UTERTarpon fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, tarpon peak July–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Tarpon arrive in Port Royal Sound, St. Helena Sound and around the Charleston jetties.
Last fish leave with the first cool nights.
Tarpon in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayAround
- JuneArriving
- JulyPeakTarpon arrive in Port Royal Sound, St. Helena Sound and around the Charleston jetties.
- AugustPeakPeak on the menhaden pods at the sound mouths; live pogies on a circle hook.
- SeptemberPeakFish working the bait at the inlets before heading south.
- OctoberLeavingLast fish leave with the first cool nights.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish tarpon 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 tarpon
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- 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.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- 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.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–8/0
- Jig head1–1 1/4 oz
- Braid40–65 lb
Feeds in 74–90°F water, best at 78–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch tarpon in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is July–September. Tarpon are in South Carolina Coast May–October. July: Tarpon arrive in Port Royal Sound, St. Helena Sound and around the Charleston jetties.
Where do tarpon hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, bridge, channel edge — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for tarpon in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: blue crabs, threadfin herring (greenbacks), pilchards (whitebait), finger mullet. Blue crabs: Whole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–8/0, jig head 1–1 1/4 oz, braid 40–65 lb.
What are the rules for tarpon 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 tarpon 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 tarpon · The Lowcountry, the whole year