UTERLadyfish fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, ladyfish peak June–August and are around May–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Ladyfish at the sound mouths.
Not in South Carolina Coast this month.
Ladyfish in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayAround
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakLadyfish at the sound mouths.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish ladyfish 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.
What to use for ladyfish
- Glass minnows (bay anchovies)Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook.
- 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.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 64–90°F water, best at 72–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch ladyfish in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is June–August. Ladyfish are in South Carolina Coast May–September. July: Ladyfish at the sound mouths.
Where do ladyfish hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, grass flat, dock / pilings, bridge, channel edge — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for ladyfish in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: glass minnows (bay anchovies), live shrimp, pilchards (whitebait). Glass minnows (bay anchovies): Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for ladyfish 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
Fish Scouter scores ladyfish for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about ladyfish · The Lowcountry, the whole year