UTERWeakfish fishing in South Carolina Coast
In South Carolina Coast, weakfish peak April and October and are around March–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Gray trout in the harbor channels.
Fall gray trout in the deep channels.
Weakfish in South Carolina Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArrivingBlack drum and gray trout in the harbors. Crab or clam at the inlets; shrimp on the bottom in the harbor channels.
- AprilPeakGray trout in the harbor channels.
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArriving
- OctoberPeakFall gray trout in the deep channels.
- NovemberAround
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish weakfish 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 weakfish
- 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.
- Mud minnows (killifish)Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait.
- BloodwormsA piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 55–80°F water, best at 60–74°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch weakfish in South Carolina Coast?
Peak season is April and October. Weakfish are in South Carolina Coast March–November. April: Gray trout in the harbor channels.
Where do weakfish hold in South Carolina Coast?
Look on channel edge, pass / inlet, bridge, fishing pier — around Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, McClellanville.
What is the best bait for weakfish in South Carolina Coast?
Live bait: live shrimp, mud minnows (killifish), bloodworms, sand eels. 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 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for weakfish 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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