January 6

Morning surface water temperatures are about 60 degrees around Hilton Head and the water is clear. 

Inshore it’s mostly about the trout and redfish right now, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports that they are catching trout on low tide in the deep bends in the creeks. They are catching them fishing very slowly with mud minnows or Gulp!, but the biggest trout are coming on live shrimp fished deep.  A good range is 6-16 feet.   

You can also catch redfish on live shrimp, but it’s really not necessary. There are tons of 17-inch fish to be caught right now, and they will bite Gulp!, Zman PaddlerZ, and mud minnows. The reds are in big schools on the shallow flats near oysters, and you can also find them around docks and riprap banks.

The easiest time to catch redfish is when they are concentrated on the lower half of the tide cycle, but the best time to catch bigger fish seems to be on the higher tides when they get up in the grass. While the bites are slower you can catch them on mud minnows fished in holes in the grass. 

With lots of wind there has been limited fishing nearshore, but sheepshead and black sea bass are both about 12 miles offshore.

December 22

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 58 degrees around Hilton Head and the water is very clear. 

In early December both species usually bite well, but Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports that we have now entered the period where trout and redfish fishing often goes in different directions around Hilton Head. When water temperatures really drop in the winter he usually finds that the trout fishing drops off a bit, but Kai is comforted when he reminds himself that the redfish usually get better and better!  

Cooler water means that redfish are schooling up tighter and feeding on basically anything in front of them, and on lower stages of the tide they are targeting them on the mud flats around oyster bars. The fish are only in 1-2 feet of water and they will take a range of artificial lures but they will also devour cut mullet. They are also around docks, rock walls and rip rap on low tide. 

At high tide they will get into the grass, and the best way to catch them is to target pockets in the grass and let a mud minnow sit under a cork and wait. 

As the trout bite has slowed they have also gone a bite deeper, and they are now out from the edges of grass, in deep holes and along rock walls in 6-14 feet of water. Brown Zman MinnowZ are probably the best artificial bait as live shrimp are very hard to come by. Mud minnows will also work.  

December 16

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 60 degrees around Hilton Head and the water is pretty clear. 

It’s still good fall fishing in Hilton Head, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports that on higher tides they are targeting trout in the rivers along the edges of grass and rock walls in 4-10 feet of water. Brown Zman MinnowZ are working very well. 

As the water cools (a little) redfish are schooling up tighter, and on lower stages of the tide they are targeting them on the mud flats around oyster bars. The fish are only in 1-2 feet of water and they will take the same baits as the trout, but they will also kill cut mullet. They are also around docks, rock walls and rip rap on low tide. 

At high tide they will get into the grass, and the best way to catch them is to target pockets in the grass and let a mud minnow sit under a cork and wait. 

There is no word on inshore black drum, but about 15 miles out in 50 feet of water they have caught some monster black drum in the 50-pound range. 

December 3

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 57 degrees around Hilton Head and the water is getting very clear.  

The main inshore events in Hilton Head right now are redfish and trout, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports that on low tide the redfish bite has been really good around oysters, docks and structure. Generally the fish are sitting in very shallow water, but when they are around docks or structure they could be as deep as 8 or so feet. The trout are in some of the same areas but they are also more likely to relate to creek bends and current that is running over oyster bars. For now they are generally in 4-10 feet of water, and they should stay there for a few weeks until temperatures drop into the mid- to low 50s when they will head deeper.  The trout bite is better on higher, moving tides. 

Live mud minnows, Zman PaddlerZ and Zman MinnowZ are working well for both species.

Yesterday the seas were calm enough that Kai was able to get out to some nearshore reefs about 10 miles out, and while they did not find the bull reds they were hoping to see under the birds they did catch a mixed bag of bonito, bluefish, black seas bass, barracuda and pamplico jacks. 

November 19

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 63 degrees around Hilton Head.

Hilton Head is significantly warmer than the Grand Strand, but on both ends of the South Carolina coast the trout fishing has turned on and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports that in Beaufort County the numbers have arrived. Yesterday Kai’s boat caught 30 plus fish, and while the majority of them were caught on mud minnows under corks Zman Trout Tricks on ¼ ounce jigheads were also effective. They were fishing high tide long grass lines and eddies off of oyster bars.  

They only picked up one redfish, which Kai reports is not unusual on higher water. The key to really nailing the reds is to fish low tide around oyster flats, mud flats and creek mouths. Mud minnows, cut mullet, Zman PaddlerZ (with Pro-Cure) and Johnson Silver Minnows will all work for redfish. 

On the bottom half of the tide cycle black drum are biting really well around docks with cut shrimp, and there are also redfish around the docks.   

While getting a bigger fish is a little tricky, there are tons of smaller flounder right around the legal size in the creeks right now. Dragging mud minnows is working well. 

There are also still lots of bull reds just off the beaches and in the sounds, but they are starting to get further out. However, this also makes the fish more approachable as they get around nearshore structure and reef soundbars. 

The king mackerel fishing is really good 15-30 miles offshore trolling live bait. 

November 12

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 62 degrees around Hilton Head.

All along the coast inshore fishing is really turning on, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports that Hilton Head is no exception. The trout are biting really well in about 5 feet of water over oyster beds, with moving higher tides fishing the best. Live shrimp are great if you have them, but mud minnows, Gulp! shrimp and Zman PaddlerZ will all work too. 

It’s also a very strong bite for redfish in the creeks, and conveniently they are biting best on lower tides. Small creeks with about 5 feet of water have been fishing well in holes and around shells, and Gulp! baits are catching so many fish that it hasn’t been necessary to break out the live bait. 

Docks are also covered up with reds right now. 

While getting a bigger fish is a little tricky, there are tons of smaller flounder right around the legal size in the creeks right now. Dragging mud minnows is working well. 

There are also still lots of bull reds just off the beaches and in the sounds, and based on current conditions they probably won’t leave until about Thanksgiving.

November 4

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 68 degrees around Hilton Head, and with windy conditions and big tides the water is pretty muddy right now. 

Water temperatures are pretty far behind schedule for November, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports that he caught his last tarpon of the season on October 22 – the latest he’s ever gotten one. Nonetheless, it’s a strong inshore fall bite right now for several species while there is still a lot of bait in the creeks.  

The trout are biting well in creeks mouths over shells, and they are finding the best action in about 4 feet of water on higher tides. Live shrimp are preferred but mud minnows have been working very well. There are also some flounder in the same areas, and just yesterday they caught a big 20-inch fish. 

Redfish are pretty abundant, with a mix of sizes from rats to over-slot fish around. Generally the bottom half of the tide has been the best time for catching redfish, particularly around oyster beds in the creeks. Docks are also covered up with fish right now. 

There are also still lots of bull reds just off the beaches and in the sounds, and based on current conditions they probably won’t leave until about Thanksgiving.

Windy conditions have limited offshore fishing, but Captain Kai had a friend catch nine king mackerel pulling live mullet on Tuesday. 

Finally, our apologies for the long hiatus in this fishing report, which was the fault of our site, not the guides. We will do our best not to let it happen again.  

October 7

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 79 degrees around Hilton Head, and with rain the last few days (as well as monster tides) the water has gotten muddy.  Finger mullet are everywhere from the ocean to all the rivers and creeks, and by next week rain should have pushed bait down the rivers and the tides will be weaker – allowing for easier netting. 

Even though there is a ton of bait around fishing conditions have been pretty crummy this week, but Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports that they are still catching plenty of redfish, intermittent trout and even some flounder on mullet and mud minnows.  Cut mullet will also work for the reds. This week they have done the best fishing on lower tides fishing around downed trees, docks, and the mouths of creeks. When water has been dropping the fishing has been the best. 

While other species are shallower trout have been more likely to hold a little deeper in 5-10 feet of water. 

As far as migratory species, the presence of so many mullet means that the bluefish and jacks are still around in good numbers. Tarpon are also around even though less people are targeting them, and it won’t be until water temperatures dip below the mid-70s that they migrate south. They are being caught with live baits on the top and bottom. 

Probably the most exciting bite continues to be with the bull redfish, and they are still off the beaches in about 15 feet of water. Cut mullet and cut menhaden have both been working, and if you are lucky enough to find them feeding on top (which has happened recently) they will take topwater plugs. 

September 30

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 81 degrees around Hilton Head, and with all the recent rains the Broad and Chechessee Rivers are both very stained until you get to the sounds.  There is still tons of bait around.

The most exciting development around Hilton Head this week is with the bull red drum, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports that they are starting to get off the beaches in about 15 feet of water. Cut mullet and cut menhaden have both been working, and if you are lucky enough to find them feeding on top (which has happened recently) they will take topwater plugs. 

Inshore there are plenty of redfish being caught on the high outgoing tide when water is coming out of the grass, and cut mullet have been hard to beat. There have also been some trout around, but you pretty much have to be fishing live shrimp to catch them. They are relatively shallow in 5-10 feet of water.

There are also a ton of smaller jack crevalle present right now in the Calibogue and Port Royal Sounds, and they will take a variety of surface lures thrown at them when they are feeding on top.

Finally, with water temperatures still pretty hot there continue to be a ton of tarpon around in both the sounds and off the beaches.  Live mullet and menhaden are both working.

September 17

Morning surface water temperatures are only down to about 84 degrees around Hilton Head. There are tons of shrimp around. 

There’s other stuff biting around Hilton Head right now, but by far the most exciting action is for tarpon. Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports that his boat landed two fish yesterday and had another get off on a friend’s anchor rope. Yesterday they were catching them off the beaches in about 20 feet of water, but they are also in the rivers right now. Live mullet and menhaden are both working very well. 

Inside, the under-slot and slot-sized redfish are biting very well on both mud minnow and shrimp. They are everywhere around oysters and grass. 

The trout action has been a little slower, but on live shrimp anglers are catching some trout on high tide along grass lines. At low tide they have been in holes and around deeper docks. 

While there are still some bull red drum around the water will have to cool a few degrees for the big numbers to show up.

September 2

Morning surface water temperatures are still about 85 degrees around Hilton Head and the water is still relatively clear. 

The most exciting new development around Hilton Head is that the bull redfish are really showing up, and Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) reports that the bulls are all over nearshore reefs, bridges and rock piles. They can be found in 20-50 feet of water, and they will eat both mullet and menhaden baits.

Inshore the fishing is still really good around oyster bars and grass lines, and both cut bait and shrimp are working for smaller reds. They are also catching tons of small trout along the edges at low tide – a very promising sign for the future.   

Some flounder are also being picked up on mud minnows at the mouths of creeks. 

Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat(from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15).

The water is still extremely sharky since it has not cooled, and as a result there are also still tons of tarpon around near bridges and other structure. Live menhaden are catching fish on both the top and the bottom.

Not many people were able to get offshore this week, but bluefish, Spanish mackerel and jack crevalle are apparently all over the reefs.