UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, Spanish mackerel peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Nearshore reefs and the inlets; troll Clark spoons.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Spanish mackerel in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingSpanish show off the beaches.
- MayPeakCobia spawn in Port Royal Sound. Spawning cobia around the Broad River — rules tighten for this run, check SCDNR. Gaffers offshore.
- JunePeakFlood-tide tailers and nearshore kings. Crab flies on the moon-tide flood; slow-troll menhaden on the reefs.
- JulyPeakNearshore reefs and the inlets; troll Clark spoons.
- AugustPeakBull reds gather to spawn; peak tarpon. Cut bait at the Charleston jetties and the inlets — peak spawn is late August into September.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Spanish 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 144 artificial reef spots in the The Lowcountry map area — the kinds Spanish mackerel hold on.
What to use for Spanish mackerel
- Glass minnows (bay anchovies)Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook.
- 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.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Spanish sardinesNose-hooked and free-lined in a chum slick, or slow-trolled on a stinger rig.
- Leader30–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 64–84°F water, best at 68–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Spanish mackerel in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is May–September. Spanish mackerel are in South Carolina Coast April–October. July: Nearshore reefs and the inlets; troll Clark spoons.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: glass minnows (bay anchovies), pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), spanish sardines. Glass minnows (bay anchovies): Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook. Tackle: leader 30–40 lb fluorocarbon, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for Spanish 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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