Saltwater flats
9′ rod, 8 weight, sealed-drag reel, tropical floating line · Bonefish, redfish, permit and other flats species
Open checklist
Charleston & the Lowcountry
Charleston sits between the Ashley and Cooper rivers on Charleston Harbor.
- South Carolina · South
- 4 waters
- 80 guides nearby
- 8 shops nearby
- CHS airport · 10 mi
Photo credit
Charleston Harbor and its salt marsh, looking toward Patriots Point from the Cooper River Bridge, South Carolina. Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
More about Charleston & the Lowcountry
Charleston sits between the Ashley and Cooper rivers on Charleston Harbor; the Wando River joins the Cooper to the north-east, and the North Edisto lies to the south-west beyond the sea islands.
Waters around Charleston
About this
Tap a water for its live flow, access map, regulations and hatches.
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterPhoto credit
The Ashley River at sunset from Brittlebank Park, Charleston, South Carolina. Photo: Ianmccor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Charleston HarborPhoto credit
The May River looking east from the Calhoun Street dock, Bluffton, South Carolina. Photo: Townofbluffton, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Charleston Harbor.
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Wando RiverPhoto credit
Biscayne Bay in Biscayne National Park, Florida. Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Wando River.
Agency-named saltwater fishing waterRepresentative photo · not North Edisto RiverPhoto credit
A beach in the Ten Thousand Islands, Everglades National Park. Photo: olekinderhook, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not North Edisto River.
Distances and official pages
The rivers, lakes or flats this hub is organised around, each with its straight-line distance from Charleston. Within 40 miles a water's own page names this hub as near; a farther one shows its distance instead. Where a nearby guide names a water on its own website, we say how many do. Access, seasons and special regulations differ by reach: check the agency pages under license and rules.
- Charleston Harbor2 mi from Charleston in a straight line
- Wando River3 mi from Charleston in a straight line
- Ashley River1 mi from Charleston in a straight line
- North Edisto River21 mi from Charleston in a straight line
All gauge readings
The first USGS gauge on each water: the latest reading, how it compares with that gauge's record for today's date, the 24-hour trend and the NWS flood stage; NOAA tides for the flats and beaches. Open a water for what the level means.
Reading the gauges around Charleston…
Meet local guides
About this
80 guide listings within 60 miles (11 fly-focused), fly-focused first. Unclaimed listings say so on their page: confirm licensing, rates and dates with the outfitter.
FinAddict Charters Charleston Fly and Light Tackle Guide
Mt Pleasant, SC · 5 mi
Saltwater & ocean charters
- Unclaimed
Down-low Outfitters Fly Fishing Charters
Charleston, SC · 1 mi
Map listing: trips not confirmed
- Unclaimed
Fly shops nearby
About this
8 shop listings in the towns around Charleston, fly shops first. Confirm hours with the shop before you go.
Fish around Charleston
About this
Species the state agency lists on the waters here. A species listed for one water is not a promise for every water.
Redfish
Listed on 4 waters here
Photo credit
Red drum or redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Spotted seatrout
Listed on 3 waters here
Photo credit
Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Striped bass
Listed on 1 water here
Photo credit
Striped bass (Morone saxatilis), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Agency species and seasons (6 waters)
Taken from the state agency pages of 6 waters around Charleston, each on its own water page with the agency link. Seasons are quoted word for word and apply to the water named.
- Red Drum4 waters
- Spotted Seatrout3 waters
- Largemouth Bass2 waters
- Striped Bass1 water
Species guides mention (65)
Counted from the species each guide lists on its own site. This is what guides advertise, not an agency species list or a promise of what you will catch.
- Tarpon24
- Tuna21
- Catfish5
- Rockfish & lingcod5
- Largemouth bass4
- Striped bass4
- Bonefish3
- Crappie2
Things to know
Fishing license: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Fees on the agency page.
Getting there
CHS Charleston International Airport · 10 mi
Regulations and access
Seasons, limits and access: agency pages.
Official license and rules pages
Buy the license from the agency and read its current regulations before you go. These links are the authoritative pages; nothing on this page grants or implies access to any water, and fees are only shown when read from the agency page on a stated date.
Nothing here grants or implies access to any water.
Veteran-owned and veteran programs
About this
Near Charleston & the Lowcountry. Each fact comes from the business's own website, an official register or an approved claim; the listing page links the source.
- Green Heron AdventuresGuide · Beaufort · 52 miVeterans on the team · from their website
- Blackjack Fishing ChartersGuide · Charleston · 2 miVeteran-owned · from their website
- Last Cast CharlestonGuide · Charleston · 2 miVeterans on the team · from their website
- Simon Says ChartersGuide · Mt Pleasant · 2 miVeterans on the team · from their website
- The Reel Deal ChartersGuide · Mt Pleasant · 3 miVeteran-owned · from their websiteMilitary discount · from their website
- Marsh View Fishing ChartersGuide · Mt Pleasant · 4 miMilitary discount · from their website
The Charleston & the Lowcountry area
About this
The circle is the 60-mile area this page covers, around Charleston. Tap a water for its page. Shops and guides appear where they publish a street address on their own website; all of them are listed above.
Map of the Charleston & the Lowcountry area: its waters, shops and guides
Map of Charleston & the Lowcountry: the 60-mile area this page covers, its waters, and shops and guides with an exact address.
Guide season: June to November
About this
Read from the websites of 4 guides within 60 miles that state a season. It is when they run trips, not a hatch chart or a conditions report; closures and seasons are set by the agency pages.
- Jan0
- Feb0
- Mar1
- Apr1
- May1
- Jun2
- Jul4
- Aug4
- Sep2
- Oct2
- Nov2
- Dec1
Restrooms near Charleston & the Lowcountry
Restrooms near Charleston & the Lowcountry
Restrooms within 5 miles of the centre of Charleston & the Lowcountry in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
Map of 8 restrooms near Charleston & the Lowcountry
Skip the map; every place is in the list belowMap of 8 restrooms near Charleston & the Lowcountry, numbered as in the list, with the town centre marked.
Restroom
under 0.1 mi away in a straight line- Flush toilet (mapped)
- Public (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
0.1 mi away in a straight lineRun by Charleston County (as mapped)
- Flush toilet (mapped)
- Public (mapped)
- Wheelchair accessible (mapped)
- Changing table (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
0.1 mi away in a straight line- Flush toilet (mapped)
- Public (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
0.2 mi away in a straight line- Flush toilet (mapped)
- Public (mapped)
- Wheelchair accessible (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
0.2 mi away in a straight line- Flush toilet (mapped)
- Public (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
0.3 mi away in a straight line- Flush toilet (mapped)
- Public (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
0.3 mi away in a straight lineRun by City of Charleston (as mapped)
- Flush toilet (mapped)
- Public (mapped)
- Wheelchair accessible (mapped)
- Changing table (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
0.3 mi away in a straight line- Flush toilet (mapped)
- Public (mapped)
- Wheelchair accessible (mapped)
- Changing table (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Base yourself nearby
About this
Charleston and Mount Pleasant have most of the places to stay; Folly Beach, Isle of Palms and the sea islands are smaller beach towns. We do not list or price properties. The search opens an outside site.
Nearest airports
About this
Distances are straight-line from the town centre, computed from OurAirports open data; distances by road are longer. Fares are never estimated here.
- CHS Charleston International AirportCharleston, SC · 10 mi · major hubSearch flights
- HHH Hilton Head AirportHilton Head Island, SC · 59 mi · regionalSearch flights
- MYR Myrtle Beach International AirportMyrtle Beach, SC · 85 mi · major hubSearch flights
Rough out the trip
About this
Set nights, anglers and guided days. Each line says where its figure comes from, and anything we cannot source honestly (guide rates, fares, license fees not read from the agency page) stays a link rather than a number.
Estimates, not quotes
- Fishing licenseSee sourceAgency page
Source
One per angler (2 anglers). Fees are set by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; see the agency page.
Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Guided days39 rates pagesTAILFIN ExpeditionsFinAddict Charters Charleston Fly and Light Tackle GuideExplore More Inshore ChartersFish Call Charters
Source
1 guided day for 2 anglers. We do not copy guide rates: 39 guides near here publish a rates page on their own website.
Source: Guide websites (rates pages linked, never copied) - Find lodgingSee sourceSearch lodging
Source
Search places to stay near the destination. We do not list or price properties.
Source: Lodging search link - FlightsSee sourceSearch flights
Source
Fares are not estimated here. Search flights to CHS (Charleston International Airport).
Source: Flight search link (no fares quoted)
No priced itemsUse the links for real figures.
How we estimate
Estimates, not quotes. Nothing here is a price from a guide, a property or an airline; confirm every cost with the provider before you book. No placeholder lodging range is configured for this region, and licenses, guided days and flights are never priced here.
Parks, forests and visitor offices
About this
For the non-fishing days, or the people traveling with you. Official sources only; what to do there is for their pages to say.
Gear checklist
About this
A saltwater flats fly-fishing checklist: a 9 ft 8 weight rod, sealed-drag reel, tropical line, fluorocarbon leaders and shrimp/crab flies, plus sun protection and flats booties, with estimated prices and where to buy.
Watch: flats fishing basics
About this
Sight casting, the strip set and sun on the water.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
FLY FISHING FOR REDFISH BASICS 101 INTRODUCTION FOR BEGINNERSEmbedded from YouTube · Huge Fly Fisherman · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube How To Set Up For A Bonefish TripEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Not sponsored All videos on saltwater flats
Stories from South Carolina
About this
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly, tagged with a water in South Carolina.
No South Carolina stories yet.
Sources for this page
All 7 sources
Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories (open map records checked against each business’s own website). Everything else links to the publisher below; this page copies none of their text. A destination hub organises discovery; it does not assert public access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: fishing licensesSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- South Carolina hunting and fishing laws and regulationsSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- SCDNR Marine ResourcesSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- Cape Romain National Wildlife RefugeU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Discover South CarolinaSouth Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
- OurAirports open data (airport locations)OurAirports, public domain
- Overture Maps places (guide and shop map records)Overture Maps Foundation, CDLA-Permissive 2.0
Links checked 24 Oct 2026. Not a claim of access or conditions.