Charleston's Saltwater Fishing Forecast for June (2024)

June is the traditional starting line in the race to catch additional inshore species that flourish in summertime.

A three-month window to duel with fork-tailed species like Spanish mackerel and Jack crevalle is now wide open. Bait may become scarce later when summer heat builds, but for now cast nets are full of menhaden of all sizes, so matching bait size to the target fish species is easy. June is when the blue crabs get longer, and the flounder get fatter, and this is the time when seasonal anglers flood the estuary.

Captain Joel LeVine with Redfin Charters runs inshore charters out of the Bristol Marina and reports that the bull redfish bite is superb. “Not only are there more redfish in Charleston Harbor this year, but there are more of them over 40 inches for sure,” said LeVine. “We rig live menhaden on a Carolina rig fishing on the bottom near a structure like Castle Pinckney, Fort Sumter or Morris Island. When we target bull redfish at the jetties, we are free-lining a large bait 8 to 10-feet deep and using large floats as strike indicators, and a good time is when the waves are cresting the top to the rocks and the current is moving.”

“Cobia are showing up in the nearshore and we utilize chum bags to raise them within casting distance,” said LeVine. “We use pitch baits like a menhaden fished naked on an 8-ought hook, or a Z-man soft plastic lure. Large sharks can show up too when the chum is out. A few smaller cobia have been caught in the Wando River by the 526 bridge and is an example of nearshore species sneaking into the harbor when there is ample bait and water temperatures are right. Other fish we are seeing in good numbers right now are Spanish mackerel, bluefish, Jack crevalle, with some Ladyfish mixed in.”

“The trout bite has not been great lately, but the bright spot is that larger-sized trout are being caught,” said LeVine. “The Release Over 20 ethic has likely helped mature trout remain in the estuary. The trout bite is best early in the morning using topwater techniques, which is why we usually leave the dock by 7 a.m. to fish for them. This time of the year the water is easier to read before the daily boat traffic builds, and the Jack crevalle seem to be most receptive in the early morning hours. I like a DaiwaBG 6500 spinning combo for most summer inshore options.”

Ray Sedgewick fishes offshore on the 37-foot Freeman named Henley Grace and is the Top Senior Angler in the 2024 SC Mahi Series. “There is always hope that more mahi could show up in June,” said Sedgewick. “The blue marlin fishing has been red-hot and that should continue this month, and a typical day for us includes stopping at the ledge about 45-miles offshore to troll for Blackfin tuna, wahoo, and Bonita to dial in our tactics before we billfish.”

“Look for weedlines, temperature breaks, water color changes or anything different on the ocean,” said Sedgewick. “When a billfish is in the baits we reel the teasers in close to the boat in an attempt to bring them closer, and the captain keeps the boat speed steady at 6 to 8 knots. A small Bonita is a good bait to drop back for a marlin, and a naked ballyhoo is preferred for a sailfish. Billfish may swipe at a bait some before they bite it so keeping the rod in free spool is a proven technique. For sailfish a 30W Shimano reel on a 6’6’ medium action rod is a good match, but for marlin, moving up to a 80W reel and 80-pound mono line allows for bigger baits and bigger fish.”