Charleston South Carolina Fishing Report – June Fly Fishing & Light Tackle Action

Charleston redfish caught on cut mullet

Summer is officially here in Charleston, South Carolina, and with it comes warmer water temperatures, longer days, and an exciting variety of inshore species. As a local Charleston fly fishing and light tackle charter captain, I’ve been spending plenty of time on the water, and the action has been solid despite one major challenge: the wind. It’s been a breezy couple of months, but if you’ve spent any time fishing in the Lowcountry, you know the weather can shift quickly.

Water temperatures are currently in the low 80s in the creeks and range from the mid to high 70s in the main river systems. Baitfish and forage are plentiful grass shrimp, mullet, and mud minnows are thick, and fiddler crabs are working the mud banks on low tides. During our most recent flood tides, redfish were tailing aggressively, a good sign that crab activity is strong.

lowcountry redfish on fly!

Charleston Inshore Fishing Report

Bonnethead sharks have been particularly active around low tide. I’ve had the best success about two hours before or after low tide. Many anglers overlook the fact that bonnetheads are omnivores they’re opportunistic feeders that will eat a wide range of bait. Cut mullet, blue crab, and live shrimp are productive choices. Artificial presentations like Z-Man Kicker CrabZ and 3-inch paddle tails worked slowly are also effective. On fly, I like using an all white bend back minnow or crab patterns like the Strong Arm Crab and Redfish Cracklin. Because bonnetheads have relatively poor vision, lighter fly patterns help stand out against the sandbars.

Flounder love some ned heads

Redfish have been exhibiting typical summertime mood swings, with their feeding windows changing by the day. Still, there are consistent bite patterns if you time your tides right. I’ve been catching redfish on cut menhaden along main shorelines and live shrimp in creeks. Soft plastics like TRDs and paddle tails have also been excellent producers. Artificial shrimp under a popping cork, worked along grassy edges and oyster beds, continue to be a great tactic for inshore redfish. For fly anglers, smaller flies like Clouser Minnows and dark colored sliders are producing well. I recommend using a 3-foot section of 12 pound tippet for better presentation and fewer refusals.

Speckled Trout caught while throwing a small shrimp pattern fly in the creeks

Other inshore species like speckled trout, flounder, and sheepshead have been plentiful. These fish are excellent targets for both light tackle and fly. Fishing in Charleston’s creeks, and oyster lined banks offers consistent action throughout the summer.

Charleston Nearshore Fishing

Nice sharp nose shark

Nearshore fishing just off the beaches of Charleston has been heating up. Big schools of menhaden and glass minnows are stacked in the inlets and nearshore waters. Spanish mackerel are actively feeding on these bait balls, often blitzing on the surface. Small white paddle tails, metal spoons, and other flashy lures have been reliable. For fly anglers, gummy minnows are hard to beat when targeting Spanish.

I’ve also seen king mackerel chasing bait right off the beach so slow trolling along the beach line could pay off big.

Shrimp boat right off of Folly Beach

If you’re looking for something exciting and hands on, shark fishing has been outstanding. The shrimp boats are working close to the beach, and the sharks are right behind them. Dropping a chum bag and drifting just offshore is a fun and productive way to get in on the action. The sharks are not boat-shy and are eager to eat cut bait. My favorite setup is a red marabou fly tied on a long J hook, with the barb flattened for easier release. A hook removal tool is essential if you're targeting sharks regularly.

Summer fishing in Charleston offers some of the best fly fishing and light tackle opportunities on the East Coast. Whether you're chasing tailing redfish on a flood tide, sight fishing bonnetheads on the flats, or hooking into big sharks nearshore, the options are endless this time of year.

I plan to post regular Charleston fishing reports every couple of weeks to keep everyone updated on seasonal patterns and techniques. If you have any questions or are interested in booking a fly fishing or light tackle charter in Charleston, feel free to reach out.

~Capt. Conner