Visiting from the UK, Simon and Simon decided to try their hand at saltwater fishing. Fortunately, we were able to find redfish that ate fresh cut menhaden. They were a bit larger than what the duo were used to! Followed up the redfish by finding a strong trout bite with some acrobatic ladyfish in the mix. Watched our poppping corks drop again and again as they floated across seams in the water. Happy to show them a great part of Charleston.

To celebrate her birthday, Maryann and her husband, Dave, booked a 3/4 day charter. Things started off great as redfish eagerly ate cut bait. Surprisingly, they preferred frozen mullet to cracked blue crab. As low tide approached, we worked the docks and found more redfish taking cut mullet. Some of the redfish just could not be turned and shredded 60lb. braided line on the pilings as our reels screamed. Good times.

Following a heavy downpour in the morning, the Gostola family decided they were still game for their Mother’s Day fishing trip. The rain clearly did not upset the fish. Caught redfish up to eight pounds with cut mullet and cracked blue crab under docks to start the charter. As the tide rose, we focused on oyster beds and continued to find reds eagerly eating cut bait. Finished the charter catching ladyfish and trout with popping corks.

A trio from Wyoming joined me this morning for a 3/4 day charter. While the wind was down, we started off stalking a big school of redfish on the flats. Keith hooked into this large redfish that had us dancing around the cabin of the boat as he was landed. Our next stop was fantastic as we found the best ladyfish bite of the season! Eating both minnows and shrimp under corks, these ladyfish were doing acrobatic cartwheels through the air and peeling off drag. Along with the ladyfish, we also landed more trout than I could count. A sweet day on the water.

Fishing the rising tide, we focused on trout using popping corks. At our second stop, we got into a mess of trout as well as plenty of bluefish. Caught dozens of fish with mud minnows, shrimp and even started firing off silver plugs for the bluefish. As the bite wore down, we moved to our next spot and Alan’s cork dropped on his first cast. The fight was long enough that I thought it was a decent redfish and was blown away when a 5lb. trout was brought to the boat! The biggest trout of the season by far. Great work Alan!

Fished the first evening tailing tide charter of the year tonight. Found multiple redfish tailing at each of our three stops. We fished our first spot entirely from the boat but got out on foot for the other two so we could stalk the redfish in skinny water. Per usual, the redfish would charge and eat a Dupre’s spoon fly in gold. Lots of heart pounding action and wild strikes. Can’t wait to go again!

Our fishery is really cooking now! The arrival of seasonal species like ladyfish, bluefish and shark now compliment our redfish and trout. Look around you on the water and you’ll also find plenty of baitfish including mullet and menhaden. You have more reasons now than ever to get fishing!

Recently, we’ve been making the most of live bait when fishing for redfish. Menhaden is a favorite choice whether fished live or as cut bait. Fishing chunks of menhaden under docks has produced some very large redfish. I’ll use a carolina rig with just enough weight to keep the bait pinned to the ground so it doesn’t get snagged. I use size 3/0 circle hooks and let the redfish hook themselves.

It’s that time of year to start thinking about topwater trout action at first light. My favorite lure is a Heddon’s Super Spook Jr. in chartreuse and black. Their silver mullet color works well too. Try a variety of retrieval speeds as you work these lures. When that trout strikes, try to resist the temptation to lift the rod tip and reel the fish tight instead. It’s hard to beat those explosive strikes!

As expected, sharks have returned to our waters with the warmer water temperatures. Look along the shoreline and you’ll see the fins of bonnethead sharks slicing through the water as they seek out prey. Live shrimp and chunks of blue crab both work well on these predators. Fishing for sharks can be a great way to get younger anglers involved as sharks are usually hungry and put up great fights.

Flyfishermen will begin to focus on big high tides or “tailing tides” when the redfish are way up in the grass. This produces very exciting fishing as anglers can see the backs and tails of redfish as they put their noses in the mud to forage for crabs. Dupre’s spoon flies have been particularly effective and I like their root beer color. When casting to redfish, remember to lead the fish by several feet, hitting them square on the head will cause them to spook and race away.

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.

We came around the corner of a river and saw a most welcome sight: the flickering splashes of menhaden. It was the first time I had seen them this season and quickly netted up some for bait. The redfish loved them. At our first stop, Dave muscled in a sweet nine pound redfish. Used to freshwater lake fishing out West, it was the biggest fish he had ever caught! But things only got better as he went on the catch an 11 pounder who happily ate cut menhaden.

It was just one of those days. We went to three different spots and found no shortage of redfish. Redfish in tight-knit schools of 20-30 fish; redfish packed into creek fingerlings so tight their backs were out of the water; redfish cruising up and down grassy banks flashing their gold and white bellies. All had one thing in common: they did not want our flies. We went through every pattern in the box, even the flies hardly ever even touched but to no avail. But at the end of the charter it was all worthwhile, as a healthy redfish charged and finally inhaled our fly!

We started our charter around noon as the water was beginning to come out of the grass. At our first stop, we found some happy redfish who weren’t interested in blue crab but chose frozen mullet instead. With some nice fish under our belt, the guys wanted to focus on sharks. With the tide approaching low, we posted up and put out four lines baited with live shrimp. We landed some medium size sharks and had some massive breakoffs. Combined with dodging the worst of the rain showers, it was a great trip.