November 19

Inshore surface water temperatures are about 58 degrees around Charleston and the water is relatively clear.

Sometimes fishing reports need to offer a lot of detail to be sure anglers will know how to catch fish, but that’s not the case for Charleston this week. Both Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) report that the fishing is absolutely phenomenal right now, and Rob reports that yesterday his boat caught 40 redfish and trout in 45 minutes with basically one on every cast. They actually had to take a break and look for new water because the clients’ arms were hurting!

For both species it is really as simple as having a live shrimp in the water under a popping cork and then being in the vicinity of some grass or oysters. But the fishing has been so good that they have switched to artificial lures at times with about the same results.  Clear, moving water in either direction is best but not essential, and the only caveat is that cloudy conditions can slow the fishing. 

Rob notes that this year the trout are abnormally large.

As noted there’s no argument about the state of the fishing from Redfin Charters, and Captain Erven Roper reports that on a 6-boat charter two days ago they caught 380 fish! The catch was very heavy towards reds but they did have about 40 trout. The fish are so hungry right now that bait does not seem to matter. 

While the bull red drum bite have slowed down, Redfin Charters reports that out at the jetties they are getting some really nice trout in the 22- and 23-inch range.  These fish seem to want a live shrimp floated deep under a slip cork about 8 feet or more down.  Note that this pattern is better on smaller tides and when the water is really ripping at the jetties it’s not as good.

November 11

Inshore surface water temperatures are about 60 degrees around Charleston and the water is clearing.  

The trout fishing is nothing short of outstanding right now around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the fish are devouring live shrimp fished under a popping cork along grass lines. It has not made a huge difference whether the tide was going in or coming out, but there has to be some current moving. Clear water is certainly better. 

Even through live shrimp are hard to beat, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) has also been catching lots of trout on artificial lures like Zman baits. 

The action has also been really, really good for redfish right now, and Redfin Charters reports that they even saw a bunch of tailing fish yesterday on the really big flood tide! Overall they notice that the reds are starting to group up more, and it is getting rare to catch a single.  If you get one there should be more with it.

Again a variety of artificials will work, but it’s hard to beat live shrimp – especially with many of the bait stealers disappearing. Around lower stages of the tide there are a bunch of fish around docks, and oyster beds are always productive.    

There are still some bull reds in the harbor, but it seems like they are on the way out right now.  But with such good inshore action not as many people are targeting them to give an accurate census.

November 4

Inshore surface water temperatures are about 65 degrees around Charleston. 

The trout fishing is getting really good around Charleston, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that they have been catching fish on live shrimp and mud minnows fished under a popping cork near grass lines. It has not made a huge difference whether the tide was going in or coming out, but there has to be some current moving. The fish are holding about 5-6 feet off the grass where the current is ripping along.  

 

The creeks are also full of redfish right now, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the action has been really fast. It’s not unusual to have boated 30 fish before 9 a.m. Live shrimp under a popping cork are hard to beat right now. 

In the last few days Redfin Charters has noticed a minor transition with the reds, and they are starting to see a lot more fish grouping up around structure. In particular there have been a lot of fish around docks. In addition to shrimp they are also catching fish on mullet. 

A couple of weeks ago Redfin Charters was taking half of their trips in the creeks but the balance was in the harbor going after bull reds. While there are still some bull reds in the harbor, it seems like they are on the way out right now. 

October 20

Inshore surface water temperatures are about 75 degrees around Charleston and shrimp, mullet and menhaden are all prolific. 

From inshore to offshore, Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the fishing is absolutely phenomenal right now.  Live shrimp under a popping cork will catch redfish

almost anywhere in the creeks that you throw, and most of the fish are in the slot and over. 

The trout are also prolific, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that they have caught several big 20 plus inch trout as well as a ton of smaller fish, and for some reason docks have been particularly good. Live shrimp are the bait of choice. 

Everything is eating shrimp and they have even caught some sheepshead under a floating cork around pilings. 

While Redfin Charters is taking about half their trips in the creeks, the other half have been out at the jetties where they are having great success with the bull reds. Right now the fish want to be out at the tips of the jetties instead of closer in, and menhaden is the key to catching them. 

About anywhere that you can find some live bottom in 50-90 feet of water the king mackerel are eating it up, and Captain Rob reports that live menhaden are working very well.  There are also tons of false albacore around.

October 7

Inshore surface water temperatures are still about 78 degrees around Charleston and the creeks are full of bait. 

There’s not too much change in the inshore bite around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that’s a good thing! The creeks are absolutely full of shrimp right now, and as a results that redfish are gorging on them and growing very fast. By now the creeks are full of 15-17 inch fish. A live shrimp under a popping cork fished around oyster beds is still all you need to catch reds, and if you can find a spot that isn’t overrun with spottails you can pick up some trout, too. However, the redfish are so thick right now that Rob isn’t trying to do anything else. 

Spending a little more time inshore than a week ago, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) has found the same thing. When clients do want to target trout they can usually put them on some by fishing live shrimp under a cork along grass edges at higher tides when there is a strong current pulling the bait along the grass. Reds are a bit lazier and like to avoid the swiftest water. 

They have also picked up some sheepshead on live shrimp around structure, but of course if you want to catch more sheeps then fiddler crabs are hard to beat. 

The action for bull redfish in the Charleston Harbor has slowed just a little but is still really good, and Redfin Charters reports that fish are still in 25-50 feet of water at areas like the Grillage, Fort Sumter and around the jetties. Mullet and menhaden are both working, and at the jetties you can catch fish with a knocker rig right off the rocks. 

Captain Rob reminds everyone that very soon – usually by the third or fourth week of October – those same giant reds will be in the surf following the massive schools of mullet which will be about 100 yards off the beach.

The king mackerel fishing has picked up this week, and you only have to go 12-15 miles offshore into about 60 feet of water to really get on them.  Trolling live bait or artificials will both work.

September 29

Inshore surface water temperatures are down to about 78 degrees around Charleston and the creeks are full of bait. 

The inshore bite has gotten really, really good around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that may be because the creeks are so full of shrimp that you can practically walk on them!  A live shrimp under a popping cork fished around oyster beds is still all you need to catch a ton of redfish and trout, and by now the inshore redfish are a mixed bag of little, medium and big fish. The trout are mainly on the smaller end but will get bigger. 

You will also pick up some flounder on shrimp, but if you really want to concentrate on them finger mullet on a Carolina rig or jighead are hard to beat.  Fish are in main river areas where there is a small shallow bluff, drop-off, or hump and current running across it. The fish seem to prefer a bottom that is somewhere between muddy and sandy that has some oyster shells. 

The action for bull redfish in the Charleston Harbor has been so good that Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) has barely had time to fish the backwaters, and on one recent half-day trip they caught 37 bulls in four hours!  It was impossible to fish more than two rods at a time. The fish are still in 25-50 feet of water at areas like the Grillage, Fort Sumter and around the jetties. Mullet and menhaden are both working, and at the jetties you can catch fish with a knocker rig right off the rocks. 

While the big reds are in the harbor or nearshore right now, Rob reminds everyone that by the third or fourth week of October those same giant reds will be in the surf following the massive schools of mullet which will be about 100 yards off the beach.

At the reefs there are Spanish mackerel, and in 40-90 feet of water king mackerel are abundant. 

September 17

Inshore surface water temperatures are down to about 79 degrees around Charleston and the creeks are full of bait. The water has normal color but rain and some big tides should get it dirtier. 

Water temperatures dropping into the 70s has turned the fish on around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that yesterday his boat caught about 80 redfish. Most of them were below the slot, but in just a few weeks they will almost all be more than 15 inches.  Shrimp are incredibly prolific in the creeks right now and the fish are devouring them, so a live shrimp under a popping cork is all you need. Most of the fish seem to be relating to oyster beds right now. They are also picking up some trout and big ladyfish on the same bait, but the trout have not really turned on yet. 

While Rob hasn’t targeted flounder inshore recently, there should be some fish in main river areas where there is a small shallow bluff, drop-off, or hump and current running across it. The fish seem to prefer a bottom that is somewhere between muddy and sandy that has some oyster shells. 

In the Charleston Harbor Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that they have been having a lot of success with the bull redfish in 30-50 feet of water at areas like the Grillage, Fort Sumter and around the jetties.  Mullet and menhaden are both working, and at the jetties you can catch fish with a knocker rig right off the rocks. 

There are also some Spanish mackerel being caught at the end of the jetties. 

September 2

Inshore surface water temperatures remain about 85 degrees around Charleston and the creeks are still full of bait, especially shrimp.

Inshore fishing continues to be good in the Charleston area, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that shrimp is the bait of choice for pretty much everything right now. And with the rivers and creeks so full of shrimp there is no need for anyone to have to buy bait!

For now they are catching an absolute ton of small redfish as well as some bigger fish at the upper end of the slot and just above it. However, these small reds are eating so voraciously that they will be over 15 inches in no time. They are also catching a mixed bag of trout, croaker, pinfish, stingrays and even mangrove snapper since the water is so hot. 

The morning is still fishing better than the heat of the day, and as long as there are moving tides you should be able to catch fish around grass lines, oysters bars and docks.  

The flounder catch has been spotty, and the fish they have caught are small. Perhaps flounder are still on more of a finger mullet bite.   

Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat(from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15). 

The sheepshead fishing is still good around walls in the creeks or docks on lower stages of the tide. Fiddler crabs are key and sizes are getting bigger.   

In addition to good inshore action, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the most exciting new thing they have done is chasing schooling bull reds off the beaches and at the jetties. When conditions are calm you can see them feeding on the surface, and in addition to conventional baits they have been able to target them on the fly!

August 26

Inshore surface water temperatures remain about 85 degrees around Charleston and the creeks are still full of bait, including shrimp.

Inshore fishing continues to be good in the Charleston area, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) both report that the key is to fish in the mornings before it gets very hot. In the morning both trout and redfish are in the same areas in the creeks, along grass lines, both feeding on moving tides in either direction. While shrimp are working pretty well, for both species it has mostly been a mullet bite. 

There have also been some spotty flounder catches, but numbers are not very good. 

Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat(from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15). 

The sheepshead fishing has been better, and around walls in the creeks or docks they are picking up decent numbers of fish on lower stages of the tide. Fiddler crabs are key and sizes are getting bigger.   

It’s been harder to get menhaden for a little while, and it’s unclear whether that’s related to the fact that the bull redfish bite in the harbor is slowing down. In any event, the slower bite for big drum means that Redfin Charters is spending more time inshore. 

Note that there are also a few tarpon around but that bite has also slowed.

August 5

Inshore surface water temperatures remain about 85-86 degrees around Charleston and the creeks are still full of bait, including shrimp.

It’s hard to believe how fast it happened, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) both report that the inshore fishing has really turned on in the last week to ten days. The shrimp are thick in the creeks, and in the right areas getting 100 in a cast net throw is no problem.  In turn the redfish, trout, flounder and even sheepshead have all started gorging. It already looks like this could be setting up to be one of the best fall seasons in years. 

The key to catching everything is fishing live shrimp. The redfish are generally shallow in 3-4 feet of water around grass edges, docks and oyster bars, and so bait under a cork is working well for them.  They are mixed between small young-of-the-year fish and over-slot bruisers.  

Trout are in the same areas, but they are biting a little further out in about 8 feet of water. A float can work for them, or a couple of split shot ahead of the bait.  

  

A lot more flounder are also showing up recently, scattered in all the same areas. 

Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat(from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15). 

While the inshore fishing has turned on, Redfin Charters is getting less bull reds in the harbor this week. 

It’s still a great time for tarpon which are following the big menhaden and mullet, but the sharks are so thick this year it can be difficult to fish for them. Shrimpers report spending as much time repairing their nets from sharks as shrimping. There are also tons of sting rays around. 

To target tarpon look around sand bars and inlets, particularly where the inlet empties into the ocean. Mullet and menhaden on the top and the bottom will both work, but again expect to catch more sharks than anything. 

Weather and wind has kept most boats inshore, but there should still be lots of Spanish mackerel around.

July 30

Inshore surface water temperatures are about 85-86 degrees around Charleston and shrimp have flooded into the creeks this week.

You wouldn’t have expected the fishing to turn on this week with water temperatures this hot, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that as the 3-4 inch shrimp arrived en masse the smaller redfish were right behind them. While these fish are not yet keeper-sized, in a few months they will be, but for right now they are putting up a great fight and providing lots of action. You can find them around any grass edge, dock, or oyster bar, and live shrimp under a cork is hard to beat. There are also plenty of over-slot reds around.

If you want to target even bigger redfish, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) is catching bulls in the Charleston Harbor or out at the jetties. 

The morning trout fishing is still pretty good in 2-6 feet of water along grass edges and current rips, and the influx of shrimp is providing an easy bait source. A lot of the fish are still big roe trout which they are releasing.  

Captain Rob reports that his boat is catching occasional flounder, but it’s hard to get a big one.

Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat(from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15). 

A lot of guides including Rob are still blistering sharks behind shrimp boats, but when people get tired of fighting big fish you can set up on sandy bottoms in about 10 feet of water with tiny pieces of cut shrimp on a #1 hook and catch whitinguntil your heart’s content. 

While it involves catching a lot of sharks, the tarpon are here following the big menhaden and mullet and they are thick around sand bars and inlet. Some of the best places are where an inlet empties into the ocean. Mullet and menhaden on the top and the bottom will both work, but again expect to catch more sharks than anything. 

Out in 70-90 feet of water there are plenty of king mackerel around as well as lots of barracuda.

July 21

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

It’s not a bad time for fishing in the Charleston area, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that they are actually doing more inshore fishing than earlier in the summer when the creeks seemed a little dead. However, the afternoons can be brutal and so they are really trying to fish in the mornings.

In particular the morning trout fishing has picked up, and they are catching fish in 2-6 feet of water along grass edges and current rips on higher water in the creeks. Shrimp are hard to find right now but mud minnows and mullet under a float are working well. Shrimp should come in from the ocean again soon. 

While Redfin Charters is mainly targeting big redfish in Charleston Harbor or at the jetties, Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) is catching a bunch of redfish ranging from under-slot to slot to over-sized fish. Today he found them by a bluff with trees in the water on minnows, but they have also been around docks and other structure.  

Rob concurs that you need to fish early for the trout. 

His boat is also blistering sharks behind shrimp boats, but when people get tired of fighting big fish you can set up on sandy bottoms in about 10 feet of water with tiny pieces of cut shrimp on a #1 hook and catch whiting until your heart’s content. 

While it involves catching a lot of sharks, the tarpon are here following the big menhaden and mullet and they are thick around sand bars and inlet. Some of the best places are where an inlet empties into the ocean, and on the outgoing tide Rob saw 20 or 30 big ones rolling on mullet this week. Mullet and menhaden on the top and the bottom will both work, but again expect to catch more sharks than anything. 

The winds have finally laid down, and Redfin Charters reports that at the nearshore reefs they caught 20 cobia on one recent trip. There are also some spadefish around. 

July 9

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

Inshore fishing has been a little slow around Charleston, but Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that when it’s too rough to get out further they have been able to catch some small redfish and flounder on mullet inside the creeks. The best action has been on higher water around rip lines, docks or some other structure, and early in the morning there has also been a topwater bite for reds.

The fishing for bull reds in the Charleston Harbor slowed down before the storm, but they are hoping that it gets really good again as the water settles back down. Usually you get a feeding binge before or after weather, and since they didn’t bite before the storm bets are on good catches the next few days. 

Perhaps the best way to bend a rod near Charleston right now is with the blacktip sharks, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that he has been burning up the sharks out in front of Kiawah. The fish are certainly following the shrimp boats, but you don’t even have to fish around them. 

With live mullet or menhaden you are also likely to hook into a tarpon. 

While it’s been a challenge to get offshore recently there is good Spanish mackerel fishing in 30-50 feet.

June 24

Inshore surface water temperatures are about 80 degrees around Charleston, and the wind has been so hard the last three days that they have had small craft advisories and had to cancel some charters. 

The inshore redfish bite has been pretty tough recently, and even the dock patterns which are usually reliable have pretty much dried up.  The one exception has been the tailing action, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that on the afternoon flood tides this week they have seen a lot of tails and caught some nice fish.

While there is still some good trout fishing, Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that it is confined to the low light period first thing. Topwater lures can work, but Rob is still catching them best on mud minnows or live shrimp about 10-20 feet out from grass lines over oyster bars.

Huge schools of menhaden have showed up and the tarpon should arrive any day now, if they have not already. Windy conditions have kept Rob’s boat out of the inlet mouths and sandbars where they will be found, but anchoring big baits in 3-8 feet of water on the bottom is the best pattern. 

Today there are white caps in the Charleston Harbor, but when it’s fishable there are a ton of Spanish mackerel inside the harbor as well as out at the jetties. There have been some good ones, and it’s also really fun fishing because you are casting spoons and small plugs at visibly feeding fish. The jacks seem to have moved on. 

There are also tons of bull reds in the harbor and out at the jetties, and when you can get out to the nearshore reefs they are stacked up so thick there that you can hardly fish for anything else.

June 10

Surface water temperatures in the morning are in the upper 70s. 

Inshore fishing is getting into some predictable summer patterns, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that for trout that means it’s pretty much an early morning bite. Topwater lures can work, but Rob is catching them best on mud minnows about 10-20 feet out from grass lines over oyster bars. DOA Shrimp under a popping cork can also produce. Captain Rob continues to ask anglers to release large roe trout so that they can reproduce!

Redfish are now primarily in a low-tide pattern, and Rob’s boat has been catching some really nice 8-10 pound fish around docks on mud minnows. 

With inshore fishing having moved into such brief windows Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) is basically doing other things, and in the Harbor they are targeting bull drum and also catching a lot of sharks. You could also jump a tarponout at the jetties, but perhaps the most exciting action right now is chasing jack crevalle with flies. One day they could be in the Harbor, the next day they could be in the Wando, and one day this week they found a group way up the Cooper. While you have to burn a lot of fuel looking for them, they run on top and fight extremely hard. There’s usually no question when you find them and the fight is well worth it! 

The ocean has been rough and so offshore fishing has been tricky, but some days Captain Rob has loaded up on whitingaround sandy bars in 10-12 feet.  These are some of the best tasting fish in the ocean and there are a lot of big ones around now.   

Word is there are a lot of spadefish (which will eat jelly balls) and Spanish mackerel out on the reefs, but very few people have been able to get offshore.