Bonnethead

Season in Charleston

Peak months: Jun, Jul, Aug.

SCDNR MRRI arrival and departure temperatures (66 to 68 F in, below 79 F out) placed on NCEI Charleston averages. Florida Museum: needs water over 70 F. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Inlet mouths, oyster edges, jetty ends and the beach close to inlets in summer.

On the bottom near oyster edges, inlet mouths and jetties.

What to look for

Small shark with a rounded, shovel-shaped head (not a hammer).

Bait

Live or cut blue crab (the top bait), Shrimp, Cut crab. Carolina rig with about 1 oz of weight, 12 to 18 in of 50 to 60 lb mono leader, 2/0 to 4/0 non-offset, non-stainless circle hook.

Leader

50 to 60 lb monofilament, 12 to 18 in (they crush crabs; teeth are small).

Common mistakes

• Fishing big cut fish when they want crab
• Dragging the shark up the dry sand

Landing

Lead it into the shallow wash and keep it in the water there. Do not drag it up the dry sand or lift it by the tail.

Handling

• Teeth
• Abrasive skin
• Sudden thrashing

Keep it in the water: do not drag it up the beach and keep hands away from the mouth and gills. If the hook is deep or you would have to reach near the mouth, cut the leader as close to the hook as you can; carry a cutter that can cut the leader or hook. Prohibited sharks (sandbar, sand tiger, dusky and others) must be released without removing them from the water; treat any shark you cannot identify as prohibited.

Keep or release

Shore shark fishing is legal under SC state rules here, but not at Folly Beach Pier (3rd St W to 3rd St E) or, per WTOC in 2015, from Hilton Head beaches. SCDNR describes it as excellent to eat; see the SC regulations file for limits.

Recipes for bonnethead

Typical: 2 to 3 ft. Large: About 4 ft. SC record 27 lb 11 oz (Charleston, 2005).

South Carolina limits

• Minimum: none
• Maximum: none
• Bag: 1 per person per day (the limit SC publishes for its Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead group)
• Season: No closed season listed
• Rod and reel or handline only
• Non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks required with natural bait (not with flies or artificial lures)
• Land with head, tail and fins naturally attached
• Federal waters (past 3 miles) need a federal HMS permit with a shark endorsement
• Check local rules: many beach towns ban shore shark fishing

Last checked 2026-10-11. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. SC Department of Natural Resources fishing regulations.

Sources

• SCDNR Marine Resources Research Institute: shark research (estuary arrival and departure temperatures) (Official source)
• Florida Museum, Discover Fishes: bonnethead (Official source)
• NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide, all-stations monthly averages (Charleston Cooper River Entrance, Fort Pulaski, Gray's Reef, Fernandina Beach, Mayport, St. Augustine, Trident Pier Port Canaveral, Lake Worth Pier, Fowey Rocks, Virginia Key, Vaca Key, Key West) (Official source)
• Carolina Sportsman: a different kind of bonnet (bonnethead fishing, SC) (Angler knowledge)
• SCDNR Marine Resources Division: Sharks of South Carolina (2004 field guide; limits in it are outdated, see R2) (Official source)
• SCDNR saltwater game fish records (Official source)
• SC shark size and catch limits (eRegulations), last updated Aug 5, 2026 (Official source)

All the fish of Charleston