The Charleston, SC marine forecast covers live wind speed and gusts, tide predictions, wave conditions, and major and minor solunar feeding times, updated continuously from NOAA and Open-Meteo. The strongest fishing windows usually line up with the moving tide and the solunar periods shown below — check current conditions before you head out.
By Steve Wilson, lifelong angler & founder of My Marine Forecast
Last updated: Aug 1, 2026, 8:01 AM
On Saturday, August 1, Charleston, SC sees high tide at 10:18 AM (5.0 ft) and 10:37 PM (5.5 ft), low tide at 4:23 AM (0.3 ft) and 4:27 PM (0.4 ft). Winds 5–14 mph from the S gusting to 22 mph. Air temperatures 79–90°F. Current water temperature is about 86°F. The strongest fishing windows line up with the moving water around each tide change, roughly an hour on either side.
Today's Tides · Station 8665530
| Low tide | 4:23 AM | 0.3 ft |
| High tide | 10:18 AM | 5.0 ft |
| Low tide | 4:27 PM | 0.4 ft |
| High tide | 10:37 PM | 5.5 ft |
Wind
5–14 mph S
Gusts
22 mph
Air Temp
79–90°F
Water Temp
86°F
Tides from NOAA Station 8665530 · wind & temperature from Open-Meteo. Open the live forecast for hourly charts and the 7-day outlook.
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Tide data sourced from NOAA Station 8665530
Charleston is one of the Southeast's premier coastal fishing cities, surrounded by the salt marshes, tidal creeks, and sounds of the ACE Basin — one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast. Charleston Harbor and the surrounding water bodies produce outstanding fishing for red drum, flounder, spotted seatrout, and sheepshead throughout the year.
The Charleston area's red drum fishery is legendary, with both inshore puppy drum on the flats and large bull reds in the sounds and inlets. The ACE Basin to the south is considered one of the best redfish destinations on the entire East Coast, with pristine marsh habitat supporting healthy populations. The Charleston jetties at the harbor mouth produce exceptional fishing for tarpon during their summer migrations.
Offshore from Charleston, anglers target king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and amberjack at the nearshore reefs and wrecks. The Gulf Stream's proximity brings sailfish and mahi-mahi within reach during warmer months. The live tide forecast above is important for Charleston, where the tidal range exceeds 5 feet and timing your fishing to moving water is essential for success.
Spring: Redfish come off their winter pattern and feed across the flats of the Wando, Ashley and Stono as water passes 60. Sheepshead conclude their spawn and return to docks and bridge pilings. By late April speckled trout are active ahead of their spawn, Spanish mackerel and bluefish arrive off the jetties, and cobia begin showing around nearshore structure.
Summer: Flood-tide redfish are the marquee pattern, tailing in flooded grass on the biggest tides from May through September. Trout eat live shrimp and topwaters at first light over shell. The harbor jetties hold bull reds, sharks and Spanish mackerel, tarpon patrol the inlets by July, and mahi and billfish run the ledge 50-plus miles out.
Fall: As fine as inshore fishing gets here. Shrimp and finger mullet pour out of the estuary, and trout feed aggressively in the rivers from October through December. Bull redfish school at the jetties and sound mouths. Slot reds fatten on the flats in clearing water, and flounder gather near the inlets before moving offshore.
Winter: Redfish herd into schools of a hundred or more on clear shallow flats, sight-fishing at its most technical. Trout that survived any cold snaps hold in deep bends and creeks, biting midday. Sheepshead stack on the jetties and nearshore reefs, and a warm December can keep decent trout fishing alive into the new year.
The Charleston Harbor jetties are the landmark, holding bull redfish, sheepshead and Spanish mackerel where the shipping channel meets the ocean. The Wando, Ashley and Stono rivers offer flats, shell banks and docks for reds and trout in every season. Folly Beach has the Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier plus productive surf around the Washout for reds, whiting and sharks. Breach Inlet between Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms funnels bait and predators on every tide but demands respect for its current. Shem Creek gives kayakers direct harbor access.