March 2 – March 7 | Inshore, Nearshore & Offshore

This early March week is shaping up as a transitional period between late winter and early spring fishing. Water temperatures are on the rise, bait is more active, and fish are responding to moving tides and warming afternoon windows. Stable weather will create some excellent tide-driven bite periods, especially around the incoming tide peaks.

Tide Table & Bite Windows

(Predicted Charleston Harbor times, Local EST – heights relative to MLW)

Monday, March 2
Low Tide: 12:41 AM (~–0.7 ft)
High Tide: 7:02 AM (~5.9 ft)
Low Tide: 1:16 PM (~–0.4 ft)
High Tide: 7:25 PM (~5.5 ft)

Best bite windows: 6:00–8:30 AM and 6:00–8:30 PM

Tuesday, March 3
Low: ~1:30 AM (~–0.7 ft)
High: 7:45 AM (~5.9 ft)
Low: ~1:58 PM (~–0.5 ft)
High: 8:10 PM (~5.7 ft)

Best windows: 6:30–9:00 AM and 6:30–9:00 PM

Wednesday, March 4
Low: ~2:17 AM (~–0.7 ft)
High: 8:25 AM (~5.7 ft)
Low: ~2:38 PM (~–0.4 ft)
High: 8:52 PM (~5.7 ft)

Best windows: 7:00–9:30 AM and 7:00–9:30 PM

Thursday, March 5
Low: ~3:01 AM (~–0.5 ft)
High: 9:03 AM (~5.5 ft)
Low: ~3:15 PM (~–0.3 ft)
High: 9:31 PM (~5.7 ft)

Best windows: 7:30–10:00 AM and 7:30–10:00 PM

Friday, March 6
Low: ~3:44 AM (~–0.2 ft)
High: 9:40 AM (~5.2 ft)
Low: mid-afternoon (~–0.3 ft)
High: late evening (~5.4 ft)

Best windows: 8:00–10:30 AM and early afternoon moving tide

Saturday, March 7
Low: ~4:20 AM (~0.0 ft)
High: ~10:20 AM (~4.7 ft)
Low: ~4:26 PM (~0.0 ft)
High: ~10:50 PM (~5.2 ft)

Best windows: 8:30–11:00 AM and evening incoming tide

General tip: Fresh incoming tides, roughly 1.5 hours before and after high tide, are usually the most productive. Early season fish stack along oyster bars, drop-offs and creek edges where current pushes bait directly to them.

Inshore Insights

Redfish are best around deep oyster bars, grass edges and creek mouths with rising water. Early morning and early evening incoming tides should produce the strongest schools this week.

Speckled trout are holding in deeper cuts and dock drops with clean current. Slow, subtle presentations near bottom work best during steady moving water.

Sheepshead and black drum remain reliable around heavy structure such as pilings, bridges and jetties. Tide changes continue to be prime strike windows.

Nearshore & Jetty Picks

Folly and Morris Island jetties should produce on lighter wind days. Focus on current seams for sheepshead, black drum and the occasional early Spanish mackerel. Live shrimp and cut bait fished naturally in moving water will draw strikes.

Offshore Outlook

Offshore trips are most promising early in the week when winds are lighter. Bottom species such as black sea bass and triggerfish remain active on structure. Trolling opportunities improve if water temperatures bump upward and bait becomes more concentrated. Watch wind forecasts closely before making longer runs.

Weekly Game Plan

Prioritize incoming tides near high water. Fish afternoons and evenings when shallow water temperatures climb. Target structure and current breaks. Monitor wind direction and speed daily before committing to offshore trips.

Early March fishing in Charleston continues its steady transition toward spring. Tide timing and water movement will make the difference between a slow day and a productive one.

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