Saltwater Fishing Trends
South Carolina marine recreational fishing regulations
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North Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that after a good late April they have high expectations for May, and redfish, trout and black drum should all continue to be caught inshore around structure as well as at the jetties. Live shrimp are hard to beat for all three species. The black drum fishing has been particularly reliable this spring – about as good as they have ever seen it. The flounder were already arriving by the end of April, and this month more bigger fish should return. They will take mud minnows, and early in the season look for them closer to the ocean.
Nearshore: Captain Smiley Fishing Charters reports that bluefish and Spanish mackerel fishing was phenomenal by the end of April, and it should stay good into this month. The tail end of the bonito fishing should last into early May while big weakfish should be around a bit longer. Cobia should arrive by about the third week of May.
Most detailed North Grand Strand Updates
South Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Tom Cushman (843-997-5850) and Captain Robert Orr (843-347-4464) report that the inshore fishing for redfish and trout should pick up in May after only a fair April, but there has already been a good run of flounder and it should continue to improve this month. The flounder will undoubtedly get bigger and they will eat mud minnows. More redfish and trout should also be caught on mud minnows and shrimp this month, and the black drum and sheepshead should get easier to catch inshore.
Nearshore/offshore:Captain Robert reports that the Spanish mackerel fishing was already strong by the end of April and should stay good all month, and both cobia and king mackerel should push closer during May. The dolphin run was starting at the end of the month and will hit its peak during May, and they should continue to catch tuna this month.
Most detailed Southern Grand Strand Updates
Charleston
Inshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) report that May should be an excellent month for catching trout on live shrimp with lots of big spawning females around, and the redfish should continue to be caught around docks as well as tailing on high tide. At the jetties and in the harbor bull red drum will continue to arrive in better and better numbers this month. As bait returns to the area sharks are also showing up in droves.
Surf and pier: Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) was already getting good for trout, black drum, Spanish mackerel and more by the end of April, but May should only be better and fish will be bigger. As more bait arrives the king mackerel should also be right behind the Spanish. The usual suspects of whiting, croaker, spot and other good eating fish should also be caught.
Nearshore/offshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that May should be a phenomenal month for fishing at the nearshore reefs, and this month cobia, spadefish, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and more will all be biting. This will also be the peak month for dolphin fishing.
Most detailed Charleston updates
Edisto Island
Inshore: Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that the redfish action should be decent on the flats this May, and fish will also be caught in the creeks at low tide on mud minnows. Big spawning trout will be caught in the main rivers on shrimp or baitfish, and for both species there will be a topwater bite first thing. Flounder have flooded back into the area and will take mud minnows, and there should be some more good sheepshead fishing before it gets very hot. In the surf whiting fishing will stay very strong.
Nearshore/offshore: Captain Ron reports that at the nearshore reefs cobia, spadefish, weakfish, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, bull red drum and more will be caught this month, while in 90-100 feet the bottom fishing will be strong throughout the month. May should be the peak for dolphin fishing, and wahoo and tuna should also be caught as well as some early marlin.
Most detailed Edisto Island Updates
Beaufort
Inshore: : Captain Tuck Scott (843-524-5250) and Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) report that as temperatures rise and even more bait starts to return in May the redfish should feed more regularly. The tailing activity at high tide should pick up as reds devour consistently available fiddler crabs, and fish should also eat better at low and moving tides in the creeks. Docks will continue to hold fish. If you can get live shrimp they are hard to beat, but finger mullet, small menhaden, mud minnows and more will catch fish. Trout fishing should also pick up in moving water over shell bars, and both jigs and shrimp will catch fish. Big roe trout will be in the main rivers to spawn. Topwater activity for both trout and reds should also improve this month during low light periods, but the most exciting development in May is usually that the cobia return in numbers to the Broad River. A few had already been seen by late April, and people will catch them both sight-fishing and anchoring baits on the bottom. Tripletail, bluefish, ladyfish and other migratory species will also be around in ever-greater numbers, and the bigger flounder should continue to show after starting to trickle back inshore during April. Finally, don’t overlook the sheepshead bite around docks and other structure on fiddler crabs – especially before it gets very hot and patterns change.
Most detailed Beaufort Updates
Hilton Head
Inshore: Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) and Captain Trent Malphrus (843-301-4634) report that May is usually more consistent than April around Hilton Head, and they expect both redfish and trout to bite well this month. Redfish will be caught around structure on low tide with a variety of baits including shrimp, and you will also pick up black drum on this pattern. On flood tides reds will move onto the flats to feed and tail. Trout will be eating shrimp this month, but as it gets hotter the fish will go a little deeper. Perhaps the most exciting action this month will be in the Broad River as the cobia and bull reds continue to arrive.
Nearshore: Captain Kai reports that at the nearshore reefs and hard bottom areas migratory species like bluefish, Spanish mackerel and cobia will be caught.