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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
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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.
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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
1
South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 7/21/2008
July 21, 2008
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Spottail Bass: Good. Anglers are catching spottail bass along structure in the ICW, around creek mouth drains, and in the upper creeks using live mud minnows and Berkeley Gulp.
- Flounder: Excellent. Flounder continue to be caught in Cherry Grove and 53rd area creeks using mud minnows.
- 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.
- Bluefish: Very good. The Cherry Grove beaches are particularly good; use cut bait.
- Cherry Grove Pier
Nice flounder are being caught off the pier. Black drum and sheepshead are both feeding very well on fiddler crabs.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Lots of reds are being caught on the flats and in the backwaters and creeks as well as by flounder fishermen drifting or trolling Murrells Inlet. Mud minnows, live or cut mullet, and cut shrimp are all producing.
- Trout: Fair. There are isolated reports of trout being caught in the creek behind Litchfield, as well as on the outside of the jetty walls. Try Mirrolures, Gulp shrimp, or live shrimp.
- Flounder: Good to very good. Drift or troll live mud minnows in Murrells Inlet or the Tubbs Inlet area.
- Black Drum: Very good. Target deep holes in the creeks, such as the hole off the end of the Murrells Inlet (old Veterans) Pier. Cut shrimp, live shrimp, and crabs are all productive.
- Sheepshead: Excellent. At both the Murrells Inlet and Georgetown jetties the sheepshead seem to be ravenous. Fiddler crabs and live or cut shrimp on a Carolina rig fished vertically are producing. Pompano: Good. Fish with sand fleas in areas that have not been dredged for best results.
- Bluefish: Good. Schools of nice sized bluefish are beginning to show up again in the surf, and anglers are doing well fishing cut bait on the bottom or on bluefish rigs.
- Springmaid Pier
Early and late in the day Spanish are being caught. Whiting, small bluefish, and pinfish are also abundant. - Second Avenue Pier
Flounder and spottail bass are being caught. Lots of sheepshead are also being landed fishing fiddler crabs vertically around the pilings. - Myrtle Beach State Park Pier
The bluefish bite has slowed down, but Spanish are still being caught in good numbers by fishermen jigging. Small bluefish and decent sized whiting are also being landed. - Apache Pier
The bluefish being caught are small now, but some nice Spanish up to 3.5 pounds are being caught. Some nice catches of flounder are being reported, and black drum up to 10.4 pounds are being caught. - Surfside Pier
Fishing is slow, although white and sharks are still being caught. - Garden City Pier
While bluefish and Spanish mackerel have slowed some are still being caught, although the Spanish are mainly in the 11-13 inch range and being caught jigging. Bluefish the same size are also being caught. Whiting and a few pompano are being taken, and beyond the breakers in the middle of the pier flounder are being caught.
- The harbor is full of bait - tons of mullet, menhaden, and some shrimp have arrived.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Tailing action is starting to get hot on the flats. Also, around low tide fishing for really big reds in the same areas using cut menhaden and crabs has been red hot. Lots of fish are also being caught in the ICW, creeks, and Wando River.
- Trout: Good to very good. Trout prefer clean water, and fishing is best in the Wando River, the Intracoastal around Wild Dunes, and most of the inlets, especially around high tide. Both live bait and artificials are productive at times, and the topwater bite has been strong recently.
- Flounder: Good. Target flounder using live mud minnows fished slowly on the bottom in the inlets and creeks. Giggers are reporting good numbers of fish caught.
- 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.
- Spanish Mackerel and Jack Crevalle: Very good. Most anything shiny and fast should draw strikes. Many fishermen are concentrating around the Castle area, and fishing the ebb tide when water is pushing the bait out.
- Folly Beach Pier
Some Spanish mackerel up to 5 pounds are being caught, as well as occasional kings. Bluefish and whiting are also very common, and spottails, trout, pompano, and sheepshead have all been caught recently.
- Spottail Bass: 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. Outgoing tide has been strongest for the last couple of weeks, and most trout are being caught up against the grass or in areas where oyster beds abut grass. Shrimp and mud minnows fished under Cajun Thunder rattling bobbers, or Gulp grubs, are producing.
- Flounder: Fair. Best fishing is around low tide in the same areas as the spottails and trout, or in the mouths of creeks and inlets.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. The best spottail fishing is for tailing reds feeding in the flooded grass around high tide; these can be sight-fished for by lure or fly fishermen.
- Trout: Few reports. Flounder: Good. Fish mud minnows along the bottom.
- Cobia: Fair. The tail end of the Broad River cobia fishing season has arrived.
- Bluefish and Ladyfish: Good. Bluefish and ladyfish are present in the Broad River and feeding on the large menhaden schools.
- Paradise Pier
Some decent whiting have been caught as well as black tip sharks and stingrays. Sheepshead are also available around high tide when the water is slackest. The biggest catch is blue crabs which are being caught by the 5 gallon bucketful around low tide.
Related posts
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South Carolina Saltwater Fsihing Trends - 7/14/2008
July 14, 2008
Little River - Grand Strand - Charleston - Hilton Head - Beaufort - 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: Good. Anglers are catching spottail bass along structure in the ICW, around creek mouth drains, and in the upper creeks using live mud minnows and Berkeley Gulp.
- Flounder: Excellent. Flounder continue to be caught in Cherry Grove and 53rd area creeks using mud minnows.
- 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.
- Bluefish: Very good. The Cherry Grove beaches are particularly good; use cut bait.
- Cherry Grove Pier
Nice flounder are being caught off the pier. Black drum and sheepshead are both feeding very well on fiddler crabs.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Lots of reds are being caught on the flats and in the backwaters and creeks as well as by flounder fishermen drifting or trolling Murrells Inlet. Mud minnows, live or cut mullet, and cut shrimp are all producing.
- Trout: Fair. There are isolated reports of trout being caught in the creek behind Litchfield, as well as on the outside of the jetty walls. Try Mirrolures, Gulp shrimp, or live shrimp.
- Flounder: Good to very good. Drift or troll live mud minnows in Murrells Inlet or the Tubbs Inlet area.
- Black Drum: Very good. Target deep holes in the creeks, such as the hole off the end of the Murrells Inlet (old Veterans) Pier. Cut shrimp, live shrimp, and crabs are all productive.
- Sheepshead: Excellent. At both the Murrells Inlet and Georgetown jetties the sheepshead seem to be ravenous. Fiddler crabs and live or cut shrimp on a Carolina rig fished vertically are producing. Pompano: Good. Fish with sand fleas in areas that have not been dredged for best results.
- Bluefish: Good. Schools of nice sized bluefish are beginning to show up again in the surf, and anglers are doing well fishing cut bait on the bottom or on bluefish rigs.
- Springmaid Pier
Early and late in the day Spanish are being caught. Whiting, small bluefish, and pinfish are also abundant. - Second Avenue Pier
Flounder and spottail bass are being caught. Lots of sheepshead are also being landed fishing fiddler crabs vertically around the pilings. - Myrtle Beach State Park Pier
The bluefish bite has slowed down, but Spanish are still being caught in good numbers by fishermen jigging. Small bluefish and decent sized whiting are also being landed. - Apache Pier
The bluefish being caught are small now, but some nice Spanish up to 3.5 pounds are being caught. Some nice catches of flounder are being reported, and black drum up to 10.4 pounds are being caught. - Surfside Pier
Fishing is slow, although white and sharks are still being caught. - Garden City Pier
While bluefish and Spanish mackerel have slowed some are still being caught, although the Spanish are mainly in the 11-13 inch range and being caught jigging. Bluefish the same size are also being caught. Whiting and a few pompano are being taken, and beyond the breakers in the middle of the pier flounder are being caught.
- The harbor is full of bait - tons of mullet, menhaden, and some shrimp have arrived.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Tailing action is starting to get hot on the flats. Also, around low tide fishing for really big reds in the same areas using cut menhaden and crabs has been red hot. Lots of fish are also being caught in the ICW, creeks, and Wando River.
- Trout: Good to very good. Trout prefer clean water, and fishing is best in the Wando River, the Intracoastal around Wild Dunes, and most of the inlets, especially around high tide. Both live bait and artificials are productive at times, and the topwater bite has been strong recently.
- Flounder: Good. Target flounder using live mud minnows fished slowly on the bottom in the inlets and creeks. Giggers are reporting good numbers of fish caught.
- 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.
- Spanish Mackerel and Jack Crevalle: Very good. Most anything shiny and fast should draw strikes. Many fishermen are concentrating around the Castle area, and fishing the ebb tide when water is pushing the bait out.
- Folly Beach Pier
Some Spanish mackerel up to 5 pounds are being caught, as well as occasional kings. Bluefish and whiting are also very common, and spottails, trout, pompano, and sheepshead have all been caught recently.
- Spottail Bass: 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. Outgoing tide has been strongest for the last couple of weeks, and most trout are being caught up against the grass or in areas where oyster beds abut grass. Shrimp and mud minnows fished under Cajun Thunder rattling bobbers, or Gulp grubs, are producing.
- Flounder: Fair. Best fishing is around low tide in the same areas as the spottails and trout, or in the mouths of creeks and inlets.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. The best spottail fishing is for tailing reds feeding in the flooded grass around high tide; these can be sight-fished for by lure or fly fishermen.
- Trout: Few reports. Flounder: Good. Fish mud minnows along the bottom.
- Cobia: Fair. The tail end of the Broad River cobia fishing season has arrived.
- Bluefish and Ladyfish: Good. Bluefish and ladyfish are present in the Broad River and feeding on the large menhaden schools.
- Paradise Pier
Some decent whiting have been caught as well as black tip sharks and stingrays. Sheepshead are also available around high tide when the water is slackest. The biggest catch is blue crabs which are being caught by the 5 gallon bucketful around low tide.
Related posts
2
South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 6/30/2008
June 30, 2008
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Spottail Bass: Fair. Anglers are catching spottail bass along structure in the ICW, around creek mouth drains, and in the upper creeks using live mud minnows and Berkeley Gulp.
- Flounder: Excellent. Flounder continue to be caught in Cherry Grove and 53rd area creeks using mud minnows.
- Sheepshead: Very good. Sand fleas and fiddler crabs are both very productive around the jetties and any inshore pilings.
- Spanish mackerel: Very good. Spanish are in thick schools being caught just off the