Hilton Head Island Fishing Seasons

Here is breakdown of the species and types of fishing during the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter months found in the inshore waters that surround Hilton Head Island.

SPRING FISHING

(3-6hr trip is recommended)

Cobia, Redfish, Trout, Spanish Mackerel, Tripletail, Sharks, and several other species. (main fish targeted are highlighted bold in red for the months listed)

March-April: fishing inshore for Redfish, trout, black drum and sheepshead is excellent with redfish (2-12lbs) as the main target using light tackle spin and fly gear.

Late April-May: Cobia (15-30+lbs) begin to arrive in the large numbers in the Calibougie and Port Royal Sounds. Fishing with bait is the most common method but on calm days with light winds sight casting to cruising fish on the surface is an absolute blast with artificial lures or flies. Redfish (2-12lbs) start to work their way up into marsh flats at high tide looking for fiddler crabs and can be sight fished when they are tailing at high tide with spin or fly gear. Several species of Sharks ranging 2-5ft can be found inshore in the sounds and creeks surrounding Hilton Head Island. 

SUMMER FISHING

(3-6hr trip is recommended)

Tarpon, Redfish, Jack Crevalle, Tripletail, Sharks, Trout, Mackerel and several other species.

Late June-August :Tarpon (75-125+lbs) arrive in the sounds and backwater creeks that surround Hilton Head and are one the most exciting gamefish to catch due to their explosive runs and incredible leaping ability. Jack Crevalle (15-30+lbs)  can be sight fished on fly or spin and are pound-for-pound one of the hardest fighting fish that swims in our inshore waters.Tailing Redfish (4-10+lbs) on the high tide flats with spin and fly is at its peak during these months as well. Several species of Sharks (5-75+lbs) are inshore, nearshore in the sounds and are a blast to catch on light tackle while targeting tarpon. Tripletail (1-10+lbs) can be sight fished on the surface during the summer as well. 

FALL FISHING

(3-6hr trip is recommended)

Bull Redfish, Redfish, Trout, Black Drum, Sheepshead and several other species.

September-October Big Bull Redfish (15-30+lbs) are the main target as they are available in great numbers inshore in the sounds and sand bars that surround Hilton Head Island. Sight fishing for tailing redfish at high tide can also still be very good during these months. Speckled Trout (1-3+lbs) are in abundance during all of the fall and early winter months and it's not uncommon to catch a limit of trout during your charter.

WINTER FISHING

(3-6hr trip is recommended)

Redfish, Bull Redfish, Trout, Black Drum, Sheeps Head and several other species.

Redfish (2-12lbs) during the winter is a peak time to target large schools of hungry redfish on the low tide flats and creeks using spin or fly gear. Offshore/Nearshore fishing during the winter months can be epic for Big Bull Redfish found 5-15 miles off of Hilton Head in big schools using artificial and flies. Other species we target during the winter months are Sheeps Head, Speckled Trout and Black Drum.