Charleston Fishing

Troll the Gulf Stream (Atlantic Ocean)

Troll the Gulf Stream (Atlantic Ocean)

Hooking and reeling in a 50+ pound fish is an incomparable thrill, especially when the experience comes after rousing yourself at 3 a.m. for a two-and-a-half-hour boat ride out to the Gulf Stream. Charleston’s marinas offer a host of offshore guides and charters. Trolling attracts...

Catch Monster Catfish (Lake Moultrie)

Catch Monster Catfish (Lake Moultrie)

Electric utility Santee Cooper built Lakes Marion and Moultrie in the 1940s to generate power, but sixty years later, they’re best known for that project’s welcome byproduct-fish. From bass to crappie, the lakes have historically produced national record catches. Catfish take the prize...

Kayak Fish the Harbor (James Island)

Kayak Fish the Harbor (James Island)

The grassy marshland that lines the West Ashley and James Island side of Charleston harbor is rife with sea trout and redfish. A kayak’s silence and stealth allow anglers a closer approach to their prey than in a motorized craft. Focus on the mouths of small feeder creeks opening up into...

Cast from the Old Cooper River Bridge (Mount Pleasant)

Cast from the Old Cooper River Bridge (Mount Pleasant)

With the recent opening of Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park, fishermen have new access to the waters of Charleston Harbor. The remnants of the infamously narrow bridge over the Cooper River have been repurposed as a fishing pier, and trout, redfish, and sheepshead are all fair game. Bring the...

Surf Angling the Morris Island Lighthouse (Folly Beach)

Surf Angling the Morris Island Lighthouse (Folly Beach)

The former Coast Guard station on the north end of Folly Beach is a favorite local escape with a maritime forest and empty beaches. Set up shop for a day of casting into the surf right where the island turns toward Morris Island and its iconic lighthouse rising from the waves. Fish shrimp...