Waterlands

Species guide · South Carolina

Florida pompano fishing in South Carolina

Trachinotus carolinus, a surf species also called pompano and common pompano. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.

Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Edisto Beach SC to Savannah GA out 20 NM at 70, 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: Off season
  7. Jul: Off season
  8. Aug: Off 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): Sep to May.

Research notes, South Atlantic region

Northbound run through northeast Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in spring, southbound in fall. The Treasure Coast holds fish through winter. North Carolina surf catches are mostly late summer and fall.

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 florida pompano score this hour.

1
70Great
Coastal waters from Edisto Beach SC to Savannah GA out 20 NM

Best window today 10 AM-2 PM (70) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 7 AM (74) · 28 named spots

2
66Great
Charleston Harbor

Best window today 10 AM-2 PM (66) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 7 AM (71) · 37 named spots

3
64Good
Coastal waters from Murrells Inlet to South Santee River SC out 20 NM

Best window today 10 AM-4 PM (68) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 7 AM (75) · 6 named spots

4
60Good
Coastal waters from Little River Inlet to Murrells Inlet SC out 20 NM

Best window today 10 AM-12 PM (60) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 7 AM (66) · 1 named spot

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 62°F to 88°F, best between 68°F and 82°F.
Water depth
2 to 20 ft of water.
Structure
Surf, beach, bar, pass, inlet, jetty and pier, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers incoming tide and high tide, with moderate current.FWC notes tides drive local pompano movement. Surf anglers favor the rising tide, when fish move into the trough behind the first bar to feed on sand fleas and coquinas. At passes and bridges they feed along sandy edges on moving water.
Light
Some lift around 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

Pompano feed on sand fleas and coquina clams in the trough between the beach and the first sandbar, and around the sandy edges of passes, inlets and bridges. Surf anglers fish a two-hook pompano rig with sand fleas, clams or shrimp, while boat and bridge anglers bounce small jigs along the bottom. The runs follow water temperature, heading north in spring and south in fall as the water cools.

Methods
surf fishing, bottom fishing, jigging from boats and bridges, pier fishing
Lures
pompano jig (banana or goofy jig), small bucktail with teaser, flea fly
Bait
sand flea (mole crab), coquina clam, fresh shrimp, clam strip, Fishbites strip

Regulations

SCDNR saltwater regulations Buy a South Carolina fishing license License types

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Synced with SCDNR Sep 18, 2026.

No reviewed florida pompano rule for South Carolina is on file yet. Check with SCDNR before you keep one.

Other South Carolina species