Coastal Catches: Four Seasons of Seafood

From delicate oysters hand harvested from the calm Lowcountry salt marshes to massive fish reeled in from the depths of rolling waves, South Carolina’s coast offers a never-ending bounty of the freshest seafood, each season revealing a new gift to savor.

Redfish

Also known as red drum or spottail bass, redfish are plentiful in South Carolina’s inshore waters and their mild, medium flaky meat is beloved by locals and visitors alike. Explore Charleston’s estuaries on a trip with RedFin Charters to see what you can reel in. In Myrtle Beach, Hook & Barrel always carries a fresh catch of the day—ask if it’s redfish to give it a try.

Blue Crabs

Venture to Capers Island on a crabbing charter with Barrier Island Eco Tours and catch crab from the pristine beach with a handline and net. On the journey, a naturalist will teach you about the history of blue and stone crabs. At The Crab Shack in Folly Beach, order housemade crab cakes and a steamed seafood bucket served with seasoned new potatoes and corn.

Shrimp

Join Captain Clif with Edisto Shrimp Boat Charters for a trawling tour through the scenic Edisto Island channels and learn how to catch, clean and cook your own shrimp. Then stop by Whaley’s Restaurant & Bar at Edisto Beach for their beloved stuffed shrimp appetizer: local shrimp stuffed with crab cake, wrapped in bacon and served with lemon dill dipping sauce.

Oysters

Hop on a 20-foot Carolina Skiff and see where the clean, briny “Lowcountry Cups” oysters are harvested when you take a farm tour with Lowcountry Oyster Co. in Green Pond, just outside of Charleston. Or order up a dozen oysters, freshly steamed or served raw, at The Great Bay Oyster House in Greer or The Darling Oyster Bar in Charleston. September through May, watch freshly harvested oysters being shucked at Bluffton Oyster Co., the last hand-shucking oyster house in South Carolina.