Best Fishing Times in Hilton Head Today
Today's solunar windows
Rule-of-thumb windows (angler reference).
Solunar major window: 11:24 AM – 1:24 PM — an angler rule-of-thumb reference window, not a scientific prediction.
Local fishing guide
Common here: redfish · spotted seatrout · flounder · sheepshead
Hilton Head is a marsh island first and a beach second: the fishable water is mostly grass flats and tidal creeks on the inside, with the surf on the Atlantic side. Tidal range runs 6-8 feet, and the marshes flood and drain hard — timing is everything here.
What runs when
- Redfish (spottail bass): year-round, best in fall when they school on the flats. Flood tides push them into the grass; low tide concentrates them in creek mouths.
- Spotted seatrout: spring and fall in the creeks, around moving water and oyster bars.
- Flounder: summer through fall along sandy creek edges and inlet drops.
- Sheepshead: spring around dock pilings and the Cross Island bridge structure.
Where to cast
Fish the surf on the incoming tide along Folly Field and Burkes Beach, or work the creek mouths near Broad Creek and Calibogue Sound on the last two hours of the rise. Kayaks open the marsh; the surf is the no-gear option.
Tide timing here
On this island, the rule of thumb is reversed from open surf: the rising tide fishes better than the fall because it floods the flats where reds feed. Use this page’s daily windows — the two hours before high tide overlap the marsh push almost exactly.
Rules to know
South Carolina saltwater license required; redfish are slot-limited (23 inches and under stay in the slot rules change year to year). Check SCDNR regulations before keeping anything.
Rules: state fishing regulations · today's tide chart for Hilton Head →
Tide movement today
Today's tidal range in Hilton Head is 8.2 ft — close to the annual average of 7.6 ft. The classic rule of thumb: moving water around tide changes tends to fish better than slack tide, and the 2 hours before high tide is the window many anglers favor.
7-day solunar outlook
Gear for this window
- Fish finder / sonar (portable castable) — spot structure on moving tides
- Medium-action rod + 3000-size reel combo — all-round inshore setup
- Wading boots with felt/studded soles — slippery rocks at low tide
- Braid line 15 lb + fluorocarbon leader — feel the bite in current
Gear picks are general recommendations for this kind of tide window. Gear links coming soon.
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FAQ
What time is high tide in Hilton Head today?
Today in Hilton Head, high tide times are 8:20 AM (8.63 ft) and 8:30 PM (7.53 ft), local time (America/New_York), based on NOAA station 8669133.
What time is low tide in Hilton Head today?
Today's low tides in Hilton Head: 1:54 AM (0.40 ft) and 2:37 PM (0.53 ft), local time, datum MLLW.
Is today good for fishing in Hilton Head?
Yes — solunar rates Hilton Head 5/5 today. Solunar major window: 11:24 AM – 1:24 PM — an angler rule-of-thumb reference window, not a scientific prediction.
Where is the tide measured for Hilton Head?
Tides for Hilton Head are predicted at NOAA CO-OPS station 8669133 (Skull Creek, south entrance, Hilton Head Island), 1.2 miles away — a subordinate station. Times are America/New_York (ET), heights in feet relative to MLLW datum.
Tide predictions for Hilton Head come from NOAA CO-OPS station 8669133 (Skull Creek, south entrance, Hilton Head Island), 1.2 mi away — a subordinate station — predictions are derived by time/height offsets from a nearby harmonic reference station. Heights are in feet relative to the MLLW datum; all times are local to the station (America/New_York, ET). Source: NOAA Tides & Currents.
Data date: 2026-11-09 · page generated 2026-11-10 00:11 UTC · astronomical predictions, not observed water levels.