Waterlands

Species guide · South Carolina

Black sea bass fishing in South Carolina

Centropristis striata, a nearshore species also called sea bass, humpback and knothead. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.

Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Murrells Inlet to South Santee River SC out 20 NM at 52, one of 4 South Carolina bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Shoulder season
Where it's scoring nowAll South Carolina waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

South Atlantic

Shoulder season, about 1 more week
  1. Jan: Shoulder season
  2. Feb: Shoulder season
  3. Mar: Peak season
  4. Apr: Peak season
  5. May: Shoulder season
  6. Jun: Shoulder season
  7. Jul: Shoulder season
  8. Aug: Shoulder season
  9. Sep: Shoulder season
  10. Oct: Peak season
  11. Nov: Peak season
  12. Dec: Shoulder season

Peak: Mar to Apr, Oct to Nov. In season (shoulder or peak): all year.

Research notes, South Atlantic region

Southern stock, managed by the South Atlantic council. Resident on hard bottom and reefs year-round with little migration; spawn February through May. Juveniles are common in high-salinity estuaries in summer, but keepers mostly come from nearshore reefs and wrecks.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 4

South Carolina bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's black sea bass score this hour.

1
52Good
Coastal waters from Murrells Inlet to South Santee River SC out 20 NM

Best window today 6-9 PM (65) · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 PM (70) · 6 named spots

2
50Good
Charleston Harbor

Best window today 6-9 PM (66) · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 8 AM (70) · 37 named spots

3
48Good
Coastal waters from Edisto Beach SC to Savannah GA out 20 NM

Best window today 6-9 PM (66) · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 9 AM (69) · 28 named spots

4
47Good
Coastal waters from Little River Inlet to Murrells Inlet SC out 20 NM

Best window today 5-9 PM (57) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 AM (64) · 1 named spot

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 48°F to 82°F, best between 55°F and 72°F.
Water depth
10 to 180 ft of water.
Structure
Wreck, reef, ledge, jetty, oyster, pier, bridge and channel, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers moving water, with light current.Fished at anchor or on a slow drift right over structure. A light current carries scent and keeps fish up and feeding; strong current makes it hard to hold bottom on deeper wrecks.
Light
Little tied to dawn and dusk.
Pressure
Little response to pressure changes.
Wind and sea limits
20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Black sea bass hold tight to wrecks, reefs, rock piles and jetties, from 15 feet inshore in late spring to well over 100 feet on offshore wrecks in late fall. Anchor or drift right over the structure and fish a two-hook high-low rig with squid or clam, or bounce a small jig on the bottom. The biggest males sit on the highest relief.

Methods
bottom fishing, jigging, drift fishing
Lures
diamond jigs, bucktail jigs, soft plastics on jig heads, slow-pitch jigs
Bait
squid strips, clams, cut fish, shrimp, crab

Regulations

SCDNR saltwater regulations Buy a South Carolina fishing license License types

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Synced with SCDNR Sep 20, 2026.

No reviewed black sea bass rule for South Carolina is on file yet. Check with SCDNR before you keep one.

Other South Carolina species