Charleston Fishing Charters & Guides

2 Guests
Charters Near Charleston
Simon Says Charters
Mount Pleasant, SC
Chompin Charters
Charleston, SC
(5.0, 7 Reviews)
Four Sons Charters
Charleston, SC
Captain Alex Inshore Charters
Charleston, SC
(5.0, 1 Review)
Popular in Charleston
Short Skirts Sportfishing
Charleston, SC
Charlestowne Charters LLC
Charleston, SC
(5.0, 12 Reviews)
About Fishing in Charleston

Charleston Fishing Charters

The port city of Charleston, South Carolina was founded in 1670 and has 350 years of history. But visitors to the city come for more than just the history lessons. The city is full of southern charm, great shopping and restaurants, and some of the best fishing in the state. For those history buffs, Charleston is a great place to visit. The antebellum homes, Fort Sumter, and the many churches are essential to start your journey into the past. If you’re looking for a picturesque place to enjoy the ambiance of the city, check out Waterfront Park. This part of the city also has small business boutiques and top-rated restaurants for visitors to enjoy. If you’re looking for an outdoor excursion, Charleston adventures are abundant. You can go fishing, golfing, kayaking, bird-watching, and more. The weather is amazing in the winter, and not too humid in the summer. Any time you visit Charleston is the perfect time to explore, and maybe cast a line or two on a fishing trip!

Fishing Charleston Harbor

Speaking of fishing trips, Charleston Harbor is the place for a great Charleston fishing excursion. Not only will you get spectacular views of the city, but your rod will be bending the majority of the time you’re on the water. It’s a short drive from the shore to the fishing grounds, and the results are good twelve months of the year. The harbor is a major port for the Palmetto State, and is a junction point for Ashley River and Cooper River. It’s also where anglers go to hook the bull red of their dreams. Bull red is a female redfish over 27”, and they are abundant throughout the harbor. They can grow big in the harbor thanks to the deep waters, 50 feet deep in certain places. Other Charleston Harbor species include speckled trout, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, ladyfish, and sharks to name a few.

Charleston Nearshore Fishing

When you move past the harbor and into nearshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean, your Charleston fishing charter can get you on a variety of fish. You’ll travel within ten miles of the coast and can either go trolling, bottom fishing, fly fishing, or casting for your desired fish. The above mentioned inshore fish (redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder, etc.) can be found on nearshore charters, as well as cobia, king mackerel, snapper, and grouper. Cobia, in particular, is a really fun species to catch. They look a bit odd with their flat head and dark coloring, but they can put up one heck of a fight and are great table fare! South Carolina cobia can range from 5 to 150 pounds and are found near the artificial reefs of the area. Early spring is when cobia start showing up in good numbers and last until early fall months. Cobia will feed on herring, menhaden, and eels. We recommend making sure they wear themselves out before pulling them into the boat. They are known to thrash and create havoc if they have too much pent-up energy. Once cleaned and prepped, prepare for a tasty meal. Snapper and grouper are both reef dwelling species found in the area. There are a variety of each species, but basically they are all caught in the same area with the same techniques (bottom fishing with live or cut bait, or jigging with artificial lures). Your Charleston fishing captain will know the rules and regulations for each fish you catch, and will let you know whether you can harvest your catch or not.

Charleston Offshore Fishing

Getting to the fishing grounds for your Charleston offshore charter takes a bit longer than the inshore or nearshore trips, but it’s definitely worth it. Your Captain will keep an eye on the birds in the area to know where to start your excursion. The birds follow the migration patterns of pelagic fish, and are a good tip to know where the fish are feeding. Pelagic fish near Charleston include mahi mahi (also known as dolphin), tuna, and sailfish. Mahi Mahi are colorful fish, with bright yellow, green, and blue coloring. They like to find food near the surface of the water, usually under floating grass beds or debris. Baitfish that Mahi Mahi and other pelagics typically prey on gather beneath the floating debris to protect themselves from aerial threats such as seagulls and frigates, but unwittingly make themselves easy targets for predatory fish. Your Charleston captain will troll several lines in the water, baited with shiny bait like ballyhoo or sardines, to attract the fish to the line. Trolling is a technique that is easy to learn but difficult to master. Your captain will have the experience to know just how fast to drive the boat and get the fish’s attention. Once hooked, keep the caught mahi in the water - this allows for the rest of your group to also hook a mahi. Once your catch is boated you can start planning delicious meals of mahi fillets and fish tacos!

Book A Charleston Fishing Charter

Come to Charleston for the history, stay for the history-making fishing trips. You can get your personal best redfish, or try your hand at sight fishing for cobia. The fishing is year-round, so there’s no reason to wait. Plan your visit and reserve your Charleston fishing charter today!

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