Jeff and his daughter Jess spent an afternoon of their Labor Day vacation fishing behind Kiawah. We spent most of the charter sight fishing on one large flat at low tide. We were able to see redfish chasing shrimp in water so shallow that their backs were out of water! The duo caught trout, ladyfish and redfish on artificials rigged on flutter hooks. Highlight of the trip was watching Jeff hook up and fight this black drum in a foot of water.

The perfect storm that makes fishing so great in the fall is about to begin. The combination of lower water temperatures, tons of bait and fewer fishermen on the water makes for fantastic conditions. The fact that cooler days will make fishing much more pleasant doesn’t hurt either!

As usual during this time of year, redfish will begin to increasingly take artificial baits. Paddletail shad lures fished on 1/4oz. jigheads are very popular and effective. You’ll find jigheads in all different colors. I usually choose unpainted but it’s just a matter of your preference. Texas Roach and Chicken on a Chain/Fiji Chix are hot colors for the grubs but check your local tackle shop to get an idea of what’s working.  Always try changing the speed of your retrieve as well as the color of the lure.

The biggest trout continue to be produced throwing topwater lures first thing in the morning. We’ve been consistently catching trout in the 2-3lb. class using Super Spook Jr’s with the black head/chartreuse body as our go-to color. When the topwater bite dies down, we have been switching over to MirrOLure suspended lures and finding more eager fish. Plenty of smaller trout are being caught by the handful using popping corks cast along grass banks and over shell rake. Using either live shrimp or artificial D.O.A. shrimp under these corks will do the trick.

Seasonal species are still present and put up impressive fights for their size. We’ve recently had some tremendous action with spanish mackerel and bluefish crushing topwater lures. These bluefish are only 12″-14″ but can really put a bend in the rod. Live shrimp under a popping cork will take ladyfish as well as bluefish. Don’t be surprised if a rouge bonnethead shark eats that shrimp too!

Fly fishermen had excellent tailing tide action in August. We frequently found multiple redfish happily eating at any given spot. Dupre’s spoon flies in either gold or root beer worked very well. Incidentally, we have also been throwing these flies at low tide on the flats with good results. Their flash and sparkle of spoon flies can be a real advantage when water clarity is an issue.

See you on the water!

Capt. Geoff Bennett operates Charleston Charter Fishing providing fly fishing and light tackle charters. Clients choose from a full menu of fly rods, artificial and live bait fishing options with charters tailored to their desires. USCG licensed and insured, Capt. Bennett is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels and ages. For more information, call Capt. Bennett at 843-324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.

Becky and her son, J.T., were visiting Folly Beach but had not done much saltwater fishing before and decided to give it a try. We fished the falling tide in the morning and Becky started off with her first ever trout caught on a shrimp under a popping cork. We moved onto tidal flats as the water fell and targeted redfish using cracked blue crab. Becky quickly landed her first redfish, a sweet six pounder! J.T. got into the action too with multiple bites throughout the charter.

Ian and I chose this morning so that we could fly fish Kiawah on both sides of low tide. When we arrived, we found a slow moving storm system hanging out on top of us that made sight fishing tough. Ian persevered and stuck this nice seven pound redfish while blind casting to oyster beds. All redfish were caught on mud minnow patterns.

Staying at Folly Beach for the week, Dave and Jack, his son, fished a half day morning charter. Jack quickly showed us how it was done by landing a nine pound redfish after a lengthy fight! The pair did a great job in windy conditions also catching more redfish and a bonnethead shark. Dad put a nice finishing touch on the trip by catching a six pound redfish with a D.O.A. shrimp under a popping cork.

Back for more, Vincent and Bob, his brother, came out on the boat this morning. We left the dock before sunrise to make the most of sight fishing before the tide rose. At first light, we found a school feeding with backs and tails out of the skinny water. Vincent soon had his personal best, a seven pound redfish in the boat. The redfish aggressively ate a Dupre’s gold spoon fly while pushing other fish out of the way!

In town to see his son, Dakota, Bruce booked an evening charter for both of them. While waiting for the water to get in the grass, we cast popping corks with live and D.O.A. shrimp at the banks and caught trout, ladyfish and flounder. Once the flats were flooded, Bruce caught two seven pound redfish we saw tailing in the grass while Dakota hooked up with another that broke us off.  All three redfish ate a black/gold artificial grub.

Visiting from Paris, Vincent packed his fly rod and hit Charleston Harbor with me for sight fishing at low tide. Caught multiple fish on the Dupre’s Gold Spoon fly. The redfish seemed to hone in on its flashy motion. Vince, his nephew, cast artificials off the stern and did quite well too with several redfish and a nice trout.

Had a trip out of Folly Beach this morning that really showed how many seasonal species of fish are in our waters right now. Over the course of an hour, we caught bluefish, spanish mackerel, cobia, pompano and ladyfish! All of these fish took live shrimp under a popping cork. It was an amazing sight to see.

John had lived at Folly Beach for some time but had only fished from shore. For his birthday, he and Amelia chartered me for a half day trip. Starting close to low tide, we fished the flats as the water rose into the grass. Casting an artificial bait, John soon hooked into a very healthy redfish that put up quite a fight. It was his first Folly Beach redfish. Spent the second half of the trip catching trout and incidentally bonnethead shark using shrimp under a popping cork.