August 25

Surface water temperatures around Charleston have dropped into the lower 80s in the creeks, while in the ocean it is still about 84 degrees.  The creeks are full of shrimp and finger mullet.

It’s all about the redfish right now for Redfin Charters (843-277-5255), and Captain Erven Roper reports that today on the water they got worn out catching 30-plus inch fish. On the flats in 1-3 feet of water the big bruisers were demolishing shrimp under a popping cork, and when they slowed down on the shrimp finger mullet on the bottom reactivated the bite. They caught a fish on the first cast of the day and it never really let up. 

It’s a similar report from Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777), who has found lights-out action for redfish on the dropping tide where gutter creeks are draining into the main water. He is catching a mix of under-slot, slot and over-slot fish. 

The trout fishing has also been really good, and Captain Rob reports that on higher water he has been wearing out the trout with live shrimp fished under a popping cork over oyster beds. They expect an excellent fall for both species in part because of the mild winter last year.

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that this past week the main catch has been pompano and whiting, including a huge 2.5 pound pompano!

If you want a hard fight there’s no better pattern than fishing for blacktip sharks behind the shrimp boats, and Captain Rob advises that if you fish the same areas that the porpoises are working the sharks are thick. Rob employs a live menhaden on an 8/0 circle hook behind 3 feet of wire leader and 3 feet of mono, and he casts the rig under a balloon. You can use a similar rig around sandbars and hook up with tarpon, too. Both species will also take live mullet as well as cut menhaden and mullet. 

Spanish mackerel are still prolific just offshore and they can be caught on Clarks Spoons or Gotcha Rigs.

July 30

Morning surface water temperatures around Charleston are in the upper 80s.  The creeks are full of shrimp and finger mullet.

Despite the summer heat the inshore flounder fishing continues to be pretty outstanding, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the 8-pound doormat pictured below was caught Tuesday. Overall the flounder fishing has been the best it has been in a long time. Carolina rigging live mullet has been the best pattern, and fishing around structure at low tide has been most productive. Look for current rips and places where you see mullet schools being swept by.

There has been outstanding action fishing for blacktip sharks behind shrimp boats, but on days when that pattern is impractical Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that there has been a strong inshore bite for redfish – even during the heat of the day. About half of the fish have been just under the slot, and about half of the fish have been in the slot. Rob has been catching them on live shrimp fished under a float around docks, and rip rap has also held some nice schools of redfish. 

Trout fishing has been a little hit-or-miss, but Captain Rob points out that the key to catching fish right now is fishing early or late. The trout just don’t want to bite in the heat of the day. The best pattern is fishing live shrimp under floats around oysters or along grass lines, and when you get on a cycle with morning/ evening high tides that is ideal.

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that the catch has consisted of whiting and black drum for the last few days. 

Bait is prolific off the beaches, and tarpon and king mackerel have both moved into the area.  Tarpon can be caught around sandbars on live or cut mullet and menhaden, while the best bet for catching king mackerel is to troll live bait along the rip lines.  Rob’s boat caught this monster 35-pound fish in about 15 feet of water. Look for both species to bite really well on the upcoming full moon. 

Spanish mackerel are also all over the place, and they can be caught on the bottom around the jetties as well as first thing around Castle Pinckney with Clarks spoons or Gotcha jigs. This bite generally shuts off at 9 or 10 a.m. Spanish can also be caught 5 or 6 miles offshore. 

At the reefs a little further out the have been good catches ofcobia in 100 feet of water, and right now they are catching them on the bottom.  Last year they were biting more on the top, but this year they have mainly been coming up when they hook a shark and the cobia follow it up.  Live menhaden on a slider rig have been working well. Bottom fishing for grouper and snapper has also been really good at the same depth. 

60 plus miles offshore there have been a few small dolphin and some wahoo caught, but it’s been almost two weeks since there were many tuna reports.

July 16

Morning surface water temperatures around Charleston are about 86 degrees.

Inshore fishing has overall gotten tougher, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that there are some surprisingly good bites despite the heat. They continue to catch lots of nice-sized flounder on mud flats that have oysters and some current that forms an eddy and carries bait across 2-3 feet of water. The low, incoming tide has been very productive with mud minnows or finger mullet fished a couple of inches above the bottom on a cork.  You can also fish the bait on a Carolina rig but the bobber has been working better.

There has also been a pretty good trout bite early, with the caveat that it dies after about 8:00 or 8:30. Rob’s boat is having the best success catching fish in the low-light conditions with a mud minnow and a split shot, although a cork will also work. Most of the fish are on the smaller size and he has been releasing the big spawning females. 

Plenty of rat redfish are around but slot-sized fish are rare right now.

With the creeks slow outside of the morning, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) is spending a lot of time chasing bull red drum and sharks in the Charleston Harbor in 20-50 feet of water. They are mainly using menhaden. Blacktip sharks can also be caught behind the shrimp boats. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that fishing has been pretty good off the pier, and they have been catching some really nice 3-4 pound black drum and 2-4 pound Spanish mackerel. They have also hooked several king mackerelalthough none have been landed. Good-sized whiting are around as usual. 

Nearshore, there are lots of flounder that can be caught at the reefs. 

Spanish mackerel are also all over the place, and they can be caught on the bottom around the jetties as well as first thing around Castle Pinckney with Clarks spoons or Gotcha jigs. This bite generally shuts off at 9 or 10 a.m.  Spanish can also be caught 5 or 6 miles offshore. 

Spadefish are all over the reefs, but Captain Rob reports that a lot of the time it’s not worth trying unless you have jelly balls.  They just won’t eat pieces of shrimp or squid some days.  While jelly balls have been seen closer in, the spadefish have been more apt to be caught from 45-90 feet of water at the Capers Reef, 4KI, the Edisto 40 and Comanche Reef.

Redfin Charters reports that the cobia bite has been on fire, and the fish have been as far out as 40 miles but seem to have moved a bit closer to 15-20 miles offshore.  There have been some big ones caught as well as excellent numbers of fish.  Many of them are not legal-sized.

June 25

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are in the low 80s, while the water at Folly Beach is an unseasonably cool 76. Shrimp have been hard to find, perhaps because of all the freshwater.

Inshore fishing can be a little tough in the summer heat, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the best thing going is definitely the flounder fishing. They are catching lots of nice fish each trip targeting mud flats that have oysters and some current that forms an eddy and carries bait across. The low, incoming tide has been very productive with mud minnows or finger mullet fished a couple of inches above the bottom on a cork. 

While the action has not been hot they are picking up a few trout and small redfish on the same rig. 

While the guides at Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) are finding an inshore bite that is in transition, they have been having good success targeting bull red drum in the Charleston Harbor in 30-50 feet of water. Fish are around Fort Sumter and the Middle Grounds in the shipping channels, and they are still catching them on frozen American shad. Mullet and menhaden will also work. 

Sharks are also prolific and can be caught behind shrimp boats or at the jetties, and first thing in the morning there is a good bite for Spanish mackerel in the harbor.  Starting at about 5:45 they can be found on the surface and they will chase spoons, Mirrolures, and more. Fish have been around Castle Pinckney and Drum Island. 

Jacks have moved from the harbor out to the jetties and appear to be leaving. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that water temperatures have been oddly mild so far this season, which is making for more favorable fishing conditions. They have caught king mackerel in the 30-pound range as well as 5-pound Spanish mackerel. In the surf they are catching some big whiting as well as plenty of black drum in the 4-pound range. 

Some dolphin are still being caught from 90 feet of water out to the Gulf Stream. 

When you can get offshore the cobia bite has been phenomenal about 40 miles offshore.  The bigger fish have gone very deep but they have been able to catch some limits.

June 9

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are in the low 80s, while the water at Folly Beach is 77.  

The most exciting new action this week is for jack crevalle, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the jacks appear to be making a comeback in the area. He has caught them schooling on the surface with striper plugs and they will also take live bait on the bottom when they are not up. They hang around the channels such as the North Edisto or the Charleston Harbor. Castle Pinckney is a good spot. 

There are also some Spanish mackerel in the Harbor as well as off the beaches, and early in the morning they can be found on the surface. They will chase most any flashy spoon. 

Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports thatinshore redfish can be caught along grass lines on moving tides in both directions, and with shrimp a little hard to net mud minnows have been working fine. They are also catching fish around docks when they need to retreat into the more protected creeks to escape the wind.

Continue to look for tailing fish on good high tides. 

There has been an early topwater bite for trout as well as redfish.  

Bull red drum are also being caught in the Charleston Harbor in 30-50 feet of water. Fish are around Fort Sumter and the Middle Grounds in the shipping channels, and they are still catching them on frozen American shad. Mullet and menhaden will also work. 

Big sharks are still prolific, especially around shrimp boats. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports they continue to catch a lot of nice black drum and whiting fishing has also been good. They suspect that wind has kept the king mackerel from showing up. 

Some dolphin are still being caught from 90 feet of water out to the Gulf Stream.

June 2

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are around 80 degrees. Rain and windy conditions have dirtied the water and made it difficult to get offshore, but things are supposed to improve late this week.  

Unstable weather conditions continue to make for challenging fishing conditions, but Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that with bull red drum showing up in the Charleston Harbor that is providing an exciting fishery. Fish are in deep water around Fort Sumter and the Middle Grounds in the shipping channels, and they are still catching them on frozen American shad.  Mullet and menhaden will also work. 

Big sharks have also arrived to provide another seasonal fishery, and Spanish mackerel have been caught around Castle Pinckney.

Inshore redfish can be caught along grass lines on moving tides in both directions, and with shrimp a little hard to net mud minnows have been working fine. They are also catching fish around docks when they need to retreat into the more protected creeks to escape the wind.

Starting this week there are some good tailing tides in the evening which should be productive.

There has been an early topwater bite for trout as well as redfish.  

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports they continue to catch a lot of 3-pound black drum, but even though the conditions were perfect for king mackerel over the weekend they have not showed up yet. 

The cobia bite is tapering off nearshore, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that at the artificial reefs the action for spadefish is on fire with jelly balls. The best reefs have been less than ten miles out and 4 KI, Capers and the Edisto 40 and 60 have all been productive. There have also been a good number of Spanish mackerel offshore as well as lots of bonita. Menhaden have gotten thick off the beaches but for now king mackerel are still in 40-90 feet offshore. 

Shrimp boats are a magnet for sharks. 

The dolphin fishing has been very good but should wane in the next week.

May 20

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are in the mid-70s, and all the wind and strong tides has made for dirty water.  Rain is also muddying the water. 

Windy conditions continue to make for interesting fishing conditions, but Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that they have been catching some really good trout over the last week. These fish are full of eggs and being caught on live shrimp floated along grass lines. 

There has also been a good topwater bite early on warm mornings. 

Both inshore and nearshore the big redfish bite has picked up, and Redfin Charters reports that they are catching big fish in the Charleston Harbor around Fort Sumter. Cut bait on the bottom has been working well.  They are using frozen cut shad but other baits will also work. 

Even though he’d like to be offshore Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports windy conditions have kept his boat inside, and fortunately he has gotten into some really big schools of reds in the creeks. He has found some fish that are still surprisingly schooled up, and just the other day he found a school of 50 plus hungry fish in the 8-10 pound range. 

Blacktip and lemon sharks are thick right now around sandbars in 8-15 feet of water. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that they have had lots of good black drum caught as well as whiting.

Daily winds of 15 plus miles per hour have been the norm, but Captain Rob reports that when you can slip offshorecobiaare still all over the nearshore reefs as aresummer trout, andking mackerel andSpanish mackerel have also arrived. 

In l00 feet of water they found some dynamite bottom fishing for snapper, porgies and triggerfish, and out at the 226 hole dolphin and yellowfin tuna have been caught.

May 12

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are in the mid-70s, and all the wind and strong tides has made for dirty water.

Windy conditions have made for interesting fishing conditions, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports cold spells have also made the redfish a little finicky. The best way to catch fish has been to target the creeks where there is some protection as the flats have been tough.

Overall it basically remains a higher tide bite, and on lower water when the water quits moving the fish will essentially shut down.  On high tide there are plenty of reds up in the grass, but at times they have been very spooky. Even when you get multiple shots at tailing fish there is no guarantee they will eat. On moving tides fish are around grass lines and oyster points where there is some current. Live shrimp are still the best bait. 

The trout fishing slowed down briefly but appears to have picked up again, and fish are once again being caught along grass edges or rip lines. Popping corks with shrimp continue to catch fish and they boated a nice 25-incher yesterday!

There have also been some nice flounder caught inshore.

Sheepshead and black drum are showing up in better and better numbers at the jetties, and bull red drum have also arrived at the jetties and around Fort Sumter. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) is closed.

While windy conditions have made inshore fishing more challenging,Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that they have made offshore fishing next to impossible.  While this may be the windiest May he can remember so far, when you can get out the fishing is red hot.

Cobia are still all over the nearshore reefs as aresummer trout, and king mackerel and Spanish mackerel have also arrived. 

This is also the peak time for dolphin.

April 29

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are in the upper 60s and overall the water is pretty tannic because of freshwater inflow. 

While access to boat ramps has improved even as beaches and tourism are basically still closed, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the redfish have not gone anywhere.    However, all the freshwater seems to have slowed down the bite in general even though there have been some better days. 

Overall it basically remains a high tide bite, and on lower water when the water quits moving the fish will essentially shut down.  On high tide there are plenty of reds up in the grass, but at times they have been very spooky. Even when you get multiple shots at tailing fish there is no guarantee they will eat. On moving tides fish are around grass lines and oyster points where there is some current. Live shrimp are still the best bait. 

Trout continue to be pretty steady in the same areas on moving tides as the reds, and the fish continue to be mixed together when you fish grass edges or rip lines. Popping corks with shrimp continue to catch fish. 

There are plenty of flounder around and fish in the 18-inch range have been caught. 

Sheepshead and black drum are showing up in better and better numbers at the jetties. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) is closed. 

The most exciting fishing in the Charleston area has been at the nearshore reefs, and the newest arrival iscobia.  YesterdayCaptain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) caught six cobia in excess of 35 pounds that were willing to take live menhaden fished on the bottom. There are other days when the cobia just will not eat, despite throwing everything in the tackle box at them. Other species that have been caught at the reefs include black sea bass, amberjack, little tunny, and spadefish which have now arrived. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also around. 

The dolphin bite is also getting very good offshore.

April 15

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston have gotten into the lower 70s.

Even though access has been limited and the tourism economy has ground to a halt, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the redfish bite has been decent inshore. Overall as we get into April it is becoming more about a high tide bite, and on lower water when the water quits moving the fish will essentially shut down.

On high tide there are plenty of reds up in the grass, but at times they have been very spooky. Even when you get multiple shots at tailing fish there is no guarantee they will eat. On moving tides fish are around grass lines and oyster points where there is some current.  Live shrimp are still the best bait. 

Trout continue to be pretty steady in the same areas on moving tides as the reds, and the fish continue to be mixed together when you fish grass edges or rip lines. Popping corks with shrimp should continue to catch fish through April. 

Theflounder have arrived, andCaptain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that a 13-pound doormat caught by a child was documented recently in the Post and Courier.  Captain Rob suggests fishing mud minnows around oyster shells to increase your chances of tangling with flatfish. 

Sheepshead and black drum have started to make their ways back inshore and they can be caught at the jetties. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) is closed. 

While the wind has been terrible, when you can get offshore artificial reef fishing remains phenomenal, and Captain Rob reports that the reefs are covered up with bluefish, weakfish, and Spanish mackerel. 

Rob recommends starting off trolling with big, deep-running 8-inch plugs like Yozuris, and you might even pick up king mackerel and little tunny. When anglers are tired of trolling he likes to switch over to bottom fishing with mud minnows, which also catch a mixed bag of species. 

At the Charleston 60 theblack sea bass fishing has been excellent.

Tuna and wahoo fishing is just turning on, and in the next few weeks the dolphin bite should peak offshore.

March 31

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are in the mid-60s and visibility is very good.

Even though access has been limited, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the redfish and trout bites have gotten really good inshore. Particularly redfish seem to be coming out of their winter doldrums and they are extremely hungry, and they are catching them along grass lines where the fish are clearly moving around and searching. Live shrimp fished on a slip popping cork in 2-6 feet of water have been working extremely well, and fish seem to be oriented up as bottom rigs are not producing much. With the relatively modest tides recently moving water in any direction has been fishing well. It is not unusual to catch a trout on one cast and a red on another.  Crab pieces are also working well for redfish. 

Tailing action should be coming on the next set of flood tides. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) is closed. 

If you can get offshore the artificial reef fishing is phenomenal, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that for the first couple of weeks in April the artificial reefs should be covered up with bluefish, weakfish, and Spanish mackerel. Sheepshead should still be around as well as black drum. 

Rob recommends starting off trolling with big, deep-running 8-inch plugs like Yozuris, and you might even pick up king mackerel and little tunny. When anglers are tired of trolling he likes to switch over to bottom fishing with mud minnows, which also catches a mixed bag of species. For sheepshead and black drum crustacean baits are needed. 

In 100 feet Redfin Charters reports some excellent catch-and-releasebottom fishing for grouper, red snapper, vermillion snapper, amberjacks and more.

Dolphin and wahoo fishing should be about to get good.

March 25

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are around 62 degrees and visibility is very good.

The redfish bite has gotten really good around Charleston, and before the shutdown guides at Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) report that they were catching fish on live shrimp or mud minnows fished on slip popping corks fished along grass lines. Something about the popping sound has been making a huge difference right now, and as reds have broken out of schools and spread out this has been the best way to locate them. Some fish are deeper in 6-8 feet of water, while others have been caught in 3-4 feet.

Overall moving tides have been preferred, with the falling tide when creatures are coming out of the grass the best. There has also been some decent fishing on dead low tide. 

Trout have been picked up on the same pattern, particularly on the shrimp, as well as around deep bends in the creeks.  

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) is closed. 

The sheepshead fishing has been phenomenal at the reefs, and there are also some really big black drum out there that will eat a blue crab.  Monday Redfin Charters caught ten sheepshead over 8 pounds with one over 10, and a 30+ pound black drum.

March 12

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are in the upper 50s, and between freshwater inflow and strong tides inshore clarity is highly variable. In some areas at times the water is very clean, and in other areas visibility is very low.

The redfish bite has picked up a little, and the guides at Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) report that at least the falling tide has improved. At the same time the rising tide remains really tough. Fish are still skittish, and the reds that are being caught are coming in a little deeper water. The ones that you can see can also see you and usually will not bite.

Dead shrimp are actually working better than live shrimp or most artificials, and mud minnows are still doing pretty well. 

Trout continue to be on the same pattern, and they are being caught on a slip bobber with live shrimp or mud minnows fished around deep bends in the creeks. There are also some trout being caught floating the grass lines with a rattle cork.

Some small black drum are being caught inshore. 

While the annual shad run should be wide open right now in the Santee Cooper Tailrace and the Rediversion Canal, Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that water levels are so high in the rivers that fish are hard to catch.  When flooding subsides the best approach is to cast and slowly retrieve a 1/16 or 1/32 ounce chartreuse or green twister tail grub just off the bottom. Fish will also take a small “shad dart.” Bleeding the fish improves the quality of the roe. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that even though water levels are up to about 62 baitfish have not arrived yet and only sharks and rays are around. Large bluefish and small trout should be the first to appear with the bait. 

Nearshore there are still sheepshead at the reefs, and the weakfish are also starting to arrive in 40-60 feet. In the next week or so bluefish and Spanish mackerel should be around in good numbers, and already some big 15-pound blues have been caught.

February 27

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are around 55 degrees, and even though the water is generally fairly clear with all the freshwater inflow salinity is very low in the rivers.

If anything the redfish bite has gotten even tougher, and the guides at Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) report that it almost seems like fish are about three weeks ahead of schedule in typically tough March patterns. While they are still schooled up on the flats, they are very skittish and finicky about eating. Although a few fish are being picked up, it is tough work.  Live bait does increase your chances of hooking up.

Probably because of the freshwater inflow, the bite up rivers like the Wando has been weaker while the action has been better closer to the ocean in the ICW. It seems that fish are seeking out areas with more normal salinity. 

Trout continue to be a relative bright spot, but the fishing is still not strong. However, there have been some decent fish picked up in deep bends in the creeks. They are suspended in 6-10 feet of water, and the best way to target them has been with live bait presented on a slip float. Fish are off the bottom.

Still perhaps the best thing going is the annual shad run, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that fish are making their annual runs up the Cooper River Tailrace and the Rediversion Canal. This run will continue well into April.

The water is extremely high in the Rediversion Canal and so Arrowhead Landing is closed right now, but you can still fish the Tailrace even though it is muddy. The best approach is to cast and slowly retrieve a 1/16 or 1/32 ounce chartreuse or green twister tail grub just off the bottom. Fish will also take a small “shad dart.” Bleeding the fish improves the quality of the roe. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that for now the bite is pretty much just sharks and rays, but when the baitfish arrive in March the action should pick up. Large bluefish and small trout should be the first to appear with the bait. 

Nearshore there is an excellent bite for sheepshead at the reefs, and if you can catch a calm day you can load up. Captain Rob reminds anglers that in addition to fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and other well-known baits for sheepshead, crushed mussels are easily accessible and highly effective. If you hit them with a hammer without peeling the meat out then they will still have a natural look for the sheepshead, they will stay on the hook better and you will minimize catches of black sea bass.

February 17

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are fluctuating a lot but range from about 55-58 degrees, and water clarity varies greatly.   

It remains a pretty tricky bite for redfish in the Charleston area, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that fish just are not eating very well. Again, this is not unusual in the late winter, and the combination of dolphin predation and slowing metabolisms has the fish more skittish and less focused on feeding.

Water clarity is highly variable from one area to another, and some places that are usually crystal clear are dirty right now. Other places that are usually dirty can be clean. Regardless, when you can see schools of redfish it is not usual to have them just stare at baits and not eat.

The one trick that has been improving the odds is throwing live bait, and live shrimp in particular are the least likely fare to be turned down. 

The trout fishing continues to chug along, and fish are still in the same current rips around grass lines where they have been holding for some time.  The best depth continues to be about 4-6 feet of water on moving tides.

Again, live shrimp and mud minnows have been out-fishing artificial lures. 

While it’s not technically a saltwater fishery, Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that shad are starting to make their annual runs up the Tailrace Canal and the Rediversion Canal. The bite should peak in just a couple of weeks. 

Nearshore there is still a good bite for sheepshead at the reefs, and Captain Rob reminds anglers that in addition to fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and other well-known baits for sheepshead, crushed mussels are easily accessible and highly effective. If you hit them with a hammer without peeling the meat out then they will still have a natural look for the sheepshead, they will stay on the hook better and you will minimize catches of black sea bass.

Out in 60-70 feet of water you can get into some very large black sea bass right now.

January 29

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are around 54 degrees, and water clarity is very high right now. 

As water temperatures have dropped Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the bite for redfish has slowed down.  This is not unusual in the late winter, and the combination of dolphin predation and slowing metabolisms has the fish more skittish and less focused on feeding. 

Fish are still schooled up in the big winter-time schools on low tide. Anglers can fish artificial lures like Zman white or pearl baits on Texas Eye jigheads, or natural baits such as shrimp, mud minnows or cut mullet.

Even though the action for redfish has slowed down, there is very little change in the trout fishing and they are still eating well.  Live shrimp and a variety of artificial baits fished along grass lines are working when there is moving water. Fish have been deeper and shallower, but 4-6 feet has still been the best depth range. There have also been some trout caught in deeper holes. 

They did have one random 20+ inch flounder caught recently as well as a fish that was just under the legal limit. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that a few trout and whiting are being caught off the pier.

Nearshore, Redfin Charters reports that they have been running out to the Capers Reef and catching some really nice sheepshead.

Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) advises that in addition to fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and other well-known baits for sheepshead, crushed mussels are easily accessible and highly effective.  If you hit them with a hammer without peeling the meat out then they will still have a natural look for the sheepshead, they will stay on the hook better and you will minimize catches of black sea bass.

January 15

Inshore surface water temperatures in Charleston are around 57 degrees, and water clarity is overall very good.

While fishing on some parts of the coast has dropped off due to the unseasonably warm weather, Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that they have still found an excellent bite for redfish. It is unclear what effect the coming cold front will have, but right now the fish are loving the heat. Fish are still schooled up in the big winter-time schools on low tide, which is generally the best time to catch them, but in the last few days they have actually seen some tailing activity on high tide (in January!). Artificial lures like Zman white or pearl baits on Texas Eye jigheads have been working, but shrimp, mud minnows and even cut blue crabs have also been really effective.

While the incoming rains have produced some clarity issues in the Wando or Cooper, the ICW is less affected and stays relatively clear. By a couple of days after major inflows most areas are clearing and the fishing improves again. 

Redfin Charters reports that they are still doing very well for trout fishing live shrimp and a variety of artificial baits along grass lines when there is moving water. Fish have been deeper and shallower, but 4-6 feet has been the best depth range. There have also been some trout caught in deeper holes. 

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that a few trout and whiting are being caught off the pier.

Nearshore, Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that with the sheepshead spawn in full swing the action should stay good at the nearshore reefs into March. Redfin Charters confirms that when you can get offshore you can find excellent action for sheepshead, and they will eat easily available dock crabs just as well as harder to find fiddler crabs. They also landed a huge 60-pound black drum at one of the reefs.