UTERMangrove snapper fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, mangrove snapper peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Snapper on the jetties and the nearshore reefs.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Mangrove snapper in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakSnapper on the jetties and the nearshore reefs.
- AugustPeakBull reds gather to spawn; peak tarpon. Cut bait at the Charleston jetties and the inlets — peak spawn is late August into September.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberAround
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish mangrove snapper 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 mangrove snapper hold on.
What to use for mangrove snapper
- 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.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Leader15–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–2/0
- Jig head1/8–1/4 oz
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 68–90°F water, best at 74–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch mangrove snapper in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is June–September. Mangrove snapper are in South Carolina Coast May–October. July: Snapper on the jetties and the nearshore reefs.
Where do mangrove snapper hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on artificial reef, wreck, bridge, dock / pilings, ledge / hard bottom — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for mangrove snapper in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: live shrimp, pilchards (whitebait), pinfish, squid. Live shrimp: Under 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. Tackle: leader 15–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–2/0, jig head 1/8–1/4 oz, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for mangrove snapper 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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