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 patterns should hold fairly steady in the month of July, especially as it had already gotten hot by the end of June. By this point mullet are a consistent bait source for flounder, redfish, occasional trout, and more, and pretty much everything should also eat shrimp, which should remain prolific in the area. The problem is that with shrimp you deal with more small fish that will pick at your bait. Look for fish to hold a little deeper in the July heat and to feed better early and late. The ledges in the Intracoastal Waterway and the rocks at the Little River jetties should be good all month. Finally, shark fishing should provide plenty of excitement.
Surf and Pier: Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) predicts that a smorgasbord of species should be caught in July, including whiting, pompano, bluefish, black drum, sheepshead and flounder. Spanish mackerel fishing should get good this month, and when the water is clear and bait is nearshore king mackerel should cooperate.
Nearshore: Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports the Spanish mackerel fishing was only fair in June, but it should improve in July. Cobia, spadefish, and more should also be around.
Most detailed North Grand Strand Updates
South Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Caleb Hartley (843-241-7706) reports that fishing got better through June and so they expect more improvement, especially with trout and redfish, in July. It has also been a good season for flounder so far, and if anything they should get more predictable with consistently hot weather this month. All three species have been keying on mullet the best, but if we get rain and more shrimp are around they could become more important. Sharks will also continue to be prolific and can provide plenty of excitement.
Beach and Nearshore: Captain Caleb Hartley reports that Spanish mackerel and kings should be around from the beaches out when the menhaden schools are present, and they can be caught on live bait or trolling spoons. There should also continue to be spadefish, cobia, flounder and more at the reefs.
Most detailed Southern Grand Strand Updates
Georgetown
Inshore: Captain Greg Holmes (843-241-0594) reports that July should be a good month for trout, redfish, flounder and more, but particularly on sunny days fish are likely to hold a little deeper – or at least near deep water. They will also often feed better early and late. Around the full moon there should be some big trout that can be caught on mullet or small menhaden, and the redfish should take a variety of baits all month. Flounder will be caught on finger mullet, menhaden, or mud minnows fished near the bottom, although the bite can slow during very warm periods. Expect plenty of sharks to continue to provide action in July.
Charleston
Inshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) report that as temperatures start to get very hot along the coast morning and evening can be the best times to fish in July, but anglers will also catch fish all day. Trout, flounder and redfish will all eat live bait such as finger mullet, mud minnows, or shrimp under a popping cork all month, and fishing docks with a Carolina rig and live bait can also be very effective. Bull reds should still bite well in the harbor this month and the tarpon action should be about to get really good in the inlets as well as anywhere there is bait.
Surf and pier: Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that July is still a great time to fish off the pier, but with the summer heat you usually need to avoid the middle of the day when the action can slow down. Expect strong catches of Spanish mackerel, black drum, whiting, pompano, bluefish, and even trout to continue this month. There should also be king mackerel and tarpon around in July.
Nearshore: Captain Rob Bennett reports that in July the spadefish bite should continue to be really good at the nearshore reefs, and Spanish mackerel, cobia, and amberjack should continue to be caught.
Most detailed Charleston updates
Edisto Island
Inshore: Captain Ron Davis Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that trout should continue to bite around main river points this month, and in July they will typically key on finger mullet. The redfish action should be decent on the flats early, and in the creeks the bite should continue to be good on low tide when it doesn’t coincide with the hottest part of the day. Sheepshead will still be prolific in July but big ones are usually hard to catch. Tarpon have already showed up and fishing for these silver kings should get better and better this month. Flounder should continue to be catchable with mud minnows over sandy or hard bottoms, particularly at the mouth of creeks. However, sizes have been a little down. In the inlets whiting should be abundant all summer.
Nearshore and offshore: Spanish mackerel should be around throughout the month, even though June was slow, and the spadefish action should continue to be good in July on the reefs where there are also flounder, cobia and more. Bottom fishing will stay good but move further out towards the ledge, while at the Gulf Stream it should continue to be a great year for billfish and there should also be occasional dolphin, tuna and wahoo caught.
Most detailed Edisto Island Updates
Beaufort
Inshore: Captain Tuck Scott (843-524-5250) and Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) report that in July tailing redfish can be found on good flood tides when they are in the short grass eating fiddler crabs, and on moving tides fishing live or cut bait in areas where they ambush prey is a good bet. There should also continue to be a good bite on lower tides around docks and other structure. The trout bite turned on late in June and should continue into July, and fish will be caught on both live bait and imitation shrimp drifted around grass lines and in front of shell beds in clean, moving water. There should also continue to be a good topwater bite for multiple species early, and jack crevalle and tarpon showed up in late June and should be around until the fall. Flounder fishing can be good with live finger mullet, mud minnows, or soft plastics, especially close to the ocean. Sheepshead are also around inshore, but generally they are on the small to medium side. Finally, keep your eyes open for tripletail in the rivers – especially closer to the ocean.
Surf and Pier: Hunting Island State Park Fishing Pier (843-838-7437) reports that in Fripp Inlet they should catch redfish, flounder, whiting, and sheepshead this month, to go with plenty of sharks, and on the front beaches croaker, whiting, pompano, black drum, and even trout should be around in the surf.
Most detailed Beaufort Updates
Hilton Head
Inshore: Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) and Captain Trent Malphrus (843-301-4634) report that in July they should continue to catch redfish fishing live bait around moving water on both tide cycles, and when you can find clean water trout should be caught on shrimp, menhaden, or finger mullet. Flounder will be caught all month, especially in the clearer water that these sight-feeders prefer. Black drum should set up in deep holes in the creeks or around docks where they will take shrimp, and bluefish will be prolific and voracious throughout the month. Tarpon arrived in June in the Port Royal Sound, Calibogue Sound, and on the front beaches, and even more will show up this month and they can be caught on live menhaden or mullet. Bull reds can be found in the same areas but usually a bit deeper. Big jacks up to 30-plus pounds should also be around through the fall, even though they will move around a lot, and tripletail should also be in the area for the rest of the summer.