UTERPompano fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, pompano peak May–June and October and are around April–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Sand fleas in the surf on the rising tide.
Fall pompano with the mullet run.
Pompano in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingPompano show in the surf.
- MayPeakSand fleas in the surf on the rising tide.
- JunePeak
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArriving
- OctoberPeakFall pompano with the mullet run.
- NovemberLeaving
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish pompano 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 pompano
- Sand fleas (mole crabs)On a small circle hook or a pompano rig, digger-end first — the pompano and whiting bait.
- 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.
- Fiddler crabsA #1 hook through the back corner of the shell, dropped tight to the piling — the sheepshead bait.
- Leader15–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–1/0
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 62–82°F water, best at 66–76°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch pompano in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is May–June and October. Pompano are in South Carolina Coast April–November. May: Sand fleas in the surf on the rising tide.
Where do pompano hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on beach / surf, pass / inlet, grass flat, channel edge — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for pompano in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: sand fleas (mole crabs), live shrimp, fiddler crabs. Sand fleas (mole crabs): On a small circle hook or a pompano rig, digger-end first — the pompano and whiting bait. Tackle: leader 15–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–1/0, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for pompano 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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