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August 10

Inshore water temperatures in the Beaufort area are in the lower 80s, and with lots of rain water is pretty muddy.  There is strong population of bait-sized shrimp in the creeks, and a number of species are willing to eat the shrimp as well as prolific finger mullet right now, including migratory species like ladyfish and small jack crevalle.

The redfish bite in the Beaufort area has been pretty good, and Captain Tuck Scott of Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that whenever there is some water in the grass the fish seem to really want to tail.  On the next flood tides he predicts really good tailing action.  In addition to redfish black drum and even sheepshead have been tailing, with the sheeps being the hardest to get to eat.  On the fly small brown crab patterns are a good bet for all of teh tailing species, and on conventional tackle Gulp! peeler crabs fished on a weedless hook are a good bet.

There have been a fair number of redfish schooled up on the low tide flats, and on the incoming tide they can be caught around oyster bars on the edges of flats when they are first covered up.  Live bait or Gulp! baits on a ¼ ounce jighead are good options.

Outside of the flats, this time of year fish will often wander up the smaller feeder creeks but only so far as the first shell mound on either bank – where the temperature is about the same as the main river.  This is a good place to fish for either redfish or trout.

Trout can also be found at the mouths of creeks early, with fish a little deeper in 3 ½ – 4 ½ feet.  In addition to live bait they will take electric chicken paddletail grubs on a ¼ ounce jighead.

June 22

Inshore water temperatures in the Beaufort area are in the lower 80s, and while clarity has been mixed generally the water is pretty dirty.

Overall the redfish bite in the Beaufort area has been good, and Captain Tuck Scott of Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that on high tide the tailing activity has been strong.  Redfish are gorging on fiddler crabs, and so on the fly Puglisi crab patterns, Dupre spoon flies, or most any weedless fly pattern is working well.  Presentation is more important than the perfect fly, and Gulp! baits are also working well for tailing fish.

There has also been a good redfish bite on moving tides and particularly dropping water, and around creek mouths and oyster bars fish are feeding well on live shrimp, finger mullet, or mud minnows fished below a popping cork.

Troutfishing has also been pretty good on both the incoming and outgoing tides, particularly over oyster shells that have some water rushing over them.  Live shrimp under a popping cork are hard to beat, and Gulp! paddle tail grubs in new penny color fished on a ¼ ounce jighead are also deadly.  Because of the heat trout are likely to be in a little deeper water in the 3 foot plus range.

There have also been some tripletailspotted on the surface, and these fish are likely to be lying on the top along with floating debris.  They will eat a range of small artificial lures, particularly crab imitations.  On the fly black deceivers are a good bet.  While tripletail could be along the edges or flats, generally you will see them out in the middle of the river and so when you are running is the most important time to keep your eyes peeled.

Tarponhave not showed up en masse yet.