South Carolina Weekly Saltwater Fishing Trends - 8/25/2008

Little River - Grand Strand - Charleston - Hilton Head - Tides - S.C. marine recreational fishing regulations (PDF file). Saltwater Fishing License site.

Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.

Little River

• Flounder: Very good. Even though the water is starting to get very warm flounder continue to be caught in Cherry Grove and 53rd area creeks using mud minnows.
• Spottail bass: Very good. Fish Clark Spoons or other heavy, fast dropping lures deep against the rocks at the jetties for big red drum.
• Spanish mackerel: Very good. Look for feeding birds and motor slowly towards the fish; throw Gotcha Plugs, Hopkins Spoons, or anything else with a treble hook to land fish.
• Cherry Grove Pier: Whiting up to half a pound and black drum up to three pounds are both being caught on cut pieces of shrimp. A few small sheepshead are also being reported caught, and occasional 16 inch flounder are being landed.

Grand Strand

• Spottail Bass: Good. Mud minnows, live or cut mullet, and cut shrimp are all producing. Large drum continue to be caught at the jetties; fish the incoming tide right after the tide turns against the North Jetty walls.
• Trout: Sporadic. Use live shrimp, finger mullet, or mud minnows or fish Gulp. Flounder: Slow. With the very hot water flounder catching has slowed to almost non-existent. Sheepshead: Excellent. Large numbers of sheepshead are being caught at the Murrells Inlet jetty, but the bite is even hotter down at the Georgetown jetties. Fiddler crabs and live or cut shrimp on a Carolina rig fished vertically are producing.
• Springmaid Pier: Some good sized flounder have been caught, as well as fair numbers of pinfish and spots.
• Second Avenue Pier: Flounder action is pretty hot; 15 or so are being caught each day, up to 3 or 4 pounds. A few black drum are being caught as well as some Spanish by jig fishermen.
• Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: Occasional flounder are being caught, as well as whiting, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel.
• Apache Pier: Fishing has slowed, but some summer trout and flounder are being caught as well as occasional pompano. A 30.8 pound king mackerel was landed a couple of weeks ago.
• Surfside Pier: Fishing remains off, and only sharks, stingrays, and sea robins are being caught in good numbers.
• Garden City Pier: Whiting and pinfish are being caught in decent numbers, and lots of small bluefish in the 11 to 13 inch size are being landed. A few pompano are being landed and some Spanish are also being jigged up. No king mackerel have been caught recently.

Charleston

• Spottail Bass: Very good. Haddrell’s Point reports that redfish are scattered across all of the Lowcountry estuaries, and anglers continue to have best luck fishing under docks with deep holes and plenty of shade. These fish are being caught on live or cut bait, Gulp, or Rattle Traps.
• Trout: Very good. Early and late in the day topwater action is hot for spotted sea trout. Use topwater lures like Zara Spooks and “walk the dog” around oyster shells and feeder creeks on moving tides.
• Flounder: Good. Flounder fishing continues to improve over the last few weeks, and best results are coming fishing around the edges of rock piles and creek mouths. Fish live finger mullet or mud minnows on a Carolina rig.
• Sheepshead: Very good. Fish fiddler crabs, clam pieces, or cut shrimp.
• Tarpon: Good. Fish large live mullet or menhaden in 6 to 15 foot deep slews between the sandbars on the outside of most any Charleston area inlet.
• Spanish mackerel: Good. Nice catches of Spanish mackerel continue to be made in the Harbor. Fish Gotcha plugs or spoons.
• Folly Beach Pier: A mixed bag continues to be caught at the pier, including whiting, bluefish, trout, Spanish mackerel, red drum, and sheepshead.

Hilton Head

• Spottail Bass: Very good. First thing in the morning redfish are hitting topwater; when the sun is higher fish deeper with Gulp Shrimp. Tailing action is strong around high tide and will continue all summer.
• Trout: Good to very good. Early morning topwater action is very good, and some big trout are being caught on lures like Spooks. Shrimp and mud minnows fished under Cajun Thunder rattling bobbers, or Gulp grubs, are producing.
• Flounder: Good. Flounder fishing has improved slightly, and anglers are catching flounder using traditional flounder rigs with a bobber to float the mud minnows off the bottom. Best fishing is around low tide in the same areas as the spottails and trout, or in the mouths of creeks and inlets.

Pre-register for Wildlife Expo; Win Huge Prizes

The fourth annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo is slated for Sept. 26-28, but those planning to attend can pre-register now for the event at wildlifedepartment.com and secure their chance at one of several great prizes.

“Tens of thousands of people show up to the Expo each year, but those who take a few extra minutes to pre-register may be real glad they did,” said Rhonda Hurst, Expo coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “We’re giving away a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license and a John Deere Gator from P&K equipment. These are valuable prizes, but you can’t win them unless you log on to wildlifedepartment.com and pre-register.”

The Expo is a free three-day event hosted by the Wildlife Department and designed to perpetuate an interest in the outdoors and conservation through hands-on education and learning opportunities. Visitors to the Expo have the opportunity to shoot shotguns and archery equipment, catch a fish, ride an ATV or mountain bike, float in a kayak, build a birdhouse and more. Additionally, more than a hundred booths and activities are available that are designed to expose visitors to different outdoor pursuits and educational opportunities, and seminars are held on a number of wildlife and outdoor topics ranging from land management to training hunting dogs.

Expo visitors can also see what the Outdoor Marketplace has to offer. The huge shopping area gives the Expo’s outdoor-minded guests a place to shop for the latest in outdoor products and services that cater to their lifestyles, while providing vendors a place to showcase their goods to the people that will want to buy them.

According to Blake Shelton, country music star and special guest at the Expo last year, there is no excuse not to check out the Expo.

“If you and your family don’t come out to the Expo, you’re going to really miss out on a fun time,” Shelton said. “The Expo is the perfect family event its fun, its free and I’ll guarantee your kids will be tired at the end of the day.”

This year, Oklahoma native country music singer Devin Derrick will be sharing his passion for the outdoors and singing on Saturday and Sunday at the Expo. Ada musician Clancy Davis also will perform on Sunday.

The Wildlife Department works with a range of organizations, individuals and outdoor-related companies to host the Expo — an event intended to promote and develop appreciation for Oklahoma’s wildlife and natural resources.

To pre-register for the Oklahoma Wildlife Expo, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.

South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 8/18/2008

Little River - Grand Strand - Charleston - Hilton Head - Tides - S.C. marine recreational fishing regulations (PDF file). Saltwater Fishing License site.

Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.

Little River

• Flounder: Very good. Even though the water is starting to get very warm flounder continue to be caught in Cherry Grove and 53rd area creeks using mud minnows.
• Spottail bass: Very good. Fish Clark Spoons or other heavy, fast dropping lures deep against the rocks at the jetties for big red drum.
• Spanish mackerel: Very good. Look for feeding birds and motor slowly towards the fish; throw Gotcha Plugs, Hopkins Spoons, or anything else with a treble hook to land fish.
• Cherry Grove Pier: Whiting up to half a pound and black drum up to three pounds are both being caught on cut pieces of shrimp. A few small sheepshead are also being reported caught, and occasional 16 inch flounder are being landed.

Grand Strand

• Spottail Bass: Good. Mud minnows, live or cut mullet, and cut shrimp are all producing. Large drum continue to be caught at the jetties; fish the incoming tide right after the tide turns against the North Jetty walls.
• Trout: Sporadic. Use live shrimp, finger mullet, or mud minnows or fish Gulp. Flounder: Slow. With the very hot water flounder catching has slowed to almost non-existent. Sheepshead: Excellent. Large numbers of sheepshead are being caught at the Murrells Inlet jetty, but the bite is even hotter down at the Georgetown jetties. Fiddler crabs and live or cut shrimp on a Carolina rig fished vertically are producing.
• Springmaid Pier: Some good sized flounder have been caught, as well as fair numbers of pinfish and spots.
• Second Avenue Pier: Flounder action is pretty hot; 15 or so are being caught each day, up to 3 or 4 pounds. A few black drum are being caught as well as some Spanish by jig fishermen.
• Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: Occasional flounder are being caught, as well as whiting, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel.
• Apache Pier: Fishing has slowed, but some summer trout and flounder are being caught as well as occasional pompano. A 30.8 pound king mackerel was landed a couple of weeks ago.
• Surfside Pier: Fishing remains off, and only sharks, stingrays, and sea robins are being caught in good numbers.
• Garden City Pier: Whiting and pinfish are being caught in decent numbers, and lots of small bluefish in the 11 to 13 inch size are being landed. A few pompano are being landed and some Spanish are also being jigged up. No king mackerel have been caught recently.

Charleston

• Spottail Bass: Very good. Haddrell’s Point reports that redfish are scattered across all of the Lowcountry estuaries, and anglers continue to have best luck fishing under docks with deep holes and plenty of shade. These fish are being caught on live or cut bait, Gulp, or Rattle Traps.
• Trout: Very good. Early and late in the day topwater action is hot for spotted sea trout. Use topwater lures like Zara Spooks and “walk the dog” around oyster shells and feeder creeks on moving tides.
• Flounder: Good. Flounder fishing continues to improve over the last few weeks, and best results are coming fishing around the edges of rock piles and creek mouths. Fish live finger mullet or mud minnows on a Carolina rig.
• Sheepshead: Very good. Fish fiddler crabs, clam pieces, or cut shrimp.
• Tarpon: Good. Fish large live mullet or menhaden in 6 to 15 foot deep slews between the sandbars on the outside of most any Charleston area inlet.
• Spanish mackerel: Good. Nice catches of Spanish mackerel continue to be made in the Harbor. Fish Gotcha plugs or spoons.
• Folly Beach Pier: A mixed bag continues to be caught at the pier, including whiting, bluefish, trout, Spanish mackerel, red drum, and sheepshead.

Hilton Head

• Spottail Bass: Very good. First thing in the morning redfish are hitting topwater; when the sun is higher fish deeper with Gulp Shrimp. Tailing action is strong around high tide and will continue all summer.
• Trout: Good to very good. Early morning topwater action is very good, and some big trout are being caught on lures like Spooks. Shrimp and mud minnows fished under Cajun Thunder rattling bobbers, or Gulp grubs, are producing.
• Flounder: Good. Flounder fishing has improved slightly, and anglers are catching flounder using traditional flounder rigs with a bobber to float the mud minnows off the bottom. Best fishing is around low tide in the same areas as the spottails and trout, or in the mouths of creeks and inlets.

DNREC Fisheries to Hold Aug. 27 Public Hearing on State Fisherman Registry Regulations

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will hold a public hearing regarding proposed new regulations that would establish state fisherman registries at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 in the DNREC Auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover. The new regulations would go into effect Jan. 1, 2009.

In order to improve upon present means of determining recreational catch and effort in marine waters, Congress authorized the National Marine Fisheries Service to compile a nationwide registry of all anglers fishing in saltwater beginning in 2009 and to begin charging for participation in this registry as of 2011. According to existing federal plans, fees generated by this program will be deposited in the federal treasury and not returned to the states.

“These proposed additions to Delaware’s tidal and non-tidal fishing regulations will allow us to meet these new federal requirements, with no additional cost to our anglers,” said DNREC Fisheries Section Administrator Roy Miller. “The federal National Marine Fisheries Service has been tasked to identify saltwater anglers for survey purposes. If we can provide a complete registry of Delaware’s marine recreational fishermen from our state-issued fishing license program, our anglers will be exempt from participating in the federal registry and federal license fees.”

Delaware Code currently requires a general fishing license to fish in tidal and non-tidal waters, and license applications contain most of the information needed for a state registry, with one important exception. “Under the new regulations, the first question we would ask our license applicants is ‘fresh, salt or both?’ Presently we have no way to determine this, and the Fisheries Service is only looking for saltwater angler information,” Miller said. 

A complete registry would also need to include Delaware saltwater anglers who are not legally required to have a fishing license, or National Marine Fisheries would classify Delaware as non-exempt. Current Delaware fishing license regulations allow the holder of a recreational boat license to take any number of non-licensed anglers with them on the licensed vessel, and therefore these unlicensed anglers would not be included in a database of Delaware anglers. In addition, resident senior citizens age 65 and older also are exempt from Delaware recreational fishing license requirements. 

Therefore, to avoid a federal determination that Delaware is a non-exempt state, the proposed regulation will establish a state-level registration process, to be known as the F.I.N number (Fisherman Information Network), for all anglers fishing in Delaware. 

The new regulation would require all prospective Delaware anglers age 16 or older, licensed or not, to obtain a F.I.N number on an annual basis before fishing in Delaware waters. This requirement is similar to a federal registration system known as the Hunter Information Program (H.I.P.) for all who intend to hunt migratory birds.  

The F.I.N. number would be available at no cost to anglers by calling a toll free number or by providing requested information online. Anglers would be asked for their name, address, phone number and whether they intend to fish in freshwater, tidal water or both. Each person who requests a F.I.N. number should write this number on his or her Delaware fishing license, or for those who are legally unlicensed, be able to produce this number when asked by an authorized enforcement agent. 

Both the website address and toll-free number would be advertised and made readily available to all Delaware anglers. 

Once all Delaware fishermen have obtained a F.I.N. number and the National Marine Fisheries Service has a copy of Delaware’s saltwater angler registry, Delaware will be exempt from the federal marine recreational fishing registry and charges.

Individuals may present opinions and evidence either at the public hearing or in writing to Lisa Vest, Hearing Officer, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901 or via e-mail to Lisa.Vest@state.de.us.  The hearing record will remain open for written or e-mail comments until 4:30 p.m. Aug. 31, 2008.

For more information, please contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries Section, at 302-739-3441.

2008-09 Sporting License Sales Open August 18 in New York

Deer Management Permits, Hunting, Fishing, Trapping Licenses Available

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced that 2008-09 hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and Deer Management Permits (DMPs) may be purchased beginning Monday, Aug. 18. Licenses and permits can be purchased at one of DEC’s 1,500 license sales outlets statewide.

“New York State is committed to helping provide outdoor enthusiasts with numerous recreational opportunities to enjoy the beauty of our state throughout the year,” said Grannis. “Hunting, trapping, and fishing opportunities in New York are among the best in the Northeast. As DEC kicks off another license year, we are pleased to offer new big game hunting opportunities to 14 and 15 year olds. We will continue to help meet the needs of sportsmen and sportswomen by making improvements to better serve the public and protect our natural resources.”

All sporting licenses are valid beginning Oct. 1, 2008, through Sept. 30, 2009. Prices for New York residents range from as little as $5 for a Junior Hunting license to $76 for a Conservation Legacy license that allows a full range of hunting and fishing privileges and includes specialty items such as a subscription to the Conservationist magazine and a Habitat/Access Stamp.

Sporting licenses can also be ordered by mail or phone. Previous DEC Automated Licensing System (DECALS) customers can purchase licenses via DEC’s website at www.dec.ny.gov (look for the “Purchase a Sporting License” button on the home page). License applications may also be downloaded from the website and submitted by mail to the address listed on the application. For questions regarding license purchases, please call our DECALS Call Center at (1-866-933-2257). Hours of operation for the Call Center are 7 am to 7 pm, Mon. through Sat. from Aug. 18 to Oct. 13, 2008. Regular weekday hours of 8 am to 5 pm will resume on Oct. 14.

The DECALS System is New York’s program for issuing sporting licenses and tracking license sales and revenues. DECALS may also be used for donations to the Habitat Access Stamp Program, Venison Donation Coalition, Conservation Fund, and the Trail Maintenance Program. The Department continues to improve DECALS to better meet the needs of sportsmen and women. Beginning August 18, 2008, individuals will be able to purchase 2008-09 sporting licenses and permits through DECALS at all license issuing outlets across the state, including during the 2008 New York State Fair in Syracuse.

License buyers should have the following items ready when applying: complete name and address information, customer ID number if you have it, proof of residency information (driver’s license number or non-driver’s ID number to qualify), and, if purchasing by phone, credit card and card expiration date. Hunting license purchases require individuals to provide proof of hunting education certification or a copy of a previous license, or this information must already be contained in their DECALS file.

Deer Management Permits (DMPs), for antlerless deer only, will be available at all license issuing outlets and by phone, internet or mail, from Aug. 18 through close of business Oct. 1. DMPs are issued through a random selection process at the point of sale; therefore customers who are selected for DMPs will receive their permits immediately. The probabilities for DMP selection in each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) are determined by the number of applications expected for each WMU and the number of DMPs the DEC must issue to effectively manage the deer herd. An applicant’s selection is also affected by the customer’s residency, number of preference points, land ownership, or disabled veteran’s status. Chances of selection in each WMU are listed in this year’s Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, available at License Issuing Agent locations, and at www.dec.ny.gov/permits/30409.html /website/dfwmr/license/dmpchances.html . Chances of getting a DMP remain the same throughout the application period from Aug. 18 through Oct. 1, 2008.

DEC plans to issue approximately 530,000 DMPs this year, about 13% more than last year’s target DMP issuance. The boost in DMP targets for 2008 reflects increases in deer abundance in many parts of the state and the DEC’s intent to manage deer populations toward levels suggested by Citizen Task Forces for each WMU. Applicants are reminded that DMPs are only valid for use in the WMU specified on the permit.

If a significant number of DMPs are still available in a WMU after Oct. 1, leftover DMP sales will commence on Nov. 1, 2008 and will continue on a first-come/first-serve basis until the end of the hunting season or until all DMPs have been issued. Hunters who were accustomed to applying for leftover DMPs in archery-only units 4J and 8C are advised that these units will not be open during the first-come/first-serve application period this year, but Bonus DMPs will be available in these units. For information about Bonus DMPs in WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J and 8C see www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/10001.html .

Hunters and trappers are reminded that Governor David Paterson signed a new law creating a junior hunter and trapper mentoring program. This new law allows 14-15 year olds to hunt big game with a firearm while accompanied and supervised by an experienced adult hunter. The law also allows unlicensed youth less than 12 years of age to accompany and assist a licensed trapper who is at least 18 years of age and has at least three years of trapping experience. More details about the new opportunities are available in this year’s Hunting and Trapping Laws and Regulations Guide.

Sales of all sporting licenses are deposited into the Conservation Fund which is used for the management of New York’s fish and wildlife populations and for protection and management of the habitats these animals rely upon. Via DECALS, donations to the Conservation Fund may be made in addition to or in lieu of purchasing a sporting license or Habitat/ Access Stamp.

For specific boundaries of the WMUs mentioned in this announcement and for all current hunting, fishing and trapping regulations, access the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov .

Amendment to the 2008 Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Schedule in Alaska

The Chitina Subdistrict will be open from 12:01 a.m. Monday August 18 until 11:59 p.m. Sunday August 24. There will be no supplemental harvest during this fishing period. This announcement does not change the eleventh opening of the Chitina Subdistrict, which will remain at 12:00 noon Tuesday August 12 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday August 17.

As a reminder, the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery Management Plan and the Statewide Personal Use Fishing Regulations state that:

• The seasonal bag limit is a total of 15 salmon, one of which may be a king salmon for a household of one, and 30 salmon, one of which may be a king salmon for a household of two or more.
• Personal use fishers must possess both their Chitina Personal Use fishery permit and a valid resident sport fishing license when fishing.
• Of the total bag limit only one king salmon can be kept.
• Steelhead cannot be kept, and must be returned to the water unharmed.
• When a harvestable surplus of 50,000 salmon or greater will be present in the Chitina Subdistrict, by emergency order, a supplemental permit for 10 additional sockeye salmon will be issued to Chitina Subdistrict personal use permit holders.
• Harvest must be recorded on the permit immediately.
• The tips of the tail of personal use caught fish must be clipped immediately upon landing a fish.
• Immediately is defined as before concealing the salmon from plain view or transporting the salmon from the fishing site. Fishing site means the location where the fish was removed from the water and became part of the permit holder’s bag limit.

During July 28 – August 3, 20,192 salmon were counted past the Miles Lake sonar. The preseason projection for this period was 15,610 salmon, which results in a surplus of 4,582 salmon. Copper River sockeye salmon migratory timing and the previous five-year average harvest and participation rates indicate sufficient numbers of salmon available to allow 168 hours of fishing time during the week of August 18 – August 24.

Section (f) of the COPPER RIVER PERSONAL USE DIP NET SALMON FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN (5 AAC 77.591), states “The maximum harvest level for the Chitina Subdistrict personal use salmon fishery is 100,000 – 150,000 salmon, not including any salmon in excess of the inriver goal or salmon taken after August 31. If the Copper River District commercial salmon fishery is closed for 13 or more consecutive days, the maximum harvest level in the Chitina Subdistrict is reduced to 50,000 salmon.”

The Copper River District commercial salmon fishery was closed from June 19 to July 4, a total of 16 days. In accordance with 5 AAC 77.591(f), fishing time for the 2008 Chitina Subdistrict personal use salmon fishery, based on salmon passing the Miles Lake sonar after July 2, will be determined using a maximum harvest level of 50,000 salmon rather than the original harvest level of 122,825 salmon. The 50,000 salmon harvest level will remain in effect through August 31, 2008.

The Miles Lake sonar was pulled after the August 2 count. Cumulative passage by the Miles Lake sonar was 717,799 salmon as of August 2. This is 116,674 salmon above the preseason projected cumulative passage of 601,125 salmon and is 194,307 salmon below the 2007 cumulative passage of 912,106 salmon for this date.

All residents of Alaska qualify to participate in this personal use fishery. A Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Fishing permit and a resident sport fishing license are required to participate in this personal use fishery.

Public access, without a fee, to the Copper River is available in those areas where the eastern boundary of the 300’ wide O’Brien Creek Road easement reaches the ordinary high water mark of the west bank of the Copper River. The road approximately one mile beyond O’Brien Creek remains closed from that point and beyond. Boat launch access to the Copper River is available via the 17b easement located upstream of the Chitina-McCarthy Bridge on the east bank of the Copper River. Public access and boat launching is also available downstream of the Chitina-McCarthy Bridge on the east bank of the Copper River within the DOT ROW where it reaches ordinary high water. Boat launching is currently not available at O’Brien Creek.

Landowners in the area have incorporated a fee-based permit system allowing public access over their private lands along the Copper River. A brochure, which offers guidance into private land locations within the fishery area, is distributed with the permit. The Department urges dipnetters to respect the rights of private landowners.

When cleaning fish, the carcasses should be disposed of in fast moving water that washes the carcasses downstream such as O’Brien Creek or the Copper River. Leaving carcasses along the road, stream bank or in lakes is considered littering and subject to a $1,000 fine.

Public camping is available at the DOT wayside on the east bank of the Copper River by the Chitina-McCarthy Bridge, waysides along the O’Brien Creek Road ROW, and a private campground at the Chitina Airport. The Liberty Falls Recreation Site remains closed. Wood cutting within the DOT ROW is prohibited.

Information regarding the fishery can be found at the ADF&G web site: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region3/areas/ucus/chitina/chitina.cfm. This site provides information regarding the Upper Copper River fisheries including: fishery descriptions and summaries, maps of the subdistricts, a listing of vendors that carry the permits, and links to the sonar numbers and Emergency Orders. If you have any questions regarding the Chitina Subdistrict personal use fishery, please contact the ADF&G office in Glennallen at (907) 822-3309. Changes in the fishery openings will be announced at least 48 hours in advance. Fishery information is available 24 hours each day at (907) 822-5224 in Glennallen, (907) 459-7382 in Fairbanks and (907) 267-2511 in Anchorage. Please contact the information phone line prior to planning your trip to Chitina to insure that the fishery will be open when you arrive.

 

For additional information contact Mark Somerville, UCUS Area Management Biologist, 907-822-3309.

South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 8/11/2008

Little River - Grand Strand - Charleston - Hilton Head - Tides - S.C. marine recreational fishing regulations (PDF file). Saltwater Fishing License site.

Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.

Little River

• Flounder: Very good. Even though the water is starting to get very warm flounder continue to be caught in Cherry Grove and 53rd area creeks using mud minnows. Flounder are also being taken at the Little River jetties.
• Spottail bass: Very good. Fish Clark Spoons or other heavy, fast dropping lures deep against the rocks at the jetties for big red drum. Fish can be caught on most any tide - the key is getting the spoons deep. Cut mullet or menhaden weighted down may also work.
• Sheepshead and black drum: Excellent. The sheepshead bite has gotten hot. Sand fleas and fiddler crabs are both very productive around the jetties and any inshore pilings.
• Spanish mackerel: Very good. Big Spanish mackerel are being caught near the jetties. Look for feeding birds and motor slowly towards the fish; throw Gotcha Plugs, Hopkins Spoons, or anything else with a treble hook to land fish.
• Offshore: Wahoo and king mackerel are both being caught when boats can get offshore. The dolphin bite has really slowed.
• Cherry Grove Pier: Whiting up to half a pound and black drum up to three pounds are both being caught on cut pieces of shrimp. A few small sheepshead are also being reported caught, and occasional 16 inch flounder are being landed.

Grand Strand

• Spottail Bass: Good. Slot sized spottails are being taken at the south end of Murrells Inlet in the backwaters and creeks as well as by flounder fishermen drifting or trolling the main inlet. Mud minnows, live or cut mullet, and cut shrimp are all producing. Large drum continue to be caught at the jetties; fish the incoming tide right after the tide turns against the North Jetty walls.
• Trout: Sporadic. Occasional reports continue to come in of some very large trout being caught at the jetties, but these are few and far between. Use live shrimp, finger mullet, or mud minnows or fish Gulp.
• Flounder: Slow. With the very hot water flounder catching has slowed to almost non-existent. Some anglers continue to troll Murrells Inlet, but few fish are being landed.
• Sheepshead: Excellent. Large numbers of sheepshead are being caught at the Murrells Inlet jetty, but the bite is even hotter down at the Georgetown jetties. Fiddler crabs and live or cut shrimp on a Carolina rig fished vertically are producing. Perry’s Bait and Tackle reports that sheepshead sell as fast as they can catch them.
• Surf report: Snapper bluefish are prolific as well as good numbers of whiting. Pompano are also around in good numbers - August and September are traditionally the best months for sheepshead in the area. Large, 5 to 7 pound Spanish mackerel are abundant in the surf.
• Springmaid Pier: Some good sized flounder have been caught, as well as fair numbers of pinfish and spots. Ribbonfish have been prolific, and no kings have been caught recently. Second
• Avenue Pier: Flounder action is pretty hot; 15 or so are being caught each day, up to 3 or 4 pounds. A few black drum are being caught as well as some Spanish by jig fishermen. Pinfish, whiting, and croaker are also around.
• Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: Occasional flounder are being caught, as well as whiting, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel.
• Apache Pier: Fishing has slowed, but some summer trout and flounder are being caught as well as occasional pompano. A 30.8 pound king mackerel was landed a couple of weeks ago.
• Surfside Pier: Fishing remains off, and only sharks, stingrays, and sea robins are being caught in good numbers.
• Garden City Pier: Whiting and pinfish are being caught in decent numbers, and lots of small bluefish in the 11 to 13 inch size are being landed. A few pompano are being landed and some Spanish are also being jigged up. No king mackerel have been caught recently.
• Offshore: Offshore fishing has slowed down, but some grouper are being reported caught at the wrecks and reefs. The hottest bite is big king mackerel - a 35 pounder was recently caught trolling a reef 15 miles out, and lots more approaching that size are also being taken.

Charleston

• Spottail Bass: Very good. Haddrell’s Point reports that redfish are scattered across all of the lowcountry estuaries, and anglers continue to have best luck fishing under docks with deep holes and plenty of shade. These fish are being caught on live or cut bait, Gulp, or Rattle Traps. Fishing in the flats is also strong, and spottails are in schools of 5 to 30 fish and being caught on flukes fished on flutter hooks. Bull drum are also schooled up in the harbor, and fish up to 40 pounds or more can be caught on bottom rigs with cut bait. The same method also works at the jetties.
• Trout: Very good. Early and late in the day topwater action is hot for spotted sea trout. Use topwater lures like Zara Spooks and “walk the dog” around oyster shells and feeder creeks on moving tides. Strong action is also coming fishing shrimp, minnows, or artificial shrimp under a popping cork at high tide. Good action is also coming fishing around points with oyster beds on tides where bait is being pulled in or pushed out; trout will ambush prey from the back side of these points.
• Flounder: Good. Flounder fishing continues to improve over the last few weeks, and best results are coming fishing around the edges of rock piles and creek mouths. Fish live finger mullet or mud minnows on a Carolina rig.
• Sheepshead: Very good. Most any structure, from nearshore wrecks to the jetties to inshore piers and bridges, is holding hungry sheepshead right now. Fish fiddler crabs, clam pieces, or cut shrimp.
• Tarpon: Good. Decent numbers of tarpon are still hanging around the inlets and jetties, and shark fishermen report picking some up accidentally. Fish large live mullet or menhaden in 6 to 15 foot deep slews between the sandbars on the outside of most any Charleston area inlet.
• Spanish mackerel: Good. Nice catches of Spanish mackerel continue to be made in the Harbor. Fish Gotcha plugs or spoons.
• Folly Beach Pier: A mixed bag continues to be caught at the pier, including whiting, bluefish, trout, Spanish mackerel, red drum, and sheepshead. Anglers are not having hot action on any one species, but action is pretty consistent for something.
• Offshore: Grouper and snapper action is good using butterfly jigs and cigar minnows in 85 to 150 feet of water. King mackerel fishing is hot from the shipping channel out to 120 feet of water. Snakes are abundant in 60 to 90 feet; troll sea witches with small ballyhoo, drone spoons, and diving plugs to ensure plenty of action. Dolphin fishing has generally slowed, but Ryan Riggs landed a new state record dolphin weighing 77.5 pounds and measuring 65 inches aboard the “Daymaker” on July 24 while fishing the Governor’s Cup out of Bohicket Marina. He caught the fish just inshore of the 226 hole trolling a naked ballyhoo rig on a circle hook. A few wahoo continue to be caught in 130 to 180 feet. The hottest bite continues to be billfish and particularly sailfish. Sailfish are balling bait in 250 to 300 feet of water, and boats heading deep are getting 5 to 10 shots a day at them. Blue marlin are being sighted less frequently, but several boats have released them in the last few days.

Hilton Head

• Spottail Bass: Very good. First thing in the morning redfish are hitting topwater; when the sun is higher fish deeper with Gulp Shrimp. Tailing action is strong around high tide and will continue all summer. On the incoming tide fish the edges of the grass with rattle floats and natural colored Gulp Shrimp to catch slot sized