Photo by Clay LeConey on Unsplash
Charleston is a beautiful, historic city that has water all around it. Laying on the Atlantic coast with many rivers, Charleston is an excellent destination for fishing. There are many different options for the best fishing trips in Charleston SC. I am here to help you find the best one for you.
Many companies offer more than just fishing trips. You can book water exploration trips, days out just relaxing on the water, and general fun with a boat. But hands down, the best way to enjoy the water is on a boat. And to spend a day with a rod and reel in one hand and a cold drink in the other.
Charlestonians love to fish and are proud of their seafood and what the water provides them. You will find this at pretty much any restaurant in Charleston.
With Charleston’s location in the country, you are able to fish the waters all year long. If you are looking for inshore, nearshore, or offshore fishing, you will be able to find it throughout the year in Charleston.
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Being a coastal city, Charleston has many different fishing options. Either out in the ocean, the rivers, next to the marshes, or lakes, Charleston will give you a fantastic experience.
The best way to spend a day is fishing with friends or family or just being on the water. These are the companies that will give you the best fishing trips and experiences in Charleston SC. They will have captains with many years of experience to give you the adventure that you are looking for.
It doesn’t matter if you have been fishing for your entire life or if this is your first time. The captains will make sure that you will have the best time out on the water.
Sit back and enjoy a day in Charleston from a completely different perspective and catch some amazing fish!
Location: 145 Lockwood Dr. Charleston, SC 29403
RedFin has the highest-rated fishing guides in Charleston for inshore, offshore, and fly fishing. They have been named “Best Fishing Charter” in Charleston for 5 years straight by the Charleston City Paper. RedFin has a large fleet of boats with some of the best gear.
They offer many amenities to help make the fishing trips more memorable. Including items such as coolers, sunscreen, complimentary water, and even cigars. RedFin has a passion for preserving the waterways and local fish populations in the Charleston area. They have partnered with The South Carolina Aquarium’s Redfish Exhibit, Charleston Water Keeper, and ToadFish Outfitters.
Location: Multiple Departure Locations – Wappoo Cut Boat Landing. Folly Beach Landing, and Shem Creek Park
Charleston Charter Fishing has a specialty in inshore fishing. They have been providing light tackle fishing charters for over a decade in the Charleston area. The locations they specialize in are Kiawah Island, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, and Sullivan’s Island.
They are available all year long for fishing trips. Charleston Charter Fishing is guided by Captain Geoff Bennett. He provides a safe and enjoyable experience for all skill levels of anglers. Charleston Charter Fishing provides tackle, bait, fishing licenses, soft drinks, and snacks on their trips.
Location: Multiple Departure Locations
AquaSafaris is an all-in-one go-to company for all your water needs. They offer fishing trips for those looking for inshore and offshore fishing. The company has a variety of different style boats to cover all your different fishing needs from marshes to the deep sea. They accept all levels of anglers for their trips.
If you are looking for something else to do besides fish, they have you covered. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, rent the 100-person catamaran for a party out in the harbor. AquaSafaris also provides sailboats to take tours on. They provide many locations to get on the boats to have an adventure of a lifetime.
Location: Multiple Departure Locations – Wapoo Cut Boat Landing, Limehouse Landing, and Shem Creek Park
All In One Charters is one of Charleston’s top inshore fishing charters. They are also one of the best nearshore and deep sea fishing tours. All In One Charters has been nominated 3 years in a row as Charleston’s top 5 best fishing Charter by Charleston City Paper. They also received a 2019 certificate of excellence from TripAdvisor.
All In One Charters has 4 great Captains that specialize in inshore, nearshore, and deep sea fishing. They have 4 charter boats in their fleet. Besides amazing fishing trips, they also offer wildlife, scenic, history, and adventure tours. The company offers tours anywhere from 2 to 9 hours in length.
Location: Isle of Palms
Adventure Outdoors is a small, locally-owned business that is operated by a Charleston native. This is one of the smaller companies on the list, but he comes highly recommended. His main objective is to provide his guests with one of the best fishing charters in Charleston.
Adventure Outdoors is run by Captain Fritz Von Kolnitz who grew up on Shem Creek. He likes to run a complete charter. They will provide you with bait, tackle, ice in a cooler, and your fishing license. All that you need to bring besides yourself is food and drink for your trip.
Location: Multiple Departure Locations – Wappoo Cut Boat Landing, Folly River Boat Ramp, and Shem Creek Park
Charleston Fish Rod Bending Company specializes in Deep Sea fishing, inshore fishing, Bull Redfish fishing, and Shark fishing trips. They offer eco-tour trips as well and can combine them with their fishing trips to make a unique experience. Charleston Fish Rod Bending Company has been taking experienced and casual anglers out on the water for over a decade.
This company is led by Captain Kevin Blair and who is a full-time professional Captain and has been fishing his entire life. All of the fishing charters are on boats that hold up to 6 passengers. If the party has more, they will have multiple boats to accommodate the group. Charleston Fish Rod Bending Company offers charters that take place in the morning and afternoon.
Locations: Multiple Departure Locations in Mount Pleasant – Shem Creek Park, Remley’s Point Marina, and Ripley Light Marina
The Reel Deal Charters provides its clients with inshore, offshore, and deep-sea fishing tours. They will have state-of-the-art equipment and tackle for the trips. The Reel Deal Charters’ main specialty is deep-sea saltwater fishing.
They have a total of 7 Captains on their staff and are led by Captain Shane Flannigan. The company has been doing fishing trips since 2004. Besides fishing tours, The Reel Deal Charters also have tours that will explore dolphin watching, eco, shark teeth finding, and sightseeing.
Locations: Multiple Departure Locations – Charleston, Kiawah Island, Edisto Island, Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, and Seabrook Island
Charleston Fishing Company specializes in inshore and nearshore fishing trips. All of the trips are made to be private and custom. They like to make the trip as specific as you want them to be. There are other trips that they offer as well, such as sightseeing, dolphin, seashell, and shark teeth tours.
Charleston Fishing Company is run by Captain Stephen Fields. Captain Fields is a certified and licensed US Coast Guard Captain and Maritime Officer. He has one boat that he operates out of, which is a 2015 22ft Blue Wave 2200 Pure Bay. Captain Fields uses top-of-the-line Okuma Fishing Rods and Reels and Fins Braided fishing line. The tackle he uses is Zman, Live Target, and Aqua Dream Spoons and Spinner baits.
Location: Kiawah Island
Affinity Charters offers inshore, nearshore, and reef fishing trips in the Kiawah Island area. They offer half-day fishing trips for light tackle and fly fishing. The two boats that they use can go into less than 10 inches of water to get you close to some great catches. All the trips are custom-designed and private. Besides fishing trips, Affinity Charters also does eco-tours, harbor and sunset cruises, and dolphin trips.
Affinity Charters is owned and operated by a Charleston native, Captain John Ward Jr. Captain Ward is a full-time fishing guide and has two current IGFA world records while fishing with his customers. He also has a history and biology degree from the College of Charleston. Affinity Charters will provide all tackle, bait, ice, fishing license, and photography during the trip.
Location: Wappo Cut Boat Landing
Fin Stalker Charters is a fishing trip company that will have you fishing inshore or offshore. They specialize in fishing the waters around Charleston, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Edisto Island, and Isle of Palms. They will take care of tackle, bait, ice, and fishing licenses for your trip.
Fin Stalker Charters is owned and operated by Captain Chris Chavis, who is a Charleston native. They have two boats that they use, one 17ft for inshore fishing and a 29ft for offshore fishing. The inshore boat will hold up to 3 anglers while the offshore boat will hold 6. Captain Chavis wants to make your trip safe, memorable, and productive.
Location: Multiple Departure Locations
Long Overdue Charters specializes in inshore and nearshore fishing trips. The boat that you are fishing on is a custom-built boat with a sight fishing tower that makes fishing a lot better. Your Captain is a Charleston native, Captain Brandon Long. He has been fishing the water of Charleston his entire life.
Besides fishing trips, Long Overdue Charters also offers many other different trips and tours. Some of these include Shark fishing, dolphin encounters, shelling, and history/sightseeing trips. If you are interested in just getting away for a bit on a beach, he can help you out. Long Overdue Charters do private beach getaways as well.
Charleston is one of the best places on the East Coast to fish. With all the different types of fishing to do, inshore, nearshore, and offshore, the possibilities are endless.
Having many different rivers, the harbor, and the Atlantic Ocean, Charleston gives a unique fishing experience. With all of these options and the number of fishing trips available, you will always find the fishing to be great in Charleston SC.
While the prices for all of these companies differ, the average 4-hour fishing trip will cost around 0. Also given all the different types of charters and tours that are available, the pricing can fluctuate.
Offshore or deep-sea fishing is going to cost more than inshore and nearshore trips. The majority of pricing you see as well is based around 2 people going on the fishing trips.
There are a variety of ranges I have seen for the companies listed above. But, plan on paying between 0 to 50 for your fishing trips. Everyone who has taken a fishing trip has said that it is always worth it and one of the best experiences of their lives.
The truth is, there really isn’t a bad time to fish in Charleston. There really is not a bad month to go fishing. It all comes down to which type of fish you are fishing for and what month they bite the best.
With this, Charleston has a large variety of fish to catch in the water. Look forward throughout the year to catching fish such as Tarpon, Wahoo, Sea Trout, and many more.
January is typically the coldest month in Charleston. It can drop below 32 degrees, but it rarely happens. This month is best spent doing inshore fishing. The best fish to catch during January are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
Though February is still cold, it does start to warm up in the last couple of weeks. The water temperatures are starting to rise as well, which is starting to make offshore fishing come alive. Stick to inshore fishing for a little bit longer. The best fish to catch during February are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
Spring in Charleston really starts in March. The temperatures are warming up, you can even get into the 80s by the end of the month. Charleston’s water is warming up inshore and offshore and the activity is increasing for the fish. The rainy season is starting but not too strong yet. Enjoy fishing inshore and start venturing offshore. The best fish to catch during March are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
Charleston is officially celebrating spring. Tourist season is starting to pick up in Charleston, so you will start to see a lot more people in the city. Offshore fishing is starting to pick up and you will see more bites happening. The rainy season is still slow. The best fish to catch during April are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
Charleston is in full tourist season by this point and before the summer starts and brings all the humidity. Offshore fishing is really going strong and starting to hit the best times for it. The rain will start to pick up since the main rainy season is about to come in full swing. In May, you can expect to start reeling in some sharks. The best fish to catch during May are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
Now things are really getting going with fishing in Charleston. We have officially truly started the whole rainy season as the hurricane season has kicked off. The temperatures are rising and by the end of the month, the humidity will start to kick in some. Offshore fishing is going strong since we are now in the best couple of months of the year for it. The best fish to catch during June are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
In July, summer is in full swing and Charleston is at its main tourist season. By this time the water around Charleston is starting to warm up enough for people to constantly be swimming in it. Chances are there is an afternoon thunderstorm every day. This month and the next are the best for offshore fishing. With the emergence of Tarpon, inshore fishing is exploding. The best fish to catch during July are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
August is the peak of summer in Charleston with the humidity in full effect. The rainy season is in full force with daily afternoon thunderstorms. Offshore fishing is going strong, especially with the marlins. This is the peak month for catching tarpon, making all fly fishermen happy. The best fish to catch during August are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
September starts off strong with the heat and humidity but by the end of the month, it is starting to become comfortable again. The water around Charleston is warm now from heating up all summer long. Inshore fishing starts to move to the front as the better option for fishing again. The best fish to catch during September are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
The temperature starts to cool off as fall starts to set in. Charleston is coming up to the end of the rainy season so the rain isn’t as often. There is still activity offshore for fishing but inshore is where the majority of the action is. The best fish to catch during October are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
Charleston is officially in autumn. The rains have quieted for a time. Charleston’s temperature is dropping and the tourists have slowed down. The water temperature is starting to drop as well, slowing down the offshore fishing season. Inshore fishing is strong, especially around structures that are in the water. The best fish to catch during November are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
December is a lot like January where everything has slowed down with the cooler waters. The local fish are still going strong here but pretty much every warm-water fish has moved on for the season. Unless you go way offshore, inshore fishing is going to be your best bet. The best fish to catch during December are the following:
Fish that are good to catch as well are:
Learning about the tide in Charleston is a major thing to study. Charleston has some crazy tidal cycles. You can see the water rise 6 feet easily, sometimes more with the moon’s position. When you spend time in Charleston you will be able to see the streets of downtown flood during high tide.
Charleston is located in what is called the Lowcountry. This area is affected by the tides greatly. You will want to keep an eye on the tides while you are in a boat. It is very easy to get stuck somewhere by boat. At which point you will have to wait for the tide to come back in to get out of where you get stuck.
This is a great tide chart with lots of info that is needed to secure your best catch in Charleston. This website will give you updates on wind speed and direction, UV effect on fishing, and best bite times. This is a great tool to have while you venture out on the waters of Charleston.
Being the great fishing city that Charleston is, there are plenty of fishing tournaments that happen. Tournaments happen throughout the year except in the winter. If you are looking to join a tournament just click on this link to learn more about the dates and times for each tournament.
Spring Tournaments:
Summer Tournaments:
Fall Tournaments:
RedFin such as harbor cruises, sunset cruises, and dolphin charters. You can also build your adventure with them which includes shark teeth hunting.
Charleston Fishing Charters is great for families. Captain Geoff Bennett learned from his father and likes to pass that on. He likes to have families share the same experiences that he grew up with.
All In One Charters is great for families as they specialize in many different types of tours that include family outings and birthday parties.
Charleston Fish Rod Bending Company has specifically designed tours for younger anglers and families. Since the size of the boats holds up to 6, this is perfect for the ideal family size.
The Reel Deal Charters is great for families that want to do many things. They will make a specialized itinerary that works for the whole family. Some may want to fish and some may want to do a dolphin tour. All of these are tours with them.
Affinity Charters has select trips that are designed for kids and families. You can also check out other types of tours that are done for the whole family.
RedFin has great private trips such as hosting bachelor parties that include Fireball shots and tons of free swag.
AquaSafaris is a perfect company for your company trip. The 100-person catamaran is the perfect size to host a private party. AquaSafaris also provides wedding events aboard the Palmetto Breeze.
All In One Charters has many different private trips that are designed for work events, large groups, bachelor, and bachelorette parties.
Charleston Fish Rod Bending Company is an ideal company for private groups. Their boats hold up to 6 and they can arrange to have multiple boats for your fishing expedition.
The Reel Deal Charters has specific charters made just for groups. They have packages that will handle groups of 6 to 50. They will provide what is needed for the type of private trip, like bachelor/bachelorette parties and corporate events.
Charleston Fishing Company is made specifically for private trips. All of the trips are custom-made for the client to make them 100% private tours.
Affinity Charters is a company that makes every fishing trip and tour custom. That way, every trip is private and each boat can hold up to 6 people.
Long Overdue Charters has some special tours and trips set up for private trips. Besides fishing, you can head out to a private beach getaway or host a private party. Note that he can only hold up to 6 people in his boat.
There are many great places to stay in Charleston when on vacation. Being one of the most visited places in The United States, Charleston has a plethora of places to stay at.
One of the places I recommend is Shem Creek Inn. This is a great location by Shem Creek Park where several charters are located. You are close to some great restaurants and a short drive to downtown Charleston.
Another great place to stay is the Holiday Inn Charleston Riverview. This is a great hotel on the water next to the city marina. You are in a great location to get to Folly Beach but also across the river to downtown Charleston.
Also check out my page – Where to Stay in Charleston SC: Best Hotels and Locations for the best places while visiting Charleston.
Charleston is an amazing place to fulfill your fishing trip needs. The location of Charleston is a coastal city, which makes fishing a dream. As you have learned too, all of the charters offer more than just fishing because Charleston has a lot to offer everyone.
I promise though, that you will enjoy all your fishing experiences while in the Charleston area. By the time your fishing vacation in Charleston is over, you will agree with me. And you will say to yourself, “These fishing trips in Charleston SC have been some of the best”.
No matter what type of fishing you are into, this list of the best fishing trips in Charleston SC will help you have the best trip. I hope that you get to enjoy more than one trip while visiting. Sit back, open a beer, cast that line, and enjoy your fishing trips in Charleston SC.
If you are enjoying Charleston, check out a few of my other posts to help make your vacation stay a great experience.
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