Captain's Blog

The Lowcountry is world-renowned for sight-casting to tailing reds on the flats. But what many don’t realize is that inshore fly fishing in Charleston offers more than just a good SC redfish. Two of the most intriguing and overlooked species to target are southern flounder and sheepshead.

While most people think of Florida when it comes to tarpon, Charleston has its own seasonal tarpon fishery during the summer months. From late July through September, these migratory fish push into South Carolina’s Lowcountry waters, offering adventurous fly anglers the rare chance to connect with one of the most thrilling gamefish on the planet.

Planning a fly fishing trip to Charleston, SC? This detailed guide highlights the top seven fly fishing spots in the Lowcountry, with expert tips from Captain Adam. Learn what gear works best, which tides to fish, what flies to bring, and how to read the marsh like a guide. Whether you're a seasoned saltwater angler or new to the flats, this article breaks down everything you need to make the most of Charleston’s world-class redfish fishery.

This guide is based on real-world experience from Tailfin Expeditions, a leading fly fishing guide service in Charleston. Every recommendation here comes from countless hours spent on the water, helping anglers navigate changing tides, shifting weather, and unpredictable fish behavior.

Charleston, South Carolina, is a top year-round destination for fly fishing in the Southeast. Its vast network of tidal creeks, shallow mud flats, and marsh edges creates ideal conditions for sight-casting to redfish in skinny water. These hard-fighting fish are the main attraction, especially during flood tides when they tail in just inches of water—an exciting challenge for any fly angler.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of running a skiff through the creeks and flats of Charleston, it’s this—there’s nothing quite like inshore fishing in the Lowcountry. Today, I’m lucky enough to call it my full-time job as a fishing guide. Whether I’m poling across a flooded flat at first light or easing into a quiet creek on a falling tide, every day out here brings something new.