S.C. Saltwater Fishing Trends - 11/10/2008
November 10, 2008
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com
. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Spottail bass: Very good. Very large red drum are available at the Little River jetties, but a series of windy fronts have kept many inshore anglers from going after them. Fish the incoming tide with large chunks of cut bait, or live mullet and menhaden. In the creeks and estuaries puppy drum are prolific right now; fish the main channel of the salt marsh with cut shrimp.
- Black Drum: Very good. Cut shrimp are productive in the Dunn Sound area, and black drum are plentiful in the 15 to 18 inch range.
- Trout: Slow. Little trout action has been reported, but things should be improving as the water temperature drops. Try live shrimp under a popping cork against grass, or Gulp shrimp imitations.
- Cherry Grove Pier: Overall the bite has slowed down as the first wave of the spot run has passed. Pompano, including some very nice fish in the 1.5 to 2 pound range, are being caught, and snapper bluefish continue to be common.
- Spot: Excellent. Spot have flooded into Murrells Inlet for the first time in three years, and boats are so thick you can almost walk across the water. Fish cut shrimp or blood worms on small hooks and look for the crowds.
- Black Drum: Very good. Large numbers of black drum are being caught around jetties, piers, and sea walls, with lots of 14 to 27 inch eating size fish. These can be caught on cut, whole dead, or live shrimp, as well as on crabs (effective for trying to avoid pinfish bites).
- Sheepshead: Very good. Pressure on sheepshead is very light, but anglers targeting them at the Murrells Inlet jetties are still doing very well. Fish fiddler crabs vertically on a Carolina rig.
- Spottail Bass: Good to very good. The very largest drum have arrived at the jetties and can be caught using cut mullet or menhaden, and slot sized fish are being caught in the creeks. Use live bait beneath a popping float, or Gulp grubs, in the creeks.
- Trout: Good. Trout action is strong in the creeks behind Pawley’s Island. Fish live shrimp or Gulp imitations. Flounder: Good. Flounder fishing has dramatically improved since a month ago, although smaller fish are still making up the largest part of the catch. The large flounder should turn on very soon and feed voraciously until the middle of November when cold temperatures will push them out of the creeks and inlets.
- Surf and Pier Report: The Spanish mackerel run has tailed off, but a very good run of spot is underway and schools are slowly making their way down the coast. For a few days anglers were shoulder to shoulder on the Garden City Pier catching spot by the buckets, but those fish have moved on. Black drum are prolific off the piers, and whiting and snapper sized bluefish are still abundant. Pompano are being caught in good numbers, too, and seem to be grouped in schools that are very small or very large (1 to 2 pound) for pompano. The Second Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach reports summer trout (weakfish) being caught in good numbers, and winter trout (spotted sea trout) are occasionally being caught off most Grand Strand Piers. Winter trout fishing will improve as temperatures continue to moderate.
- Trout: Excellent. Fantastic trout catches are being reported in the North Edisto River, Wando River, and ICW north of Charleston. Target shell banks in 3-7 feet of water on moving tides, and particularly the incoming tide. DOA shrimp, Gulp Jerk Shads, and Z-Man Chatter Baits and Chatter Shrimp have all been effective, and live shrimp fished below a popping cork will of course work too. Troll or fan cast with lures to locate fish and then work the area thoroughly.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Small redfish in the 15 to 20 inch range are prolific in the creeks right now, particularly around docks, oyster bars, and rockpiles. Fish live shrimp under a popping cork, or cast artificial grubs or plugs, for these fish. Large breeder sized red drum are being caught in the surf, particularly in the inlets north of Charleston and in Bulls Bay.
- Sheepshead: Good. Sheepshead fishing continues to be productive at the jetties and against inshore structure. For now fiddler crabs are the bait of choice, but as these crabs go into hibernation live shrimp will become an effective bait.
- Folly Beach Pier: Fishing should improve in the next few weeks, but for now the main catch is small whiting, small black drum, and snapper bluefish.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Big red drum are on the verge of getting really hot, and as soon as the huge tailing tides are over the bull drum will be thick out in the Port Royal Sound over live bottom areas. Small redfish about 14 or 15 inches long are abundant in the feeder creeks when water drains out of the grass, and they can be caught on live shrimp or mullet as well as Gulp shrimp and minnows. Tailing action is also very good.
- Trout: Good. Lots of small trout are being caught with live shrimp fish against the grass, and some better fish are mixed in, too. Fish two hours each side of high tide; when the really high tides pass and the water clears up fishing will get even better.
Related posts
S.C. Weekly Tidetable - 11/10/2008
November 10, 2008
Tides at Charleston (Customhouse Wharf)
Get specific tide information for various SC stations.
MONDAY, November 10
04:44AM 6.0 H
11:10AM 0.5 L
05:11PM 5.6 H
11:22PM -0.1 L
TUESDAY, November 11
05:35AM 6.5 H
12:05PM 0.2 L
06:01PM 5.6 H
WEDNESDAY, November 12
12:11AM -0.3 L
06:26AM 6.8 H
12:57PM 0.0 L
06:51PM 5.7 H
THURSDAY, November 13
01:00AM -0.5 L
07:17AM 7.0 H
01:49PM -0.1 L
07:42PM 5.6 H
FRIDAY, November 14
01:51AM -0.6 L
08:10AM 7.0 H
02:42PM -0.1 L
08:34PM 5.6 H
SATURDAY, November 15
02:42AM -0.6 L
09:04AM 6.9 H
03:35PM 0.0 L
09:29PM 5.4 H
SUNDAY, November 16
03:36AM -0.5 L
10:01AM 6.7 H
04:29PM 0.2 L
10:28PM 5.3 H
Related posts
S.C. Saltwater Fishing Trends - 11/3/2008
November 3, 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.
- Spottail bass: Very good. Very large red drum are available at the Little River jetties, but a series of windy fronts have kept many inshore anglers from going after them. Fish the incoming tide with large chunks of cut bait, or live mullet and menhaden.
- Black Drum: Very good. Cut shrimp are productive in the Dunn Sound area, and black drum are plentiful in the 15 to 18 inch range.
- Trout: Slow. Try live shrimp under a popping cork against grass, or Gulp shrimp imitations.
- Cherry Grove Pier: Pompano, including some very nice fish in the 1.5 to 2 pound range, are being caught, and snapper bluefish continue to be common. No king mackerel have been caught in the last week despite October being a traditionally strong month for kings.
- Spot: Excellent. Spot have flooded into Murrells Inlet for the first time in three years. Fish cut shrimp or blood worms on small hooks and look for the crowds.
- Black Drum: Very good. Large numbers of black drum are being caught around jetties, piers, and sea walls, with lots of 14 to 27 inch eating size fish. These can be caught on cut, whole dead, or live shrimp, as well as on crabs.
- Sheepshead: Very good. Pressure on sheepshead is very light, but anglers targeting them at the Murrells Inlet jetties are still doing very well. Fish fiddler crabs vertically on a Carolina rig.
- Spottail Bass: Good to very good. The very largest drum have arrived at the jetties and can be caught using cut mullet or menhaden, and slot sized fish are being caught in the creeks.
- Trout: Good. Trout action is strong in the creeks behind Pawley’s Island. Fish live shrimp or Gulp imitations.
- Flounder: Good. The large flounder should turn on very soon and feed voraciously until the middle of November when cold temperatures will push them out of the creeks and inlets.
- Surf and Pier Report: The Spanish mackerel run has tailed off, but a very good run of spot is underway and schools are slowly making their way down the coast. Black drum are prolific off the piers, and whiting and snapper sized bluefish are still abundant. Pompano are being caught in good numbers, too, and seem to be grouped in schools that are very small or very large (1 to 2 pound) for pompano. The Second Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach reports summer trout (weakfish) being caught in good numbers, and winter trout (spotted sea trout) are occasionally being caught off most Grand Strand Piers.
- Trout: Excellent. Fantastic trout catches are being reported in the North Edisto River, Wando River, and ICW north of Charleston. Target shell banks in 3-7 feet of water on moving tides, and particularly the incoming tide. DOA shrimp, Gulp Jerk Shads, and Z-Man Chatter Baits and Chatter Shrimp have all been effective, and live shrimp fished below a popping cork will of course work too.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Small redfish in the 15 to 20 inch range are prolific in the creeks right now, particularly around docks, oyster bars, and rockpiles. Fish live shrimp under a popping cork, or cast artificial grubs or plugs, for these fish.
- Sheepshead: Good. Sheepshead fishing continues to be productive at the jetties and against inshore structure. For now fiddler crabs are the bait of choice, but as these crabs go into hibernation live shrimp will become an effective bait.
- Folly Beach Pier: Fishing should improve in the next few weeks, but for now the main catch is small whiting, small black drum, and snapper bluefish.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Red drum are on the verge of getting really hot, and as soon as the huge tailing tides are over the bull drum will be thick out in the Port Royal Sound over live bottom areas. Small redfish about 14 or 15 inches long are abundant in the feeder creeks when water drains out of the grass, and they can be caught on live shrimp or mullet as well as Gulp shrimp and minnows.
- Trout: Good. Lots of small trout are being caught with live shrimp fish against the grass, and some better fish are mixed in, too. Fish two hours each side of high tide; when the really high tides pass and the water clears up fishing will get even better.
Related posts
S.C. Weekly Tidetables - 11/3/2008
November 3, 2008
Tides at Charleston (Customhouse Wharf)
Get specific tide information for various SC stations.
MONDAY, November 3
04:29AM 1.1 L
11:06AM 5.5 H
05:30PM 1.4 L
11:13PM 4.6 H
TUESDAY, November 4
05:14AM 1.3 L
11:54AM 5.3 H
06:17PM 1.4 L
WEDNESDAY, November 5
12:03AM 4.6 H
06:05AM 1.3 L
12:45PM 5.3 H
07:08PM 1.4 L
THURSDAY, November 6
12:59AM 4.6 H
07:04AM 1.4 L
01:40PM 5.3 H
08:00PM 1.2 L
FRIDAY, November 7
01:58AM 4.8 H
08:08AM 1.3 L
02:34PM 5.3 H
08:53PM 1.0 L
SATURDAY, November 8
02:56AM 5.2 H
09:12AM 1.1 L
03:28PM 5.4 H
09:44PM 0.6 L
SUNDAY, November 9
03:51AM 5.6 H
10:13AM 0.8 L
04:20PM 5.5 H
10:33PM 0.3 L
Related posts
South Carolina Youth Raccoon Hunt Set Nov. 1 in Anderson
October 28, 2008
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina State Coon Hunters Association and the Anderson County Coon Hunters Association will sponsor a youth raccoon hunt near Anderson on Saturday, Nov. 1. The winners in this event will qualify to participate in the state championship at the Webb Center in Hampton County on Feb. 28, 2009.
For additional information and applications for the Anderson youth raccoon hunt, contact Troy Wolverton at (864) 353-8739.
Two age groups will be participating in the youth coon hunt, ages 6 to 13 and ages 14 to 17. Each youth is required to bring a guardian, and there is no application fee. There will be door prizes for all participants. The deadline for the bench show is 4 p.m. and the hunt begins at 6 p.m.
Before the actual competition, participants will attend seminars on sportsmanship, scoring and hunter safety. Contestants are then divided into groups, or “casts,” for the evening competition. Efforts are then made to group the participants within each age division with similarly aged contestants to further even out the competition within each cast. Each cast consists of a judge and guide, and three or four youth hunters, each with a dog. Parents are allowed to follow along and observe from a distance, but each youth handles and calls his or her own dog.
In accordance with competition hunt rules, no raccoons are killed during the competition. Winners are determined based on the dog’s ability to “strike” a trail and tree a raccoon. The hunt awards points based on the order of striking and treeing and the dog handler’s ability to interpret correctly the dog’s actions.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
Related posts
South Carolina Freshwater Fishing Report - 10/27/2008
October 27, 2008
Mountains Area - Piedmont Area - Midlands Area - Santee Cooper System - South Carolina freshwater fish regulations (PDF) - Purchase a fishing license - Boat Ramp Locations
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
Mountains Area
Lake Jocassee:
- Trout: Good. Troll in 85 to 90 feet in the big water around the dam. Minnows and spoons are most effective, and limits of brown trout are frequent.
- Black Bass: Fair. Some anglers report topwater action early in the morning, using Zara Spooks or Rebel Pop-Rs. A more consistent bite is coming working a shakey head jig with a 5 inch pumpkin seed worm around the backs of small coves in the main lake area, particularly before the sun gets high.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair. Early in the morning until 11 a.m. or so anglers are reporting very good results for spotted bass using soft jerk baits and swimbaits. Spotted bass are schooling in the major creeks above the power station in 10 to 25 feet and hitting well on blue colored rattle traps or strike king red eye shad in black and silver patterns.
- Crappie: Fair. The crappie bite is beginning to improve slightly, and fish are being found around brush in 8 to 12 feet of water.
- Bream: Good. Use crickets or worms just off the banks in 8 to 12 feet of water.
- Catfish: Very good. At night catfish are moving onto lake flats and feeding very well. Use cut herring or bream.
- Striped and Hybrid Bass:Â Good. Stripers are active in the Long Point area near the dam in 90 feet of water using down rods fished in 40 to 50 feet.Â
- Bream: Good. For bigger bream back off the bank into 5 to 15 feet of water and use crickets or worms.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. Look for large pods of shad developing and fish hitting the surface - swimbaits and Spooks are both effective.
Piedmont Area
Lake Russell:
- Striped Bass: Good. For big fish target the area from Smith McKee up with big baits.
- Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair. Most anglers fishing for bass are fishing at night with dark plastics worms.
- Crappie: Fair. There are reports of decent numbers of crappie being caught trolling up Beaverdam Creek in the late evening and around structure under lights at night.
- Catfish: Good. Fish deep with cut or whole herring on the bottom. Bream: Good. Fish in 2 to 10 feet of water with crickets or worms.
- Striped and Hybrid Bass: Fair. Use live herring fished on downrods, and look for schooling activity early and late.
- Crappie: Fair. Look for brush in 25 to 35 feet of water although it is hard to find with low water; minnows are producing better than jigs.
- Largemouth Bass: Slow. Try Carolina rigged plastic worms fished deep around points and creek mouths.
- Catfish: Very good. Reports indicate channel catfish are beginning to gorge themselves and lots of fish in the 2-4 pound range are being caught.
- Bream: Very good. Use crickets or worms and fish shallow structure around the shoreline.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. Fish can be located shallow, and topwater lures, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jig n pigs, and plastic worms are all working.
- White Perch: Good. Really nice catches are being made in 18 to 20 feet of water using minnows or silver spoons.
- Crappie: Fair to good. Crappie fishing is fast improving, and fish can be located around in 18 to 20 feet of water around brush.
Midlands Area
Lake Greenwood:
- Catfish: Very good. Big flathead catfish can be caught in 10 to 15 feet of water around heavy brush which is close to ledges.
- Bream: Very good. Bream action is still very strong in shallow water 3 to 4 feet deep. Use crickets and red worms.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. The best action is coming when fish are schooling on the surface on cloudy days and early and late. These fish can be caught on either traditional topwater lures or crankbaits cast into schools.
- Striped Bass: Fair. Increasing schooling activity has been reported in the last few weeks, and largemouth bass and white perch are still mixed in with the schooling striper.
Lake Wateree:
- Catfish: Good. Best fishing is coming down the lake around the mouths of major creeks and in the river channel. Use cut bream and gizzard shad anchored on the bottom.
- Bream: Good. Fish 3 to 6 feet of water using worms and crickets.
- Largemouth Bass: Slow. Lake Wateree bass fishing remains difficult, and few people are catching fish - even those who do are not reporting consistency from day to day.
- Catfish: Good. Drifting cut bait in 30 to 50 feet of water is producing channel and white cats in the 2 to 8 pound range and blue catfish in the 10 to 15 pound range. The fish are relating to main lake humps near channel ledges.
- Bream: Good. Fish in 6 to 12 feet using worms on the bottom.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair to good. Topwater action is being reported early in the morning, particularly on Spooks or buzzbaits fished off points. As the sun rises anglers are concentrating on large numbers of bass running the banks and chasing white perch. Some spinnerbait action is being reported, but the predominant lures remain soft plastics.
- Crappie: Fair. Crappie are still largely gathered around deep brush in 10 to 20 feet of water, but fish are starting to gather in the mouths of creeks where they will remain all winter.
- Striped Bass: Fair. Striped bass are beginning to spread out across the whole lake, although the best action is being reported in the area between Bomb Island and Twin Island. A variety of methods are being used, and free lining and planer board techniques are both becoming much more common over relatively shallow areas in 10 to 20 feet of water, especially early in the day.
- Catfish: Very good. Drifting large cut bait in very deep water is producing occasional but large blues catfish. Using a smaller bait will result in more frequent hook-ups but smaller fish. Explore all depths and don’t get stuck on the depth that was effective a few days earlier.
Santee Cooper System           Â
Lake Marion:
- Catfish: Very good. Both blues and flatheads are holding deep in 25 to 40 feet but they are moving shallower at night and to feed.
- Bream: Very good. Use crickets or red worms. Crappie: Fair. Fish are still concentrated around brush down as deep as 25 feet.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Try Texas rigged worms around deep structure.
- Catfish: Erratic. Fish on the bottom in 30 feet of water using chicken livers; fish will mainly be eating size but catfish up to 30 pounds have been caught recently on this bait.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. On days when water is being pulled through the canal fishing has been very good.
- Bream: Fair. Shellcracker are being caught in the canal, but not in great numbers. Fish with nightcrawlers along drop-offs.
- Catfish: Very good. Catfish continue to bite well in 15 to 25 feet and drifting has been productive with small blue back herring the hot bait.
- Crappie: Fair. Crappie fishing is beginning to improve and fish are being caught in 10 to 14 feet using minnows and jigs around brush, docks, and other structure.
- Largemouth Bass: Fair. Try deep Carolina or Texas rigging, but look for shallow bass fishing to improve as water temperatures drop.
Related posts
South Carolina Weekly Saltwater Fishing Report - 10/27/2008
October 27, 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.
- Spottail bass: Very good. Very large red drum are available at the Little River jetties, but a series of windy fronts have kept many inshore anglers from going after them. Fish the incoming tide with large chunks of cut bait, or live mullet and menhaden.
- Black Drum: Very good. Cut shrimp are productive in the Dunn Sound area, and black drum are plentiful in the 15 to 18 inch range.
- Trout: Slow. Try live shrimp under a popping cork against grass, or Gulp shrimp imitations.
- Cherry Grove Pier: Overall the bite has slowed down as the first wave of the spot run has passed. Pompano, including some very nice fish in the 1.5 to 2 pound range, are being caught, and snapper bluefish continue to be common.
- Black Drum: Excellent. Lots of 14 to 27 inch eating size fish. These can be caught on cut, whole dead, or live shrimp, as well as on crabs (effective for trying to avoid pinfish bites).
- Trout: Very good. The trout action down around the Georgetown area has been outstanding, particularly around shell banks. The bite around the jetties is a bit slower than expected, although it should pick up throughout the fall and winter. Gulp! soft plastics and live shrimp have both been very effective.
- Bluefish: Very good. Bluefish are being caught right off the beaches and piers on cut bait or shiny lures.
- Flounder: Good. The large flounder should turn on and feed voraciously, in preparation for moving offshore, from about the middle of October until the middle of November when cold temperatures will push them out of the creeks and inlets.
- Spottail Bass: Good. The very largest drum have not yet arrived at the jetties, but puppy drum are prolific off the beach and slot sized fish are being caught in the creeks. Use live bait beneath a popping float, or Gulp grubs, in the creeks.
- Pier Report: The Spanish mackerel run has tailed off, but a very good run of spot is underway and schools are slowly making their way down the coast. Black drum are also prolific off the piers, and whiting and snapper sized bluefish are still abundant. Pompano are being caught in good numbers, too. The Second Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach reports summer trout (weakfish) being caught in good numbers, and winter trout (spotted sea trout) are occasionally being caught off most Grand Strand Piers.
- Trout: Very good. Best trout fishing is coming using live or DOA shrimp under a rattling float against grass and around creek mouths on moving tides; also look for oyster beds and fan cast around them. Slow trolling along shorelines is also productive. Fishing around lighted docks at night is also very productive.
- Spottail Bass: Good. Small redfish in the 15 to 20 inch range are prolific in the creeks right now, particularly around docks, oyster bars, and rockpiles. Fish live shrimp under a popping cork for these fish. Large spottails in the 22 to 32 inch range have been widely reported tailing on high tides.
- Sheepshead: Good. Sheepshead fishing is very strong against pilings and jetties using fiddler crabs.
- Flounder: Fair. Most fish are being caught on live mud minnows or finger mullet fished around jetties and around feeder creek mouths, and some are being caught against shellbanks.
- Folly Beach Pier: The main catch is small whiting, small black drum, and snapper bluefish.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Red drum in the rivers are the hot bite. Fish around the edges of the main river channels, including very close to the boat landings, using live or cut mullet or live menhaden if you can get them. The bite will continue into December but as the season progresses fish will move further out into the sound.
- Trout: Good. Nice trout are being caught floating live shrimp under rattling floats around grass, and also casting soft plastics around oyster beds. Fish moving tides.
Related posts
Trout Unlimited Saluda River Chapter of SC Funds Shelter for Walhalla hatchery
October 20, 2008
A recent donation to the Walhalla State Fish Hatchery by Trout Unlimited’s Saluda River Chapter should bring much-needed assistance to the staff and occupants (fish) of the hatchery.
“After a tour of the hatchery by members of the Saluda River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, it became apparent that a desire to assist the hatchery was very much in the hearts of those who attended the outing,” said Keith Cloud, chapter outing coordinator and former president. “The Saluda River Trout Unlimited members had a first-hand look at the behind-the-scenes operation, and having had that look could see how hard the staff of the hatchery has to work. Quite simply, it is time consuming, and the margin of error is very thin. Managing a cold-water hatchery in the Deep South is a labor of love.”
One of the needs addressed was the need for a shelter for the brood trout of the hatchery. The shelter could provide much-needed protection from the sun and provide protection from birds of prey. Saluda River Trout Unlimited members discovered that the exposure of direct sunlight on the brood trout, especially during the summer months, creates added stress on the fish. With stress comes disease and possible death of trout of all sizes.
Saluda River Trout Unlimited members obtained measurements necessary for construction of a new shelter. After a successful banquet and fundraising year, funding was approved by Saluda River Trout Unlimited leadership. Board member Bob Williams contacted Whitten Building Systems in Seneca to construct the project. The recent completion adds to a long list of Saluda River Trout Unlimited accomplishments in assisting conservation partners.
“Saluda River Trout Unlimited is grateful for the hard work of the hatchery and its staff,” Cloud said. “The behind-the-scenes tour was a wakeup call, and we know what effort it takes to get those much appreciated trout to come visit our beautiful Saluda River in