Bull Shark

Season in Charleston

Peak months: Jul, Aug.

Florida Museum: bull sharks move north along the coast in summer and return south as coastal water cools. SCDNR: frequently caught through the summer; the SC record came from Stono Inlet. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Deep holes and drop-offs at inlets and sounds (the SC record came from Stono Inlet) and the bottom off the beach in summer.

On the bottom in deeper holes, inlet mouths and drop-offs.

What to look for

Very stout gray shark with a short, broad, rounded snout and small eyes; no ridge between the dorsal fins.

Bait

Large cut menhaden or mullet, Cut stingray, Large cut bluefish. Heavy fish-finder rig with a 6 to 16 oz spider weight, steel or heavy mono leader, large non-offset, non-stainless circle hook (around 16/0), 100 to 200 lb line.

Leader

Soft steel or heavy wire leader; circle hooks around 16/0.

Common mistakes

• Fishing gear too light to end the fight quickly
• Trying to land a big shark on the sand instead of releasing it in the water
• Putting hands near the mouth

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. The SC minimum size for this group means nearly every shark from the beach is released.

Recipes for bull shark

Typical: 6 to 8 ft. Large: Over 10 ft. SC record 477 lb 12 oz (Stono Inlet, 1985).

South Carolina limits

• Minimum: 54 in FL
• Maximum: none
• Bag: 1 shark per vessel per trip (the limit SC publishes for its blacktip, bull, finetooth, spinner and other large coastal 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
• Sandbar sharks look like blacktips and bull sharks and are prohibited: if unsure, release it in the water

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

Sources

• Florida Museum, Discover Fishes: bull shark (Official source)
• 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