UTERSandbar shark fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, sandbar shark peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Sandbar sharks in the sounds — a prohibited species; release it in the water.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Sandbar shark in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeak
- JunePeakSandbar sharks in the sounds — a prohibited species; release it in the water.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish sandbar shark 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 sandbar shark hold on.
What to use for sandbar shark
- 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.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- 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 62–86°F water, best at 68–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch sandbar shark in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is May–September. Sandbar shark are in South Carolina Coast April–October. June: Sandbar sharks in the sounds — a prohibited species; release it in the water.
Where do sandbar shark hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on beach / surf, pass / inlet, artificial reef — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for sandbar shark in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: finger mullet, menhaden (pogies), cut ladyfish, bonito (cut). Finger mullet: Lip-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. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–16/0, braid 65–150 lb.
What are the rules for sandbar shark 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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