Fish guide
Pinfish
Lagodon rhomboides. Also called Sea bream, Pin perch, Sand perch.
Showing the fish for Charleston and the Lowcountry, SC.
Season in Charleston
NC DMF: larger fish move offshore in fall and winter. UF/IFAS: tolerates 50 to 95 F; Charleston Harbor entrance averages 53 to 85 F (NCEI). (Our inference)
Season by region
| Myrtle Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Southern NC | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Charleston | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Georgia | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Northeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Space Coast | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Pier pilings, jetty rocks, docks.
Right against pilings and rocks.
What to look for
Small silvery fish with yellow and blue stripes and a dark shoulder spot stealing your bait.
Bait
Small pieces of shrimp, Squid, Bloodworms. Two-hook bottom rig with small hooks, or a sabiki rig.
Leader
Light line, small hooks.
Common mistakes
- Hooks too large to catch them
Landing
Swing it up.
Handling
- Sharp dorsal spines
- Incisor-like teeth
Smooth the dorsal fin down before gripping.
Keep or release
No SC limit found in the published tables. Mostly caught as live bait for bigger fish (NC DMF).
Typical: 2 to 4 in. Large: Up to 8 in.
South Carolina limits
No state limit entry.
Last checked 2026-10-11. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. SC Department of Natural Resources fishing regulations.
Sources
- NC Division of Marine Fisheries: pinfish (Official source)
- UF/IFAS FA168: pinfish (temperature and salinity) (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)
Is pinfish worth it today?
The planner rates it for your exact time with the live tide, weather and water temperature.
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