🎣 8 curated fishing spots
🗺️ Interactive map
📍 Community places
Charleston is wrapped in the Lowcountry's signature salt marsh — miles of spartina grass, oyster bars, and tidal creeks between the city and the barrier islands — with redfish and spotted seatrout as the everyday catch just about anywhere the tide reaches.
Anyone 16 or older harvesting saltwater species needs South Carolina's Saltwater Recreational Fishing Licence, with an exemption for anglers fishing from a licensed public pier or a licensed charter boat. Redfish have a slot limit and daily bag limit — check current South Carolina Department of Natural Resources rules before keeping fish.
Fishing Spots
The 8 best fishing spots in Charleston
All spots are curated and mapped — click any card for the full story, or open the map to explore.
Charleston #1
Charleston Harbor Jetties
The rock jetties at the mouth of Charleston Harbor, where the current breaks created by the rocks concentrate …
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Charleston #2
Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant
A working shrimp-boat creek across the harbor from downtown Charleston, with public boat ramps and docks givin…
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Charleston #3
Bulls Bay
A pristine, largely undeveloped bay north of Charleston inside Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, well outs…
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Charleston #4
Folly Beach
A barrier-island beach just south of Charleston, fished from the sand near the county park at the Morris Islan…
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Charleston #5
Four Poles Park Dock
A rebuilt 170-foot fishing pier with a 40-foot T-end on Noisette Creek in North Charleston's Four Poles Park, …
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Charleston #6
Memorial Waterfront Park Pier
A 1,250-foot pier over the Cooper River in Mount Pleasant, among the longest pedestrian piers in the Southeast…
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Charleston #7
White Point Garden
A historic waterfront park at the tip of the Charleston peninsula; anglers sometimes fish from the Low Battery…
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Charleston #8
Joe Riley Waterfront Park
Joe Riley Waterfront Park's pier extends toward the deep water of Charleston Harbor and the Cooper River, with…
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Practical Info
Planning your visit
Best timeLate summer into fall for the best redfish action, as fish school up ahead of the spawn; spring and fall for spotted seatrout.
Getting thereCharleston International Airport (CHS) connects to most major US hubs. Shem Creek and the harbor jetties are a short drive from downtown; Bulls Bay, further north, is best reached with a local guide.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Charleston
Do you need a licence to fish in Charleston?
Yes, South Carolina's Saltwater Recreational Fishing Licence, for anyone 16 or older, with an exemption for fishing from a licensed public pier.
What fish can you catch in Charleston?
Redfish and spotted seatrout are the marsh staples, black drum and sheepshead hold around harder structure like jetties and docks, and tarpon pass through most Augusts.
Where are the best fishing spots in Charleston?
Shem Creek for easy access to the marsh, Charleston Harbor Jetties for black drum and sheepshead, and Bulls Bay for redfish away from the crowds. See the full list of spots below or open the map to explore.
Can you fish in Charleston without a boat?
Folly Beach and the Charleston Harbor Jetties are both fished from the sand or the rocks; Shem Creek and Bulls Bay are easiest by boat or kayak.
When is the best time to fish in Charleston?
Late summer into fall for redfish, spring and fall for spotted seatrout, and August specifically for the tarpon run.
Explore Charleston on the map
See all 8 fishing spots pinned on an interactive map — and add your own discoveries.
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