The S.C. Department of Natural Resources uses fishing guides who partner with them to provide information on fresh water and saltwater fishing trends for local anglers. Here is their report for local waters for July and August.
Lake Murray
Bass: Tournament anglers Stan Gunter and Andy Wicker report that in July there can be a good shallow buzzbait bite early and late, and when bream are spawning they will also attract bass to shallow water. The rivers offer another option where shallow cover can be fishable even during the day. Fish may also start to suspend and be caught around offshore cane piles on topwater lures, and you can always target deep brush with a worm.
Striped bass: Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports that by the end of June it was almost exclusively a down-line bite, and this month fish should go even deeper. They will be caught on down-lined live herring as deep as 60 plus feet, and by about the third week of July the vast majority of the fish will have left the middle section of the lake and almost everything will be in the lower pool.
Crappie: Captain Brad Taylor reports that fish will continue to hold around brush in July, but instead of being found at the mouths of creek they should group up on the main run. The mid-lake should be a good section to fish with minnows and jigs.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that both because of feeding patterns and boat traffic the night bite will be much better during July. Dip baits and a variety of cut bait will catch fish in shallow water.
Santee Cooper
Bass: Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the July heat doesn’t help the bite, but there are still some decent patterns this month. The best bet is fishing with topwater lures early, and then fishing with soft plastics around trees later in the day. If it gets very hot or water levels drop bass could move out deeper.
Crappie: Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that this month fish should continue to be caught on mid-depth brush with minnows, but as it gets very hot they could move a little deeper.
Bream: Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that around the new and full moons waves of bluegill and shellcracker should come shallow to spawn where they can be caught on crickets and worms.
Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in July fishing in the shallows with cut bait at night should be the primary pattern, and fish will also be caught drifting.
Saltwater Fishing Trends
Charleston
Inshore: Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that as temperatures start to get very hot along the coast inshore fishing can get tougher. The summer heat and the threat of afternoon pop-up storms make morning the best time to fish in July, and if you fish early this month you can still catch trout, flounder and redfish on live bait such as finger mullet, mud minnows or shrimp under a popping cork. Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat (from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15).
Nearshore: Captain Rob Bennett reports that in July the spadefish bite should continue to be really good at the nearshore reefs, and Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, and amberjack should continue to be caught.
Edisto Island
Inshore: Captain Ron Davis Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that starting around July 4 finger mullet usually reach the perfect size for bait and will be readily available. In July they hope the trout bite will pick up around main river points with mullet as well as mud minnows, shrimp or artificials. Redfish action should be fair on the flats with shrimp and in the creeks with mud minnows or finger mullet. Small sheepshead are prolific in the creeks in July. Tarpon have already showed up and fishing for these silver kings should get better and better this month. Flounder should be catchable with mud minnows over sandy or hard bottoms, particularly at the mouth of creeks. Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat (from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15).
Nearshore/ offshore: Spanish mackerel and king mackerel are already thick at the nearshore reefs and will hang around throughout the month, while the spadefish action should continue to be good all of July. Bottom fishing will stay good, while at the Gulf Stream some dolphin, wahoo, tuna and even billfish will be caught.
Beaufort
Inshore: Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that in July tailing redfish can be found on good flood tides, and on moving tides fishing live or cut bait around ambush points is a good bet. Trout can be found around ambush points where they will eat live bait or jigs, and migratory species like jacks and tarpon which are already showing up should be around until the fall. Part-time Beaufort resident John Long of East Columbia Sport Shop (803-776-8320) reports that there is a strong population of black drum and sheepshead in Beaufort right now, and both species will eat fiddler crabs fished around structure. Flounder fishing can be good with live finger mullet or minnows but varies from day to day. Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat (from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15).