Damn Good Redfish Fishing Charters In Charleston

The best redfish fishing charters in Charleston are:

• Sea Breeze Charters guided by Michael Y.
• Short Skirts Sportfishing guided by Hayden M.
• Marsh View Fishing Charters guided by Tim M. with 38 years of experience
• Fishing Charleston 101 guided by Carlo M. with 19 years of experience
• Eye Deal Fishing Charters guided by Adrian J. with 22 years of experience

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 50 redfish trips in Charleston, and the most popular trips in the area are Inshore Fishing - 24’ Blazer Bay guided by Johnston, Charleston Inshore Fishing Charter guided by Kendra, and 4 Hour Charleston Nearshore guided by Chris.

Our guides in Charleston are rated a 4.99 out of 5 based on 8796 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly redfish guides / fishing lessons in Charleston? Check out our beginner and family friendly redfish guides in Charleston.

Inshore fishing is the most popular type of fishing for redfish in Charleston as well as nearshore fishing, jetty fishing, and river fishing.

The most common fishing techniques in Charleston are bottom fishing, cut bait fishing, and live bait fishing but artificial lure fishing and drift fishing are popular as well.

Prices for redfish in Charleston can range anywhere from about $575 to $2,000, but the average price for a half day trip for redfish in Charleston is $956. The average price for a full day trip for redfish in Charleston is $1,528.

Hiring a guide provides a number of benefits and many choose to book a fishing guide for a combination of experience, local knowledge, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.

Working with experienced fishing guides who know the best local spots and techniques can dramatically increase your odds of a great day. Having someone who is on the water every day and knows the area like the back of their hand is going to give you the best chances of success.

Booking a guide is also more cost effective, especially if you only get out a handful of times per year. When you consider all of the costs you would incur on your own such as the price of a boat, maintenance, insurance, gas, high-quality gear and tackle, repairs, and more, you’ll find that DIY is sometimes not worth the expense.

Even if you’ve got a great setup already in your home waters, booking a guide also provides a great opportunity to experience new techniques, new locations, or even a chance at a new target species to knock off the bucket list.

The most popular season for redfish fishing in Charleston is summer, and most anglers book their trips 4 days in advance.

See here for more information on fishing licenses in Charleston, bag limits for target species, and fishing season regulations in Charleston. When in doubt, your guide will always know all the relevant rules and regulations in Charleston.

In Charleston, South Carolina, anglers have the opportunity to target a variety of species aside from tarpon, with redfish being one of the most sought-after gamefish in the area. Redfish, also known as red drum, inhabit the coastal waters, marshes, and estuaries around Charleston, offering anglers ample opportunities for exciting catches year-round. These robust fish are known for their hard-hitting strikes and spirited fights, making them a favorite among both seasoned anglers and beginners.

Anglers targeting redfish in Charleston often focus their efforts in shallow waters, including tidal creeks, flats, and marshy areas. These habitats provide ideal feeding grounds for redfish, where they prey on baitfish, shrimp, and crabs. Anglers commonly use a variety of baits and lures to entice redfish, including live bait such as mullet or shrimp, as well as artificial lures like soft plastics, spoons, and topwater plugs. Fly fishing for redfish has also gained popularity in Charleston, with anglers utilizing specialized flies to mimic the natural prey of these fish.

The coastal waters of Charleston also offer opportunities to catch other species in addition to redfish. Anglers may encounter species such as speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum while fishing the marshes, creeks, and nearshore reefs. These fish provide additional excitement and variety to Charleston's fishing scene, ensuring that anglers of all preferences and skill levels can find success on the water. Whether targeting redfish in the shallows or exploring the diverse fishing grounds around Charleston, anglers are sure to enjoy the rich angling opportunities that this coastal city has to offer.

Redfish fishing seasons in Charleston, South Carolina, follow a distinct pattern influenced by the area's changing weather and water conditions. Spring and fall are widely regarded as prime seasons for targeting redfish in Charleston. During these times, water temperatures begin to rise or fall, triggering increased redfish activity as they migrate to shallow flats, marshes, and estuaries in search of food and spawning grounds. Anglers can expect to find redfish feeding aggressively in these areas, making for exciting fishing opportunities.

In the spring, as temperatures warm up, redfish become more active and move into shallow waters to feed voraciously on baitfish, shrimp, and crabs. This period, typically from March to May, offers anglers the chance to sight fish for redfish in clear, shallow flats or target them along marsh edges and creek mouths. Similarly, in the fall, as temperatures cool down, redfish become more active again after the heat of summer. From September to November, anglers can find redfish congregating in large schools, particularly around oyster bars, grass beds, and tidal creeks, making them easier to locate and target.

While redfish can be caught year-round in Charleston, the summer and winter months present different challenges and opportunities for anglers. Summer temperatures can soar, leading redfish to seek cooler, deeper waters, such as creek channels and nearshore reefs, where they may be less active but still accessible to anglers. In contrast, during the winter months, redfish may move to deeper channels and warmer waters, presenting challenges for anglers but still offering opportunities for those willing to adapt their tactics and target them in deeper, more sheltered areas. Understanding these seasonal patterns is essential for anglers looking to maximize their chances of success when fishing for redfish in Charleston, South Carolina.

Several popular techniques are employed by anglers to catch redfish in Charleston, South Carolina. One favored method is using live bait, such as mullet, shrimp, or mud minnows, rigged on a Carolina or slip sinker rig. Anglers typically present the bait along the edges of marshes, oyster beds, or creek mouths, allowing it to drift naturally with the current or suspending it at various depths using a float. This technique can be highly effective, especially when targeting redfish in shallow waters or areas with abundant natural baitfish.

Another popular technique for catching redfish in Charleston is using artificial lures. Soft plastic baits, such as paddle tails, jerkbaits, and swimbaits, are commonly used to mimic the movement of baitfish or crustaceans that redfish feed on. Anglers may also use topwater lures, spoons, or spinnerbaits to entice aggressive strikes from redfish, particularly in shallow water or during low-light conditions. Working these lures along marsh edges, grass beds, or around structure can trigger reactionary strikes from redfish, making for an exciting fishing experience.

Fly fishing for redfish has also gained popularity in Charleston, with anglers targeting these fish using specialized flies designed to imitate baitfish, shrimp, or crabs. Flies such as Clouser Minnows, shrimp patterns, and crab imitations are commonly used to entice redfish in shallow water flats, marshes, and tidal creeks. Anglers often sight fish for redfish, scanning the water for signs of feeding activity or cruising fish, and presenting the fly accurately to entice a strike. Fly fishing for redfish in Charleston requires skillful casting and presentation techniques but can be incredibly rewarding when successful. Overall, these techniques offer anglers a variety of options to target redfish in the diverse habitats found throughout Charleston's coastal waters.

In addition to targeting redfish, anglers exploring the waters around Charleston, South Carolina, have a wealth of other species to pursue. One popular catch is the speckled trout, prized for its delicious flavor and acrobatic fights. Speckled trout can be found in shallow flats, tidal creeks, and around oyster beds, where they feed on shrimp, mullet, and small baitfish. Anglers often use live bait, such as shrimp or mud minnows, as well as artificial lures like soft plastics and topwater plugs to entice these elusive fish.

Flounder are another sought-after species in Charleston's coastal waters, known for their unique appearance and challenging nature. These bottom-dwelling fish inhabit sandy and muddy bottoms near inlets, channels, and creek mouths, where they ambush prey such as shrimp and small fish. Anglers often target flounder using live bait, such as mullet or mud minnows, rigged on a Carolina rig or jighead, allowing it to bounce along the bottom to attract bites. Artificial lures like soft plastics and jigs can also be effective when worked slowly along the bottom to mimic the movement of prey.

Charleston's diverse ecosystem supports a variety of other species that provide exciting fishing opportunities throughout the year. From sheepshead and black drum to Spanish mackerel and tripletail, anglers have a wide range of options to explore when fishing in Charleston's coastal waters. Whether targeting these species from a boat, kayak, or from shore, anglers are sure to enjoy the rich diversity of fish available in Charleston, making it a premier destination for anglers of all skill levels.