UTERRedfish fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, redfish peak June–February and are around year-round, spawning in August–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Big winter schools on the low-tide flats from Charleston to Hilton Head; clear water, fly or a light jig.
Reds everywhere: flats, creeks, docks, the jetties.
Redfish in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakBig winter schools on the low-tide flats from Charleston to Hilton Head; clear water, fly or a light jig.
- FebruaryPeakStill schooled and spooky; low tide, sunny afternoons.
- MarchAroundBlack drum and gray trout in the harbors. Crab or clam at the inlets; shrimp on the bottom in the harbor channels.
- AprilAround
- MayAround
- JunePeakFlood-tide tailers in the spartina on the big moon tides; a crab fly or a weedless shrimp.
- JulyPeakFlood tides for tailing reds; the falling tide at creek mouths in between.
- AugustSpawningBull reds gather at the inlets and the Charleston jetties to spawn — the SCDNR peak is late August into September.
- SeptemberSpawningSpawning bulls at the jetties and sound mouths; flood-tide tailers on the moon tides.
- OctoberPeakReds everywhere: flats, creeks, docks, the jetties.
- NovemberPeakThe schools start to form on the flats as the water cools.
- DecemberPeakWinter schools on the low-tide flats.
Where to fish redfish 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 redfish
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- 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.
- 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.
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- CroakersHooked through the back on a 2/0 to 3/0 circle hook, free-lined or on a Carolina rig — big trout and redfish can't leave them alone.
- Leader20–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–3/0
- Jig head1/8–3/8 oz
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 58–90°F water, best at 65–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch redfish in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is June–February, with fish spawning in August–September (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Redfish are here year-round. January: Big winter schools on the low-tide flats from Charleston to Hilton Head; clear water, fly or a light jig.
Where do redfish hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on grass flat, dock / pilings, pass / inlet, channel edge, bridge — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for redfish in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: live shrimp, pinfish, finger mullet, blue crabs. Live shrimp: Under a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait. Tackle: leader 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–3/0, jig head 1/8–3/8 oz, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for redfish 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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