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FISHING CALENDAR · SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina Fishing Calendar
South Carolina fishing runs from mountain trout streams and big lakes like Russell and Santee Cooper to the Grand Strand, Charleston, Beaufort and Hilton Head marshes and the Gulf Stream. Closed months and limits come from SCDNR's 2026 regulations, including new red drum rules from July 1, 2026. Good months come from SCDNR species pages and SCDNR's fishing-trends guide reports; one magazine month is marked.
Government fish & wildlife updates
- SCDNR – News — Rule changes, seasons and news
- SCDNR – Saltwater Fishing — Licenses, regulations, artificial reefs
- SC Governor's Cup Billfishing Series — SCDNR billfish tournament series
Month by month
| Fish | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | |||||||||||||
| Largemouth bass | 5/day combined black bass, no statewide size limit; 14 in. minimum on Lakes Marion, Moultrie, Murray, Wateree, Wylie and several others. No official best months found.[6][21] | ||||||||||||
| Striped bass (Santee Cooper & coastal rivers) | Coastal rivers and Santee system closed Jun 16–Sep 30. Coastal rivers: 3/day, 26 in. min Oct 1–Jun 15. Santee system: 3/day, 23–25 in., one may be over 26 in. Lake Murray and other lakes have their own rules.[6][1] | ||||||||||||
| Crappie | 8 in. minimum, 20/day. SCDNR fishing trends: a Lake Russell guide calls October one of the very best months for crappie.[6][9] | ||||||||||||
| Trout (rainbow, brown, brook) | 5/day statewide. On the Chattooga (Hwy 28 to Reed Creek), Chauga, Eastatoe and other listed streams: catch and release with single-hook lures Nov 1–May 14. No official best months found.[7] | ||||||||||||
| Inshore saltwater (marshes, inlets & surf) | |||||||||||||
| Red drum (redfish, spottail) | New from July 1, 2026: 1 per person, 2 per boat, 18–25 in. slot. No gigging Dec 1–Feb 28. No keeping from federal waters. SCDNR fishing trends: October is the best month inshore; bull reds peak in October in the inlets and off the beaches.[1][8] | ||||||||||||
| Spotted seatrout | 14 in., 10/day. No gigging Dec 1–Feb 28. SCDNR fishing trends: October is often the best trout month, with bigger fish.[1][8] | ||||||||||||
| Flounder (southern & summer) | 16 in., 5/person, 10/boat. SCDNR fishing trends: some of the best flounder of the year are caught in October.[1][8] | ||||||||||||
| Black drum | 14–27 in. slot, 5/day. SCDNR: most abundant near the coast February–July. SCDNR fishing trends: October is a top month at the jetties and inshore structure.[1][10][8] | ||||||||||||
| Sheepshead | 14 in., 10/person, 30/boat. SCDNR fishing trends (Edisto): the inshore sheepshead bite is the best of the year in October on fiddler crabs.[1][8] | ||||||||||||
| Cobia | SCDNR: in nearshore waters April–October, peak in late spring. 36 in. fork length, 1/person. State waters south of Jeremy Inlet (Edisto) closed May 1–31, 3/boat; north and federal waters 6/boat.[1][11][22] | ||||||||||||
| Spanish mackerel | SCDNR: in SC waters April–November; best during spring and fall runs close to shore. 12 in. fork length, 15/day.[1][12] | ||||||||||||
| Weakfish (gray trout) | SCDNR: present year-round, most abundant April–November. 12 in., 1/day.[1][13] | ||||||||||||
| Atlantic spadefish | SCDNR: in nearshore waters April–November. State waters: 14 in. total length, 30 per boat per day.[14][2] | ||||||||||||
| Tarpon | 1/day, 77 in. fork length, rod and reel only. SCDNR: spawns May–August, heads south in fall; fishing trends say tarpon stay around Charleston into mid-October. No official best months found.[1][17][8][23] | ||||||||||||
| Spot | SCDNR: caught by anglers spring through fall. 50/day combined with croaker and whiting. No official best months found.[1][15] | ||||||||||||
| Southern kingfish (whiting) | SCDNR: inshore catches peak during the late spring and early fall migrations. 50/day combined with croaker and spot. No official best months found.[1][16] | ||||||||||||
| Offshore (reefs & Gulf Stream) | |||||||||||||
| King mackerel | 24 in. fork length, 3/day. SCDNR: moves north in spring and early summer and leaves for Florida in fall. No official best months found.[1][18] | ||||||||||||
| Mahi-mahi (dolphin) | 20 in. fork length, 10/person, 54/boat. Carolina Sportsman: dolphin show up in May and stay in big numbers well into June (magazine — not official).[1][20] | ||||||||||||
| Wahoo | 2/day. Carolina Sportsman says tuna and wahoo action starts in early March (magazine — not official). No official best months found.[1][20] | ||||||||||||
| Yellowfin tuna | 27 in. curved fork length, 3/day, federal HMS permit. No official best months found.[3] | ||||||||||||
| Blue marlin | 99 in. lower-jaw fork length, HMS permit, report within 24 hours. SCDNR's 2026 Governor's Cup billfish tournaments ran May 6 through July (tournament dates, not an official best-month rating).[3][19] | ||||||||||||
| Black sea bass | 13 in., 7/day. No closed season listed. No official best months found.[2][21] | ||||||||||||
| Gag grouper | Federal waters closed Aug 2, 2026–Apr 30, 2027. 24 in., 1 gag or black grouper per person, 2/vessel in federal waters. No closed season in state waters (0–3 miles).[2] | ||||||||||||
| Greater amberjack | 28 in. fork length, 1/day. Federal waters closed April 1–30.[2] | ||||||||||||
| Blueline tilefish | Federal waters closed Sep 1, 2026–Apr 30, 2027. 2/person in federal waters, 3 in state waters.[2] | ||||||||||||
| Crabs | |||||||||||||
| Blue crab | New 2026–27 limit: 1 bushel per person, 2 per boat per day. 5 in. minimum. Release egg-bearing females. No official best months found.[5] | ||||||||||||
Never keep: Never keep: hardhead and gafftopsail catfish, red drum from federal waters, Warsaw grouper, speckled hind, Nassau and goliath grouper, longbill spearfish, and prohibited sharks (sand tiger, sandbar, dusky, shortfin mako, silky, white, basking, whale and others).[1][2][3][4]
Bait & rig for each fish
Largemouth bass
Bait: Live wild shiners.
Lures: Plastic worms, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater frogs and crankbaits.
Rig: Float rig, Carolina/bottom rig, jig head or simple lure setup depending on depth and species.
Leader: Often 6–15 lb mono/fluoro; heavier leader is useful around abrasive cover or toothy fish.
Striped bass (Santee Cooper & coastal rivers)
Bait: Live shad and shiners.
Lures: Bucktail jigs, swimbaits and topwater plugs.
Leader: Usually none; add a short fluorocarbon leader with braid.
Crappie
Bait: Live minnows (shiners).
Lures: Small 1/32–1/16 oz jigs with curly or minnow tails.
Leader: None needed.
Trout (rainbow, brown, brook)
Bait: Salmon roe and nightcrawlers where bait is legal.
Lures: Beads that look like salmon eggs, flesh flies, sculpin and leech streamers, small spinners and spoons.
Leader: 3X–5X tippet (4–8 lb), 7½–9 ft.
Red drum (redfish, spottail)
Bait: Live or cut mullet, pinfish, blue crab pieces, and live or fresh dead shrimp.
Lures: Gold spoons, paddle-tail soft plastics on a 1/8–1/4 oz jig head, topwater walking baits, and shrimp imitations.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Spotted seatrout
Bait: Live shrimp under a popping cork, live pilchards or pinfish.
Lures: Soft-plastic jerkbaits and paddle tails, suspending twitchbaits, and topwater walking baits at dawn.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Flounder (southern & summer)
Bait: Live mud minnows, finger mullet and shrimp.
Lures: Soft plastics on a jig head dragged slowly on the bottom; Gulp! swimming mullet.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Black drum
Bait: Texas Parks & Wildlife documents cut fish, squid and shrimp, with peeled shrimp tails especially common.
Lures: Rarely; a slow jig tipped with shrimp.
Rig: A conventional bottom rig with a sinker and one or more single-hook drops is documented; a single drop with little or no weight is also described.
Leader: 10–30 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a common flats/inshore start; move to 40–80 lb around abrasive mouths, structure or large tarpon/snook.
Sheepshead
Bait: Fiddler crabs, live shrimp, sand fleas, oysters and barnacles.
Lures: Rarely; a small jig tipped with shrimp or fiddler.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Cobia
Bait: Live eels, pinfish, croakers, crabs and menhaden.
Lures: Big bucktail jigs (1–3 oz) with a long soft-plastic tail, and large soft eels.
Leader: 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
Spanish mackerel
Bait: Live shiners, pilchards and glass minnows.
Lures: Gotcha plugs, small silver spoons, Clarkspoons trolled and small jigs.
Leader: 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
Weakfish (gray trout)
Bait: Live shrimp, peeler crab and strip baits.
Lures: Bucktail jigs, soft plastics and small metal spoons.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Atlantic spadefish
Bait: Small pieces of shrimp, squid, clam or cut bait are common starting baits for many reef species.
Lures: Small jigs, soft plastics, spoons or micro-jigs are common choices; use the smallest lure that reaches the zone.
Rig: Simple dropper, knocker or light jig rig; keep hardware small and use only enough weight to maintain contact.
Leader: 12–30 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common start.
Tarpon
Bait: Live crabs, mullet, pinfish, threadfin herring and large shrimp.
Lures: Swimbaits, soft-plastic jerkbaits, plugs and flies; small jigs for baby tarpon.
Rig: A documented tarpon option is a live-line/live-bait rig using main line, leader, a circle hook and live bait without added weight. Component strength and size must match the fish and local rules.
Leader: A strong monofilament leader helps resist contact with the gill plate and tail.
Spot
Bait: Bloodworms, shrimp and squid bits.
Lures: Bloodworm-flavored Fishbites.
Leader: 15–20 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Southern kingfish (whiting)
Bait: Shrimp, small crabs, sand fleas, mullet, sardines and cut bait are common inshore choices; match the bait to the species and bottom.
Lures: Soft plastics, bucktails, small jigs, spoons, plugs and topwaters are common; imitate the local forage and work current edges.
Rig: Free-line, popping-cork, Carolina/fish-finder and light jig rigs are common; choose the least hardware needed to reach the zone.
Leader: 10–30 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a common flats/inshore start; move to 40–80 lb around abrasive mouths, structure or large tarpon/snook.
King mackerel
Bait: Live blue runners, goggle-eyes, menhaden and threadfin herring; frozen cigar minnows.
Lures: Spoons, diving plugs and duster-rigged baits.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: Wire or monofilament leader is documented; material choice, strength and length are not universally established.
Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
Bait: Ballyhoo, flying fish, squid and cut bait to keep a school near the boat.
Lures: Skirted trolling lures, small feathers and bucktail jigs.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 30–60 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common mahi start; increase for abrasion or mixed wahoo water.
Wahoo
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo and live baits on wire.
Lures: High-speed trolling lures and lipped diving plugs on wire.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: Use heavy abrasion/bite leader; many wahoo anglers add short wire or cable because of the teeth.
Yellowfin tuna
Bait: Live baits (blue runners, bonito) and chunks.
Lures: Spreader bars, skirted lures, poppers and stick baits.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.
Blue marlin
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo, mackerel and live tunas.
Lures: Large skirted trolling lures.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.
Black sea bass
Bait: Squid, cut fish and shrimp.
Lures: Small vertical jigs and bucktails.
Leader: 50–80 lb fluorocarbon.
Gag grouper
Bait: Live pinfish, grunts, sardines; big cut baits.
Lures: Deep-diving plugs trolled over ledges; heavy jigs.
Leader: 50–80 lb fluorocarbon.
Greater amberjack
Bait: Live blue runners, pinfish and large baitfish.
Lures: Heavy vertical jigs and big poppers.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Blue crab
Bait: Freshly dead fish is documented as blue-crab trap bait by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Lures: Not applicable.
Rig: Crab traps are a documented blue-crab capture method. Use only locally legal gear.
Leader: Not applicable.
Local fishing reports — what’s biting now
- SCDNR – Saltwater Fishing Trends — Monthly guide and pier reports from Grand Strand to Hilton Head
- SCDNR – Freshwater Fishing Trends — Monthly lake reports (Russell, Thurmond, Santee and more)
- Carolina Sportsman – Fishing Reports — SC and NC reports (magazine)
- Angler's Headquarters — SC fishing report service that supplies SCDNR's trends
- Coastal Angler Magazine – Lowcountry Edition — Charleston-area fishing reports (magazine)
Sources
- SCDNR – Finfish Size & Catch Limits (updated Aug 11, 2026)
- SCDNR – Snapper Grouper Complex Size & Catch Limits (2026)
- SCDNR – Billfish & Atlantic Tunas Size & Catch Limits
- SCDNR – Sharks Size & Catch Limits
- SCDNR – Crustaceans & Shellfish Size & Catch Limits (2026–27)
- SCDNR – Freshwater Fish Size & Possession Limits
- SCDNR – Trout Size & Limits
- SCDNR – Saltwater Fishing Trends (October 2026 guide reports)
- SCDNR – Freshwater Fishing Trends (October 2026 guide reports)
- SCDNR Marine Species – Black Drum
- SCDNR Marine Species – Cobia
- SCDNR Marine Species – Spanish Mackerel
- SCDNR Marine Species – Weakfish
- SCDNR Marine Species – Atlantic Spadefish
- SCDNR Marine Species – Spot
- SCDNR Marine Species – Southern Kingfish
- SCDNR Marine Species – Tarpon
- SCDNR Marine Species – King Mackerel
- SC Governor's Cup Billfishing Series – 2026 Schedule (SCDNR)
- Carolina Sportsman – Dolphin make a huge push into SC offshore fishing
- South Carolina's 12-Month Angling Planner (Game & Fish Magazine)
- Cobia spawning research (SCDNR)
- South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Outlook 2018 (Game & Fish Magazine)
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every month on this calendar comes from the sources above. Empty boxes mean no official source gives those months. Rules change — check the agency page before you keep a fish.
On the bay, in the mangroves or on the ocean, the everyday struggles get left at the dock — for those few hours it’s just you, the water and peace.