UTERAtlantic spadefish fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, Atlantic spadefish peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Spadefish on the nearshore reefs; jellyball chum.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Atlantic spadefish in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeakSpadefish on the nearshore reefs; jellyball chum.
- JulyPeakTarpon arrive; red snapper's few open days. Live pogies at the sound mouths; descend and release snapper outside the July opening.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Atlantic spadefish 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 Atlantic spadefish hold on.
What to use for Atlantic spadefish
- 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.
- Fiddler crabsA #1 hook through the back corner of the shell, dropped tight to the piling — the sheepshead bait.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 66–88°F water, best at 72–84°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Atlantic spadefish in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is June–September. Atlantic spadefish are in South Carolina Coast May–October. June: Spadefish on the nearshore reefs; jellyball chum.
Where do Atlantic spadefish hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on wreck, artificial reef, bridge — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for Atlantic spadefish in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: live shrimp, fiddler 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 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for Atlantic spadefish 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 Atlantic spadefish · The Lowcountry, the whole year