July 2

Inshore surface water temperatures are around 84 degrees and overall the water is dingy.

Water temperatures are getting hotter, and as expected Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that the tailing activity for redfish is excellent when the tides are right. However, fish have not been eating as well on lower tides. Cut mullet and shrimp will work at times, but at times fish have been pretty lackadaisical. 

Captain Tuck Scott has sometimes found a little better bite for trout on days when reds won’t feed, and they have been coming on small shrimp fished under popping corks. They seem to be in slightly deeper areas that are a little cooler with 4+ feet of water. Clear water has not made a huge difference but they do want moving water. 

Part-time Beaufort resident John Long with East Columbia Sport Shop (803-776-8320) reports that the black drum fishing has been outstanding for a little while now. They can be caught anywhere that there are trees with shrimp and fiddler crabs. 

Sheepshead are also around most any structure right now, but they are also relating better to trees than rocks. The Fripp rocks have not been very productive for sheepshead recently. Fiddler crabs are needed and they will work around trees as shallow as 3 feet.

Flounder fishing has been pretty good around the trees at the tip of Hunting Island, and when the water is clear they can be caught around the Fripp rocks.  However, they are moving around a lot and can be in an area one day and gone the next.  Mud minnows and finger mullet are the best baits and fish have been pretty shallow.

June 18

Inshore surface water temperatures have dropped all the way to 73 after several cool days in Beaufort, and water clarity varies. In areas where the water is dirty it is muddy because of wind and the water is not tannic. There are lots of tiny shrimp in the creeks. 

Water temperatures are moving the wrong direction, but Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that the tailing activity for redfish was phenomenal on the last set of good high tides. One evening they had more than 25 shots at tailing fish, and there is every expectation that the opportunities will be just as good on the next set of good evening high tides this week. 

On low tide the fish are now pretty broken up into small schools which can be sight-cast for, and there have been some good catches on the mud flats. When there is some water over the oysters both redfish and black drum have been caught. Redfish are likely to be in the calmer water behind oysters instead of in the current. 

While live or cut bait will obviously work Gulp! and Zman paddletail grubs have been working very well, and on the fly brown or other dark shrimp and crab patterns have also been good. 

There continue to be good trout reports fishing creek mouths with Gulp! or paddletail grubs on jigheads in 3-4 feet on the outgoing tide. Trout will get in the swifter areas, while reds will look for calmer water. 

Early and into the day on calmer, cloudy mornings both trout and redfish can also be caught on topwater lures. 

Perhaps because of the cool temperatures tripletail have been absent.

May 28

Inshore surface water temperatures are approximately 75-78 degrees around Beaufort, and while water conditions are a little stained right now soon they should be very tannic after freshwater arrives. 

Water conditions are at least five or six degrees cool for this time of year, but Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that tailing activity for redfish has been pretty good. On low tide the fish are now pretty broken up into small schools which can be sight-cast for, and on mid-tides some floaters can be seen sunning on the edge of the grass or cruising over white shells.   Blind casting is also effective in the usual places around oyster bars and points, with the outgoing still fishing better than the incoming. 

On conventional tackle cut mullet and live shrimp have been working the best, and 1/4 ounce jigheads with Gulp or paddletail grubs, DOA shrimp, or Vudu shrimp have all been good.

There have been some good trout reports fishing creek mouths with Gulp! or paddletail grubs on jigheads in 3-4 feet on the outgoing tide. They are have also been some trout caught around docks. 

Early and into the day on calmer, cloudy mornings both trout and redfish can also be caught on topwater lures. 

Overall the cobia bite rates as decent, and in the Broad River there have been a lot of small to medium-sized fish caught. When there is sunlight the sight-fishing has been pretty good, but at times there have been more fish deeper because of boat traffic or some other reason. Boats with a tuna tower have had an advantage spotting cobia some days. 

There have been some tripletail caught floating along grass lines, and ladyfish and small jacks should be arriving soon.

May 14

Inshore surface water temperatures are approximately 72 degrees around Beaufort, and with all the wind areas like the Broad River have been muddy. 

It’s hard to get a read on the spring cobia fishing when wind and visibility issues have limited angling, but Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that so far it looks like this cobia run in the Broad River rates as “okay” when you can get out there. Even some days that were expected to be calm like yesterday have been rough, which limits sight-fishing. And on the rougher days few boats are out there.

Despite adversity Captain Tuck Scott has hooked up a few times this month on the fly and seen some good fish. If the weather cooperates they expect more opportunities. Anchor fishing around the bridge has also been productive at times.   

Windy conditions have also made for tough sight-fishing for redfish, but they have seen some fish tailing on high tide. Once the tails disappear visibility is so low that it’s hard to stay on top of the fish on high water.  

The basic pattern for redfish right now is to look for schools on the flats at low tide, which are still fairly tight. On mid-tides fish the edges of the grass lines for single fish cruising, and then on high tide look for them tailing in the grass. On mid-tide the outgoing has been better than the incoming. 

There have been some good trout reports fishing creek mouths with Gulp! or paddletail grubs on jigheads in 3-4 feet. Early and into the day on calmer, cloudy mornings both trout and redfish can also be caught on topwater lures. 

Anglers should keep their eyes open for tripletail floating along grass lines, and ladyfish and small jacks should be arriving soon.

May 1

Inshore surface water temperatures are approximately 69-70 degrees around Beaufort, and with lots of rain the water is tannic again. 

Temperatures are unseasonably mild, but Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that some early cobia have been spotted in the Broad River. However, conditions have been really difficult for sight-fishing.  There are menhaden schools in the Broad River, but because of all the freshwater inflow there are not as many as usual. 

Sight-fishing for redfish has been a little tricky because of the water conditions, but the low outgoing tide has a little better visibility than the low incoming. Other than that fish are in the usual spots around shell bars and mud minnows, cut mullet and Gulp! on a jighead are all working.

Tailing action should get good on the next cycle this coming weekend. For low-tide sight-fishing Vudu Shrimp have been good. 

Early and into the day on calmer, cloudy mornings both trout and redfish can be caught on topwater lures. 

Anglers should keep their eyes open for tripletail floating along grass lines, and ladyfish and small jacks should be arriving soon.

April 15

Inshore surface water temperatures are approximately 66-68 around Beaufort, and the water is getting more tannic again with tons of freshwater runoff.

The redfish are starting to get up on the tailing flats around Beaufort, but Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that even though the fish are up there they aren’t seeing as much tailing activity as would be expected. That is likely because the crabs have not fully come out yet, and so if it is warmer on the next good flood tides there should be more tails.  

For right now the outgoing tide is the best time to fish, but on the incoming fish have also been eating around edges where creek mouths drain a flat in 3 feet of water or so. As always oysters attract fish.   They are not getting super shallow because there have not been too many dolphins around. On dropping to low tide fish are staying on mud flats where there is enough water that they do not have to leave. 

Fish are mostly oriented down right now, and so heavy Clouser flies are effective. They have also seen a fair number of shrimp, mud minnows and cut mullet, so all three baits will work on the bottom. Gulp! or paddletail grubs on a jighead can also work, and as usual it is unlikely that redfish will turn down a shrimp under a popping cork. 

For now white shell spots are not really producing, but by the end of the month they should be. 

The trout bite remains good over shell points where there is broken water creating a seam. Live shrimp, mud minnows and Gulp! on a ¼ ounce jighead are all working.

There are not yet any reports of inshore cobia, but any day now they should arrive.  However, the tannic water will likely make sight-fishing more difficult.

April 2

Inshore surface water temperatures are approximately 64 around Beaufort, and while the water is still fairly tannic it is less brown than a week ago.

Spring fishing for redfish is picking up around Beaufort, and Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that fish are definitely more intent on feeding than just a week ago. There have not been any really good flood tides yet but at the edge of the grass fish are already starting to tail, and they are also chasing shrimp a lot more aggressively than they have been. Fish can be seen flashing and rolling where previously they seemed a lot more lethargic.

The bite throughout the tide cycle is getting better, but fish don’t seem especially interested in eating live mud minnows or cut bait. They seem to be feeding on shrimp when they are not eating fiddler crabs, and Vudu shrimp or Gulp! shrimp on a popping cork or ¼ ounce jighead are both working well. If you can get live shrimp they should devour them. 

Schools are broken up and spread out, so there are more areas with fish than during the winter. However, fish are also less concentrated once you find them. 

The trout bite is also picking up, and trolling paddle-tail grubs on ¼ ounce jigheads in 4-5 feet of water has led to some nice catches this week. Fish are around structure and biting when there is moving water, and the creeks near Morgan Island have been producing well. 

While there could be some cobia seen on the upcoming full moon April 15 is still the expected date of arrival.

March 27

Inshore surface water temperatures are in the mid-60s around Beaufort, and there is so much freshwater around that the color is a tannic brown. 

It has been some unusual conditions for redfish around Beaufort, and Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that in their observation the water is unusually fresh very close to the Sound in areas like the Broad River. This can make fishing difficult, and it certainly limits visibility. 

Overall schools seem to be splitting off more than a couple of weeks ago, which means that there are more areas that have fish and less dead areas than there have been. But when you find them they are less concentrated. At the next flood tides in early April they are expecting to see decent numbers of tailing fish as reds feed more on fiddler crabs. 

For now the dropping tide seems to be fishing much better than the other stages, but as soon as the water gets less tannic the bite around the tide cycle should improve. Mud minnows are working, and on the fly purple and black Clousers or toads are catching fish. 

The trout bite should also improve as water conditions normalize, but if you can find clear water you can still fish shell bars which create a smooth and a bumpy side below them. Fish will be sitting in 3-4 feet of water right on the seam. Mud minnows are working well for trout as will grubs or Gulp! baits.

With the temperature rising rapidly the countdown to cobia season has begun.

March 13

Inshore surface water temperatures are already into the lower 60s around Beaufort, and the water is mostly clean but tannic brown. 

While redfish are still schooled up in a winter pattern, Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that there is a lot to suggest that fish are about to break out into spring patterns. There are some early signs that fish are starting to feed more on fiddler crabs, yet they are still in big groups on the flats.

This could change at any time, but right now the best bet is to search for the schools visually. The fishing is still feast-or-famine, and just yesterday they worked a school that had more than 500 fish in it. The schools have gotten a little more skittish and so a subtle presentation is needed. 

Mud minnows are working, and on the fly purple and black Clousers or toads are catching fish. 

The trout bite continues to be good, and fish have moved a little shallower.  If you can find a shell bar that creates a smooth and a bumpy side below it then fish will be sitting in 3-4 feet of water right on the seam.  Mud minnows are working well for trout as will grubs or Gulp! baits.

February 27

Inshore surface water temperatures are around 55 degrees, and clarity is overall pretty good. 

Fishing is still a little funny for redfish, and Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) notes that there continue to be extremely few dolphins around. That is giving the fish the confidence to sit in deeper water where they are harder to see, and so as soon as the tide comes in a little they basically disappear. The very low tides when fish are the most exposed are still the best. 

Between changing weather patterns and the fact that fish are in such tight schools the bite is still feast-or-famine, and there are really good days and then tougher ones. When you find fish they are generally pretty willing to eat, whether it be bait or artificials.  However, mud minnows are hard to beat. 

The trout bite continues to be good, although on cooler days they are sitting in 6-7 feet and not feeding as actively.  However, on warmer days they will move into current in 2-4 feet of water where there is water moving across a shell bar point. 

Since trout are also schooled up, in the right areas you can catch a fish on every cast. They are also eating mud minnows well but Gulp! baits will work, too.

February 17

Inshore surface water temperatures are around 57 degrees, and while clarity is high overall in the Harbor River and Broad River, north of the Broad River Bridge it gets fairly tannic (due to recent rainfall).

Fishing conditions have been a little tricky for redfish, and Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that for reasons that are unclear the fish are sitting a little off of the flats. There have not been that many dolphin chasing them in the last week, and so fish are not going up as shallow where they are easy for anglers to spot.  Still it is feast-or-famine, and there are some times when very large schools are visible.

Overall when you can spot them fish are eating well on live mud minnows. And while it has not been consistently easy to find redfish, they are catching fish on each trip.

Particularly during warming trends the trout bite has been really good, and when you can find the right seams with water moving across a shell bar point the fish can be really loaded up.  The trout are also schooled up and in the right areas you can catch a fish on every cast.  Trout are also eating mud minnows well, but Gulp! baits will also work.

January 20

After hitting the 60s, inshore surface water temperatures in Beaufort have fallen back into the 50s. The water is very clean and clear.

Despite some very unpredictable up-and-down weather in the Beaufort area, Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that redfish are still eating well. They are heavily schooled up right now, and with few mullet around and the trout very agile (owing to warm conditions) they are focusing on avoiding dolphins which are mainly keyed on reds. On the low tide that means getting into very skinny water near oysters that will hopefully provide some measure of protection, and on higher tides hiding behind the grass line. However, on sunny afternoons they will get up in the water column and try to absorb some heat during high tide.

On the fly fish are looking for big, dark patterns that will get down to the fish quickly and trigger a reaction strike, such as mud minnow or shrimp imitations with lead eyes on a 1/0 hook. On conventional tackle Gulp! on a lead-headed jig is working well.

Right now the fish are not moving very far, and so even if they do spook they will usually come back to an area quickly. 

For now the trout bite remains good in 4-6 feet of water, and anglers can either troll inside the creeks or cast grubs on a ¼ ounce jighead.  Look for fish around mud bars and points where they can ambush prey.

 

January 10

Inshore surface water temperatures are approximately 54 degrees in Beaufort. The water has cleared up nicely and visibility is good.

After a few slow days the redfish bite has improved in the Beaufort area, and Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that for several days now the fish have been eating very well. They are in tight wintertime schools, and so if you catch one fish the odds are that you will catch more. 

The best fishing has been 2 to 2 ½ hours before low tide, or on the low incoming tide when fish are schooled up on the flats until the water gets into the grass. Fish become harder to follow into the grass unless conditions are extremely clear and calm, although during some very warm periods that can be found high in the water column sunning on higher tides.

The best two baits have been mud minnows and cut mullet, and on the fly large, dark minnow patterns such as purple and black size 2 flies are good. 

Trout can still be found in 3-5 feet of water, and one of the most effective ways to locate them is to troll side creeks at very low speeds with jigheads and grubs.  You can also cast around points that have some current and provide an ambush spot.