Fishing Mount Pleasant

On the water now

In season in October

• Red drum (redfish)

  Year-round. Legal-size fish are inshore and nearshore for much of the year. Marsh-grass edges, then deeper creeks and river channels in winter.

  Keep: 18 to 25 in. slot, 1 per person, 2 per boat. New July 1, 2026.

• Spotted seatrout

  Year-round in the estuaries, gathering in deeper channels and rivers to overwinter. Larger creeks and deeper water from fall on.

  Keep: 14 in. minimum, 10 per person.

• Southern flounder

  Spring through fall inshore. Adults head offshore to spawn as the water cools in late fall. Shallow, muddy-bottom tidal creeks and creek mouths, moving up on the rising tide.

  Keep: 16 in. minimum, 5 per person, 10 per boat.

• Sheepshead

  Year-round, and in the shallows most in late spring and again in late fall into winter. Hard structure close to shore: piers, pilings, rocks, jetties.

  Keep: 14 in. minimum, 10 per person, 30 per boat.

• Spanish mackerel

  April through November, best as the schools pass close to shore in the spring and fall runs. Mostly off the beach; only sometimes into the sounds.

  Keep: 12 in. fork length minimum, 15 per person.

• Cobia

  April through October, peaking in late spring. North of St. Helena Sound, which takes in Charleston, mostly offshore water.

  Keep: 36 in. fork length minimum, 1 per person.

Out of season this month: Black drum.

Where to put in

• Shem Creek Boat Landing · Shem Creek to Charleston Harbor. Busy on weekends and holidays. An expansion was approved this fall; no construction dates have been posted.
• Remley's Point Boat Landing · Wando River. Closed for construction from mid-November 2026, expected to reopen June 2027, per the county parks listing.
• Paradise Island Boat Landing · Wando River. Shallow at low tide, so plan the launch around the water.
• Gadsdenville Boat Landing · Copahee Sound. Canoes and kayaks. Not recommended for standard-size boats.
• Palmetto Islands County Park · Horlbeck Creek. Paddlecraft only, no motors.
• Mount Pleasant Pier · Charleston Harbor, under the Ravenel Bridge. 1,250 feet, open 7 AM to 10 PM October through March and 6 AM to 10 PM April through September. A day of fishing is $7 for adults, bought at the Riverwatch Cafe.

All five landings above are run by Charleston County Parks, which posts closures on each listing.

Neighborhoods on the water

• Dunes West · Two association fishing and crabbing docks on the Wando River.
• Park West · A crab and fishing dock, per the master association.
• Copahee View · A members-only boat ramp on the creek that runs to Copahee Sound.
• Rivertowne · On the Wando River and Horlbeck Creek.
• Charleston National · Along Copahee Sound and the Intracoastal Waterway, where some lots have private docks.

This week, to share

The same numbers, sized for a post. It fills itself in from NOAA, so a screenshot is ready to share.

Before you go

• License: South Carolina requires a saltwater fishing license to keep fish, shrimp, crabs or shellfish, sold through SCDNR. Fishing from a licensed public pier or a charter boat is exempt.
• Red drum changed this year: since July 1, 2026 the slot is 18 to 25 inches, 1 per person and 2 per boat, and big hooks with natural bait must be circle hooks.
• Limits change: the limits on this page are from the regulations SCDNR links to, last updated August 11, 2026. Check before you keep a fish.