UTERRed snapper fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, red snapper peak July and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: A few open days in July; red snapper everywhere on the live bottom otherwise — descend and release.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Red snapper in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyPeakA few open days in July; red snapper everywhere on the live bottom otherwise — descend and release.
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish red snapper 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 red snapper hold on.
What to use for red snapper
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for 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.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 64–84°F water, best at 70–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch red snapper in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is July. Red snapper are here year-round. July: A few open days in July; red snapper everywhere on the live bottom otherwise — descend and release.
Where do red snapper 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 red snapper in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: cigar minnows, pinfish, threadfin herring (greenbacks), squid. Cigar minnows: Nose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for red snapper 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 red snapper · The Lowcountry, the whole year