It’s a fishing day

Charleston Harbor fishing conditions · South Carolina

Now until tomorrow 3 pmRed drum

The bite peaks at 63. Water is 67°, inside their 65–85° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Coastal Flood Warning until Monday 11 amRip Current Statement until Monday 8 pmHigh Surf Advisory until Monday 2 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 59 for red drum, marginal · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Red drum, 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. 593 am
  2. 59
  3. 59
  4. 596 am
  5. 59
  6. 63
  7. 599 am
  8. 59
  9. 59
  10. 5912 pm
  11. 63
  12. 63
  13. 593 pm
  14. 59
  15. 59
  16. 596 pm
  17. 63
  18. 59
  19. 599 pm
  20. 59
  21. 59
  22. 59Tue
  23. 63
  24. 63
  25. 593 am
  26. 59
  27. 59
  28. 596 am
  29. 59
  30. 59
  31. 639 am
  32. 59
  33. 59
  34. 5912 pm
  35. 59
  36. 63
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
67°F

Red drum range 65–85°

Wind
12 mph

From the northeast

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:32 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
59°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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.

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

63MarginalNow until tomorrow 3 pm

Water

67°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Red drum prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

63MarginalNow until tomorrow 3 pm

Water

67°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside spotted seatrout's active range. 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

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

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

67°
50°60–82° · ideal 72°92°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside sheepshead's active range. Sheepshead prefers slack tide. 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

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

The water

  • Water temperature67°F
  • Barometer30.27 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:32 am
  • Sunset today6:34 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:20 pm–2:20 pm
  • Minor solunarTonight 6:10 pm–7:10 pm

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 tonight 8 pm to tomorrow 11 amSmall Craft Advisory
75Worth the trip

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.