How Fishing Works in South Carolina (What to Know Before You Go)

Fishing in South Carolina is driven by three key factors: tide, structure, and water system.

Inshore Coastal System Dominates

The most consistent fishing happens in:

Marshes

Inlets

Coastal bays

Fish position where moving water carries bait.

Tide Controls Everything

Moving tide → active feeding

Slack tide → slower fishing

Positioning relative to current is critical.

Reservoirs Add Structure-Based Fishing

Inland lakes rely on:

Points

Drop-offs

Timber and structure

Fish are pattern-driven, not roaming randomly.

Types of Catch Available

Freshwater

Rainbow Trout

Brown Trout

Brook Trout

Striped Bass

White Bass

Largemouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Spotted Bass

Bullhead Catfish

Bluegill

Crappie

Walleye

Carp

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Yellow Perch

Saltwater

Atlantic Salmon

Skipjack Tuna

Wahoo

Yellowtail Amberjack

Swordfish

Bonefish

Giant Trevally

Tarpon

Red Drum

Black Drum

Yellowfin Tuna

Bluefin Tuna

Blue Marlin

Sailfish

Black Sea Bass

Halibut

Bluefish

Mackerel

State Fishing Records

How to Choose Where to Fish in South Carolina

Start with your goal:

Want redfish/trout → Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head
Want inshore variety → coastal marsh systems
Want bass → Lake Murray, Lake Greenwood
Want big catfish/stripers → Lake Marion

South Carolina rewards anglers who:

match tide + structure + system

Top 10 Fishing Spots Across South Carolina

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is one of the most active coastal fishing zones in South Carolina, offering surf, pier, and nearshore opportunities.

Fish move along shoreline structure and migration routes.

What separates Myrtle Beach is its movement—fish pass through consistently during seasonal patterns.

Best for anglers who want surf and nearshore fishing with steady migration activity.

Beaufort and Hilton Beach

fishing hilton head island south carolina

Beaufort and Hilton Beach

The Beaufort area is one of the strongest redfish systems in South Carolina, with extensive marsh and tidal flow.

Fish move through creeks and flats, holding where current pushes bait.

What separates Beaufort is its redfish focus—this is one of the most reliable redfish systems in the state.

Best for anglers who want consistent redfish action in a marsh-driven environment.

Charleston

Charleston is the most complete inshore fishery in South Carolina, where harbor, marsh, and inlet systems combine to create consistent feeding zones.

Redfish and speckled trout hold along current edges, oyster beds, and structure.

What separates Charleston is its structure density—fish are concentrated in defined zones rather than spread out.

Best for anglers who want high-percentage inshore fishing driven by tide and structure.

Lake Murray

Lake Murray is the top inland striper and bass fishery in South Carolina.

Fish hold along structure and depth transitions, with stripers following bait schools.

What separates Murray is its striper identity—it produces stronger inland striper fishing than most lakes in the region.

Best for anglers who want targeted striper fishing with strong bass support.

Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head offers one of the most accessible inshore fisheries in South Carolina, with strong populations of redfish, trout, and flounder.

Fish hold along structure, inlets, and tidal zones.

What separates Hilton Head is its accessibility—it provides consistent fishing without requiring complex navigation.

Best for anglers who want easy-entry coastal fishing with steady results.

Lake Marion

Lake Marion is the largest lake in South Carolina and one of the best catfish and multi-species fisheries.

Fish hold in timber, channels, and structure across a massive system.

What separates Marion is its size—it offers big-water fishing with strong catfish and striper potential.

Best for anglers who want trophy catfish and large-scale reservoir fishing.

Lake Hartwell

Lake Hartwell is a large, structured reservoir offering bass, striper, and multi-species fishing.

Fish relate to points, drop-offs, and structure.

What separates Hartwell is its balance—it supports multiple species without losing consistency.

Best for anglers who want a well-rounded lake with strong structure patterns.

Edisto River

The Edisto River is one of the most natural river systems in South Carolina, offering redfish (lower sections), bass, and catfish.

Fish hold along current seams and structure.

What separates the Edisto is its natural flow—it fishes differently than controlled coastal systems.

Best for anglers who want river fishing with current-driven patterns.

Lake Greenwood

Lake Greenwood

Lake Greenwood is one of the most efficient bass and crappie lakes in South Carolina.

Fish hold along structure and shallow-to-deep transitions.

What separates Greenwood is its productivity—it produces steady action without requiring long searches.

Best for anglers who want consistent freshwater fishing with multiple species.

Lake Jocassee

Lake Jocassee is one of the most unique freshwater systems in South Carolina, with cold-water species and deep structure.

Fish hold deep for much of the year, requiring vertical awareness.

What separates Jocassee is its depth—it fishes differently than typical Southern reservoirs.

Best for anglers who want deep-water trout and structure-based fishing.

South Carolina State Fishing Records

Species	Weight	Length	Location	Angler	Date
African Pompano	44 lbs 3 oz		Hilton Head Island	C. T. Babcock III	2011
Albacore Tuna	37 lbs 4 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	W. Crump	1976
Amberjack	123 lbs 0 oz		Isle of Palms	J. Beauford	2010
American Shad	7 lbs 0 oz		Santee River	Sylvester Casselman	1985
Atlantic Bonito	7 lbs 11 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Little River	Charles Adams	1993
Atlantic Spadefish	14 lbs 2 oz		Beaufort	S. Nickleson	2005
Bigeye Thresher Shark	406 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Edisto Island	J. H. Mixson	1978
Black Crappie	5 lbs 0 oz		Lake Moultrie	P.E. Foust	1957
Black Drum	89 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Port Royal	W. P. Buquet	1978
Black Sea Bass	8 lbs 3 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Fripp Inlet	Larry L. Hudson	1995
Blackfin Tuna	40 lbs 6.4 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	Mark Hartley	May-05
Blacktip Shark	163 lbs 14 oz		Hilton Head	D. Rowe	2009
Blue Catfish	109 lbs 4 oz		Tailrace Canal	George A. Lijewski	1991
Blue Marlin	881 lbs 13 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	W.C. Taylor	2005
Bluefin Tuna	396 lbs 14 oz		Hilton Head Island	J. S. Middleton III	2006
Bluefish	21 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	J.A. Curtis	1975
Bluegill Sunfish	3 lbs 4 oz		N/A	J.P. Hegler	1973
Blueline Tilefish	14 lbs 6 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Murrells Inlet	O. Cockerham	1982
Bowfin	21 lbs 8 oz		Forest Lake	Robert Harmon	1980
Brook Trout	4 lbs 10 oz		Chattooga River	Wes Coker	2010
Brown Trout	17 lbs 9.5 oz		Lake Jocassee	Larry Edwards	1987
Bull Shark	477 lbs 12 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Stono Inlet	C. R. Faust	1985
Bullhead	6 lbs 6.3 oz		Broad River	George Eleazer	2009
Chain Pickerel	6 lbs 4 oz		Lake Marion	Randall Spell	1981
Channel Catfish	58 lbs 0 oz		Lake Moultrie	W.H. Whaley	1964
Cobia	92 lbs 10 oz		Hilton Head Island	R. Maroudas	2009
Croaker	4 lbs 9 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	C. I. Frasier	1979
Dolphin	77 lbs 8 oz		Seabrook Island	R. Riggs	2008
Dusky Shark	466 lbs 12 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	M. Almond	1981
Flathead Catfish	79 lbs 4 oz	51"	Santee Cooper	Jessica Preston	5/11/2001
Flier Sunfish	1 lbs 4 oz		Hemingway	Steve Bryant	1977
Florida Pompano	8 lbs 12 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	C. Mullinax Sr.	1975
Gag Grouper	48 lbs 8 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	R. L. Price	1997
Gray Triggerfish	13 lbs 9 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Murrells Inlet	Jim Hilton	1989
Great Barracuda	65 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Georgetown	Henry Shelor	1948
Hammerhead Shark	588 lbs 3 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	Byron Bass	1989
Hogfish	21 lbs 15 oz		Charleston	W. Covington	2011
Houndfish	9 lbs 4 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Murrells Inlet	W. Kirby	1974
Hybrid Bass	20 lbs 6 oz		Savannah River	Danny Wood	1978
Jack Crevalle	40 lbs 1 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	J. Benich	1993
Jolthead Porgy	18 lbs 4 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	J. Currie	1984
King Mackerel	2 lbs 10 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Pawleys Island	C. Micheau	1968
King Mackerel	62 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	J. Brownlee III	1976
Ladyfish	5 lbs 14 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	B. Raver	1994
Largemouth Bass	16 lbs 2 oz		Lake Marion	P.H. Flanagan	1949
Largemouth Bass	16 lbs 2 oz		private pond	Mason Cummings	1993
Lemon Shark	380 lbs 0 oz		Hilton Head	S. Liesen	2010
Little Tunny	29 lbs 7 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	C. Edwards Jr.	1975
Longbill Spearfish	53 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Mt. Pleasant	H. L. Johnson Jr.	1986
Mako Shark	391 lbs 15 oz		Charleston	P. Ford	2002
Margate Grunt	18 lbs 8 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Murrells Inlet	J. L. Flowers	1971
Muskellunge	22 lbs 8 oz	42"	Broad River	Zavier Jefferies	2004
Pumpkinseed Sunfish	2 lbs 4 oz		North Saluda River	Scott Hart	1997
Queen Triggerfish	9 lbs 7 oz		Georgetown	J. H. Woodberry	2011
Rainbow Runner	14 lbs 14 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Georgetown	W. D. Harder	1985
Rainbow Trout	11 lbs 5 oz		Lake Jocassee	Scott Coggins	1993
Red Drum	75 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Murrells Inlet	A. J. Taylor	1965
Red Grouper	31 lbs 0 oz		Little River	M. K. Jenkins	2008
Red Porgy	10 lbs 8 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Murrells Inlet	J. F. Duffer	1985
Red Snapper	37 lbs 8 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Little River	K. Henry	1964
Redbreast Sunfish	2 lbs 0 oz		Lumber River	D.R. Turner	1975
Redear Sunfish	5 lbs 7 oz		Diversion Canal	Amos Gay	1998
Redeye Bass	5 lbs 2.5 oz		Lake Jocassee	Randy Dickson	2001
Redfin Pickerel	1 lbs 8.8 oz		Bluff Lake	Albert Johnson	1983
Sailfish	75 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Georgetown	G. A. Reid	1968
Sand Tiger Shark	350 lbs 2 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	Mark Thawley	1993
Sandbar (brown) Shark	199 lbs 4 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	T. McGuiness	1984
Sauger	4 lbs 7 oz		Lake Thurmond	Broadus Moody	1985
Scamp Grouper	26 lbs 15 oz		Port Royal	R. Holmquist	2011
Sheepshead	16 lbs 6 oz		Mt. Pleasant	J. Widener	2008
Silky Shark	248 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	R. Keenan	1981
Skipjack Tuna	25 lbs 14 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	D. L. Stubbs	1986
Smallmouth Bass	9 lbs 7 oz		Lake Jocassee	Terry Dodson	2001
Snowy Grouper	30 lbs 3 oz		Charleston	C. Donald	2011
Southern Flounder	17 lbs 6 oz		Atlantic Ocean - South Santee	L. C. Floyd	1974
Spanish Mackerel	11 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Myrtle Beach	W. Deas Jr.	1983
Speckled Hind Grouper	45 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Little River	H. R. Murray	1973
Spinner Shark	159 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	Jerry Short	1998
Spot	1 lbs 1 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	J. Stehmeyer	1967
Spotted Bass	8 lbs 2 oz		Lake Jocassee	James Couch	1996
Spotted Sea Trout	11 lbs 13 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Murrells Inlet	A. Pendergrass	1976
Striped Bass	63 lbs		Lake Russell	Terry McConnell	2/3/2009
Summer Flounder	3 lbs 8 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Murrells Inlet	J. Wallace	1982
Swordfish	500 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Georgetown	B. H. Peace III	1978
Tarpon	154 lbs 10 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Hilton Head	S. B. Kiser	1987
Tiger Shark	1780 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Cherry Grove	W. Maxwell	1964
Tripletail	33 lbs 8 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Hilton Head	Jackie Johnson	2005
Vermilion Snapper	6 lbs 10 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	D. H. Long	1975
Wahoo	130 lbs 5 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Murrells Inlet	J. Moore	1998
Walleye	10 lbs 0 oz		Richard B. Russell Lake	Robert Huskins	1994
Warmouth	2 lbs 2.5 oz		N/A	W. Singletary	1973
Warsaw Grouper	310 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Murrells Inlet	C. D. Pratt	1976
Weakfish	11 lbs 13 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Parris Island	J. M. Coppinger Jr.	1981
White Bass	5 lbs 4.8 oz		Broad River	Johnny Gilliam	1997
White Catfish	9 lbs 15 oz		Lake Murray	Jim Schwietert	1986
White Crappie	5 lbs 1 oz		Lake Murray	Mrs. H.P. Owens	1949
White Marlin	108 lbs 0 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	D. C. Critz Jr.	1981
White Perch	1 lbs 15.2 oz		Lake Wylie	Rodger W. Taylor	2007
Yellow Perch	3 lbs 4 oz		Lake Keowee	D. Scarborough	1979
Yellowfin Tuna	241 lbs 12 oz		Atlantic Ocean - Charleston	T. C. Lewis	1979

Brown Trout

Appearance

Brown trout vary greatly in appearance, but are generally olive green to brown on top, shading to a creamy, golden yellow on the sides and an off- white along the belly. Most brown trout are covered with black spots along their sides, back, and dorsal fin with each spot surrounded by a light halo. Frequently, the spots near the lateral line are red. Unlike other trout species, brown trout tails have few if any spots.

Habitat

Brown trout occupy a range of aquatic systems and habitats from Coldwater mountain streams to larger rivers, ponds and lakes.

Diet

Brown trout feed on several animal prey species, aquatic invertebrates being the most abundant prey items. However, brown trout also feed on other prey such as land-based invertebrates (e.g. Hymenoptera) or other fish. Moreover, in brown trout, as in many other fish species, a change in the diet composition normally occurs during the life of the fish, and piscivorous behavior is most frequent in large brown trout.

Fishing for Brown Trout

Fishing for brook trout with a Bubble Fly or Bubble Bait rig is a great way to catch brook trout. The Bubble allows for easy casting or float and release to get to the hard bends and deep pools. Using a spinning reel or fly rod the bubble can help get to the fish. For lake fishing the Bubble works great with a nightcrawler and letting the bubble troll the bait for you using water current or wind.

Top 5 Bubble Fly Combos for Brown Trout

Ant, Cricket, Hopper, Adams Parachute, Wullf Royal

Top 5 Bubble Bait Combos for Brown Trout

Nightcrawler, Wax Worms , Corn, Power Bait, Salmon Eggs

Bubble Fly Challenge Games for Brown Trout

Panfish & Trout

How Fishing Works in South Carolina (What to Know Before You Go)

Inshore Coastal System Dominates

Tide Controls Everything

Reservoirs Add Structure-Based Fishing

Top Fish Species in South Carolina (What You’ll Actually Target)

Inshore Coastal Core

Freshwater Core

Best Time to Fish in South Carolina

Types of Catch Available

Myrtle Beach

Beaufort and Hilton Beach

Charleston

Lake Murray

Hilton Head Island

Lake Marion

Lake Hartwell

Edisto River

Lake Greenwood

Lake Jocassee

Rainbow Trout

Appearance

Habitat

Diet