Started early and crossed the harbor with the sun just coming up as we raced to fish the entire charter with moving water. On our very first cast, the popping cork dropped and it didn’t stop for the rest of the trip! Reds, trout, flounder and blues gulped down our mud minnows. Only fished two spots for the duration of the charter. Catch of the trip was a four pound redfish that Jax helped his grandfather reel in.
Ideal conditions make September one of the best times of the year for inshore fishing. Cooler water temperatures, abundant bait, and significantly lighter boat traffic create a perfect environment for success, offering big rewards for anglers willing to focus on fishing.
Redfish and trout begin aggressively striking artificials this month, making soft plastics exceptionally effective. A Z-Man 3.75-inch StreakZ in Smokey Shad paired with a 1/8-ounce jighead is a reliable starting point, though heavier weights may be necessary depending on depth and current. When working a spot, experiment with your retrieve speed, as simply speeding up or slowing down the action can frequently trigger a hesitant strike.
Even with the rise of artificial lures, popping corks remain a go-to tactic for both trout and redfish. Suspending live shrimp, mud minnows, or plastic imitations roughly 18 to 24 inches below the cork yields great results, especially when drifted over shell rakes and along grassy banks during mid-to-high tide.
Meanwhile, giant bull redfish measuring over 36 inches begin moving out of the jetties and nearshore reefs into local harbors and inlets to feed on large mullet and menhaden. To target these heavy hitters, rig a stout rod with heavy braided line, a 50-to-60-pound leader, and a 7/0 circle hook baited with fresh chunks of cut bait. Position yourself over distinct depth changes and wait for the rod to double over. See you on the water!
See you on the water!
Having looked at the tide charts, Beezer gave me a call when he realized we could have a morning of sight fishing on the flats. The winds were light and you could see the schools moving all around us. Even thought the reds were feeding aggressively on shrimp they wanted nothing to do with artificials. So, we put out fresh cut mullet and mud minnows and waited. Mud minnows were the choice of the day and the rods snapped over again and again as the circle hooks did their magic. Put lots of reds in the boat and headed home after a successful morning!
Left early to fish a nice rising tide. Popping corks and mud minnows were the order of the day. A healthy breeze kept these corks cruising down the banks and hungry fish kept them dropping. Trout and ladyfish both ate steadily with the ladyfish producing some fantastic runs. Barry cast his cork way up onto some shell rake and I thought for sure he would be stuck. Instead, his rod kicked over and it was quickly apparent it was a big red! Several minutes later we boated a fat eleven pound redfish, the catch of the day.
August brings warm temperatures, but it also delivers fantastic action on the water. To maximize your success, plan your outings around early morning or late evening windows when fish are most active. By tailoring your tactics to low-light hours and choosing the right setups, you can beat the heat and stay on a steady bite all month long.
When starting at first light, topwater lures are your absolute best option. Plan to arrive at your spot just as the horizon begins to brighten. In the dawn shadows, fish aggressively target surface disturbances, mistaking the rhythmic walk of a topwater plug for a struggling baitfish. This approach is particularly deadly for both redfish and trout. For maximum action, tie on a Heddon Super Spook Jr. in either chartreuse and black or red and white.
Popping corks are a reliable producer all day long, regardless of the tide phase. They offer unmatched versatility and will draw strikes from nearly every inshore species, including trout, redfish, flounder, ladyfish, and sharks. Using a weighted popping cork helps maximize casting distance. Tie an 18-to-24-inch fluorocarbon leader from the cork down to a size 1 circle hook, and bait up with live shrimp, mud minnows, or realistic artificial shrimp. When the cork pulls under, simply reel until you feel the weight of the fish before lifting your rod tip—no hard hookset required.
When the sun reaches its peak, the shark bite stays red-hot. Sharks remain aggressive even in the heat of the afternoon. To combat persistent bait stealers, rig a whole live menhaden on a 7/0 circle hook. Inshore waters are currently holding plenty of sharpnose, bonnethead, and blacktip sharks. As an added bonus, soak these big baits long enough and you just might hook into a trophy bull redfish!
See you on the water!
Since 2009, Capt. Geoff Bennett has operated Charleston Charter Fishing providing light tackle charters. Clients choose from a full menu of artificial, live bait and fly 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.
Launched on a morning so foggy we had to ramble slowly across the harbor. Once the sun broke through, the fishing heated up. Started by catching nice size trout on shrimp under popping corks. At our next spot, we encountered a school of reds including one 29″ character who we landed even after he wrapped us around lots of weeds. Ended the charter catching more trout and bluefish around rocky structure at low tide.
Long time regulars, Dan and Dani joined me in the morning to fish a nice falling tide. Popping corks and mud minnows were the choice of the day. Dani hooked a very nice red on her first cast and I knew it would be a good trip. Dan followed up shortly with two reds of his own, including one with five spots on one side. We also caught trout up to 18″. Before we knew it, it was time to head home. As always, great work by both and another productive charter!
July can be one of the most productive months of the year for fishing. The combination of year-round targets like redfish and trout with summer seasonal species like sharks, ladyfish, and spanish mackerel makes for an incredibly active fishery. Anglers can expect plenty of action across all tides!
Fishing for redfish has been fantastic. While the massive schools have broken up, you can still find pods of 10 to 20 fish patrolling the water. Setting up a scent trail and offering an easy meal is a guaranteed recipe for success. We typically fish cracked blue crab or live mullet on the bottom, using just enough weight to hold it stationary. Rig these up with 3/0 circle hooks and a heavy leader, and hold on!
As for trout, popping corks paired with live bait are the way to go. Lately, we’ve been relying on mud minnows, as pesky baitfish will steal live shrimp right off your hook in seconds. Choose a popping cork that is easy to cast and highly visible. Oval corks carry more weight and cast farther, while orange stands out much better than green or yellow when there is a chop on the water. Cast your rig into areas with good current, and you’ll be on the trout in no time.
Spanish mackerel are also plentiful right now and are best targeted at first light. If you spot a school busting bait on the surface, toss a reflective casting jig and reel it rapidly through the frenzy. Be sure to maneuver your boat gradually around the perimeter of the school, as motoring directly through them will spook the fish and send them deep. If you know the mackerel are around but aren’t showing on top, try trolling Clark Spoons at varying depths and speeds until you find the sweet spot.
See you on the water!
Last night, Tim looked at today’s forecast and knew he needed to get out on the water. The day turned out to be brilliantly sunny with highs in the 70s. We fished the falling tide in hopes of intercepting the reds as they came out of the grass. Even with a ripping current, cut mullet still did the trick. At the first spot, one of the rods in the back of the boat snapped over and a few minutes later Sam had the redfish of the day, a 29″ beauty.
Troy was fired up to come fishing having had to cancel his prior charter due to illness. At our first spot, reds hit cut mullet immediately but the bite faded as the water drained off the flats. We moved to docks and started working deep holes with bait on the bottom. Cut mullet produced again as we winched each redfish out from among the many pilings. Troy had the biggest red of the day and was very happy he booked another trip!
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