Lowcountry Outlook | Inshore, Nearshore & Offshore

This week sets up with classic late winter Lowcountry conditions cool mornings, mild afternoons, and a few breezy stretches that will make tide timing more important than ever. Water temps are still on the chilly side, but we’re starting to see that subtle seasonal shift where fish feed more aggressively on moving water, especially during warmer afternoon tides.

Weather Snapshot

Expect a mix of partly cloudy skies and a few passing fronts. Early mornings will stay cool, warming into the 60s and low 70s by afternoon. Winds will generally run light to moderate (8–15 knots), though a midweek breeze could make offshore runs a little sporty.

Best fishing windows:

• Lighter wind days early in the week

• Afternoons when the sun has had time to warm shallow flats

• Moving tides (incoming preferred)

Tide Focus

We’re seeing solid tidal swings around Charleston Harbor, with strong incoming pushes during the morning and midday hours.

Focus on:

• The first 2 hours of incoming tide

• The last hour before high tide

• Clean, moving water around oyster points and creek mouths

Winter fish aren’t roaming far — they’re holding tight to structure and feeding when current forces bait to them.

Inshore Report

Redfish

Redfish remain the most consistent bite in the Lowcountry right now. Look for them:

• Along oyster bars on rising tides

• In deeper creek bends on low water

• Sunning in mud flats during calm afternoons

What to throw:

• 1/4 oz jighead with paddletail (natural colors)

• Gold spoons in shallow grass

• Live shrimp under a popping cork

Slow your retrieve — winter reds don’t want to chase far.

Speckled Trout

Trout are stacking in deeper holes near current breaks.

Target:

• Drop-offs in creeks

• Docks with moving water

• Channels off Shem Creek and the harbor

Best bet: Soft plastics bounced slowly near bottom. If you’re using live bait, keep it lively but fish it deep.

Sheepshead

The bite is steady around:

• Dock pilings

• Bridge structure

• The jetties

Rig it simple:

• Carolina rig

• Small kahle hook

• Fiddler crabs or shrimp

Light bites mean you’ll need to stay tight and set the hook quickly.

Nearshore & Jetty Action

Folly Beach Jetty

On calmer days, the jetties are producing:

• Sheepshead

• Black drum

• Occasional early Spanish mackerel

Fish the eddies and current seams on the incoming tide. Live shrimp and cut mullet are working best.

Offshore Outlook

Offshore will depend heavily on wind windows. When seas settle:

• Bottom fishing for black sea bass remains productive

• Triggerfish showing up on structure

• Trolling could produce early season mahi if water temps bump up

If winds climb midweek, stay inside 20 miles and focus on reefs rather than running deep.

Weekly Game Plan

• Fish afternoons on sunny days for shallow redfish

• Target deep holes at low tide for trout

• Hit structure for sheepshead on moving water

• Watch marine forecasts closely before committing offshore

Late winter fishing in Charleston is all about patience and tide timing. The fish are here you just have to meet them where they’re holding.

Written by Nick Levine
Outdoor Enthusiast | Gear Reviewer | Fishing & Inshore Specialist