Charleston, SC Redfishing: Fly And Light Tackle
Fish Charleston, Kiawah Island, Folly Beach, and Mt Pleasant, SC Lowcountry for redfish year-round. Anglers of all abilities welcome.
No other species of fish better represents the Lowcountry than the redfish. From the flooded grass flats of Charleston and Kiawah Island to the oyster-lined creeks behind Folly Beach and Mt Pleasant, redfish are the constant. They’re here twelve months a year, adapting to every change in season and tide. Redfish can be caught using all manners of fishing techniques by anglers of all abilities. They are hungry predators that eat almost everything that swims, and when hooked, fight hard. Redfish are the main species we target around the Lowcountry as they are one of the most user friendly gamefish on the planet.
Fly Fishing For Redfish In Charleston, SC
There’s a reason Charleston sits at the top of so many fly anglers’ bucket lists. Few places in the country offer such a perfect mix of city amenities, wild coastal scenery, technical sight fishing, and year-round opportunity. The marsh here is a unique shallow water estuary ecosystem rich in the things that redfish need to thrive.
Fly fishing for redfish in the South Carolina Lowcountry is all about the hunt. Days are spent standing on the bow of a skiff, scanning shallow water, and looking for the telltale signs of hungry redfish. Nervous water, tails sticking out of the water as they feed on the bottom, and explosive surface feeding can all indicate a hungry redfish. Flies placed near the feeding end of a redfish and stripped naturally usually get eaten more often than not.
The appeal of fly fishing for redfish isn’t just in catching them it’s in the whole sequence: spotting, positioning, making the shot, and watching a redfish eat the fly. A redfish caught on the fly is usually the most rewarding redfish.
Light Tackle Redfishing In Charleston, SC
Not every angler is adept with a fly rod, and that is ok. Redfish are tailor-made for light tackle fishing. The Charleston Lowcountry offers countless ways for anglers of all abilities to target them.
On the right tides, sight fishing with spinning gear can be just as thrilling as fly fishing. Fish can be spotted pushing wakes or tailing flats. Precise casts with a soft plastic or spoon can trigger visual bites. Shallow-water, visual fishing is what draws diehard light tackle anglers to the Lowcountry.
Not every day calls for the level of precision involved with sight fishing. Redfish can also be caught using simpler, equally effective techniques — casting soft plastics or jigs along oyster edges, fishing live or cut bait, or drifting deeper water on colder days. Those methods consistently produce fish year-round and are perfect for beginners or anyone who just wants to feel a redfish pull.
Seasons for Redfish in Charleston, SC
Redfish never leave the South Carolina coast they simply change how and where they feed.
Spring: As the water warms, fish spread from deep winter holes to shallow bays and grass edges. Sight fishing improves with longer daylight and active tides.
Summer: Flood tides bring the iconic tailing redfish season. Expect high-tide grass flats and visual strikes in shin-deep water.
Fall: The most consistent action of the year. Large schools of redfish patrol the shallows and oyster points, fattening up before winter.
Winter: Cool, clear water reveals schools of fish cruising the flats. Some days, hundreds of redfish can be encountered in a single tide cycle.
Charleston Redfishing Charters
Capt. Caleb Andrews offers half day, three-quarter day, and full day fly and light tackle redfishing trips out of Charleston, Kiawah Island, Folly Beach, and Mt Pleasant, South Carolina. Multiple boats are available for groups of more than 2 people. Contact us for current rates and availability. All trips include tackle/flies, fuel costs, launch fees, and a cooler with water and ice.
Payments And Deposits
Cash, Check or Venmo.
$200 per day per boat deposit for all trips
Venmo or mail deposits to:
Caleb Andrews
1052 Old Georgetown Rd Unit A
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
(434) 981-6473
Things To Bring
Polarized sunglasses (amber or copper lenses preferred)
Hat and sun protection
8/9, & 10 wt. rods
Quick drying clothing
Rain gear
Shoes with non-marking soles
Willingness to have a good time
