Saltwater Fishing Trends

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The Columbia full-service Licensing and Boat Titling office is now located at:

SCDNR at the State Farmer's Market
326 Little Brooke Lane
West Columbia, SC 29172

The State Farmers Market has convenient parking and easy access to both I-77 and I-26.

These services are no longer offered at 1000 Assembly Street in Downtown Columbia.

North Grand Strand

Inshore: Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that to start September the water had gotten really dirty after the storm, but the fishing was surprisingly good. And there is every reason to expect it will only get better as we get further into the annual fall feed. Trout, redfish and flounder will continue to gorge on mullet and live shrimp inshore, and as long as you are fishing in areas where bait is abundant you should find action. Very soon the redfish will be in the slot, as to start the month many were already around 14 inches. More and more black drum should also be caught on shrimp inshore around structure, and bull red drum should move closer to shore where they can be caught off the beaches. Cut shrimp is a great bait, but for most if not all of the month you will have to contend with loads of bait stealers when fishing shrimp.

Most detailed North Grand Strand Updates

South Grand Strand

Inshore: Captain Tom Cushman (843-997-5850) reports that to start the month flounder fishing was pretty good and a few more redfish had already showed up, but once water temperatures cool a few more degrees in September all the fish should turn on. Flounder action should pick up on mullet or mud minnows, as migratory trout arrive they should feed well on shrimp, and more slot-sized redfish should show up in the creeks. Black drum fishing should also get better in areas with current using shrimp.

Most detailed Southern Grand Strand Updates

Georgetown

Inshore: Captain Greg Holmes (843-241-0594) reports that by the beginning of September the fishing was clearly improving, and this month should continue to see improvement for trout, redfish, and flounder. All three species will take live mullet and shrimp, but at times you can even pick up a random trout or flounder on cut mullet. In the middle of the month there should be some excellent flood tides for targeting tailing redfish, and on the next full moon look for big redfish to move up to spawn. The biggest trout should also be caught at that time. Expect many of the flounder that have been holding in deeper water or nearshore to return to inshore waters, and don’t be surprised at the sight of a tarpon jumping for the rest of the month.

Charleston

Inshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) report that September should be an excellent month for inshore fishing, and with bait shrimp and finger mullet abundant pretty much everything should continue to feed. It’s been an excellent late August and early September and fishing will only get better this fall. Redfish will get even more aggressive this month and more and more fish will be above 15 inches, and trout fishing will get better as the water cools. Both species will be caught in areas where there is water flowing over oyster shells on live shrimp and live finger mullet. This should be another excellent month for tarpon in our waters, and with the mullet run silver kings will key on mullet in the inlets and surf. Finally, more bull reds should be around in the Charleston Harbor as well as closer in.

Surf and pier: Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that with dropping temperatures September fishing should really pick up, and daytime fishing will once again become pleasant and productive. Black drum, whiting, bluefish and trout will be caught this month, and if water conditions are right Spanish mackerel and kings should be caught off the diamond. Bull reds should also be prolific this month.

Most detailed Charleston updates

Edisto Island

Inshore: Captain Ron Davis Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that the beginning of September will look a lot like August, but when temperatures drop 3-5 degrees typically the bite will turn on and everything will really start to feed up. The mullet run helps this process along. The trout bite will continue to be strong around points on live shrimp, but in September some bigger migratory fish should come through. There should be tons of small redfish caught on the flats and in the creeks, and as the month progresses they will approach or reach slot-sized. Bull reds will also arrive off the beaches. Flounder fishing should get better and better on live finger mullet, and this month will be the peak of tarpon season in the inlets with menhaden or mullet. The better sheepshead should also start to bite more around heavy structure.

Surf: Whiting, croaker and bluefish should all be feeding in the surf.

Nearshore/Offshore: Bull red drum should be found in about 15-22 feet of water, and summer trout will be wide open at the mouths of inlets and the nearshore reefs and rocks once water temperatures drop into the low 70s. Spanish mackerel will continue to bust on the surface until water temperatures fall into the mid-60s. The best bottom fishing will be in 70-90 feet of water, and offshore wahoo, tuna and dolphin will all start to feed up when water temperatures hit around 75 degrees.

Most detailed Edisto Island Updates

Beaufort

Inshore: Captain Tuck Scott (843-524-5250) and Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) report that in September the tailing pattern for redfish should continue to be strong, but as the reds’ metabolism speeds up the low tide bite should get better and better. It was already getting very good at the beginning of the month, and fish were feeding on everything from shrimp to mud minnows to mullet to Gulp! baits around pretty much any structure including docks and creek mouths. As a bonus, very soon the fish that are starting out the month just under the slot will be keepers. The black drum fishing should also continue to improve on shrimp, and more trout will be caught as temperatures cool. More keeper flounder should be caught on mud minnows and finger mullet, and migratory species like tripletail, bluefish and ladyfish should be around until temperatures cool. And the silver king, tarpon, will likely continue to prey on schools of mullet and menhaden all month. Overall, by the end of August and beginning of September the fishing was getting really good, and for the next two months it should be flat-out excellent.

Most detailed Beaufort Updates

Hilton Head

Inshore: Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) report that in September redfish should get easier to catch in the creeks, and when the mullet run starts later this month bull reds should get closer in and move up the rivers. They arrived briefly in August but then got hard to find. Trout will bite better and be larger later in the month when it starts to get cooler, with shrimp still the bait of choice. It has already been a good summer for tarpon in the rivers and off the beaches, and the action should stay strong on menhaden and mullet all month.

Most detailed Hilton Head Updates