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 March is typically a strong month on the north end of the Grand Strand, and they have every reason to expect that the black drum fishing will continue to be excellent. They will eat live or dead shrimp fished around structure. Redfish should also still be schooled up in skinny water where they can be caught at low tide on shrimp, and at higher stages of the tide they will be found around structure. Trout fishing should turn on at the jetties as well as inshore, and fish will be caught on both live shrimp and artificial baits like Vudu Shrimp. In late February it was nice to see some trout after concerns about a winter kill.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that only whiting, dogfish and occasional croaker are usually around at the beginning of the month, but when ocean temperatures hit 60-62 first bluefish, then Spanish mackerel and then flounder will start to be caught. After a cold winter the fishing was slow at the end of February.
Nearshore/offshore: Captain Smiley Fishing Charters reports that in March sheepshead will still be stacked up at the nearshore reefs, and black sea bass should still be relatively close to the coast. Before long weakfish and bonito should start to arrive.
Most detailed North Grand Strand Updates
South Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Tom Cushman (843-997-5850) reports that on the south end of the Grand Strand fishing usually picks up in March as resident fish become more active and migratory species also start to return. In the creeks redfish should break out of their big winter schools and spread out in shallow areas, while the trout that are around may feed better and some larger fish could arrive. It’s hard to beat live shrimp for both species, particularly in early March when their metabolism is a little slower. Inshore there should continue to be plenty of juvenile black drum around, while at the reefs the big fish will be spawning. Some of the sheepshead should also start to make their way back to the jetties this month as their offshore spawn winds down. Finally, this month flounder will quickly move inshore seeking warmer water, where they can be caught on live mud minnows.
Most detailed Southern Grand Strand Updates
Georgetown
Inshore: Captain Greg Holmes (843-241-0594) reports that in March redfish will be breaking out of their big winter schools and spreading out, and while they will eat a variety of baits blue crab sections can be very hard to beat. Trout should move shallower and feed better this month, as warmer temperatures speed up their metabolism and drive them to replenish fat reserves. Grass edges can be good places to look as they seek out still-rare baitfish. While some early short flounder will probably return inshore over the next month, it will be the better sheepshead and black drum who start to really make an appearance. As they wrap up spawning both species will return from the nearshore reefs to the jetties where they can be caught on fiddler crabs and shrimp.
Charleston
Inshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) report that March is an unpredictable month in Charleston for redfish, as the fish can be skittish and difficult to convince to eat. However, fishing began to get really good in late February so March could easily be more of the same. Trout should be easier to catch in the creeks this month, and live bait will increase your chances of hooking up. It appears the population fared better than feared during the cold spell in January. And while it’s not technically a saltwater fishery, Captain Rob points out that perhaps the best bet this month is to head inland and fish the shad run with small twister-tail grubs as fish make their way into the Rediversion Canal, Santee River and Cooper River Tailrace. By the end of February the shad bite was already on fire.
Surf and pier: Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that March is all about the baitfish, and when bait starts to arrive large bluefish and trout will also appear. Sharks and rays should be around all month as well as whiting, croaker and small black drum.
Nearshore/offshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that sheepshead will be all over the nearshore reefs right through the month of March, and on days when you can get offshore catches can be excellent. A variety of baits including fiddler crabs, sand fleas and mussels will work.
Most detailed Charleston updates
Edisto Island
Inshore: Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that in March the redfish that are on the flats will usually act skittish and feed on very small bait, making them hard to catch, while creek redfish will continue to feed fairly normally on live and cut bait. For the first part of the month trout will remain in the creeks and they will still take soft plastics, but as the month progresses they will start to transition towards the main rivers. It appears the trout population fared better in the cold this winter than feared. Sheepshead should start to return inshore this month and so it could be a very good March for sheepshead – as it was last year. Flounder will remain offshore most of this month.
Nearshore and offshore: Captain Ron Davis, Jr. reports that bull red drum, sheepshead and black drum will be found at the nearshore reefs early in the month, although small black sea bass will continue to a be a nuisance, and as it gets warmer bluefish and weakfish will show up in ever greater numbers. Bottom fishing will remain strong offshore, and wahoo and perhaps tuna should be caught trolling on the ledge.
Most detailed Edisto Island Updates
Beaufort
Inshore: Captain Tuck Scott (843-524-5250) and Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) report that March fishing will depend on weather conditions, and at some point river flats redfish will start to break out of their tight winter schools. There were some early signs this was happening at the end of February. Early in the month sight-fishing should be productive, and both live bait and artificials can catch fish. Later in the month fish should start to spread out more and forage for fiddler crabs. At the same time, structure like docks that hold fish virtually year-round should fish well throughout the month. Trout should continue to get more active in March, particularly in clean, moving water, and they will take live shrimp fished on a jighead or under a cork. Finally, this month many of the larger sheepshead that have moved offshore will return inshore, but there are also plenty of small and medium-sized fish that never left. All sizes can be caught around docks and other structure on fiddler crabs.
Most detailed Beaufort Updates
Hilton Head
Inshore: Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) and Captain Trent Malphrus (843-301-4634) report that inshore fishing in March is all about the weather. Warmer weather usually brings better trout action, as when temperatures hit the mid-60s the fish become much more active and feed better. They also come up out of their winter holes. Warm weather can sometimes be a boon for the redfish bite, but fish can also become more finicky as they break out of their winter schools and spread out in the creeks and rivers. They have bitten well this winter on the river flats and recently on high tide around grass islands holding bait, and it’s anybody’s guess what changes spring will bring. Having both live and artificial baits available improves your chances of being able to give the fish what they want.
Nearshore: Captain Kai Williams reports that at the nearshore reefs sheepshead and black drum should continue to spawn through the end of the month. They will eat fiddler crabs, shrimp and clams.