UTERKing mackerel fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, king mackerel peak June and October and are around April–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Slow-troll menhaden on the reefs and the shoals.
Fall run on the nearshore live bottom.
King mackerel in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilAround
- MayArrivingKings arrive on the nearshore reefs.
- JunePeakSlow-troll menhaden on the reefs and the shoals.
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArriving
- OctoberPeakFall run on the nearshore live bottom.
- NovemberLeaving
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish king mackerel 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 king mackerel hold on.
What to use for king mackerel
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Spanish sardinesNose-hooked and free-lined in a chum slick, or slow-trolled on a stinger rig.
- Speedos (redtail scad)Bridled through the nose on a kite or slow-trolled for sailfish, kingfish and blackfin.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–6/0
- Braid30–50 lb
Feeds in 66–82°F water, best at 68–76°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch king mackerel in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is June and October. King mackerel are in South Carolina Coast April–November. June: Slow-troll menhaden on the reefs and the shoals.
Where do king mackerel hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on artificial reef, wreck, ledge / hard bottom — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for king mackerel in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), threadfin herring (greenbacks), cigar minnows, menhaden (pogies). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–6/0, braid 30–50 lb.
What are the rules for king mackerel 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.
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All about king mackerel · The Lowcountry, the whole year