UTERYellowfin tuna fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, yellowfin tuna peak April–June and November and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Yellowfin off the edge.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Yellowfin tuna in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeak
- MayPeakYellowfin off the edge.
- JunePeak
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberAround
Where to fish yellowfin tuna 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 spots in the The Lowcountry map area — the kinds yellowfin tuna hold on.
What to use for yellowfin tuna
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Opelu (mackerel scad)Bridled live and slow-trolled or drifted down for ahi, ono and marlin; cut for bottom fishing.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 72–84°F water, best at 74–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch yellowfin tuna in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is April–June and November. Yellowfin tuna are here year-round. May: Yellowfin off the edge.
Where do yellowfin tuna hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on ledge / hard bottom, wreck — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for yellowfin tuna in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), menhaden (pogies), threadfin herring (greenbacks), opelu (mackerel scad). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for yellowfin tuna 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
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All about yellowfin tuna · The Lowcountry, the whole year