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Fishing Calibogue Sound: what the data says
7,898-acre sound near Hilton Head Island. The water tops out around 52 ft. The depth chart is built from real NOAA hydrographic survey soundings (depths referenced to low tide), so the channels, holes and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Red Drum (Redfish) fishing at Calibogue Sound
Start shallow in spring: red drum (redfish) sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 15 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for summer red drum (redfish). Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A weedless gold spoon or a paddletail swimbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Gold weedless spoon, Paddletail on 1/4 oz jighead |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Weedless gold spoon, Paddletail swimbait |
| Fall | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & midday | 1/2 oz spoon (schools), Big paddletail |
| Winter | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Scented soft plastic on 1/8 oz head, Slow-rolled paddletail |
Spotted Seatrout fishing at Calibogue Sound
In spring, spotted seatrout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 4 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 20 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring spotted seatrout. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Tie on a popping cork + shrimp or a 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Suspending twitchbait |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn | Popping cork + shrimp, 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge) |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn | Popping cork rig, Soft plastic jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 20 ft | midday & dusk | Suspending twitchbait (long pauses), Scented plastic crawled on bottom |
Southern Flounder fishing at Calibogue Sound
In spring, southern flounder run shallow here, mostly 2 to 15 ft. They move out to 3 to 18 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 40 ft. Old creek channel is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 2 ft, rated prime for spring southern flounder. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Tie on a jighead + gulp swimming mullet or a bucktail tipped with shrimp and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn | 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (white/chartreuse), Bucktail + Gulp shrimp |
| Summer | 3 to 18 ft | dawn | Jighead + Gulp swimming mullet, Bucktail tipped with shrimp |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | midday | 3/8 oz bucktail + Gulp (passes), Big paddletail on the jetty edge |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Slow jig + scented grub in the holes |
Sheepshead fishing at Calibogue Sound
Spring sheepshead on Calibogue Sound hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 10 to 30 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 9 ft of water that rates good for sheepshead in spring. Best bite is early morning. A small jig + crab piece covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | 1/4 oz jighead + fiddler, Sheepshead jig + shrimp piece |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn | Small jig + crab piece |
| Fall | 5 to 20 ft | midday | Jighead + shrimp, Small crab jig |
| Winter | 10 to 30 ft | midday | Heavier jig + crab (deep pilings) |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 51 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 20 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 18 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 9 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 9 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 2 ft
- Wright River inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 2 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Calibogue Sound?
Calibogue Sound is about 52 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real NOAA hydrographic surveys (charted soundings referenced to low tide), so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Calibogue Sound?
Anglers target red drum (redfish), spotted seatrout, southern flounder, sheepshead on Calibogue Sound.
Where is the best fishing spot on Calibogue Sound?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for spotted seatrout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Calibogue Sound?
For red drum (redfish), the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Lake Moultrie · Lake Marion · Congaree River · Saluda River (Lower) · Stevens Creek Reservoir · Neal Shoals Reservoir
Browse all South Carolina fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.