UTERBluefish fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, bluefish peak April–May and October–November and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Blues blitz the inlets.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Bluefish in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeakBlues blitz the inlets.
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArriving
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeakFall blues at the jetties.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish bluefish 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 bluefish
- 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.
- 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.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 58–80°F water, best at 62–74°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch bluefish in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is April–May and October–November. Bluefish are here year-round. April: Blues blitz the inlets.
Where do bluefish hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, fishing pier, channel edge — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for bluefish in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: finger mullet, pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), sand eels. Finger mullet: Lip-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. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for bluefish 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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