November 20

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 62 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. Without much rain and with milder tides water clarity has been above average for this time of year. 

It’s been really good inshore fishing this week for Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures, and basically he reports that fish are feeding really aggressively. They are catching a bit of everything on live shrimp, sometimes throwing them on slip corks and sometimes on bottom rigs. Trout and redfish have been the predominant catch, but they are also getting black drum, sheepshead, and some occasional small flounder.  At least the redfish will eat basically anything with cut mullet in particular also working very well. His boat has not been fishing artificials but for trout and reds they would probably be successful.

Either tide has been fine, and on higher water they are fishing grass lines and over top of oyster beds. On low tide they are picking up more redfish than trout and fishing the flats around structure. 

That’s consistent with the report from Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777), who says the trout bite has gotten much better again for his boat in the warming period after the hard cold snap ten days ago. They are targeting current breaks along the edges of the rivers on any moving tide, but high has been the best. Grubs and imitation shrimp have been very effective. 

They are also catching a lot of 1-8 pound redfish around oyster bars and docks. 

Captain Rob reports that bull reds are starting to leave the beaches and move towards the nearshore reefs, and Captain Addison’s boat is still finding some big fish at the jetties. Certainly it’s diminishing numbers but they did have the largest in a tournament with a 41-inch fish last Saturday. It was caught in 10-15 feet of water on cut menhaden at the jetties. 

November 6

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 64 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. 

The inshore fishing has been much tougher this week around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that the gigantic full moon tides are to blame. It’s been hard to fish for trout with the water running so hard, but especially with a cold snap to start next week the next three weeks should be very good. 

The best thing going in the creeks has been the redfish, mostly because they will bite on lower water when the tide is not moving as fast. Tuesday Captain Rob’s boat caught 25 from a couple of hours before to low to low, but really had to work for them. They all came on shrimp under a popping cork.

In the clearer water on a sight-seeing trip he also saw a big school of redfish cruising on the lower tide, and so they are starting to group up in winter schools. 

Rob also advises that that sheepshead fishing in the rivers is strong around structure with fiddler crabs. 

October 29

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 66 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. 

With difficult weather conditions Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures has shifted has focus more to inshore fishing in the creeks, but he reports that in the harbor out to the jetties there are still bull red drum around. However, with dropping water temperatures the action should be about done and it usually slows way down in November.  The inshore fishing is also so good he’s less interested in chasing the last of the bulls. 

To escape the winds Captain Addison has been fishing in some very small creeks, and he has found black drum and redfish around structure including docks and trees. The incoming tide has been good, but basically any time there is some current on lower water you should catch fish.  Live shrimp have been out-fishing other baits. 

But it’s the trout that Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) is most excited about, and while redfish make for “Red October” (and will certainly still bite next month) for his boat November is all about the spotted seatrout. 60-65 degree water is the perfect window, with 63 magic, and we are close.

While some trout are right along the grass lines Captain Rob finds more several yards off of them, and he is basically looking for current eddy lines. Generally 3-10 feet of water is the best depth, and fish will take live shrimp and grubs. His boat caught trout on mud minnows as well this week. 

Rob also reminds anglers to be on the lookout for spot in the rivers, where they can be caught from bridges with the best action about a mile from the ocean. 

Off the beaches, manager Jacob Cynar reports that they are still getting a few bull reds on Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) – but only a few per week now. However, they are getting a decent number of smaller reds, black drum, and trout. 

Finally, while the king mackerel tournament is not over it looks like three fish for 136 pounds is going to win. The boat Rob was fishing with had 100.1 pounds and sits in eleventh places (one out of the money), but they were pleased to catch 28 fish in two days offshore. While some boats struggled there seem to be good numbers of kings around. 

October 23

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 69 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. 

There’s no change to the inshore fishing patterns this week around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that we are at the absolute peak of trout and redfish fishing. They are picking up less flounder as they start to head offshore, but improving numbers of trout and reds more than make up for it.   

Life has also still been good for Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures, who reports that from the harbor out to the jetties the bull red drum action has been outstanding. Menhaden have been plentiful around Morris Island and so he has been using those cut on the bottom, and while they are picking up the occasional shark by no means are they a nuisance like they could be in warmer months.

Bull reds are also in the surf off the beaches.

The big change this week is that calmer weather has allowed more boats to get offshore, and Captain Rob fishing with Team Polaris was in second place in the king mackerel tournament as of yesterday when they caught fifteen! They are fishing again today. They caught their fish trolling live menhaden 8 miles offshore in about 50 feet of water and would likely be in first place if not for a shark that bit a 50-pound fish in half at the boat. 

October 15

Morning surface water temperatures are down to the upper 60s to low 70s at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. 

More pleasant conditions have made for outstanding inshore fishing this week around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that he believes this week and next week will be the peak inshore fishing of the year in the Charleston area. His boat caught over 100 redfish, trout and flounder yesterday.  Shrimp are still extremely abundant, and catching fish is still all about floating live shrimp along the grass lines and around oyster beds around the tide cycle. At low water when the oyster beds have no water over them then you have to fish pilings and other structure that is still in the water. No tide has been better than any other recently. 

In the harbor out to the jetties the fishing also remains outstanding, and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that while the catches haven’t improved (because they really couldn’t) better weather is making for more enjoyable trips. Any fresh cut bait is still working and fish are moving much shallower.

Pier report to follow, but Captain Addison reports that you can certainly catch bull drum casting off the beaches now. 

October 8

Morning surface water temperatures are around 76 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. Shrimp and baitfish are abundant.   

Some pretty difficult conditions, with full moon tides and strong winds, have made the inshore fishing more challenging that it’s supposed to be this time of year, but Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that nonetheless they are still catching good numbers of redfish and trout as well as plentiful black drum and some big flounder. The shrimp are still extremely abundant, and catching fish is still all about floating live shrimp along the grass lines and around oyster beds around the tide cycle. At low water when the oyster beds have no water over them then you have to fish pilings and other structure that is still in the water. No tide has been better than any other recently. 

Captain Rob predicts that, particularly if we get some calmer conditions, the next two weeks will be the peak of the entire year for redfish and trout. 

In the harbor out to the jetties the fishing remains outstanding, despite some difficult conditions, and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that they continue to have a field day with the bull reds. Today the bite was very good at the jetties, and on days when winds have kept his boat inside the harbor they have also done very well. Any fresh cut bait is working, but menhaden stood out today. While Captain Addison has not seen any tarpon around Charleston he has heard reports of some to the north, but the coming cold front should about push them out. The hot fall bite off the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) has now gotten under way for bull reds, and manager Jacob Cynar reports that off the diamond they are now regularly catching them.   

It’s been hard to get any reports on the king mackerel nearshore with such bad winds. 

Our apologies for the sporadic fishing reports in recent weeks. We will do everything we can to get back on track with weekly updates, but one of our children is getting through a significant health challenge which has occupied a great deal of our time and kept us out of work.  

September 25

Morning surface water temperatures are around 80 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. Shrimp and baitfish are abundant.   

It may sound like an oversimplification to say that inshore fishing around Charleston is “easy” right now, but Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that the bite is truly wide-open. Catching redfish and trout is as simple as floating live shrimp along the grass lines and around oyster beds around the tide cycle, and you will also pick up flounder this way. At low water when the oyster beds have no water over them then you have to fish pilings and other structure that is still in the water. 

In the harbor the fishing is just as good, and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that the big reds have been as consistent as he has ever seen them at the jetties – even easy. Cut mullet and menhaden fished in 10-20 feet are working, and they are not picking up many sharks. 

While he has seen some tarpon roll at the jetties, there are more off the beaches. His boat hooked four north of Charleston two days ago. 

The hot fall bite off the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) has not started for bull reds yet, but manager Jacob Cynar reports that anglers are catching lots of smaller redfish in the slot and below as well as good numbers of black drum. 

Nearshore in 40-90 feet Captain Rob reports the king mackerel fishing should be outstanding for the next few weeks. 

September 10

Morning surface water temperatures are around 78 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. The creeks are full of shrimp and mullet and menhaden are running the beaches.   

While it’s been a good late summer for inshore fishing around Charleston, Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that we are finally in that magical window where the fishing will be nothing short of excellent for at least 45 days. Almost every cast they are catching trout, flounder or redfish, and tide really doesn’t make much difference as long as you are fishing live shrimp under a cork around the banks. At low tide they will be fishing around oysters and structure, while on higher tides they are fishing right against the grass. 

It has also been a really good bite for Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures in the harbor and around the jetties, and as the big redfish make their way shallower in the cooler temperatures they are biting very well. Fishing the rocks with cut mullet or menhaden has been very productive, and sand bars in the harbor are also holding fish. 

Off the beaches there is also a tremendous amount of life, and one day Captain Addison ran into a huge school of menhaden. There were at least 100 tarpon crashing into them, but perhaps because there was just so much bait they were moving a lot and he could never get a tarpon bite on free-lines, float rigs, bottom rigs, or even throwing artificials. However, they did catch plenty of sharks and bull reds in less than five feet of water!

Nearshore Captain Rob reports that falling water temperatures have brought the king mackerel much closer. 

August 27

Morning surface water temperatures are around about 82 degrees at the mouth of Charleston Harbor.  To the south of Charleston the mullet run is in full force off the beaches, while to north big bait has been a little elusive. The creeks are full of shrimp. 

The inshore fishing around Charleston has been strong for Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777), who reports that they are catching lots of redfish, trout, black drum, and undersized flounder. He is catching everything on live shrimp fished under a popping cork, mostly targeting grass lines and oyster bars. Tide doesn’t seem to matter too much, and fishing are biting consistently – as long as the water is moving. 

On the water this week Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures has done a little fishing at the jetties for redfish and found basically a pretty slow bite for bigger fish. But mostly he has been targeting tarpon after contracting a good case of tarpon fever. Captain Rob reports that to the south of Charleston he is seeing giant mullet schools and lots of tarpon in the inlets, while to the north of Charleston Captain Addison reports that mullet have gotten hard to find and accordingly he is using menhaden to fish up that way (check out yesterday’s “catch of the day” to see a tarpon he caught on menhaden). Fish aren’t very grouped up but he is finding individual fish mostly around bait. There are lots of sharks around and live bait is working better than cut bait right now.    

Addison expect the tarpon fishing just to get better and better for the next few weeks, before fish finally start to head south again. 

Finally, perhaps because of the freshwater inflow in the surf the fishing off the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) has been good for redfish.  Manager Jacob Cynar reports that anglers are getting on schools of reds and catching 2-3 slot-sized fish. 

August 14

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

It’s been a pretty good bite in the Charleston area this week, and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that things at the jetties seem to have picked up with the cooler temperatures. They have had a lot of success with the big reds, and even when wind and the weather messed up the bait situation they were able to catch fish with cut whiting and croaker that they caught on shrimp. Tarpon have also been around and they have gotten a couple to the boat this week.

Inshore the bite has also been really good, and in the IntraCoastal Waterway they have found fish stacked up and hungry on the shallow mud flats on lower tides moving in both directions. With finger mullet they caught 20-25 fish on one trip in a single spot, with some over-slot, some in the slot, and only a couple of rat reds. 

To the south of Charleston it’s a similar story from Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777), who reports that redfish are on fire around the tide cycle. He is mostly fishing along the grass lines and around oyster beds, and there are good spots for every stage of the tide. They are also catching lots of trout despite limited visibility, and in the last few days flounder have showed up en masse.  Today they had ten(!) although most are under-sized. Flounder are biting best on the first two hours of the incoming, and they are catching everything on live shrimp under a popping cork. 

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.