Most people think of Hilton Head as a golf and beach paradise but it also has some of the best fishing in the state for redfish, tarpon, cobia, bass, red snapper, sheepshead, sea trout and various shark species. Hilton Head Island's near-perfect weather makes it a prime fishing destination year-round—in the spring, cobia start to arrive, especially in the Port Royal Sound and Broad River. You'll also find Spanish mackerel, blue fish around this time of year. The summer months bring the tarpon, an inshore gamefish known for their long runs and incredible leaping ability, to Hilton Head Island's surrounding creeks and the Port Royal Sound. King mackerel and Jack crevalle start to swim inshore and redfish may be found in the marshes at high tide. The best fishing on Hilton Head, though, is in the fall/winter. The fish are gorging themselves for cooler temperatures and it's the peak season to catch redfish, trout, and flounder.
Get Your Fishing License First
Whatever season finds you in Hilton Head with your fishing gear, be sure to pick up a fishing license before you cast your line. South Caroline requires that you must have a license for recreational fishing and for all sport fishing if you're 16 years of age and older, regardless of whether you're fishing from a boat, the pier, or the beach (note that fishing in designated swimming areas in prohibited). If you hire a fishing charter, most Hilton Head Island trips include a fishing license for you and your guests during the trip but if you're casting solo, you can purchase a license at most bait and tackle locations but probably the easiest way is online at SC Department of Natural Resources.
Where To Fish On Hilton Head Island
There are a lot of places to fish on and around the island and here are a few great fishing spots to cast a line. Each of these waterways are prime for fishing but the best spot depends on what you're looking for. If you need equipment, there are several outdoor outfitters around Hilton Head Island where you can rent fishing equipment and purchase bait for your fishing vacation. Call ahead to Island Time vacation rental to confirm the closest outfitter to your home base.
Pinckney Island Fishing Pier - Saltwater fishing is permitted year-round on Pinckney Island. Available species include bluefish, spotted sea trout, flounder, red drum, striped bass, tarpon, saltwater catfish, croaker and shark. Freshwater fishing is prohibited. A South Carolina saltwater fishing license is required. A public boat ramp (CC Haig Landing) is located on south end of Pinckney Island. Freshwater fishing is prohibited.
Palmetto Dunes Lagoon and The Sea Pines Resort Lagoons - The flat, calm waters of the Palmetto Dunes Resort and The Sea Pines Resort both have lagoon systems which are home to several fish, including redfish, trout, tarpon, black drum, and flounder. The lagoon system is open to the general public to fish and serve as a nursery to a variety of saltwater fish species. The waterways run throughout the private Palmetto Dunes community and fishing inside Sea Pines is limited to property owners, their accompanied guests, and rental guests.
Jarvis Creek Park - Located off William Hilton Parkway on Jarvis Creek Road, this 53-acre park includes a large pond, fishing pier, open fields, picnic shelters, playground, restroom facilities, a one-mile walking trail and workout stations. The family friendly fishing dock is a calm spot to teach the kids and is full of large mouth bass and is perfect to teach the kids how to bait, fish, and reel in their first catch. Bass is one of the most popular fish you'll find in the park.
Charles C. Haigh, Jr. Fishing Pier - The Charles C. Haigh Fishing Pier provides visitors with deep saltwater fishing without boarding a boat all year-round. This is as close to deep sea fishing you'll get without a boat.
Daufuskie Island - This quiet island's creeks and streams are perfect for public fishing. Daufuskie Island also offers access to the Intracoastal Waterway off of its northeastern shore, which is where saltwater fish tend to hang out. You can go after anything from rainbow or brown trout to mahi mahi and tarpon. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are wildly popular sport species, as are redfish, striped bass, flounder, and spotted sea trout. Offshore anglers can find marlin, swordfish and tuna.
Fishing Off Shore From Hilton Head Island
If you're looking to catch a broader variety of fish you may want to hire one of the many fishing charters on Hilton Head Island to explore 5–25 miles from the Island, where the waters are dotted with artificial wrecks and reefs. In the fall and spring, you'll find grouper, snapper, black sea bass and more swimming off Hilton Head Island's coast. In the summer, amberjack, cobia, Spanish mackerel, and king mackerel make their appearance. Be sure to check with your charter guide about catch and release regulations as these can change throughout the year.
Many Hilton Head Island fishing charters offer a deep-sea excursion for seasoned fishers. For more fish, less fishers, and a true deep-sea fishing experience, look for trips that take you 40+ miles from the coast. Snapper, amberjack, triggerfish, and more are what you'll find in these deep waters. In 90 feet of water, a network of coral, rocky ledges and outcrops holds some of the best fishing available.
Then you have Navy Towers R7 and R8, roughly 50 miles from shore, which are popular spots for local fishers to catch many of the fish mentioned above and also barracuda. Even further out, the Gulf Stream (60-80 miles from shore) offers big game fishing like mahi mahi, blackfin tuna, sailfish, snapper and more. Gulf Stream trips are an all-day affair as they usually begin at daw and run about 12 hours.
Fishing regulations in South Carolina are in effect for all fishing within three miles of Hilton Head Island's shores. You cannot fish or sharks or stingrays from the shore at any time. If they happen to nibble on your line, simply cast them back into the sea. Beyond the three miles, federal fishing regulations apply. There are few species which are illegal to catch in South Carolina, though size and bag limits do apply. It's best to always check the regulations.
A final word and a friendly reminder before you grab your gear and head out—please keep in mind that no matter where you're fishing from, remember to keep the waters and shore clean. There are endangered loggerhead sea turtle nests along the shores of Hilton Head Island from May to October, and fishing line and bait prime distractions and hazardous for hatchlings.
