UTERMahi-mahi fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, mahi-mahi peak May–August and are around April–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Gaffers on the Gulf Stream weed lines.
Not in South Carolina Coast this month.
Mahi-mahi in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeakGaffers on the Gulf Stream weed lines.
- JunePeakFlood-tide tailers and nearshore kings. Crab flies on the moon-tide flood; slow-troll menhaden on the reefs.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberLeaving
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish mahi-mahi 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 mahi-mahi hold on.
What to use for mahi-mahi
- BallyhooRigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked.
- 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.
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 72–88°F water, best at 76–84°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch mahi-mahi in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is May–August. Mahi-mahi are in South Carolina Coast April–September. May: Gaffers on the Gulf Stream weed lines.
Where do mahi-mahi hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for mahi-mahi in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: ballyhoo, pilchards (whitebait), blue runners (hardtails). Ballyhoo: Rigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for mahi-mahi 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 mahi-mahi · The Lowcountry, the whole year