Welcome to the March fishing forecast for Beaufort, SC. This is when things start to slowly transition out of winter. Temperatures continue to warm up, and the fishing patterns begin to change as the month goes on.
Weather & Conditions Forecast: What to Expect
Expected Air Temp: 50-70°F
Expected Water Temp: 58–65°F
Overall, temperatures are just going to keep warming up through the month. As the water warms, it will also start getting a little dirtier compared to the clear winter water we’ve had the past few months.
Fish Behavior: Who’s Showing Up in the Beaufort, SC Waters?
Redfish will still be the main focus. As the water warms up, they should start spreading out more instead of holding in tight winter schools, especially on the warmer days. I’m not exactly sure why that happens, but it’s something I’ve noticed consistently over the years.
You can also expect to start seeing some nearshore species show up when conditions allow. Species like black drum, weakfish, sheepshead, black seabass, bluefish, and even redfish can be caught nearshore.
Fly Fishing Forecast
For fly fishing, water clarity will be a little lower than it was in winter, which actually makes fish less wary. Because of that, we’ll start moving away from the smaller white patterns and begin using larger flies. Darker patterns will start to work better again as the month goes on.
Spin Fishing Forecast
For spin fishing, the same general idea applies. As the water warms up, the lures will gradually become bigger and darker compared to the smaller, lighter winter presentations.
Nearshore fishing can be fantastic this month if the weather cooperates. When conditions are flat calm, you can expect a lot of action. It’s common to catch anywhere from 50–100 fish in an outing on the right day.
March Challenge: Wind Practice
Due to transitioning weather patterns, March usually brings more wind. Instead of avoiding it, use it as an opportunity to improve your casting. Practice casting into the wind and across the wind, and learn how to adjust your casting angle and timing so the line still turns over properly.
Being comfortable casting in windy conditions makes a big difference on the water. Fish don’t stop feeding just because it’s windy, so learning how to handle those situations will give you more opportunities throughout the season. The more confident you become casting in the wind now, the easier it is to fish in any conditions.
Thanks for reading the March 2026 Beaufort SC Fishing Report Forecast
Book your next fly/light tackle fishing trip here in the beautiful waters of Beaufort, SC!
For the latest tide updates in Beaufort, SC, visit NOAA Tide Predictions
Check out other Beaufort, SC Fishing Reports!
Tight Lines,
Zach Markow