July 31

Morning surface water temperatures are around about 85 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. 

It’s hard to overstate just how good the inshore fishing has gotten around Charleston, especially considering the temperatures, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that basically the bite is on fire right now. He is running two trips a day with no drop-off between the morning and afternoon trips, and finding the best bite about three hours both sides of high tide.

While most of them are young-of-the-year fish that will be in the slot in a month or two, they are averaging about 40 reds per trip (including some big ones) and they are also picking up trout that are mostly small but occasionally up to three pounds, keeper-sized black drum, and flounder that rarely keep. They are catching everything on live shrimp fished a couple of feet under a popping cork, and almost everything is coming over oysters next to grass lines. 

One is likely to be the catch of the day today, but they have also picked up some big tripletail running crab pot buoys. When the water is this warm (upper 80s and sometimes higher inshore) then they like to float beside any structure in the water, and tripletail have a hard time resisting live shrimp. 

While he was concentrating on tarpon over the weekend but finding more bull reds and sharks off the beaches than silver kings, yesterday Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures returned to the jettiesand found a very tough bite. They managed about a dozen bonnethead sharks and a big Spanish mackerel that bit a live menhaden fished on the bottom, but otherwise the catch was just stingrays. At best the bigger redfish are day-to-day right now – as we reported last week. Instead of huge tides it must be the heat. 

Our family is travelling next week for the last week of the summer before our children go back to school, but we will resume weekly fishing reports the following week. Hopefully some cooler weather will give us some exciting changes to relay – although it will still be August in South Carolina!     

July 22

Morning surface water temperatures are around about 84 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. 

With shrimp now prolific in the creeks inshore fishing in Charleston has finally turned a corner, as it does every year at about this time, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that catches have dramatically improved in the last ten days. While there are almost certainly still fish around docks he is pretty much leaving them alone now, and instead fishing grass edges on middle and higher tides and oyster beds on lower tides. He is being rewarded with a cornucopia of species, including abundant redfish, lots of black drum, trout (particularly in the morning), and flounder. It’s as simple as fishing live shrimp under a slip cork.

The inshore fishing usually just gets better and better from here on out.

This week Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures has spent a little time targeting bull reds at the jetties, and basically the fishing is inconsistent. One day they will bite very well, and the next it will be tough to get bites.  Sunday was excellent, but Saturday and Tuesday were tougher.  He thinks negative tides and so much water moving have had a lot to do with that.  

But with their annual tarpon tournament coming up this weekend that’s where his real focus is, and in the last week they have hooked about a half-dozen, getting a couple to the boat. Some have come on float rigs and live bait, and some on live and cut bait.  It’s been about half menhaden and half mullet.  Yesterday they got one to the boat on live mullet under a float at the jetties.  

The last few years the tournament has been later in the season, and Captain Addison expects that catches will be down this year. It just doesn’t seem like as many fish are around in July as in August and September.

 

In the surf the fishing off the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) remains pretty slow, and manager Jacob Cynar reports that they have not had a ton of fishing activity with the heat. However, they did have a 20-pound king mackerel caught this week. Otherwise it’s mainly been sheepshead and black drum. 

We apologize that these reports are running a few days behind – the author had some unexpected issues in his other job arise. 

July 10

Morning surface water temperatures are now about 84 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. 

It’s still not fall fishing inshore fishing in Charleston, but Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that they are still catching plenty of nice redfish around docks and oysters. He has noticed, however, that the better fishing is definitely taking place earlier in the day – almost regardless of tide – and the action really slows down in the heat of the day. Because of early high tides it’s been hard to net shrimp, but mud minnows have been working just fine and they are picking up a few trout on them as well as reds and occasional flounder.

It's a similar report from Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures, who has also found the bite far better earlier. It’s not unusual to catch approximately 75% or more of their day’s catch in the first hour or so. In the creeks he is finding good redfish on cut menhaden around bends in the creeks that have structure or docks. 

Early has also been better at the jetties, and Tuesday they managed eight bull reds in 45 minutes before leaving them alone. 

Captain Addison still hasn’t put the time into tarpon that he is about to with an upcoming tournament, but they are certainly around although reports have been a little better to the north. 

In the surf the fishing off the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) has really slowed down with the storm that messed up the water conditions, and manager Jacob Cynar reports that since the storm people are only catching whiting and black drum. 

Nearshore Captain Rob advises that spadefish fishing has still been very good on flat days when boats can get out. Jelly balls are best if you can get them, but tiny pieces of shrimp will also work. 

July 2

Morning surface water temperatures are now about 84 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. 

Apparently last week’s report marked the beginning of a turnaround with the inshore fishing in Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that for the past eight days the fishing has been extremely good, particularly for redfish. While the fishing was improving even before bait-sized shrimp started to show up this week that has helped turn particularly the redfish on – and changed the bait they are using. However, note that this is a localized phenomenon right now while areas like Edisto seem to be between shrimp hatches. 

They have been having success around the tide cycle, although lower water has fallen at the most pleasant times of day this week.   Docks and oyster bars have both been productive with shrimp under a popping cork. In addition to about 20 redfish on his trip this morning have also picked up some flounder and the occasional big trout. 

While redfish have also been the main inshore event for Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures, they have also picked up good trout here-and-there.  This morning the best action came in the creek when they threw out cut menhaden at a dock in a deep bend with structure. On low tide they caught a bunch of over-slot reds there and then a big trout on the same bait. 

But the biggest change this week from last is that Captain Addison is seeing an improved bite for bull reds, both at the jetties and in the shipping channel. They are taking cut menhaden. Slightly moderated temperatures could be helping, but conditions like wind vary so much from day to day that it’s hard to know what is responsible. 

Finally, while he will be gearing up for them soon Captain Addison has not been targeting tarpon. However, there are more and more around and soon he will be pursuing them. 

June 26

Morning surface water temperatures are now about 83 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. 

Until today it had been a pretty tough week for inshore fishing with the extreme temperatures, but Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that the temperature relief this morning turned the fish on and the bite was much, much better. They blistered the redfish around a current rip with good water flow, and in general moving water either on the outgoing or incoming has been much more productive than slower tides. The bigger water is also producing better than the shallower creeks. Mud minnows under a cork have been working the best for Captain Rob’s boat.  

They have managed a few keeper flounder on the same set-up, and while trout have been somewhat rare they are catching many more very early in low-light conditions. Mud minnows and finger mullet are working for trout but live shrimp are better if you can find them. In the early morning they will also take topwater plugs. 

With the heat Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures has noticed that the fishing at the jetties and in the Charleston Harbor in general has finally slowed down for the bull reds. They have managed a few big black drum as well as bull red drum, but it has gotten much less consistent.  At the same time tarpon have started to show up in better numbers.

In the surf the fishing off the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) has been red-hot for anglers who can handle the heat, and manager Jacob Cynar reports that they had a 34-pound king mackerel caught, tarpon have been seen just off the pier, and jack crevalle and Spanish mackerel are both being caught. In the recent tournament they also had some beautiful black drum and big sea trout. 

Nearshore Captain Rob advises that spadefish fishing has been very good on flat days when boats can get out. Jelly balls are best if you can get them, but tiny pieces of shrimp will also work. 

Finally, in 65-75 feet over live bottom and artificial reefs Captain Addison had a banner day for grouper, cobia, and amberjack and tangled with a bunch of barracuda when it was very calm and his boat could go that far. Everything was eating live menhaden. 

June 19

Morning surface water temperatures are now about 81 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor and bait is abundant.   

As creek temperatures start to feel like bathwater there are mixed reports with the inshore fishing, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that it’s certainly not fall fishing – or even the bite that will develop later in the summer. He finds June to be one of the tougher months in the creek, whereas by about mid-July shrimp flood into the creeks and the action gets really good. 

Despite that they are picking up some redfish around docks on the incoming tide, but continue to see very few flounder and trout. Captain Rob notes that sharks are abundant and tarpon are rolling, and so it really is getting to be summer fishing. 

When the wind forces him to stay inshore Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventuresis making the best of it, and he is catching some nice redfish on cut menhaden. Docks have also been good for him, especially those at creek bends when the tide is going out. 

But the best action has undoubtedly been at the jetties, and yesterday at the last of the outgoing he caught about a dozen 18-20 inch trout to go along with a few black drum. They caught everything floating live shrimp under a cork. While not complaining they were surprised not to catch any redfish or trout.

Finally, especially for mid-June Captain Addison reports that the bull redfish season is still really good at the jetties. Monday they caught six on cut bait when they could keep the sharks off their lines. 

In the surf, Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that the fishing has slowed somewhat with rising temperatures. At low tide and on the diamond there is little fishing activity, but at high tide some black drum and sheepshead are being caught. 

Finally, in the inlets you can pick up lots of whiting on cut shrimp fished around sandbars. 

June 11

Morning surface water temperatures are now about 80 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor and bait is abundant.   

The inshore action has been good around Charleston, and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that in the creeks he has had a lot of success fishing the low tide flats and docks with cut menhaden for redfish. They have caught some surprisingly big redfish on the inside, although the biggest reds (as well as some black drum) continue to come at the jetties. Overall the jetties have been slower than a couple of weeks ago, but they are still catching fish on every trip – just not always quite as fast. 

The trout bite has been a lot slower, although Captain Addison has not spent as much time pursuing them. And while he has not personally seen a tarpon yet there have been reports as far north as Bulls Bay and so they are certainly around.

While Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) also reports that the trout bite has been a little off, perhaps because of the massive tides, the shark bite has been pretty incredible and providing a lot of excitement for anglers. They are in the inlets as well as behind shrimp boats, and it’s hard to go wrong with cut bait in the water.

The whiting action in the inlets has also been fair, but the quality of fish seems a little down. Shrimp are the best bait. 

Nearshore Captain Addision reports that on calm days they have been very successful with spadefish about 10 miles out. 

May 29

Morning surface water temperatures are now about 78 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor and bait is abundant.   

While the inshore action has been good around Charleston this past week, Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that the best thing going is at the jetties. There he has found an outstanding redfish bite on cut mullet and menhaden. 

Inshore there’s been no real change with the pattern, and fishing the deeper creek bends and around docks they have had success catching redfish on peanut menhaden anchored on the bottom. Low incoming and low outgoing have been the best.

With mild water temperatures they have also found a really good bite around shallow structure in Charleston Harbor, and throwing live shrimp they are catching a mixed bag of flounder, slot-sized reds, black drum, and trout. The fish are feeding well around the tide cycle but have bitten better when there is some current moving. 

The early morning trout bite is also really picking up, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that fish will take surface plugs but you can also really catch them on popping corks with minnows or live shrimp. 

There are also plenty of opportunities to catch fish in the inlets, and whiting are thick on the sandbars. Sharks are also everywhere off the beaches and in the inlets. 

Nearshore Captain Rob reports that Spanish mackerel are starting to school in large numbers about 3-5 miles off the beach and cobia are also showing up on the reefs. 

Our family is travelling for our annual beach vacation next week, but we will resume regular fishing reports the following week.   

May 20

Morning surface water temperatures are now about 75-76 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor and bait is abundant.   

It’s been a good inshore bite this week around Charleston, and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that fishing the deeper creek bends and around docks they have had success catching redfish on peanut menhaden anchored on the bottom. Low incoming and low outgoing have been the best.

With mild water temperatures they have also found a really good bite around shallow structure in Charleston Harbor, and throwing live shrimp they are catching a mixed bag of flounder, slot-sized reds, black drum, and even some trout. The fish are feeding well around the tide cycle but have bitten better when there is some current moving. 

In a similar vein, Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that he has found some incredible action against wind-blown banks on the rising tide. On one recent trip wading birds tipped off Captain Rob that a stiff breeze had glass minnows blown up against a grass line at mid-tide, and on every cast they caught over-slot redfish, smaller flounder, and even a keeper trout on mud minnows. But if you let your bait get more than a couple of feet off the bank bluefish would chop it in half!

The action is also still very good around the jetties and in deeper sections of the harbor for big game, and Captain Addison reports that bull red drum are still coming on cut menhaden or mullet. They also caught a very large black drum when they mixed in crab with the cut baits.  

In the surf, Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that the fishing continues to be strong. Black drum up to more than 5 pounds have become very common and lots of bluefish and weakfish are being caught. They are also getting occasional flounder but only one Spanish mackerel so far this season. 

Nearshore, Captain Addison reports that on a calm day when he ventured out to the reefs he wasn’t able to find cobia, although they have been around in good numbers, but they found tons of spadefish and picked up grouper and a red snapper. The amberjacks were also thick. 

Finally, Captain Rob reports that offshore trolling the dolphin bite appears to be starting to slow down but a 113-inch marlin was recently landed on The Sporting Life! 

May 6

Morning surface water temperatures are now about 73-74 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor and bait is abundant. With an east wind there has been some beautiful greenish blue water blowing into the area.     

While the creek fishing around Charleston has been good this week, Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that he is spending the most time fishing in the harbor and around the jetties.  For bull red drum they are fishing cut menhaden or mullet, and they are also picking up sharks including bonnetheads and sharpnose sharks. They having to work for the bulls a bit more than a few weeks ago when they were on a crab-eating spree.

But beyond giant fish basically any random rocks or other structure in the harbor is holding an assortment of species including trout, flounder, black drum, and of course smaller redfish. Both tides have been good with the moderate temperatures. Big mullet and menhaden (off Folly) are around as well as peanut menhaden, but Captain Addison has not found finger mullet yet. The small menhaden are working very well for bait and he has also been buying live shrimp. Even a rare earlier-season tripletail floating by some debris fell for a shrimp under a cork!

Addison’s boat has also spent some time inshore inside the creeks on very windy days, and floating live shrimp around the grass has been productive for both trout and redfish. There are also flounder around, but when he can fish the harbor or jetties they have offered the best action for him. 

In the surf, Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that the fishing has come alive with the warmer weather. They are consistently catching slot-sized red drum and black drum are also very consistent. They have had a few spotted sea trout as well. 

The first pier fishing tournament will be on May 10 so stay posted for more news. 

Nearshore, Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that cobia are showing up at all the reefs. And offshore, so far it is an outstanding dolphin season. They are also starting to catch some marlin. 

April 24

Morning surface water temperatures are now about 70-71 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor and bait is arriving in droves.   

The biggest change with the inshore fishing around Charleston is that the peeler crab season is winding down, and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that accordingly there are now other baits besides crabs that are working. Big menhaden are making for outstanding cut bait, and small “peanut” menhaden are also working well fished live for redfish and trout. In the creeks they are also picking up lots of black drum on shrimp. 

Overall reds are pretty much everywhere but the trout have been a little spotty.  If you want to target them the best places to look right now are around oyster rakes and creek mouths on the high outgoing tide when there is clean, moving water. 

That’s similar to the report from Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777), who advises that – as always happens when water temperatures hit about 70 – everything has really turned on. Inshore he isn’t really targeting trout or flounder but expects they are around, but the action for reds is getting good. They are around most any structure and will take mud minnows as well as anything. 

At the jetties the bull reds are biting extremely well on cut menhaden for Captain Addison, and in 10-20 feet around sandbars in the inlets it’s hard to miss fishing for whiting with small pieces of cut shrimp. You can also have a ball putting out a line or two with cut bait for a variety of species of sharks. 

At the moment manager Jacob Cynar reports that the main catch off the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) is still just large numbers of whiting, but they expect more species to arrive any day. 

At the nearshore reefs Spanish mackerel, bonito, bluefish, and small black sea bass are all around, and with Captain Rob seeing tons of jelly balls there should be spadefish any time if they are not already there. He also caught his first cobia of the season, a 30-pounder!

Offshore, dolphin are picking up. 

April 9

Morning surface water temperatures are now about 66 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor but reaching the 70s inside the creeks. 

There’s a semi-secret pattern to inshore fishing around Charleston right now, and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that he’s hearing a lot of people complain about a difficult redfish bite but not finding it himself. The key is fishing with blue crabs, and with crab sections it’s been relatively easy to catch fish on the shallow flats – often in a foot of water or less – as well as around structure including docks, oyster beds, and rocks.

While crab is also picking up sheepshead and black drum, fishing with shrimp they are also catching some early flounder and occasional trout. The best places to look for trout right now are around oyster rakes and creek mouths on the high outgoing tide when there is clean, moving water. 

Crabs are also working in the rivers and harbor for bull reds, and around the jetties, bridges, and other structure it’s been pretty easy to catch large fish with the “right” bait.  

A big red drum caught this week with Captain Addison Rupert

While Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) is also catching redfish inshore, he has found some exciting nearshore action (when the wind laid down enough to allow fishing) for big weakfish. The action at the reefs is on the verge of getting really, really good for a variety of migratory species.