Gear & Tackle

Saltwater & Coast

Fly Fishing

Spin, Cast & Bait

Port Royal Sound Fishing Guide

South Carolina

Estuarine waters around Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head, where red drum, spotted seatrout, flounder, and bluefish are caught.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Port Royal Sound for redfish, speckled trout, flounder and bluefish. In October, redfish, speckled trout, flounder and bluefish are in season, and Clouser Minnow, Lefty's Deceiver and EP Baitfish are a good place to start. There are 11 shops within 25 miles (1 fly, 10 bait and tackle); the closest is HHI Deep Sea Fishing in Hilton Head Island, under a mile away. Wassaw Sound is about 22 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Season at a Glance

Redfish
Speckled Trout
Flounder
Bluefish
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What You'll Catch

Port Royal Sound Species

Redfish

Redfish

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

Speckled Trout

Speckled Trout

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Oct to Dec

Flounder

Flounder

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Apr to May, Sep to Nov

Bluefish

Bluefish

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: May to Oct

Images: Duane Raver, USFWS; NOAA Fisheries. Public domain.

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

14 picks for October. marks species in season in October.

  • Clouser Minnow #1/0-8

    Fly

    Streamer · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Lefty's Deceiver #3/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Bluefish

    Shop This Fly

  • EP Baitfish #2/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Spoon Fly #1/0-2

    Fly

    Flats Fly · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Bluefish, Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Flounder

    Shop This Lure

  • Weedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Metal Jig 1/2 to 3 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Bluefish

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Speckled Trout, Redfish

  • Cut Mullet Chunk or strip

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Bluefish, Redfish

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.

  • Sand Fleas Small

    Bait

    Live Bait · Redfish · Surf.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Redfish

Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Speckled Trout

Fly 9 ft 7 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 15 lb leader, Clousers and shrimp flies.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Flounder

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.

Bluefish

Fly 9 ft 9 wt rod, intermediate line, wire or 40 lb bite tippet.

Spin / Cast 7 to 9 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 20 lb braid with a wire leader.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Port Royal Sound

Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

A heavy front taper for quick shots at tailing fish in warm, humid conditions.

Check Price

Floats & Rigs

Cajun Thunder Popping Cork

The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.

Check Price

Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.

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Metal Jigs

Deadly Dick Deadly Dick Metal Jig

A small, heavy casting jig for fast-moving albies and mackerel.

Check Price

Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

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Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

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Soft Plastics

Berkley Gulp! Shrimp

Scented shrimp that out-fish plain plastics on a jighead or under a cork.

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Within 25 Miles

Shops Near Port Royal Sound

Within 25 Miles

Guides and Charters Near Port Royal Sound

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · Georgia · About 22 mi

Wassaw Sound

Estuarine waters beside Wassaw Island, a barrier island refuge southeast of Savannah, where red drum, spotted seatrout, flounder, and bluefish are caught.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · South Carolina · About 30 mi

Edisto Beach

The beach and salt marsh at Edisto Beach State Park, with surf and marsh fishing for flounder and red drum and a boat ramp onto Big Bay Creek.

Redfish · Flounder

Saltwater & Coast · South Carolina · About 61 mi

Charleston Harbor

Marsh, creeks, and jetties around Charleston with flood tide tailing redfish.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Sheepshead