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South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 9/22/2008
September 22, 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.
- Bluefish: Good to very good. The hottest action right now is for 12 to 18 inch bluefish, which are prolific around the jetties.
- Spanish mackerel: Good. Around the jetties good Spanish mackerel continue to be caught, although action has slowed down from earlier this summer. Throw Gotcha Plugs, Hopkins Spoons, or live mullet under a float to hook up.
- Spottail bass: Fair. Fish live shrimp or minnows in the creeks beneath a popping cork.
- Flounder: Slow. The water has gotten hot, and the flounder bite has really slowed down. Target the incoming tide around creek mouths, and look for areas that have lots of surface current movement which indicates highly oxygenated water.
- Cherry Grove Pier: Bluefish action has been very good for the last week and is keeping pier anglers happy; schools of mullet are in the water and fish are keying on these. A few king mackerel have been caught, for the first time in a few months, and a few black drum and flounder are still being picked up.
- Bluefish: Very good. Large schools of 12 to 18 inch bluefish are running in the surf, and can also be caught in good numbers around the jetties. Use dead finger mullet fished on the bottom.
- Sheepshead: Good. Large numbers of sheepshead continue to be caught at the Murrells Inlet and Georgetown jetties. Fiddler crabs and live or cut shrimp on a Carolina rig fished vertically are producing.
- Spottail Bass: Fair. Slot and on up sized drum are being caught at the jetties on most any live bait - mullet, mud minnows, or shrimp; fish the incoming tide right after the tide turns against the North Jetty walls.
- Flounder: Slow. Try Carolina rigged mullet or mud minnows in the Murrell’s Inlet area.
- Springmaid Pier: A few bluefish, pompano, and whiting are being caught.
- Second Avenue Pier: A few puppy drum, flounder, sheepshead, and Spanish have been caught, as well as some whiting and pompano.
- Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: Fishing has been very slow, but whiting, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and very occasional pompano are being caught sporadically.
- Apache Pier: A few very large Spanish have been caught in the last week, and mullet schools are running. Bluefish, spot, and whiting are all around, but no flounder have been caught recently.
- Surfside Pier: Overall conditions have been slow, but a few Spanish mackerel and some bluefish are being caught. Occasional flounder are also being picked up.
- Garden City Pier: Water temperatures are still warm at about 86 degrees, and fishing slowed with the storms last week. A few bluefish, whiting and pompano are being caught.
- Flounder: Good. Most fish are being caught on live mud minnows or finger mullet fished under piers and around feeder creek mouths and some are being caught against shellbanks.
- Trout: Good. Best trout fishing is coming using live or DOA shrimp under a rattling float against grass and around creek mouths on moving tides; look for oyster beds.
- Spottail Bass: Fair to good. Spottail bass continue to be in a summer pattern, scattered throughout the creeks and estuaries. Use live or cut bait and Gulp! shrimp around docks with heavy barnacle growth on the pilings and especially those with deep holes underneath.
- Tarpon: Fair. Tarpon reports continue to come in from the north end of Bulls Bay, Stono Inlet and around the north of Edisto Inlet. Fish large live mullet, blue crabs, or menhaden in 6 to 15 foot deep slews between the sandbars.
- Folly Beach Pier: Fishing is slow, and only occasional whiting and small black drum are being reported.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Tailing action around high tide continues to be strong; look for productive fishing on tailing tides over the next couple of weeks.
- Trout: Good. Early morning topwater action is still good, and some big trout are being caught on lures such as Spooks. Good fishing is coming under docks or on the outgoing tide where feeder creeks are emptying into bigger water. Shrimp and mud minnows fished under Cajun Thunder rattling bobbers, or Gulp grubs, are producing.
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South Carolina Weekly Saltwater Fishing Trends - 8/25/2008
August 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 8/18/2008
August 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 8/11/2008
August 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 fish as well as larger ones. Also use brown Gulp Swimming Minnows or mud minnows.
- Trout: Good to very good. Early morning topwater action is very good, and some big trout are being caught on lures like Spooks. Good fishing is coming under docks or on the outgoing tide where feeder creeks are emptying into bigger water. 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.
- Tarpon: Read about tarpon fishing in the Beaufort report.
- Offshore: High fuel prices and windy conditions have slowed offshore fishing. Nearshore Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jack crevalle are being caught just outside the Port Royal Sound and at the Gaskins and Whitewater reefs. For more offshore information read the Beaufort report.
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South Carolina Weekly Saltwater Fishing Report - 7/28/2008
July 28, 2008
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Flounder: Excellent. 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.
- Sheepshead: Very good. Sand fleas and fiddler crabs are both very productive around the jetties and any inshore pilings.
- 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: Action off the pier has slowed a bit, but flounder in the 14 to 17 inch range and Spanish mackerel up to a couple of pounds are both still being caught. Black drum and whiting are also being taken.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Fishing for big red drum has taken off, and bull drum are being caught on the incoming tide right after the tide turns against the North Jetty walls. Mud minnows, live or cut mullet, and cut shrimp are all producing.
- Trout: Very good. Good catches are coming in deep holes in the creeks on high tide, and at lower tides fish seem to back out of the smaller creeks into the bigger water and the jetty area.
- Flounder: Good. Drift or troll live mud minnows in Murrells Inlet or the Tubbs Inlet area.
- Black Drum: Good. Cut shrimp, live shrimp, and crabs are all productive.
- Sheepshead: Excellent. At both the Murrells Inlet and Georgetown jetties the sheepshead continue to be ravenous. Fiddler crabs and live or cut shrimp on a Carolina rig fished vertically are producing.
- Springmaid Pier: Ribbonfish and croaker are both abundant. Occasional flounder, spottails, and whiting are also being caught.
- Second Avenue Pier: Both flounder and spottail bass are still being caught. Good numbers of spottails, between 15 and 20 a day, are being landed, and flounder up to 6.5 pounds have been taken.
- Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: Pompano, a few Spanish mackerel, croaker, and small whiting are all being caught. The best catch, though, is blue crabs, which are being caught by the bucketful.
- Apache Pier: Fishing has slowed, but some summer trout and flounder are being caught as well as occasional pompano.
- Surfside Pier: Fishing is off, and only occasional spadefish, bluefish, and flounder are being caught.
- Garden City Pier: Fishing is slow at the pier, although whiting are being caught in decent numbers. Bluefish and Spanish mackerel are being caught occasionally but they are few and far between.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Haddrell’s Point reports that redfish are scattered across all of the lowcountry estuaries, and anglers are having 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: Good to very good. The best action is coming fishing shrimp, minnows, or artificial shrimp under a popping cork at high tide.
- Flounder: Good. 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 or cut shrimp.
- Folly Beach Pier: Trout fishing is good with a dozen or more fish up to 3 pounds or more being caught each day. Bluefish up to a pound or two are common, and whiting and a few flounder are also being caught.
- 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 to improve all summer.
- Trout: Good to very good. Best fishing is coming under docks or on the outgoing tide where feeder creeks are emptying into bigger water. Shrimp and mud minnows fished under Cajun Thunder rattling bobbers, or Gulp grubs, are producing.
- Flounder: Good. Best fishing is around low tide in the same areas as the spottails and trout, or in the mouths of creeks and inlets.
- Jack Crevalle: Very good. Huge jacks are being caught around Daufuskie Island.
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