Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Hilton Head (A Guide)
Hilton Head is one of the most popular and best fishing spots on the eastern coastline. Knowing the best seasons and times of day to fish in Hilton Head can make a huge difference for your fishing success.
The best time to fish Hilton Head is May through early September for redfish, mackerel, cobia, black seabass, amberjack, and flounder due to an influx of warmer water and offshore current upwelling.
| Fish Species | Best Times to Fish in Hilton Head |
| Mackerel (Spanish & King) | May through late August is the best time for mackerel in these waters. |
| Redfish | April through October is the prime redfish season in South Carolina waters. |
| Cobia | June through mid-September is the best time for cobia. |
| Black Seabass | May through the middle of July is the best season for black seabass in Hilton Head. |
| Amberjack | May through the end of August is the best time to fish. |
Hilton Head is a somewhat large island just off the coast of southern South Carolina. Along with great food, and beautiful views, this area offers diverse areas to fish and diverse species to catch. There are plenty of inshore spots near the island and offshore fishing not too far away. Most of the water in the area is going to be saltwater or brackish water.
Best Time to Fish Hilton Head
Summer is known as the best time to fish Hilton Head. Most of the time, dawn and dusk will be great times to fish, along with the times approaching high tide. Some species to target during the summer are amberjack, redfish, and cobia.
Those three fish are reason enough to want to book a trip in the summer, but there are plenty more fish that run to Hilton Head in the summer. You can still find fish during other times, but the fishing won’t be the best the area has to offer, fishing the area while the fish are running up to the warmer water will make for a great trip.
Top Species of Hilton Head: Best Times
Amberjack
Amberjack makes their way to Hilton Head in the summer, they follow baitfish and warmer water to both inshore and offshore spots near Hilton Head. They will also be a lot more active during the summer, being less scattered and in shallower waters.
Using local baitfish will be a good bet to catch amberjack. Shrimp can also work, but a live fish is more enticing to big amberjack. A rig that is heavy enough to get down to the fish and equipment to be able to pull them back up is extremely important, amberjack is a great fighter and can easily break your line if you’re ill-equipped.
Usually, you can find amberjack while offshore fishing. They like to hang around warm water, structure, and baitfish. Seeing that there are artificial wrecks in the Hilton Head area, those would be good spots to try first. These spots include concrete reefs, sunk ships, tanks, tugboats, and even subway cars.
Cobia
During the summer, cobia will make their way into the inshore areas of Hilton Head and hang around there until mid-fall. There are regulations for cobia, their numbers have been on a steady decline, so you can’t keep any and you can only fish for them in-shore.
Cobia makes a huge run into Hilton Head around mid-May, but they can be caught through early fall. Usually, if you’re looking for size, late summer is a great time to catch some bigger fish as they stock up for winter, if you’re looking for numbers, fishing their run to Hilton Head in May is a great option.
Cobia will bite on anything that looks like a shiny baitfish. Whether it’s live bait, lures, or a fly, you should be able to get a hungry one to bite with the right technique. A good way to produce a lot of fish is to change your retrieve almost every cast until you find the most productive pattern.
Cobia makes their way to Hilton Head in May because they like to spawn there. Generally, you can find them inshore and can even sight fish for them. The cobia fishing will slow down during late fall and winter when the water gets colder, making the cobia scatter and go out to deeper water.
Mackerel (Spanish & King)
Both Spanish and King Mackerel are present in Hilton Head, they generally make their run to Hilton Head during the summer to follow large schools of baitfish migrating north as the water warms up.
Trolling spoons around the edge of a school or reef is a very productive way of catching mackerel, they will also go for live bait but will get spooked if you get too close to them or make too much noise. So, a lighter rig or a rig where you don’t need to cast(like trolling) are your best options.
Inshore reefs are great spots for mackerel. There is plenty of baitfish and cover in these areas, offering lots of feeding opportunities for these hunters. They will also roam from spot to spot, so finding a school between reefs or wrecks can make for a great day of mackerel fishing.
Redfish
Redfish can be found most of the year in Hilton Head, with the best seasons being spring and fall. Usually, in spring and fall they’re going to be around inshore reefs, during the summer they’ll be tucked away in the lagoon system.
Redfish like poppers, live bait and suspending crankbaits. Anything that imitates the local baitfish or shrimp will work great. Using live bait on a small jig head can be very effective early or late in the day when the redfish are in shallower areas.
The Palmetto Dunes Lagoon System is a great summer spot for redfish, the water is warm, and vegetation is plentiful, making it an attractive summer home for these fish. During the spring and fall, they move out deeper, into inshore waters and generally sit around reefs and wrecks, sitting in the sun.
Grassy flats are also very productive areas as the redfish hide in the grass to get cover from the sun and predators, the grass also helps them sneak up on prey.
Black Seabass
Black seabass is very common to find in Hilton Head. They aren’t as big as some of the other fish on this list, but the amount that you can catch in a short time and table fare makes up for it. Black seabass can be caught year-round here, but from May to late June, they will be spawning in depths anywhere from 10 to 40 feet.
You can use a jig with either a shrimp, small baitfish, or plastic to catch these fish. Generally, you’ll want to drop it to about 3-5 inches off the bottom and jig. You’ll want to use some lighter tackle, so they put up more of a fight.
Black seabass can be found in a lot of different spots. The main ones are inshore and offshore structure, inshore drop-offs and sometimes you’ll even find them while you’re deep-sea fishing.
Recommended Fishing Charters near Hilton Head
These Hilton Head-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Type of Fishing Offered |
| Fins Up Adventure Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| Rainmaker Fishing Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| Carolina Rig Fishing Charter | Inshore & Offshore |
| Blue Pearl Marine Fishing | Inshore & Offshore |
| Captain Buddy’s | Inshore & Offshore |
| Top Shot Sport Fishing Hilton Head | Inshore & Offshore |
| Off Duty Charters | Inshore & Nearshore |
| Black Dog Fishing Charters | Inshore & Nearshore |
Best Time of Day to Fish Hilton Head
Dawn and dusk are great times to fish Hilton Head during the summer, the water is cooling down at these times and fish will be more willing to roam around and look for food. Also, baitfish will move shallower, which brings the game fish shallower as well, making surf and inshore fishing a great time.
During spring and fall, mid-day fishing is great. The water is the warmest during midday, but not nearly as hot as it would be during the summer. This increases the window of time that gamefish will be active.
During the winter, late morning and afternoon are solid times to try to get into some fish. The water will still be cold, but the slight increase in water temperature will make fish more active.
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic to create your combo.
Tidal Impacts on Hilton Head Fishing
The tides have a huge impact on fishing, no matter what part of the ocean you are fishing. Fish will be much more active as the tide is rising, tapering off as the water starts to stabilize. When the water levels start to go down, so does the fishing. Low tide can produce fish, but not nearly as much as the times approaching high tide.
Affect of Rain & Tropical Storms on Fishing in Hilton Head
Hilton Head has had its fair share of experience with tropical storms, as most east coast towns have. Even if a tropical storm is 100 miles south, it can still affect fishing here by sending winds and strong rains north. This can make fishing difficult, but the best way to find fish would be to avoid the weather how they do.
Meaning that if the winds are coming from the south, it’d be a good idea to fish either the north side of the island, out of the winds, or south-facing reef if you’re going further offshore. The wind will push baitfish up to the south-facing structure, bringing in bigger fish. Do not go out fishing during a tropical storm in the area, no fish is worth the possible damages brought by tropical storms.
Night Fishing in Hilton Head
Hilton Head offers a great selection of different types of fishing, which can be made even better by going at night. The island offers a complex system of lagoons and inlets. Broad Creek is a large river running from the southwest side to the northeast side of the island.
This creek’s current starts in the ocean, connecting to other rivers that go into the mainland. The areas on the island offer lots of vegetation and structure, making it an anglers paradise. Better yet, the creek has plenty of spots and most of them are accessible from shore. Using live pinfish or shrimp at night has proven to be very effective to target a mixed bag of fish.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish the Georgia Coast, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Murrells Inlet, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Shore & Surf Fishing in Hilton Head
Hilton Head offers world-class shore and surf fishing. With plenty of inlets, rivers, and piers in the area, you’ll never run out of spots. Looking to have a relaxing day on the beach and to catch fish at the same time? Burkes, South, and Fish Haul beaches all offer great fishing.
Looking for more of an adventure? You can find some great fishing with a little extra work around Pinckney National Wildlife Refuge. Where-ever you go, you can be certain that you’ll find plenty of fish.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Charleston, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Myrtle Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Beaufort, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in South Carolina, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Best Fishing Spots in Hilton Head
Surf/Shore Fishing
Chechessee River
This is a huge river on the north side of the island, with plenty of opportunities to do any kind of fishing your heart desires. There are docks and beaches right on the river and you can find more spots by crossing the bridge to the mainland. You’ll never know what you’ll pull up next at this spot, with that much water in front of you, it may be hard to target a certain fish, but you will be getting fish.
Jarvis Creek Park
This spot is on the north side of the island and has a large freshwater lake with a fishing pier. The most common fish caught here are largemouth bass and bluegill. Some alligators live in the pond so as always, respect the wildlife in these areas.
South Beach
South Beach is more than just pristine water and beautiful beaches, you can fish anywhere on the beach or in Calibogue creek, just north of the beach. Live bait and heavy surf setups will be able to catch almost any fish here. You can catch almost any species that live around the island at this spot.
Charles C. Haigh Jr Fishing Pier
This pier is located on Pinckney island, offering clearer, more open water than those of the refuge. You can catch any kind of inshore species you want by using a decently heavy surf setup and either shrimp or baitfish. The pier is open year-round and doesn’t involve a fee.
In-shore
Palmetto Dunes Lagoon System
Palmetto Dunes is a great area with a very diverse ecosystem. You can fish this spot from shore but may need to get permission from property owners. This area offers great redfish, snook, and tarpon and is a relatively easy area to figure out. You can use live bait on a jig or hard lures to cover more water. Try to fish the outer edges of the weed lines and drop-offs and you’ll bring in plenty of fish.
The area between the island and mainland
This area offers all kinds of fishing in one area. From fishing small inlets for trout to fishing the open water for snapper and shark, you’ll be able to find a spot that will satisfy your itch to catch something. You can run towards the mainland and fish some of the creeks and rivers for a simple day of fishing, or you can go towards Calibogue Sound and see the full potential of what the ocean has to offer. There are plenty of areas towards the north side of the island as well, with Pinckney island and CC Haigh Bridge, offering plenty of structure and great fishing.
Skull Creek
Skull Creek is a channel on the north side of the island, offering plenty of open water to fish. You can find redfish, cobia, and plenty of other inshore species here. Summer is a great time to fish this spot as fish will go into the creek’s shallower water as it warms up. Using live shrimp or baitfish will catch you in almost every species in this area.
Off-shore
Generally speaking, if you’re going offshore, you’re going to have a charter. Your captain will probably look for offshore wrecks, reefs, and other deep-water structures. All these spots will hold lots of fish, making offshore fishing a great option for a variety of fish.
Best Seasons to Book a Charter
Timing is one of the most important aspects of fishing, it’s hard to get exact timing down, but with enough planning, you can get close. What season you should go depends on what species you’re targeting. If you just want to catch as many fish as possible, summer offers a great variety of hungry fish that are moving inshore near Hilton Head to find warmer water.
During the winter, you’ll find bull redfish at inshore spots and nearshore reefs. You can also find trout, sea bass, and shark at these reefs. During the fall, speckled trout fishing is great. Using light tackle, throw a shrimp in an inshore creek and you’ll have a great time.
You can also find redfish in the fall. During the spring, cobia starts to roll in. Other species include Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and a bunch of different types of sharks. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Folly Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the fishing in Myrtle Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
