Offshore fishing
in South Carolina.
2 departure ports. Run distances to named structure, month-by-month bite windows for 6 species, and the rigs that land fish.
Explore seasonal bite windows by port →A close reef or a long ledge run.
Hilton Head’s Betsy Ross Reef is listed about 16 miles out, while Navy Tower R7 is around 50 miles. Charleston’s Georgetown Hole is about 60–65 miles out and the Charleston Bump farther still. South Carolina rewards a precise destination: the fuel and gear for a nearshore reef trip do not describe a Bump run.
Charleston’s blue marlin calendar peaks in May and June, with sailfish peaking July through September. Hilton Head lists summer-to-fall mahi and fall redfish. The two port pages show which water each window belongs to.
Build the bluewater trolling spread →Distances and month windows come from the sourced port guides below.
South Carolina Offshore Ports
All 25 ports →Charleston
A long run to the ledge. A billfish slam waiting at the end.
- Blue MarlinMay–Jun
- MahiApr–Jun
- SailfishJul–Sep
- WahooJan–Feb
Hilton Head
Summer tarpon in the sounds. Blue water 60-plus miles out.
- TarponJul–Sep
- RedfishAug–Oct
- MahiJun–Oct
- Blackfin TunaJun–Sep
What bites, month by month
Combined from 2South Carolina port calendars. A mark means at least one listed port has that window. Open its port guide for the local months.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahi | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 2/2 | |||||
| Sailfish | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | 2/2 | ||||||
| Redfish | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | 2/2 |
| Blue Marlin | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | 1/2 | ||||||
| Wahoo | ● | ● | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | 1/2 | |
| Tarpon | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ● | ● | ● | ◐ | 1/2 |
● Peak at a listed port ◐ Shoulder at a listed port — No window listed
Season guides for South Carolina
Deeper dives into each species window: port comparisons, peak months, and the rig that gets it done.
Regulations
State and federal regulations for South Carolina offshore fishing. Requirements change; verify before you depart.
FAQ: Offshore Fishing in South Carolina
What fish can you catch offshore in South Carolina?
South Carolina offshore fishing covers Mahi, Sailfish, Redfish, Blue Marlin, Wahoo, Tarpon. Peak season varies by species and port.
How many offshore fishing ports are there in South Carolina?
OffshoreHookup covers 2 offshore departure ports in South Carolina: Charleston, Hilton Head.
Which South Carolina offshore port has the best fishing?
It depends on species and season. Charleston is known for Mahi and Sailfish; Hilton Head is known for Tarpon and Redfish.