Catch and Release: Conservation and Redfish in the Lowcountry

A happy client releasing a Redfish back into the creek. This fish was caught off of Kiawah River on artificial.

Why Catch and Release Matters in the Lowcountry

For generations, the rivers and marshes of the Carolinas sustained my family. As a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, my ancestors lived from these waters, and today I still do the same as a fishing guide in Charleston and Folly Beach. My livelihood depends on a healthy fishery, and so does the next generation.

Redfish and Conservation

Redfish are the backbone of Charleston and Folly Beach’s inshore fishing. These fish can live more than 40 years, but their slow growth makes them vulnerable to overharvest. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), nearly 150,000 redfish have been tagged since the 1980s. Reported recaptures show important details about growth rates, migration, and survival.

Local anglers have stepped up through programs like “Release Over 20.” Larger redfish, or “bulls,” are critical breeders that produce far more eggs than smaller fish. By letting them go, or avoiding them during their spawn, we help ensure stronger future numbers. Charleston also hosts catch and release tournaments, where anglers compete without removing fish and share results directly with SCDNR biologists.

This picture doesn't do just how big this Folly Beach redfish was. I am looking forward to catching him again one day.

Safe Handling for Redfish

• Keep the fish in the water when possible. If you need a photo, plan ahead and limit air exposure.

• Use a rubber or soft knotless net. Handle the fish only with wet hands and avoid contact with dry surfaces, eyes, and gills.

• Do not drop the fish. On my boat, I have clients sit while handling fish to lower the chance of a drop on deck.

• Support the body horizontally and avoid vertical jaw holds.

• Dehook in the water when you can. If a hook is deep, cut the line close to the hook.

• Take time to revive the fish. Face it into the current and move it gently until it swims off strong.

My Approach

I eat fish, but I keep it simple. If my wife and I want fish for dinner, I take only what we need and never freeze extra. I also target faster-reproducing species like trout, flounder, or sheepshead. Redfish go back. Being proactive is easier than trying to repair a collapsed fishery.

One of my clients once released his first redfish near Folly Beach after a long fight on fly. Watching that fish swim away gave him a new perspective. He told me later it was more rewarding than keeping it. Moments like that show why catch and release works.

Winter time redfish back in Charleston water. Still living happy and healthy I hope.

Protecting the Future

Charleston’s waters are a national destination for fly and light tackle fishing. Protecting those resources matters for the environment, the economy, and the culture of the Lowcountry. For me, it also ties back to heritage. I hope I’m making my ancestors proud by protecting a resource that was so important to them. Practicing catch and release honors the past and secures the future of the fishery for generations to come.