Charleston,SC deep sea and inshore fishing report for 7/14/26

Deep sea fishing (15–60+ miles)

The offshore bite has been productive whenever boats can make the run. Seas are generally around 3–4 feet with light southwest winds, making for fishable conditions for experienced crews, though afternoon thunderstorms remain a concern.

Best bites:

King mackerel – Excellent around live bottoms, reefs, and temperature breaks.
Cobia – Good around nearshore reefs, buoys, and floating debris.
Mahi-mahi (dolphin) – Fair to good offshore around weed lines and floating structure.
Vermilion snapper (beeliners) – Consistent on offshore ledges.
Scamp and gag grouper – Good on deep structure.
Amberjack – Strong bite over wrecks and reefs.

Recommended techniques

Slow-troll live menhaden or blue runners for kings.
Pitch live eels or large menhaden to cobia.
Troll skirted ballyhoo or diving plugs for pelagics.
Bottom fish with squid, cut bait, or live pinfish over ledges.
Inshore (Charleston Harbor, creeks & marshes)

The inshore fishery remains decent despite the summer heat. Fish early morning, late evening, or around moving tides for the best action.

Redfish

Excellent around oyster bars, docks, and grass edges.
Live shrimp, mud minnows, finger mullet, or paddletail plastics are producing well.

Speckled trout

Good at first light around creek mouths and deeper grass lines.
Popping corks with live shrimp remain one of the top producers.

Flounder

Good around docks, creek mouths, and sandy drop-offs.
Finger mullet and mud minnows on Carolina rigs are working well.

Tarpon

Beginning to show consistently around inlets and beaches where large bait schools are present.

Sheepshead

Good around bridge pilings, jetties, and docks using fiddler crabs.
Best Baits
Live shrimp
Finger mullet
Menhaden
Mud minnows
Blue crabs (for large redfish)
Soft plastic paddletails
Topwater plugs early in the morning
Best Times
Sunrise to 10:00 a.m.
Two hours before and after tide changes
Last two hours before sunset