UTERGag grouper fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, gag grouper peak March–April and June–November and are around year-round, spawning in March–April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. March: Spawning offshore; closed — check SCDNR / NOAA.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Gag grouper in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchSpawningSpawning offshore; closed — check SCDNR / NOAA.
- AprilSpawning
- MayArrivingGag on the ledges; live menhaden or cigar minnows.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeakGag move shallower onto the nearshore reefs.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish gag grouper 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, 144 artificial reef spots in the The Lowcountry map area — the kinds gag grouper hold on.
What to use for gag grouper
- 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.
- PigfishFree-lined or under a cork on a 2/0 circle hook for gator trout; on the bottom for grouper.
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–8/0
- Braid50–80 lb
Feeds in 58–84°F water, best at 64–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch gag grouper in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is March–April and June–November, with fish spawning in March–April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Gag grouper are here year-round. March: Spawning offshore; closed — check SCDNR / NOAA.
Where do gag grouper hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on artificial reef, wreck, ledge / hard bottom — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for gag grouper in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: pinfish, pigfish, cigar minnows, squid. Pinfish: Hooked 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. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–8/0, braid 50–80 lb.
What are the rules for gag grouper 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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