South Carolina fishing reports
187 reports for South Carolina — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Charleston Harbor Water at 74°F as Carolinas Red Drum Push Tracks South
NOAA buoy 41004 clocked Charleston Harbor-area water at 74°F at midday Sunday — squarely in the range that triggers the Lowcountry's spring transition bite. Coastal Angler Magazine's Haddrell's Point and Tackle May report puts the season in an optimistic light, with Captain Mike Able noting that 'the month of May brings many opportunities to the outdoor enthusiast.' Regional intel from Fisherman's Post — Carolinas saltwater backs that read: bull red drum are pushing hard onto North Carolina beaches from Hatteras through the Cape Lookout shoals, and that southbound migration pattern typically reaches Charleston-area inlets and creek systems within the same May windows. The full moon on May 3 is driving the strongest tidal exchanges of the month — a historically productive setup for redfish, sheepshead, and flounder staging behind structure. Wind was running near 15 knots as of midday Sunday; check the updated marine forecast before heading offshore.
Full Moon Crappie Spawn Peaks at Santee & Lake Murray — Flow 163 cfs
USGS gauge 02160390 recorded a flow of 163 cfs early Saturday morning — modest and stable, which is good news for anglers targeting structure in slack-water coves. The full moon overhead is the defining variable this weekend: crappie traditionally move into the shallows en masse during the full-moon window of the spring spawn, and Wired 2 Fish reported just that dynamic playing out at Grenada Lake on April 24, where guide Trent Goss was "slamming some big slabs" with clients using forward-facing sonar as fish staged pre-spawn. That Mississippi benchmark mirrors what anglers typically find at Santee and Lake Murray at this same calendar point. Expect crappie stacked in 3–6 feet around flooded brush, dock pilings, and cypress knees. Landlocked striped bass at Santee may be transitioning out of their post-spawn recovery — a pattern consistent with the broader Atlantic striper cycle On The Water mapped on May 1. No water temperature reading was available from the overnight gauge; confirming local surface temps before departure is worthwhile.
73° water, light offshore wind — peak tidal fishing window opens
Water temperatures at NOAA buoy 41004 are holding at 73°F with 2.6-foot swells and light offshore winds around 15 knots. Conditions are clean and favorable for presentations across structure. Late April in Charleston Harbor typically brings solid action on spotted seatrout and redfish across dock pilings, oyster beds, and drop-offs as water warms. Flounder should begin transitioning into shallower zones. The light wind pattern supports sight-fishing opportunities, particularly at dawn and dusk when baitfish activity peaks. While specific angler reports for Charleston Harbor haven't surfaced in recent feeds, these conditions align with typical spring-transition patterns that activate inshore gamefish.
Hilton Head Inshore Slam Possible This Week
Anglers landing the inshore slam — redfish, trout, and flounder — in Port Royal Sound and surrounding creeks.
Striped Bass Schooling at Lake Murray
Landlocked stripers chasing threadfin shad on the surface. Gulls working over feeding fish visible from the dam.
Pier Fishing Heats Up Along the Grand Strand
Pier anglers catching whiting, croaker, and the occasional flounder. Spanish mackerel expected to show any day now.
Catfish Capital Living Up to Its Name
Blue and channel catfish feeding heavily in the Santee Cooper system. Trophy blues to 40+ lbs being caught on cut bait.