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The newest Hilton Head fishing report cab be found at: http://www.anglersheadquarters.com/ahq-insider-hilton-head-island-sc-winter-2017-18-fishing-report/

December 15

Inshore water temperatures in the Hilton Head area are in the mid-50s.  Clarity is improving but the water is not super-clear yet.

Fishing conditions have been pretty tough recently in the Hilton Head area, and Captain Dan “Fishin’ Coach” Utley (843-368-2126) reports that it’s been hard to spot fish as would be typical at this time of year.  Big tides, wind and rain have made for relatively poor visibility.

Right now the redfishdon’t seem to be ganged up on the main flats, and instead the better schools seem to be in the smaller creeks.  On high tide you can sometimes find them along the edges of the marsh grass, but most of the time they seem to be in the backs perhaps chasing warmer temperatures.  Once it gets super cold most of the fish should pull back out to the main river.

December 1

Inshore water temperatures in the Hilton Head area are around 60 degrees and clarity is good.

Fishing is still excellent in Hilton Head, and Captain Dan “Fishin’ Coach” Utley (843-368-2126) reports that big redfish have showed up along the grass on high water on main rivers like the May and Chechessee.  They will take a variety of baits, including rattling corks and minnows or shrimp dead or alive.  Dead sticking Gulp! shrimp on a ¼ ounce jighead has also been very effective.  Some of the fish are in the 24-27 inch range but there also lots of 16-18 inch fish.

The trout bite is still great on soft plastics and live shrimp.  Finding clean, moving water is the key.