UTERGreat hammerhead fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, great hammerhead peak June–August and are around May–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Hammerheads around the sound mouths — release.
Not in South Carolina Coast this month.
Great hammerhead in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeakHammerheads around the sound mouths — release.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberLeaving
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish great hammerhead 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 great hammerhead hold on.
What to use for great hammerhead
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- 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.
- Cut ladyfishA whole ladyfish or a head on a 9/0 circle hook and wire for sharks; chunks on the bottom for redfish and drum. The best shark bait in Florida.
- Bonito (cut)Whole on cable for tiger and bull sharks; fillets and chunks on the bottom for grouper and snapper; strips trolled for wahoo.
- Leader80–150 lb mono
- Hook8/0–16/0
- Braid65–150 lb
Feeds in 68–88°F water, best at 72–84°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch great hammerhead in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is June–August. Great hammerhead are in South Carolina Coast May–September. June: Hammerheads around the sound mouths — release.
Where do great hammerhead hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, grass flat, artificial reef — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for great hammerhead in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), finger mullet, cut ladyfish, bonito (cut). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–16/0, braid 65–150 lb.
What are the rules for great hammerhead 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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All about great hammerhead · The Lowcountry, the whole year