UTERBlack sea bass fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, black sea bass peak December–May and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Sea bass on the nearshore reefs and the wrecks.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Black sea bass in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakSea bass on the nearshore reefs and the wrecks.
- FebruaryPeakSheepshead spawn at the jetties and reefs. Fiddler crabs on the nearshore reefs and the Charleston jetties.
- MarchPeak
- AprilPeak
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish black sea bass near Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto
Port Royal and St. Helena sounds, the ACE Basin, Charleston Harbor and its jetties, Bulls Bay, Winyah Bay and the Grand Strand beaches — spartina marsh and oyster rakes behind barrier islands, with live-bottom ledges, artificial reefs and the Georgetown Hole and Gulf Stream offshore.
Fish Scouter charts 218 wreck, 144 artificial reef spots in the The Lowcountry map area — the kinds black sea bass hold on.
What to use for black sea bass
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 52–78°F water, best at 58–72°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch black sea bass in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is December–May. Black sea bass are here year-round. January: Sea bass on the nearshore reefs and the wrecks.
Where do black sea bass hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, wreck — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for black sea bass in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: squid, live shrimp. Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for black sea bass in South Carolina Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and change — read the current rule at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/licensing.html.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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