

Inshore the fishing has been above average for summer, and they are catching some trout on live shrimp fished around grass lines over oyster bars. The best tides have been clean, moving water at the upper end of the cycle. They are also catching a ton of redfish, but it’s been almost impossible to get away from the young-of-the-year 10-12 inch fish. 

Flounder have been a pleasant surprise, and Rob’s boat is picking up more than in a very long time. They are catching them on mud minnows fished under popping corks right next to the grass, but you will get even more bites if you drag mud minnows on the bottom on a Carolina rig, split shot rig, or jighead. 
There are also big sharks around in the inlets that can provide some exciting action. 

Finally, don’t overlook the prolific whiting which can be caught in protected inlets. For the big ones Rob likes to fish over sand bars in 15-20 feet of water, and the best bait is a peeled piece of shrimp about the size of a thumbnail. You can also fish for sharks at the same time, and you could certainly hook a tarpon.  

June 22

Morning surface water temperatures are around 77 inshore around Charleston.

The weather has made for a tough week of fishing around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that they are catching a few sharks and redfish in the creeks that will take cut mullet but the fish are not biting great. They are also still picking up a mixed bag floating mud minnows under a cork along grass lines and oyster beds in 3-5 feet of water, including some flounder and occasional trout.  To increase your catch rate with flounder fish the bait on a Carolina rig on the bottom. The trout have been a little harder to come by. 

Perhaps the best thing going has been the whiting bite in protected inlets. For the big ones he likes to fish over sand bars in 15-20 feet of water, and the best bait is a peeled piece of shrimp about the size of a thumbnail.  You can also fish for sharks at the same time, and you could certainly hook a tarpon.  

Without bait-sized shrimp and mullet in the creeks, Captain Logan Riley with Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that when the weather allows they have still been concentrating more on the bull reds at the jetties. The fish are stacked up the best at the tips of the jetties, but they can be caught around the tide cycle with the right boat positioning. The fish are voracious right now, and while menhaden has been the go-to bait chunked crab is also really good. 

While they haven’t hooked up with any they are also seeing tarpon on side scan at the jetties, particularly around the tips and sandbars. They are chasing the big schools of menhaden. 

When conditions allow sheepshead fishing at the jetties has also been strong on fiddler crabs. The incoming tide has been the best. 

Rob notes that he is seeing Spanish mackerel thick off the beaches, but the wind would have to lay down to get after them. 

June 15

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s inshore around Charleston.

The inshore fishing has been wide open this week, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that his boat is catching an array of species right now. They are catching redfish of all sizes, and the 6-7 inch fish crop is showing up around oyster beds as well as slot-sized fish and over. There are also lots of big roe trout around, which Captain Rob recommends releasing for the health of the fishery, and there seem to be more flounder in the area this year than last. 

While pulling baits on the bottom increases your chances of catching flounder, the best pattern for catching all three species has been floating live bait under corks along grass lines and oyster beds in 3-5 feet of water.  There are no good shrimp in the rivers, or finger mullet, but mud minnows are working for everything.  

Without bait-sized shrimp and mullet in the creeks, Captain Logan Riley with Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that they have been concentrating more on the bull reds at the jetties as the bite has really come on. The fish are stacked up the best at the tips of the jetties, but they can be caught around the tide cycle with the right boat positioning. The fish are voracious right now, and while menhaden has been the go-to bait chunked crab is also really good. 

While they haven’t hooked up with any they are also seeing tarpon on side scan at the jetties, particularly around the tips and sandbars. They are chasing the big schools of menhaden. 

Sheepshead fishing at the jetties has also been fantastic on fiddler crabs.  The incoming tide has been the best. 

With windy conditions getting beyond the beaches has been limited, but Captain Rob points out that you shouldn’t overlook whiting in protected inlets. They are among the best-eating fish in the sea. For the big ones he likes to fish over sand bars in 15-20 feet of water, and the best bait is a peeled piece of shrimp about the size of a thumbnail.  You can also fish for sharks at the same time, and you could certainly hook a tarpon. 

 

June 8

Morning surface water temperatures are around 75 degrees inshore around Charleston. 

It’s been a surprisingly good inshore bite for redfish this week, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that with just a mud minnow under a cork they are doing very well for redfish and troutdrifting the bait right along the grass lines at high tide. When you get a bait near the bottom around an oyster bed you can also pick up some flounder, and Captain Logan Riley with Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) adds that creek mouths have also been a magnet for flounder. A lot of the bigger fish are of course falling prey to giggers. 

With mullet still needing to grow a little and shrimp hard to catch mud minnows have also been the bait of choice (necessity), but it’s a good sign that they are starting to see shrimp in the creeks. 

In the harbor the bull redfish bite has been really hit-or-miss for Redfin, and they have had to deal with abundant sharks all the time. 

Don’t overlook whiting in protected inlets, and Rob points out these are among the best eating fish in the sea. For the big ones he likes to fish over sand bars in 15-20 feet of water, and the best bait is a peeled piece of shrimp about the size of a thumbnail.

About the best thing going has been the sheepshead fishing at the jetties, and Redfin has been nailing them fishing under a float. They are also picking up redfish this way.

There should be cobia nearshore, but for right now about all they have been able to find nearshore is lots of little Spanish mackerel, undersized black sea bass, etc. The better cobia have been offshore in about 100 feet, while bottom fishing for grouper in about 70 feet has been good. 

Rob reports that on the right day when you get out there and find the right area you can wear out the dolphins in 140 feet of water. 

May 25

Morning surface water temperatures are around 75 degrees inshore around Charleston. 

A week of northeast winds have made for some very tough fishing conditions, but Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that there have been some bright spots. His boat has been slaying the big bull whiting in protected inlets, and Rob points out these are among the best eating fish in the sea. For the big ones he likes to fish over sand bars in 15-20 feet of water, and the best bait is a peeled piece of shrimp about the size of a thumbnail.

They are also still catching redfish around docks on mud minnows, and Captain Logan Riley with Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that docks have also been producing for them. They have also picked up reds on mud minnows fished on hard bottoms and oysters around grass edges. At the same time the bull redfish bite has been tough in the harbor, and after an early wave that got everyone excited things have really slowed down. There are still plenty of sharks around, though!

In the right areas both captains report that there is good flounder fishing, and, for example, the mouth of the Stono Inlet has been productive. Mud minnows and Vudu Shrimp slathered with Pro-Cure have been good. 

There are also sheepshead around pilings and at the jetties, and while it’s not a great time for trout at the jetties they are picking up a few drifting shrimp right on the rocks at low tide. 

It couldn’t be a worse time for bad winds because the offshore fishing has been phenomenal on rare days when you can get out. In about 100 feet the bottom fishing for grouper and snapper has been good, and there have never been this many marlin around the South Carolina coast. Unfortunately, weather has postponed recent tournaments. The dolphin bite is also “epic” when you can get out.

Finally, Rob reports that plenty of cobia around if you can make it to the nearshore reefs and wrecks. 

May 11

Morning surface water temperatures are around 70 degrees inshore around Charleston. 

The wind was supposed to be better this week, but Captain Logan Riley with Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the improvement turned out to be overstated. Now they promise that next week will be better, but we will see.

Tough conditions limited fishing at the jetties and beyond, but there is a phenomenal dolphin bite when you can get offshore. They have also caught some keeper grouper, but the cobia have not showed up yet.

There are some nice trout at the jetties that can be caught floating shrimp, and sheepshead are also around when weather allows you to drop fiddler crabs (or shrimp).   There is also an assortment of sharks to keep lines tight, especially Atlantic sharpnose sharks. 

Inside the harbor they have been fishing for bull redfish, and the bite has been up and down. Some days like today the fish are cooperative, while other days (like yesterday) it’s been much tougher. Live and cut menhaden have been the best baits. 

Wind has also limited fishing for Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777), but he reports that there are still plenty of whiting around in the inlets.  If the weather calms down he wants to head offshore and go after cobia. Be sure to check the regulations for limits regarding sizes, how many you can keep, and even whether they can be kept in an area before harvesting anything.  

Most of all, Charleston guides hope the fan turns off this coming week!

May 5

Morning surface water temperatures are around 70 degrees inshore around Charleston. 

Brutal wind earlier this week severely limited fishing opportunities, but Captain Logan Riley with Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that especially early in the morning they were able to run some trips out to the jetties – especially when low tide fell early. They have been picking up some bull red drum out there, and there have also been some really good days for sheepshead. While sheepshead can be caught around the tide cycle at different spots, the best jetty fishing is generally at the top and bottom of the tides.

Inshore the creek redfish have been fairly cooperative, but the trout have really fallen off as they move to deeper water when temperatures hit about 70. The reds are around docks, hard bottom banks, and oyster beds, and natural baits are working the best. Live shrimp are getting harder to gather but mud minnows are working well and fish are also starting to eat mullet. 

There should be some great nearshore and offshore fishing coming online when the wind lays down, but Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that they have pretty much been restricted to the same redfish patterns this week. 

However, for anglers wanting to just get a line pulled in difficult conditions don’t overlook the sharks. They are showing up in all the inlets and will take most any fresh cut bait fished on the bottom. It does not have to be bloody. 

April 27

Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 60s inshore around Charleston. 

The inshore redfish bite has turned a corner, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that even as summer fishing approaches they are still finding fish very schooled up. Around the cycle including at high tide they are finding tight groups of fish, and mud minnows under a cork have been the ticket to catching them. Fish have been around oysters and points on grass lines.  

 

At the same time the trout have not really showed up in numbers, but in May they usually turn on. 

One of the best things going is the whiting fishing, and Rob reports that the preferred place to catch good numbers of big fish is in about 15-20 feet of water in the inlets around sandbars. Small pieces of fresh peeled shrimp are all you need. Smaller fish are usually closer to the beach.  

Wind has made the nearshorereefs a challenge to fish, but when you can get out there they are eaten up with small black sea bass but there are also still some weakfish around as well as Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Most excitingly the cobia are just starting to arrive, and the king mackerel should arrive soon. For cobia live menhaden on the bottom are the gold standard (unless you can get eels), and you should also put some live baits on the top. Jigging big bucktails a few feet off the bottom is also a good way to catch them. 

The offshore fishing is also turning on, and people are starting to get boxes of dolphin as well as some wahoo and tuna. 

April 11

Morning surface water temperatures are around 63 degrees inshore around Charleston and the water has gotten dirty. 

The nearshore reefs are still about the best thing going around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that they are loaded up with Spanish mackerel, bonito, weakfish, bluefish and small black sea bass. Each time out his boat has caught over 150 fish, and while there are other ways to get bit his boat is relying on nothing but mud minnows. Soon cobia and other species should show up. 

A little further out Captain Logan Riley with Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports they have been able to run several trips out to wrecks in 75-80 feet of water for bottom fishing, and they have had some incredible days for grouper. One trip caught over a dozen grouper and two gags over 20 pounds!  

Closer in the jetties are coming alive with redfish including some bulls, and they have even seen Spanish mackerel as far in as Castle Pinckney! Yesterday they were schooling there at low tide. 

Inshore Redfin reports that the trout fishing has been pretty good floating live shrimp along grass lines at high tide, and the redfish are also picking up a little after a tricky March. 

March 31

Morning surface water temperatures are around 63 degrees inshore around Charleston and the water is dirty.

Fresh back from a trip to the nearshore reefs, Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) can report that the reefs are also loaded up with above-slot redfish.  They also caught their first Spanish mackerel of the season, Atlantic bonito, and sub-legal black sea bass.