It’s a fishing day

Charleston Harbor fishing conditions · South Carolina

Now until 7 pmSpotted seatrout

The bite peaks at 90. Water is 70°, close to the 72° spotted seatrout like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 90 for spotted seatrout, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Spotted seatrout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 904 pm
  2. 90
  3. 90
  4. 827 pm
  5. 80
  6. 80
  7. 8010 pm
  8. 80
  9. 80Sun
  10. 801 am
  11. 80
  12. 80
  13. 804 am
  14. 80
  15. 80
  16. 807 am
  17. 80
  18. 80
  19. 8010 am
  20. 80
  21. 80
  22. 721 pm
  23. 72
  24. 72
  25. 724 pm
  26. 70
  27. 70
  28. 707 pm
  29. 70
  30. 70
  31. 7010 pm
  32. 70
  33. 70Mon
  34. 701 am
  35. 70
  36. 70
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
70°F

Spotted seatrout range 60–85°

Wind
6 mph

From the northeast

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:24 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
72°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are South Carolina regulations for these waters.

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

90GoNow until 7 pm

Water

70°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Right in spotted seatrout's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" minimum, 10/person/day.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. Likes an incoming tide. More on spotted seatrout

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

90GoNow until 7 pm

Water

70°
50°60–82° · ideal 72°92°

Why

Right in sheepshead's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–40 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" minimum, 10/person/day (max 30 per boat).

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. Likes slack water. More on sheepshead

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

78Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

70°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside red drum's active range. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 25" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 18–25" slot, 1/person/day, 2 per boat (state waters), since Jul 1, 2026. No possession in federal waters; no gigging Dec 1–Feb 28.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. Likes an incoming tide. More on red drum

The water

  • Water temperature70°F
  • Barometer29.94 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:24 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:43 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:50 pm–4:50 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. South Carolina DNR publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The Lowcountry estuary around Charleston — a year-round inshore fishery for redfish, spotted seatrout, and sheepshead over the oyster banks and grass flats, with bull reds at the jetties in fall. Fished from skiffs, the surf, and the harbor jetties. Live tide and water temperature from the Charleston station.

SC: redfish 15–23" slot, 2/day; seatrout 14" minimum, 10/day. Sight-fishing the flooded grass on big tides is a Lowcountry signature.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Folly Beach9 mi · South CarolinaBest now until tomorrow 6 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Charleston Harbor?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Charleston Harbor you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Charleston Harbor?

Charleston Harbor is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Sheepshead. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Charleston Harbor?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Charleston Harbor against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Charleston Harbor have?

Charleston Harbor has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. SC: redfish 15–23" slot, 2/day; seatrout 14" minimum, 10/day. Sight-fishing the flooded grass on big tides is a Lowcountry signature.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Charleston Harbor?

state agency regulations apply at Charleston Harbor. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Charleston Harbor tidal water?

Yes. Charleston Harbor sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.