Left at first light to try to get as much fishing done before the water spilled over the grass during a very high tide. We found a fantastic trout bite that stayed strong for almost four hours! Corks paired with mud minnows kept dropping everywhere we went. Plenty of keeper trout with some nice three pounders in the mix too. Great morning on the water!
Weather remained cooler than average in March. The recent cold snap over the last few days is hopefully the last one of the year. Looking ahead we have forecasts of sunny days in 70s and 80s which should really bring the water temperatures up. Bait, however, has been showing up in increasing numbers and this will improve the bite and get the fishery moving!
The large schools of redfish found throughout the winter are breaking up as these fish become more active. Anglers should think about using artificial plastic lures that mimic these baitfish. One good choice would be “jerk shad” lures that have become very popular and come in a variety of colors. I’ve been finding that white has been working best although I’ll occasionally throw a darker color when water clarity is poor. These lures work best rigged on a size 3/0 fluter hook.
Trout have just started to appear in deeper water. For now, live bait will be the ticket when targeting them. Working docks and shell beds with a mud minnow on a 1/4oz. jighead can be very productive. Focus on getting this bait deep enough to get in front of the trout and move the jighead slowly along the bottom. As trout become more active, popping corks cast along grass banks and over oyster beds will be a good bet paired with live or artificial shrimp.
Flounder, perhaps our tastiest fish, are becoming active. We’ve been catching them mostly when fishing with mud minnows on the bottom or mud minnows under popping corks. You’ll need to focus on structure when targeting flounder. Docks and pilings are good places to prospect. Flounder will hug the bottom in hopes of ambushing their prey, so you’ll need to keep that bait down on or close to the bottom as well. One of the bonuses of the jerk shad mentioned above is that flounder on the flats will strike these surprisingly often.
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.
Lots of great action with Charleston Charter Fishing in 2014! Clients put plenty of nice fish in the boat. Book online now at http://bit.ly/BookCCF !
Could there be a better time of year to be fishing? Anglers have many different species to target and many different ways to fish for them! There’s just no way you won’t find something exciting to do on the water. As it becomes progressively hotter, anglers will increasingly want to fish early before the heat of the day arrives.
For redfish, we’ve been focused on docks where reds become concentrated as the water drains out around them. Using a carolina rig, we’ve been fishing with cracked blue crab, mullet and menhaden. Try using size 3/0 circle hooks and putting the rod down in the holder. When a redfish strikes, wait until the drag starts to scream and you will have a solid hookup for sure.
Not much has changed when focusing on trout. The popping cork remains the way to go. Fish these corks over shell rakes, in front of creek mouths and along grassy banks. Look for places trout can sit and ambush prey. Live shrimp and mud minnows are choice baits. With so many small bluefish and bait stealers in the water, we have been using almost exclusively minnows.
Sharks are pervasive in our waters and best of all eager eaters. The Bonnethead bite continues to become stronger. You can use the same carolina rigs mentioned above for these creatures. Cracked blue crab and shrimp are great for bait but if you can put out chunks of fresh cut ladyfish, you’ll really be in business. Look to fish drop-offs where there is a sharp change in water depth. Don’t forget this is a great way to introduce younger fishermen to the sport.
While fly fishing, we’ve been seeing excellent tailing action from redfish in the grass. This hasn’t been just an evening tailing tide phenomenon either. There have been plenty of sightings during morning high tides as well. Spoon flies with a good weed guard have been the way to go. There have been some real heart pounding moments watching redfish follow our fly and the ensuing explosive strikes!
See you on the water!
Capt. Geoff Bennett operates Charleston Charter Fishing providing light tackle and fly fishing 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.
Lots of cold days and nights during March kept thoughts of traditional Spring fishing on the back burner. With highs in the 70s forecast over the next ten days, let’s hope we have turned the corner. Warmer water temperatures should bring out the trout bite while anglers can still target redfish in big schools.
Unlike most years, redfish remain in their wintertime schools that can number as many as a hundred fish. They are still spooky but becoming more aggressive as the arrival of bait turns them into predators again. The easiest way to target these reds is using cut bait or better yet freshly cracked blue crab fished on the bottom. Be patient and let the schools come to you. If they think eating is their idea, they’ll most likely take the bait.
As trout become more active, popping corks cast along grass banks and over oyster beds will be a good bet paired with mud minnows and live shrimp. I usually use a 18”-24” leader and a size 1 circle hook. When working the popping cork, always try to keep slack out of your line and when that cork drops just reel tight to set the hook. You’ll find that the circle hook will do most of the work for you.
For both redfish and trout, mud minnows paired with a jighead have been working well especially around docks and structure. I’ll use a 1/8-1/4oz. jighead and hook the mud minnow under the bottom lip and out through the top lip. Work these baits slowly and try to bump them along the bottom where oftentimes you’ll get hit as you lift the rod tip.
Redfish remaining in big schools has been a boon to flyfishermen eager to stalk these fish on the flats. To avoid spooking them, we’ve sometimes been casting well in front of a moving school and only begin moving the fly with quick small strips once the school is almost on top of it. On recent charters, black wiggler flies have been the most productive.
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.
It has been a long cold Winter but warmer times have started to come around. During many charters, it never got much out of the 30s and those were hard earned fish. After a run of days with highs in the 70s, it’s easy to get excited about fishing again! Rising water temperatures and the return of bait should provide plenty of action.
Redfish remain in massive schools numbering in the hundreds as they try to avoid dolphins and stay warm. You’ll find these schools on mud flats as well as shallow banks that provide cover. On sunny days, redfish are especially drawn to the flats as the mud retains an extra few degrees of warmth. You’ll find the best fishing tends to be around low tide when these reds are balled up tight together.
During this time of year, these big schools of redfish can be wary and spook when a lure hits the water. When this happens, it’s best to soak some cut bait. I’ll put chunks of frozen mullet on size 3/0 circle hooks and just let it sit on the bottom until the redfish swim over it. Put your rod in the rod holder and resist the urge (if at all possible!) to set the hook when you see a fish begin to eat. The circle hook will do all the work for you and when your reel starts to sing you are in business.
It will be interesting to see if the trout bite starts in March based on how cold the past two months have been. Working artificial lures slowly across the bottom will be your best bet. Plastic lures that are 3″-4″ long and imitate small minnows are a good choice. For color, stick with grey and silver hues that most resemble bait. Paired with a 1/4oz. jighead, the combination should be very effective when the trout return.
This a great time of year for fly fishing as a softly presented fly won’t send a school of redfish fleeing for cover. Sight fishing abounds and stalking a school of a hundred plus redfish is so exciting you almost fall off the bow with anticipation. Smaller flies in lighter colors are working best and a clouser minnow is a fine example. Remember when the fish hits, resist the temptation to lift your rod tip and strip strike instead.
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.
Charleston Charter Fishing’s Greatest Catches 2013 is a compilation of the past year’s fishing charter trips in the waters surrounding the Charleston low country including Kiawah Island, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island. We look forward to having your photo included this year on your charter fishing trip!
The temperature on the dashboard read 31 degrees and as I launched the boat I chipped some ice away from the bow hatch. With a decent wind out of the West, it was clear the duration of the charter would be run with a negative wind chill. Michael and Jodee were ready to go and we set off at low tide. Found dolphins making a mess of the first two schools of reds we were looking to fish. Moved over to docks and structure with popping corks and mud minnows. After lots of casts, we found a great bite where Jodee put this beautiful trout in the boat. Caught eight reds as well and were very happy with that outcome on our chilly day.
© 2024 Charleston Charter Fishing. All Rights Reserved.
