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 February offers some of the clearest, prettiest water of the year, and as a result it can be an excellent month for sight-fishing on the north end of the Grand Strand. Redfish will be grouped up into large winter schools that are easy to spot, although it may be hard to get them to bite if they are focused on avoiding dolphins and as their metabolism slows. Fresh cut shrimp on a jighead is a good bait choice. There will also be lots of reds around structure like docks. Black drum can also be caught on shrimp fished around docks and ledges in the Intracoastal Waterway. Even after the snow they are still optimistic based on early results that trout should continue to be caught, and they will take artificial lures such as Vudu Shrimp in the ICW and around the jetties. But if you can get them live shrimp are usually impossible to beat for trout.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that mostly whiting and dogfish should be around in February
Nearshore/offshore: Captain Smiley Fishing Charters reports that in February sheepshead should stack up at the nearshore reefs.
Most detailed North Grand Strand Updates
South Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Tom Cushman (843-997-5850) reports that depending on weather conditions February can be a tough month on the lower end of the Grand Strand, and to start the month everything will likely be a bit sluggish after a cold January. Working the banks with Mirrolures and covering a lot of water is one good trout pattern, particularly on warm afternoons, but live shrimp are often the key. Redfish and black drum will both eat live as well as fresh cut shrimp, as well as a variety of artificials. The jetties can also hold all three species, but as with the creeks there will be days when the fish just will not eat.
Most detailed Southern Grand Strand Updates
Georgetown
Inshore: Captain Greg Holmes (843-241-0594) reports that February can be a slow period for fishing in the Georgetown area, but on low tide the redfish are usually concentrated in big schools and on warmer days they can feed well. Long casts can be critical for finicky fish, while they are often less selective about bait choices with so little natural forage to choose from. Trout can be found in 6-10 feet of water, although it is unclear what shape the population will be in after the January snow. If you are fishing with artificials work them very slowly, but live shrimp are usually the best option for trout. There are also plenty of juvenile black drum around structure and holes, and on fresh cut shrimp they can provide fast action.
Charleston
Inshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) report that February inshore fishing in Charleston is still mostly about redfish and sometimes trout. In the clear conditions anglers should be able to locate big schools of redfish on low tide, even though the quality of the bite may depend on just how cold it is. There should also be some fish around docks. Reds will eat artificial and natural baits. It’s unclear what the trout population in Charleston is like after a very cold January, but the fish that are around should be near feeder creeks and in deep holes. Live shrimp as well as variety of artificial lures should catch fish.
Surf and pier: Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that whiting should continue to bite this month, and there should also be some trout and black drum around.
Nearshore/offshore: Captain Rob Bennett reports that sheepshead and black drum will be all over the nearshore reefs right through the month of February, and on days when you can get out 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 February is usually a tough month around Edisto, but a few redfish should continue to bite in both the creeks and on the flats. Natural baits will certainly work but this is still the period when artificials can be sufficient. More information about the trout population is needed before making strong predictions, but there are at least some still in the area that have been seen sunning in the shallows in late January. A few smaller black drum and sheepshead are also around, but most of them have left.
Nearshore and offshore: Captain Ron Davis, Jr. reports that at the nearshore reefs a smorgasbord of species including bull red drum, black drum, sheepshead and more should be around in February. Further out there will be good bottom fishing for black sea bass and then a mixed bag of species. If conditions cooperate there may be good wahoo fishing throughout the month.
Most detailed Edisto Island Updates
Beaufort
Inshore: Captain Tuck Scott (843-524-5250) and Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) report that February should look a lot like January, and redfish will stay in tight schools. On the river flats they will sometimes be focused on avoiding dolphins, but in the clear conditions you should be able to sight fish for them and get some reaction strikes. Both live bait and artificials can catch fish. There should also continue to be a good bite around creek docks, as the population of redfish in the Beaufort area is clearly strong and structure seems to hold fish 12 months a year. Both captains have seen but not yet caught trout after the snow, and this month some fish should be caught in moving water on soft plastics fished on ¼ ounce jigheads. If you can get live shrimp they will often work even better. There are also tons of juvenile sheepshead that can be caught inshore this month, while the bigger ones usually head out to the reefs or the deepest inshore structure to spawn.
Most detailed Beaufort Updates
Hilton Head
Inshore: Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) and Captain Trent Malphrus (843-301-4634) report that February can also be a good month for sight-fishing for redfish, although depending on conditions they often start to feed less. When they are eating fish will take a variety of live and natural baits, with Gulp, ZMan StreakZ, and mud minnows all working well. It’s hard to know what to expect with trout this month, but live mud minnows (or shrimp if you can get them) are hard to beat. In cold conditions fish will move deeper.