Charleston Species Guide

What swims in
Charleston water.

Every inshore and nearshore species MarshMind tracks — seasonal patterns, habitat, and what makes each one tick in the Lowcountry.

Charleston low-country marsh at dawn
Most Targeted Species
— the four Charleston anglers fish most
PEAK: Aug–Nov
Redfish

The king of Charleston inshore — MarshMind ranks the zones where feeding conditions are strongest.

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Redfish illustration
PEAK: Mar–Dec
Speckled Trout

Finicky, fast, and worth every cast — the Lowcountry's most technical inshore target.

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Speckled Trout illustration
PEAK: Apr–Oct
Flounder

Master of ambush — lying flat in the sand waiting for every Charleston tide to do the work.

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Flounder illustration
PEAK: Jan–Apr
Sheepshead

The convict fish lives on every piling and bridge — winter's most rewarding inshore target.

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Sheepshead illustration
More Charleston Species
PEAK: Jan–Apr
Black Drum

Slow and powerful — Charleston's winter heavyweights run the jetties and oyster bars from January through April.

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Black Drum illustration
PEAK: Jun–Aug
Tarpon

Rolling silver kings in the harbor entrance — Charleston's ultimate summer inshore spectacle.

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Tarpon illustration
PEAK: Apr–May
Cobia

Follow the rays in spring — Charleston's most exciting sight-fishing run is brief and legendary.

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Cobia illustration
PEAK: May–Sep
Spanish Mackerel

Speed and flash along every Charleston beach and pier — summer's most accessible nearshore run.

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Spanish Mackerel illustration
PEAK: Jun–Aug
Tripletail

Charleston's most underrated trophy — hiding in plain sight on every channel marker and crab pot buoy.

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Tripletail illustration
PEAK: Apr–Oct
Pompano

The surf angler's prize — running Charleston's sandy beaches every spring and fall.

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Pompano illustration
PEAK: Mar–Nov
Whiting

The perfect beginner species — sandy-bottom fighters that bite all year at every Charleston pier.

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Whiting illustration
PEAK: Jun–Sep
Jack Crevalle

Pure aggression following bait into every Charleston creek mouth — summer light tackle warfare.

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Jack Crevalle illustration
PEAK: Jan–Dec
Bluefish

The winter migrant that keeps Charleston pier anglers busy when everything else slows down.

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Bluefish illustration
Ready to fish smarter?

Track every species
in real time.

Live zone scores updated every tide change. Pick your species, get ranked zones, and see which zones are setting up for your species today.

Fishing on Charleston water