Amberjack are present year-round offshore but the season is closed during the month of April to allow the fish to spawn. They are found at wrecks, reefs, and ledges. 

• Average Size: ~40 lbs. and 30-34"
• South Carolina State Record: 123 pounds (2010)
• Maximum Age: at least 17 years

A welcome sight on a flat - they are fun to catch on fly or light tackle, but do require a very accurate cast as they don't typically move out of their way to eat baits. The large, bull black drum are a great fight and can be found around structure and caught on peeled shrimp with light tackle. Black drum are here year round.

• Average Size: 14 inches, 2.2 pounds
• South Carolina State Record: 89 pounds (1978)
• Maximum Age: approx. 60 years

Cobia are a unique inshore game species of the Port Royal Sound. They are pursued inshore by sight casting or throwing jigs and eels as well as bottom fishing on upwellings, rips, and live bottoms across the sound primarily during April, May, and June. The inshore fishery is closed to harvest in May to allow the fish to spawn. They are also present at our nearshore and offshore reefs most of the year and are a great game fish for all levels of anglers.

• Average Size: 30 inches, 15 pounds
• South Carolina State Record: 92 pounds, 10 ounces (2009)
• Maximum Age: approx. 15 years

• Average Size: 12 – 14 inches, 1 – 2 pounds
• South Carolina State Record: 17 pounds, 6 ounces (1974)
• Maximum Age: approx. males – 5 years, females 7 or 8 years; females are generally larger and outlive males

There are a variety of grouper species found in the offshore waters of South Carolina. Typically they are associated with wrecks, reefs, and live bottom. Gag grouper is the most commonly caught species using bottom fishing techniques. Grouper are present year-round but the season opens May 1 and closes at the end of the year. 

• Average Size: ~20-30 lbs. and 20-30"
• South Carolina State Record: 54 pounds (2018 - gag grouper)
• Maximum Age: 16 years

Jack crevalle are really fun to catch. Though normally an open ocean species, they are sometimes encountered in schools at the surface in the waters of Port Royal Sound during the summer and can be caught on topwater lures and plugs.

• Average Size: 24"
• South Carolina State Record: 40 pounds (1993)
• Maximum Age: 17 years

King mackerel are typically found in nearshore and offshore waters but may come inshore to buoys and beaches. Also called kingfish, this species is usually caught on live bait of menhayden or runners. They are known for their lively fights after being hooked up.

• Average Size: 10 lbs., 33"
• South Carolina State Record: 62 pounds (1976)
• Maximum Age: 14 years

The staple of Lowcountry fishing! Actively pursued on every angle from fly fishing, artificials, live bait, you name it. They are aggressive eaters, and school up in large numbers cruising and tailing all over the hard flats during flood tides searching for fiddler crabs. My personal favorite and for good reason. Available year round, and best in winter. "Bull reds" refers to the larger sexually mature brood stock redfish which are over 30" in length. These bull redfish typically move offshore and come back in to spawn September through the beginning of November and can be caught in deeper water, however a few are usually found roaming with the other redfish and provide some extra enjoyment to a day.

• Average Size: 18 inches, 2.6 pounds
• South Carolina State Record: 75 pounds (1965)
• Maximum Age: approx. 38 years (a few individuals as old as 60 have been reported in other states)

The lowcountry is home to many shark species, including blacktip, lemon, and bonnethead. Follow the link below to watch the Coastal Kingdom episode "Sharks and Rays" and learn more about the sharks in Port Royal Sound. Port Royal Sound's high shark biodiversity is a great positive indicator of the health of our fishery.

These schooling striped fish are known for their odd-looking, human-like teeth that they use to crunch molluscs, barnacles, and other crustaceans. Juveniles are found inshore associated with structure while larger fish are present at nearshore wrecks, reefs, and live bottom. The best time of year to catch these fish is spring and fall with fiddler crabs on the bottom. 

• Average Size: 3 lbs., 14"
• South Carolina State Record: 16 pounds (2008)
• Maximum Age: ~25 years

The snapper complex includes vermillion, mutton, gray, cubera, and the most-prized red snapper. Keeper-size fish can be caught on bottom rigs around offshore structure in the warmer months and are present year-round. Red snapper harvest is currently restricted to only a handful of days each year. 

• RED SNAPPER
• Average Size: 10 lbs., 24"
• South Carolina State Record: 37 pounds (1964)
• Maximum Age: 40-50 years

Bite best when the temperature gets up high and the water is slick and clean. A great species to target with inline spinner baits buzzed on the surface on light tackle as they school up on minnows, or while trolling. Spanish mackerel can be found throughout Port Royal Sound from spring through the end of summer.

• Average Size: 15 inches, 1.5 pounds
• South Carolina State Record: 11 pounds (1983)
• Maximum Age: approximately 11 years

• Average Size: 14 inches, 1.3 pounds
• South Carolina State Record: 11 pounds, 13 ounces (1976)
• Maximum Age: approx. 8 – 10 years.

One fish you won't forget catching, if you can handle it. With screaming runs, aerial jumps, and the ability to recuperate if you let up on them at all, the tarpon is a fish of a lifetime. Tarpon arrive in the Lowcountry late in summer and stay through most of September.

• Average Size: 40 – 60 inches, 40 – 60 pounds
• South Carolina State Record: 154 pounds 10 ounces (1987)
• Maximum Age: approx. 50 years – possibly up to 70 years

An ideal species for fly fishermen and light tackle anglers as they hover high in the water column around debris and in Spartina reeds on high tides awaiting invertebrates. Readily eat a well-placed bait and can be found spring through mid fall.

• Average Size: 10-18 inches, less than 20 pounds
• South Carolina State Record: 33 pounds 8 ounces (caught off Hilton head in 2005)
• Maximum Size: 50 pounds, 36 inches