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 June should be an excellent month for inshore fishing to the north of Myrtle Beach. Redfish, trout, black drum and more will eat shrimp, and as the mullet get bigger they will become a more consistent bait source for most species. Topwater baits will catch fish early. Mud minnows, menhaden and live finger mullet should catch flounder in the creeks, and a variety of artificial lures will also work. At the end of June the keeper ratio for flounder was not great but it should improve this month.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) predicts that June will be a good month for a variety of species including whiting, croaker and bluefish off the pier. With clear water Spanish mackerel and kings should show up.
Most detailed North Grand Strand Updates
South Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Tom Cushman (843-997-5850) and Captain Robert Orr (843-347-4464) report that this month flounder should continue to bite very well on mud minnows in the creeks. Redfish should be caught around oyster beds on a variety of baits, and early in the morning there should be some good trout fishing on topwater lures or live shrimp. It has been a fantastic flounder season so far and every hope is that this will continue.
Nearshore/Offshore: Captain Robert reports that Spanish mackerel fishing should be good when you can get out, and king mackerel fishing should be good in 40-60 feet. Dolphin, blackfin tuna, wahoo, and even billfish should all be caught in the bluewater zone this month. It has been a very good year for blue marlin so far.
Most detailed Southern Grand Strand Updates
Georgetown
Inshore: Captain Greg Holmes (843-241-0594) reports that by the end of May the redfish bite had picked up substantially, and June should see even more improvement. With more bait and metabolisms faster fish should feed well on mullet, menhaden and more around the tide cycle, and before it gets too hot small creeks should continue to produce. Trout will also feed better this month, and in June big trout should be caught around the moon phases when they spawn in the rivers. Live shrimp are hard to beat but they will also take artificial baits like Vudu shrimp. Flounder will also get more prolific as they return inshore, and the keeper ratio should only pick up. The jetties should also be loaded with sheepshead, black drum, and more.
Charleston
Inshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) report that especially later in the month the summer heat can make for tricky inshore conditions, but early in the morning there should be a good topwater bite for both trout and redfish. Both species should also be caught on live bait under a popping cork. Bull redfish will continue to be caught in the harbor and around the jetties this month, and smaller redfish will be in small schools around structure or along grass lines. Reds can also be found tailing on big tides. Sheepshead can be caught around most any hard structure on fiddler crabs, and tarpon will arrive this month off the beaches and sandbars.
Surf and pier: Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that June is an excellent month off the pier, and you can expect some of everything to be caught. Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, black drum, sheepshead, and pompano should be some of the most popular species to go with the usual suspects of whiting, croaker, and more.
Nearshore/offshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that in June the spadefish bite should be wide open at the nearshore reefs and cobia should also continue to be around. Spanish mackerel and king mackerel will likely both be caught as well.
Most detailed Charleston updates
Edisto Island
Inshore: Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that in June the trout bite will still be strong around main river points with small finger mullet, shrimp or imitation shrimp, and redfish action should improve on the flats as fish start to concentrate on bigger bait. But the best fishing for reds will likely be around structure in the creeks. Flounder fishing should remain good with live minnows or mullet; so far it’s been an above-average year for numbers if not sizes. Sheepshead will continue to be caught around structure on fiddler crabs, although the biggest fish are usually hard to entice in the hot months even though present. Tarpon should show up off the beaches in June and whiting will be around all month.
Nearshore and offshore: Spanish mackerel, cobia and spadefish should be thick at the reefs and bottom fish will be catchable in 90-100 feet of water. The dolphin run faded in late May but a few should be caught this month as well as wahoo and tuna. The hope is that it will continue to be an exceptional year for blue marlin.
Most detailed Edisto Island Updates
Beaufort
Inshore: Captain Tuck Scott (843-524-5250) and Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) report that June is an excellent month in Beaufort for a number of species, and even as air temperatures get hotter the fish typically still bite very well. A good year for cobia means the fishing is likely to extend into June in the Broad River, and fish should continue to be caught sight-casting with flies, lures, and live bait. Redfish can be found tailing at high tide on the main river grass flats where they are eating fiddler crabs, and at lower stages of the tide you can find them in deep holes surrounded by shallow water in the smaller creeks or around docks. Redfish will eat a wide variety of baits and lures. Trout can be caught this month fishing along grass lines at higher stages of the tide with live shrimp or mud minnows under a popping cork, and you will also pick up other species this way including bluefish, aerially exciting ladyfish, and more. Also, don’t overlook an early topwater bite for trout, reds, and sometimes other species. On the bottom around structure and creek mouths you can catch flounder with mud minnows, finger mullet, or artificial baits, while fishing fiddler crabs around docks and downed trees is a great way to pick up sheepshead and sometimes black drum. Finally, the inlets have delicious whiting that will take small pieces of shrimp and abundant sharks that will take cut bait.
Most detailed Beaufort Updates
Hilton Head
Inshore: Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) and Captain Trent Malphrus (843-301-4634) report that after a strong late May they expect more good fishing into June, with excellent numbers of redfish and some big trout both being caught. As redfish spread out even more they can be caught around structure on lower stages of the tide, while on high tide the tailing action is often the best thing going. But you can also usually catch fish free-lining mullet wherever there is bait around. Trout will be caught on topwater lures during the morning while during the day they will move into slightly deeper water and be caught on mud minnows, live shrimp, and Trout Tricks. Well into the month cobia should still be around, and as water temperatures climb tarpon and jacks up to 30 or more pounds will show up in Port Royal Sound, Calibogue Sound, and on the front beaches. Spanish mackerel and bluefish should also be around.