November 3

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-60s inshore around Charleston. In the right spots you can still net a ton of shrimp but some other bait like menhaden have already left.

It’s still worth reporting at the top that it’s the peak time for bull red drum on the Charleston area beaches, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that they should be around for at least another week to ten days. This is the peak time for catching them in the surf around all the area beaches, and it doesn’t matter if you are fishing Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s, or Folly – the big ones are shallow. They can be caught on most any cut bait but mullet is hard to beat.

That makes sense because Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the action for bulls is pretty slow in the Charleston Harbor, and so instead they are concentrating on inshore reds with shrimp under a popping cork. The action has been steady, and Rob points out that with very few rat redfish as most of the fish have grown into the slot it’s a pretty amazing time for them. Around the tide cycle they are gorging on the last of the shrimp around oyster bars, docks, and the mouths of creeks. 

The trout fishing is just starting to turn on, and Redfin reports that they have caught a few big trout out at the jetties but Rob predicts that throughout the month of November they will be feeding voraciously on live shrimp, mud minnows and curly tail grubs on any tide and anywhere. It’s a pretty idiot-proof time to catch trout in Charleston.

Redfin Charters has also caught some sheepshead around the jetties and hard inshore structure on fiddler crabs, available at Haddrell’s Point. 

Rob also reminds anglers that this is the peak time for king mackerel in 60-90 feet of water. Menhaden are gone from the beaches but the key is to troll ballyhoo over live bottoms and reefs. 

Finally, keep your eyes open for the spot run in all the rivers and around the bridges.  This is also the peak month. 

October 21

Morning surface water temperatures are around 65 degrees inshore around Charleston. Bait is still prolific in the creeks and you can easily net 50 shrimp on a throw, but the menhaden have moved on.   

After a down week last week the fishing has really picked up around Charleston, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the biggest story is that the bull red drum have showed up off of all the area beaches. It doesn’t matter if you are fishing Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s, or Folly – the big ones are in the surf. They can be caught on most any cut bait but mullet is hard to beat.

The inshore fishing has also really picked up, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that both redfish and trout are feeding very well. It’s hard to beat live shrimp fished 2 feet under a popping cork on a fluorocarbon leader, and the high outgoing right up against the grass and around oyster beds and small creek mouths has been very good for redfish as water drains out. However, the fish are feeding so well that they can be caught around the tide cycle, and sometimes dead low tide when the fish are the most concentrated is best. 

The trout are a little further off the grass in the same general areas, with high, moving tides the best as long as the water is clean. Current rips are holding fish. 

Rob also reminds anglers that this is the peak time for king mackerel. The key is to troll ballyhoo over live bottoms and reefs, but you can also slow troll live bait. About ten miles offshore is the best range to fish. 

October 13

Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 65 degrees inshore around Charleston. Bait is still prolific in the creeks and you can easily net 50 shrimp on a throw. 

It’s been a bit of a funny week around Charleston, and both Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) and Captain Rob Bennett(843-367-3777) report that the fishing is not quite where it has been. Captain Erven Roper with Redfin speculates that the tides have been so big for so long that that could be hurting the bite as the fish have gorged.  

Regardless, Rob reports that redfish numbers are not quite where they have been, and instead of getting 60-100 fish on a trip like they expect in the fall 20-30 fish is more common. They are still doing most of their fishing with live shrimp 2 feet under a popping cork on a fluorocarbon leader, and the high outgoing right up against the grass and around oyster beds and small creek mouths has fished the best.

The trout bite continues to improve, and Rob reports that the trout are a little further off the grass in the same general areas. He is catching them on the same set-up and bait, with higher tides again the most productive. Current rips and clean, moving water are key.

There are still bull red drum in the Charleston Harbor, but Redfin reports that numbers are down and it can be a lot of waiting for just a couple of fish. They also aren’t catching the big 40-inch fish and a 35-incher is a huge one right now. The fish that are being caught are coming around areas in Charleston Harbor like Fort Sumter and around the Ravenel bridge (that runs from downtown to Mount Pleasant). 

Frozen cut menhaden has still been working better than fresh mullet. 

Out at the jetties the sheepshead fishing has been good, and the key is just fishing moving tides and working your way down the rocks looking for fish.  Fiddler crabs are the best bait. 

On a particularly memorable trip this week 30 miles offshore over a live bottom they came across a giant tiger shark that had 6 cobia with it. They doubled up on cobia and also caught grouper. 

Rob also reminds anglers that this is the peak time for king mackerel. The key is to troll ballyhoo over live bottoms and reefs, but you can also slow troll live bait. About ten miles offshore is the best range to fish. 

October 6

Morning surface water temperatures are all the way down to about 67 degrees inshore around Charleston. 

Last week we said that there would be some changes this week after Ian came through, but this week Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the redfish patterns have changed very little – which he also predicted. They are absolutely slaying them right now, and they are still catching almost everything on live shrimp fished underneath a popping cork. That’s not to say you couldn’t do very well with finger mullet, cut mullet, mud minnows or even artificials, but as easy as shrimp are to get right now why bother? 

The best areas are still around oyster beds and creek mouths, and the best time to catch fish has been on the outgoing tide when water is coming out of the feeder creeks. However, Rob has productive spots for all stages of the tide as fish are feeding around the cycle.

The big change, though, is that the trout have turned on this week. In general both species are mixed together, and they will certainly both eat shrimp, but the main difference is that the redfish are usually a little closer to the grass while the trout are out a little deeper. The trout prefer clean, moving water. Anything that creates a current rip, like an oyster bar point, is a magnet.  

Even though the hot inshore bite has occupied an increasing amount of their time, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that when there is good weather for getting out in the harbor the bull run is still on! In addition to the jetties and drop-offs in Charleston Harbor like Fort Sumter they are being caught all around the Ravenel bridge (that runs from downtown to Mount Pleasant). Fish are all over the pilings and it’s a bit of luck of the draw where they show up on a particular day, but they are abundant.

Frozen cut menhaden have been working better than fresh mullet. 

Rob reports that the king mackerel have really turned in their annual fall run.  The key is to troll ballyhoo over live bottoms and reefs, but you can also slow troll live bait. About ten miles offshore is the best range to fish. 

September 30

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s inshore around Charleston. 

Obviously there will be some changes after Ian passes through, but so far Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that this has been the best redfish year he has ever seen.  They are catching more than 50 reds each trip, almost all in the slot or above, and considering the strength of the population he doesn’t expect that to change despite the hurricane. 

The creeks are so full of shrimp that you can walk on them, and Rob’s boat is catching every one of these fish on live shrimp fished underneath a popping cork. The best areas are around oyster beds and creek mouths, and the best time to catch fish has been on the outgoing tide when water is coming out of the feeder creeks. However, Rob has productive spots for all stages of the tide as fish are feeding around the cycle. 

Trout have been a little hard to come by recently, but when the water drops a few degrees they expect that to change. However, flounder have been prolific even though most of them are short. The flounder will take shrimp but to really target them it’s hard to beat mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig pulled on the bottom around creek mouths, oyster beds, and other hard structure. 

After the storm passes through Rob expects an outstanding October for king mackerel in 50-70 feet of water. Trolling live baits and fishing over live bottom will both be productive.  

September 16

Morning surface water temperatures are about 81 degrees inshore around Charleston. 

It’s been a good week in Charleston fishing, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the jetties have really turned on. In addition to the sheepshead that continue to be caught on fiddler crabs and mud crabs black drum have joined the party around structure. However, the most exciting development has been that big flounder have showed up at the tips of the jetties. They can be caught on mud minnows, but with the mullet run underway smaller finger mullet are hard to beat. The bigger 6-8 inch bait will generate less bites and it’s harder to hook fish when they do bite.

However, the bull red drum have no trouble eating that size mullet, and in addition to the jetties and drop-offs in Charleston Harbor like Fort Sumter they are being caught all around the Ravenel bridge (that runs from Downtown to Mount Pleasant). Fish are all over the pilings and it’s a bit of luck of the draw where they show up on a particular day, but they are abundant.  There are also plenty of tarpon scattered around the Charleston area including the beaches, jetties, river and harbor anywhere there is bait. They are keying on mullet right now but won’t turn down menhaden. 

The inshore fishing is still really good, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the redfish are still feeding very well. The stage of the tide really doesn’t seem to matter right now, and Rob has spots where they can wear out the fish on any tide. They range from docks to grass points to oyster beds to grass lines. While other baits will certainly catch fish, his boat isn’t using anything besides live shrimp under a popping cork. 

While the best fall trout fishing hasn’t started yet, each trip they are getting a half dozen or so trout while targeting reds. Generally the reds are a little closer to the grass, while the trout are holding further from the bank.

September 8

Morning surface water temperatures are about 81 degrees inshore around Charleston. 

Some new characters have showed up around Charleston, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that they are doing extremely well at the jetties with the sheepshead. The fish are eating both fiddler crabs and mud crabs, but the coolest part is that they have been catching them under a float up against the rocks. Middle tides in both directions are working the best, and when there is no current the fish have not been feeding as well. About all of the fish they are getting right now are keepers. There are also some redfish mixed in with the sheepshead. 

Speaking of redfish, the bull red drum bite has been extremely productive recently and that is what most of their charters have been targeting.  They are catching them around drop-offs like Fort Sumter in about 30 feet of water, and live or cut menhaden fished in the eddies have been hard to beat. 

This week they also jumped a tarpon and brought it boatside while fishing for drum. 

The inshore fishing has also been really good, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the redfish are still feeding very well. The stage of the tide really doesn’t seem to matter right now, and Rob has spots where they can wear out the fish on any tide. They range from docks to grass points to oyster beds to grass lines. While other baits will certainly catch fish, his boat isn’t using anything besides live shrimp under a popping cork. 

While the best fall trout fishing hasn’t started yet, each trip they are getting a half dozen or so trout while targeting reds. Generally the reds are a little closer to the grass, while the trout are holding further from the bank.

They are also picking up some flounder, but if you really want to target flounder a mud minnow or finger mullet fished on the bottom is hard to beat. 

August 31

Morning surface water temperatures are about 81-82 degrees inshore around Charleston. 

It’s still the dog days of summer along the South Carolina coast, but that hasn’t stopped a wide-open inshore bite from breaking out. Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that he has never seen the redfish action as good in August as it is right now, and it seems like the cooler weather we had a couple of weeks ago reminded that fish that winter will be coming and they need to feed up before the bait leaves. The marsh grass has started to feather out, which always goes along with an improved bite. 

The stage of the tide really doesn’t seem to matter right now, and Rob has spots where they can wear out the fish on any tide. They range from docks to grass points to oyster beds to grass lines. While other baits will certainly catch fish they aren’t using anything besides live shrimp under a popping cork on his boat. 

While the best fall trout fishing hasn’t started yet, each trip they are getting a half dozen or so trout while targeting reds. Generally the reds are a little closer to the grass, while the trout are holding further from the bank.

They are also picking up some flounder, but if you really want to target flounder a mud minnow or finger mullet fished on the bottom is hard to beat. 

While the inshore fishing is certainly exciting, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that it’s been hard to focus on other species once the bull reds start running in the Charleston Harbor. They are catching them around drop-offs like Fort Sumter in about 30 feet of water, and live or cut menhaden fished in the eddies have been hard to beat. 

Inshore some of their guides are also catching redfish on the fly on some of these big, wind-aided tides. 

The tarpon bite continues to be pretty good, and each day Rob continues to see fish roll. However, it’s hard to catch the ones you see right now if they are used to seeing boats and if you can find an area where the fish are less pressured the action is usually better. While you can catch them anchoring or floating big baits around sandbars or bait schools, the most exciting way to catch them is to look for fish and sight-cast to them on the incoming or outgoing tide. Big swimbaits, jigs and flies will all work.

August 18

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s inshore around Charleston and the creeks are full of bait.  

Inshore fishing continues to heat up around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that each of his last 11 trips in the past two weeks they have landed the Triple Crown of redfish, trout and keeper flounder. 

In particular the flounder have started biting really well for most everyone, and they are catching them around oyster bars. With mud minnows on a Carolina rig or jighead you could probably bust them, but they have also been eating really well on live shrimp fished under a cork.

The redfish are also around oyster bars as well as docks, and while low tide has generally been the best time for them they have also been hitting at middle tides. They can also be caught right up against the grass.  

Meanwhile the trout are holding a little deeper, usually about 10 feet off the grass or so. In general they have been biting best at high tide, but even more important recently have been low light conditions. In the summer the trout are very light sensitive, and yesterday they bit all day because it was cloudy. 

While Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) concurs that the inshore fishing has been really good, and in addition to the big three they have also managed some nice sheepshead and even a beautiful tripletail on the fly, what has really been occupying them recently is the bull redfish. At the jetties they have been blasting them with cut mullet and menhaden. 

Tarpon are also around. 

Just off the beaches out to the nearshore reefs the Spanish mackerel fishing has been good. 

August 4

Morning surface water temperatures are about 87 degrees inshore around Charleston and for 2-3 weeks it has been extremely windy. 

It’s too early to call it a fall bite, but in the last week Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the inshore action has really turned on around Charleston.  For about five days now Rob has been smoking the redfish, with everything coming on live shrimp about two feet under a cork fished over oyster shells. At low tide you can find fish stacked up around docks.  They are getting a lot of 10-inch fish as well as a lot of 18-25 inch fish, and in a few months all those fish will be over 15 inches. 

The trout are biting pretty well in the same areas on the same bait, but the redfish are generally really close to the grass line while the trout are holding a little deeper ten or more feet off the bank. Most of the trout are smaller but the sizes will get better in the coming months.

The best pattern for bigger trout is still to throw topwater lures like Zara Spooks or other walking baits first thing. 

They are also picking up some flounder and several bonnethead sharks each trip – which love shrimp. 

Inshore Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) notes that the fishing is usually much better first thing. 

They are still catching some bull redfish in the Charleston Harbor on cut croaker or mullet, but overall the bite has been sporadic. 

The tarpon bite continues to be pretty good, and each day Rob continues to see fish roll.  However, it’s hard to catch the ones you see right now if they are used to seeing boats and if you can find an area where the fish are less pressured the action is usually better. While you can catch them anchoring or floating big baits around sandbars or bait schools, the most exciting way to catch them is to look for fish and sight-cast to them on the incoming or outgoing tide. Big swimbaits, jigs and flies will all work.

It’s been so windy until yesterday that there almost no nearshore or offshore reports, although the Spanish mackerelfishing should still be good.

July 22

Morning surface water temperatures are 85 or 86 degrees inshore around Charleston and this week has been exceptionally windy. 

Things are starting to change in the Charleston-area, and with the influx of shrimp into the creeks the redfish seem to be turning on. Catching bait is definitely getting easier, and in the areas where he can usually catch them at this time of year Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that in a few throws he can get hundreds of shrimp.

On the outgoing tide the redfish are really schooling up, although they are holding a little deeper in the heat. Rob has found them around docks in 7 or 8 feet of water. Shrimp under a floating cork are all you need. 

With the influx of shrimp the trout bite is also picking up, although the best action is actually early in the morning with topwater lures like Zara Spooks or other walking baits. Live shrimp under a cork will also work, but you have to fish in low light periods right now. On cloudy days the bite can last all day. 

The tarpon bite continues to be pretty good, but Rob reports that the fish seem to be getting pretty boat-shy by this stage of the summer. If you can find an area where the fish are less pressured the action is usually better. While you can catch them anchoring or floating big baits around sandbars or bait schools, the most exciting way to catch them is to look for fish and sight-cast to them on the incoming or outgoing tide. Big swimbaits, jigs and flies will all work and the fish are pretty thick right now.

The smaller whiting are still in the surf, but in about 10 feet of water around sandbars the 10-15 inch whiting are thick. All you need to catch them is a piece of peeled shrimp about the size of a thumbnail.

The Spanish mackerel fishing is still good, but the problem has been getting out after them with the wind. The fish are mostly around the last sea buoys coming out of inlets out to about 30 feet. All you need is silver casting spoons although they will also eat live bait. You can also troll for them.

When you can get out early in the morning you can catch king mackerel pulling baits in the 60-90 foot range, but after that you need downriggers to catch them when they head deep.

July 14

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s inshore around Charleston. 

It will only last for a few more days, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that right now there is really good tailing activity in the Charleston area for redfish. With the very high full moon tides redfish are up in the short grass feeding on fiddler crabs, and you can catch them on flies, spoons or sections of blue crab. 

This bite is starting to wane as the tide cycle gets later, but Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports there has also been a good bite for reds on the falling tide in the morning. After high tide in low light conditions the water is as cool as it will get, and the dropping tide creates feeding opportunities as bait gets concentrated again. 

There has also been a good bite for the last week in the Charleston Harbor, around the bridges and at the jetties for bull reds. The morning has been the best time to fish, but moving tides have also been important. Anchoring live menhaden or mullet has been the best technique. 

Reports vary for trout, but the consensus seems to be that the big fish are hard to find right now. However, as shrimp reach a fishable size in the rivers more small trout are starting to be caught again. They are also starting to show a preference for live shrimp instead of mud minnows.

While still sporadic more flounder are also starting to be caught. 

The tarpon bite continues to be very good, and Rob reports that while you can still catch them on sandbars (along with a ton of sharks), since the fish are feeding on menhaden the best technique is to follow the bait.  Enormous schools of menhaden are running along the beaches and so Rob’s preferred method to target them is to take the trolling motor and follow the menhaden schools. Look for diving pelicans to find the bait. 

Fish the menhaden with a heavy fluorocarbon leader on an 8/0 circle hook free-lined or under a balloon. You will still catch sharks, but far less.

Redfin Charters this week managed to hook but eventually lose a fish on a fly. 

The smaller whiting are still in the surf, but in about 10 feet of water around sandbars the 10-15 inch whiting are thick. All you need to catch them is a piece of peeled shrimp about the size of a thumbnail.

There have also been some really nice pompano caught in the surf in about 3 feet of water. They are biting the best on sand fleas, which can be found at low tide around groins and other rocks going into the surf. 

The Spanish mackerel fishing is still outstanding, and the fish are mostly around the sea buoys out to about 30 feet. All you need is silver casting spoons although they will also eat live bait. You can also troll for them.

Early in the morning you can catch king mackerel pulling baits in the 60-90 foot range, but after that you need downriggers to catch them when they head deep.