December 3

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-50s around Charleston. 

As expected the cold weather has only improved the inshore fishing for trout in the Charleston area, and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that anglers are catching them from the small creeks to the rivers to the inlets, on every cast at times. They are generally congregating a little deeper in 6-8 feet of water, but the real key to catching them has been fishing clean, moving water. Live shrimp under a slip cork have been working very well, but Vudu shrimp have also been productive. 

That’s consistent with the report from Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777), who is blistering the trout on live shrimp but points out that you aren’t able to easily catch your own shrimp now. One option is to buy them, but he also expects the artificial grub fishing to be very good for the next two to three weeks for trout. 

At the same time both captains are catching limits of redfish (and a few black drum), and live shrimp have been working really well for the reds as well. The best action has been on shallow mud flats, around oyster beds, and near structure in the creeks. In general the flats and oysters have fished better on low tide, but docks and other structure have often been most productive on the high outgoing. 

Nearshore, Captain Rob points out that there are now schools of giant 20-50 pound red drum following bait that you can locate by following the birds in 30-90 feet of water. There can be some incredible topwater action for these fish. 

That make sense, because Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that the bull red drum bite is finally slowing down off the pier as the fish head offshore with dropping December temperatures. At the same time they are catching lots of slot-sized black drum just beyond the surf as well as trout all over the pier. 

November 20

Morning surface water temperatures are still in the mid to upper 60s around Charleston and bait continues to be abundant. 

The inshore fishing continues to be outstanding in the Charleston area, and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures reports that they continue to catch a wider array of species including redfish, trout, black drum and more. As the water temperatures have dropped a few degrees the bait stealers have gotten a little less abundant, which is good because fish are on such a strong shrimp bite.   However, yesterday they also caught fish on the fly as well as Spooks.  

Both tides have been good as long as there is moving water, and even though Captain Addison hasn’t been targeting them specifically they are picking up more and more trout. The coming cold front should make them bite even better. The best action for all species has been in 2-5 feet of water around grass lines, oyster beds, and creek mouths. In general the red and black drum are feeding a little better shallower and on slacker tides, while once the tide gets up the trout become more prominent in the catch. 

Additionally, the bite can’t go on forever, but for now the bull red drum bite at the jetties is still really good and Addison’s boat is still catching lots of big fish each time they can get out.  Live or cut mullet (or other cut bait) will all work. 

November 14

Morning surface water temperatures are still about 70 degrees around Charleston and bait continues to be abundant. 

It’s hard to believe, but with inshore water temperatures this warm Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that they are still catching shrimp in the cast net like it’s August – 50-75 per throw. But the trout have been a little slower this week, perhaps because of the extreme high tides, but they also expect the cooler temperatures that are coming to really turn them on – particularly when water temperatures hit about the mid-60s.  Captain Rob is still fishing in the rivers 4-5 feet off the grass around oyster beds. He is fishing in about 5 feet of water with live shrimp a few feet under a popping cork on moving tides. 

As the trout have slacked off a bit the redfish have been very cooperative, and they continue to catch them a little shallower in 2-3 feet of water. 

The creek bite has also been great for Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures, who reports that with live shrimp and finger mullet they are catching an outstanding variety of species including trout, redfish, black drum, occasional flounder, and even some random sheepshead. Tides moving in either direction have been productive and the only down-side to fishing right now is that water temperatures are so high that there still a lot of bait stealers around.

 

Warm temperatures have also extended the bull red drum bite at the jetties, and on one recent day when it was calm enough to fish out there they caught fourteen giant drum on frozen menhaden. This bite won’t last much longer once temperatures drop, but for now it is still pretty phenomenal. 

October 30

Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 69 degrees around Charleston. Bait is abundant. 

The inshore fishing is still outstanding around Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that with such a protracted, mild fall he expects it to stay that way for another month. In particular the trout fishing is still incredible, with Captain Rob’s boat catching 30-60 fish per day. He is still fishing in open water 4-5 feet off the grass about 5 feet deep around oyster beds, using shrimp a few feet under a popping cork. The slot redfish and flounder are generally shallower, but they have managed to pick up a monster redfish each of the last two days – one 33-incher and one 34-incher. Both times they wondered if it were a shark at first. Higher, moving tides have been the best. 

Meanwhile Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures is on similar patterns inshore, and he is basically starting out in 2-4 feet of water over submerged shell beds fishing for reds but catching more trout as the tide gets up. 

But the catch of the week came at the jetties, where fishing live shrimp will entice a smorgasbord of species. One of those was a 28-inch, 9-pound flounder!  

Finally, in the Charleston Harbor the bite for bull red drum is still pretty outstanding. Captain Addison’s boat is fishing in 10-25 feet of water and having success with about any cut bait from mullet to whiting to bluefish and more. The fish aren’t very picky right now and they are around in strong numbers

Finally, manager Noah O’Brien reports that, perhaps because of the renourishment project, fishing on the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) continues to be less than expected.  Bull red drum are coming through but not like most years, and they get maybe four or five in the 35-40 inch range on a good day. They are also still seeing some trout in the 10-20 inch range in the surf or just behind it. 

October 16

Morning surface water temperatures have dropped to about 71 degrees around Charleston. 

The inshore fishing is nothing short of outstanding around Charleston, but Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that he has changed his target species from redfish to trout. While the reds are still around they are catching 30-60 trout per trip, with everything coming on live shrimp under popping corks. They are fishing the main river points in about 5 feet of water with the bait about 3 feet under a float, and even in 25 mile per hour winds today fish were practically jumping in the boat.

While fish can be caught around the tide cycle the best time has been the high outgoing tide. 

Meanwhile Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures is finding a similarly outstanding bite for bull red drum in the harbor and at the jetties, and tide isn’t making too much of a difference. They are fishing in 10-25 feet of water and having success with about any cut bait from mullet to whiting to bluefish and more. The fish aren’t very picky right now and they are around in strong numbers – which is what is supposed to happen in October!  

The tarpon seem to be pretty much gone, especially with the weather coming in.

Finally, manager Noah O’Brien reports that this week on the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) the red drum in the 24-45 are coming through. So far the run hasn’t been quite as plentiful as last season, but they are definitely still around. Additionally, lots of trout are being caught in the surf including a five-pounder Tuesday!  They are taking Gotcha plugs, live shrimp, and live mullet. Sheepshead in the 12-16 inch range are still abundant as well as the usual suspects of whiting, bluefish, etc.  

October 3

Morning surface water temperatures are still about 77 degrees around Charleston. 

There’s very little change with the inshore fishing around Charleston, and that’s a good thing because Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that the bite is still completely wide open. The trout numbers aren’t fantastic but they are still catching redfish on virtually every cast. The key is fishing moving water in either direction around docks, oysters and other structure with live shrimp a couple of feet under a popping cork. Slack water is the only time the bite slows. 

Meanwhile Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures is still chasing the bull reds in the Charleston Harbor, and the bite has been pretty outstanding. October is the very best month for them and so far it has not disappointed! The fish are taking cut menhaden and mullet in 10-25 feet around the jetties, sand bars, and structure.

While tarpon can still be found other places, the biggest concentrations are on the beaches this late in the season. Yesterday Captain Addison saw a bunch and jumped several on live menhaden. 

At the same time the fishing off the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) continues to disappoint, and manager Noah O’Brien reports that with the renourishment project right in front of the pier this week the fishing has been very, very slow. One angler did manage to catch 8 bull reds off the diamond right before the storm, but since then it has slowed to a crawl.

Finally, for something different Captain Rob reports that the nearshore bite for king mackerel has been pretty fantastic slow-trolling live baits over live bottom in 50 feet of water. On the last trip their biggest was 40 pounds!

September 25

Morning surface water temperatures range from about 76-79 degrees around Charleston. 

The inshore fishing for redfish is the best that Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) has ever seen, and he has the photos to prove it! This morning they caught an incredible 40 slot-sized redfish in two hours, and Captain Rob says the bite really couldn’t get any faster. Basically the second that the bait hits the water fish are taking it.

Rob’s boat is exclusively fishing with live shrimp a couple of feet under a popping cork, and when he has cleaned fish they are full of shrimp. He is catching them on both the outgoing and the incoming tide on the main rivers around oysters and creeks mouths – and some docks. Rob has also picked up a few flounder and trout, but not many. It could be that the redfish are eating before other species can get there!

It's also been great inshore fishing for Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures, who reports that on flats off the side of the Intracoastal Waterway his boat has been catching lots of redfish – particularly on the lower tides. They are also catching fish in the creeks around docks and other structure. They are using finger mullet, and when they use shrimp they are also picking up good numbers of black drum.   

While tarpon are still around in the inlets, and Captain Addison has jumped a couple this week, he has also found a very good bite for jumbo redfish in the harbor and at the jetties.  While there are plenty of fish deeper he is targeting them in less than 30 feet of water to minimize stress on the fish, and he has found them willing to eat about anything from cut mullet to menhaden to bluefish – including frozen baits. 

Finally, while the surf should be heating up, especially for big redfish, Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) manager Noah O’Brien reports that between bad weather and a renourishment project fishing off the pier has been slow this week. They are still getting some black drum, with most of them undersized, and they did have one good day for large red drum off the diamond. However, otherwise the catch has mainly been the usual suspects of smaller bluefish, whiting, croaker, spots and the like. 

September 12

Morning surface water temperatures are down to about 76 inshore around Charleston and water clarity is normalizing. 

For the second straight year Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures has proved his status as an elite tarpon fishermen, winning the annual tournament with an impressive three fish on day 1 (Friday) and one fish on Saturday. They caught them in the inlets around large concentrations of mullet, and they actually managed one on a swimbait in an area where they saw fish blowing up on bait. The others came on live bait on the top and bottom. On Monday it was too windy to get back after them, and Sunday it was too rainy, but on the tournament days everything came together perfectly.

 

 

While Captain Addison would still like to be targeting the tarpon, the weather forecast is so windy that he expects to be inshore for a little while now. Luckily the inshore bite has been pretty outstanding for redfish and black drum on finger mullet and shrimp, with both species back in the creeks around structure in 2-6 feet of water. The incoming tide has been fishing the best. He has not targeted trout and with the weather has not been able to spend time in the harbor. However, when you can get after them the bull reds should be getting thick in Charleston Harbor and around the jetties.  

Once again it continues to be an outstanding inshore bite for Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777), who reports that on his last trip two anglers put forty reds in the boat in under an hour! Everything is coming on live shrimp fished under a popping cork in 2-3 feet of water, with the best fishing on the last out of the outgoing tide. They are mostly fishing around oysters, but you can have similar success around docks back in the creeks. 

With this set-up they are also picking up a good number of black drum, flounder, and a few trout. 

 

 

 

Finally, as would be expected the wind has really hurt the fishing on the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) this week, and manager Noah O’Brien reports that catches are down from last week.  Still, they are catching trout all over the pier (mostly in the 10-20 inch range), black drum in the surf, and sheepshead mostly in the surf with occasional fish off the diamond.  However, they have almost all been too small to keep. 

September 4

Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 80s around Charleston and water clarity is still below normal. 

It’s continues to be an outstanding inshore bite in the Charleston area, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that – even though the last couple of days have been too windy to fish easily – when you can get out the shrimp are so thick and the fish are feeding so well that about anybody can catch redfish, trout and flounder. Tide still isn’t making much of a difference, and live shrimp under popping corks fished around oysters pretty much guarantee success.

Before the wind got bad the Labor Day boat traffic kept Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures out of the creeks, but at the jetties he reports that there is an outstanding bite for big reds. They will take most any cut bait right now. 

While he hasn’t been after the tarpon the last few days, with a big tarpon tournament coming up this Friday and Saturday Captain Addison is looking forward to getting on them again. The key to finding fish should still be locating the bait, and they are definitely still in the area. 

Surf fishing is coming on, and big whiting, black drum and more are all around.  It’s even better off the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516), where manager Noah O’Brien reports that they finally had an 18-pound king mackerel caught. They are also starting to get a decent number of nice bull reds, all caught off of the diamond or just before the start of it. They are also still seeing some nice trout in the 12-20 inch range, mostly in the surf, with a few being caught deeper.  Black drum in the 10-20 inch range and small sheepshead in the 8-14 inch range are both still thick in the surf. 

August 29

Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 80s around Charleston and the water is still dirty with all the recent freshwater inflow. Even Charleston Harbor still has a brown stain although on the incoming it’s a bit cleaner. 

It’s a pretty outstanding inshore bite in the Charleston area, and Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that for him it’s all about the live shrimp for redfish, trout and flounder. Fish are feeding around oyster banks on both the incoming and outgoing, and while the trout are generally small males they are catching outstanding numbers of redfish all over the size chart as well as a decent number of keeper flounder. Patterns may change but the fishing should stay hot through at least the middle of October as we have entered the fall feed.  

To that Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures adds that his boat has also been catching black drum (as well as trout and reds) on live and cut shrimp, and for him structure has been the key. The outgoing tide has fished the best. Additionally, at times fishing finger mullet they have found a little better grade of redfish and weeded out some of the young-of-the-year fish. 

But the most exciting bite for Captain Addison has been the tarpon. After the storm the fishing got tough, but the last two days it has been on fire. Both days they have brought a pair of fish alongside the boat and seen many, many more. The key has been finding the large schools of menhaden which are off the beaches. 

Finally, at the jetties and in the inlets they have also found bull red drum that will eat cut mullet and menhaden. They are often in the same areas as the tarpon – and sharks and sting rays. 

August 14

Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 80s around Charleston and the water is stained.  Bait is still abundant. 

Today Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures, had his first trip since the storm, and he reports that in the Charleston Harbor the water looked like sweet tea. While he did catch three nice bull reds at the jetties, even at low water there was so much current coming out of the rivers and into the harbor that it made it hard to fish. Captain Addison also notes that there were a ton of sharks around.

After they moved inshore, Addison was pleasantly surprised by how good the bite was in the creeks. On the low incoming tide they found pretty normal water conditions, and around docks over-slot redfish and large trout up to four pounds were biting. They used finger mullet but suspected that other baits would have worked.

That’s consistent with the report from Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777), who advises that inshore fishing for redfish really can’t get much better than this. The main lingering effect he notices from the storm is that the fish have moved closer to the ocean, but the reds are biting very well on live shrimp under a popping cork. They caught 20 in the slot on his morning charter, as well as even more short fish, mostly fishing in shallow water over oyster bars. 

Trout are in the same general areas but for now they are mostly on the smaller side, and Captain Rob notes that they are a little out from the oysters over slightly deeper water. 

They did pick up one flounder today but Rob notes that with shrimp he is catching less than he did with finger mullet/ mud minnows. He suspects that if they switched back to finfish for bait the numbers would be just as good as a few weeks ago. 

Finally, it’s been a good week on the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) and manager Noah O’Brien reports that while no kings have been caught they did have a nice 23-pound jack landed off the diamond. There has also been a decent Spanish mackerel bite with all the fish 12 inches and above. The black drum are also still hot, all in the surf around the pilings and coming in at the 10-24 inch range. Trout have also come all over the pier, including an 18-incher off the diamond – on a Gotcha plug!   

And about on pace with last year, they have had a couple of bull reds caught in the last two weeks.

August 1

Morning surface water temperatures are about 84 around Charleston and mullet are especially abundant. 

It's been a good week for Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures, who reports that inshore fishing has been strong – especially fishing in the morning to beat the heat. There are so many mullet around that he’s basically using finger mullet or cut mullet all the time, and the redfish are devouring both.  Trout are eating finger mullet.  

The low outgoing tide has been good, and they are mostly fishing bigger water along the sides of the IntraCoastal or larger creeks and rivers. Grass lines, rocks, oysters and flats with shell bottoms are all holding fish, and naturally some of the best fishing has been in those areas when you can fish under schools of bait. 

The action in Charleston Harbor has also been strong, particularly for bull redfish and tarpon. Captain Addison’s boat is mostly fishing in 10-30 feet around the jetty rocks, with both live and cut menhaden on the bottom. 

Finally it’s also been a really good week off the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516), and manager Noah O’Brien reports that while they still haven’t had king mackerel there has been a nice run of Spanish mackerel off the diamond. Most are in the 14-24 inch range, and there have also been a number of big jacks up to 28 pounds caught at the end of the pier. There are also reports of tarpon breaking the surface – but no one has hooked up yet. 

In the surf the trout are also still around, mostly in the 10-20 inch range. While they are seeing bigger sheepshead at the end of the pier in the deeper water, most of the ones that are caught have been in the 10-16 inch range in the surf. Black drum are still around in the same zone but have slowed down slightly.  

July 17

Morning surface water temperatures are about 86 or 87 around Charleston and bait is now abundant. 

Last week he could tell it was starting, but this week Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that the inshore fishing around Charleston has absolutely busted open. The shrimp are now everywhere and easily netted in the creeks, and as a result trout, flounder, lots of keeper black drum, and redfish have all turned on and are devouring them. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the tide is incoming or outgoing, and fishing live shrimp under a float in 2-3 feet of water is can’t-miss over oyster shells and other structure. 

It's also been a good bite for Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures, but interestingly he is finding the fish feeding just as well on the giant schools of finger mullet that have gotten thick. Targeting the sides of the Intracoastal on lower tide yesterday they caught several keeper flounder, large trout, and over a dozen redfish – again over oysters. Even though the water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 80s he also found everything in less than three feet. 

While Captain Addison hasn’t targeted them this week, the tarpon are still everywhere. 

Even in the heat the fishing has picked up a bit this week off the Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516), and manager Noah O’Brien reports that they are still seeing lots of trout in the 10-22 inch range seeking oxygenated water in the surf or just behind it, with most of them caught on bobber rigs with fresh dead or live shrimp. They are also catching good numbers of black drum in the 12-20 inch range, but the biggest change is that lots of sheepshead in the 12-18 inch range have arrive.  

Captain Rob also notes that the best way to get your line pulled by a big fish is still to follow the shrimp boats and target blacktip sharks. In about 20 feet of water it’s as simple throwing out cut menhaden and holding on. 

Windy conditions have limited fishing off the beaches, but nearshore Spanish mackerel are still thick 3-4 miles out while further offshore in 40-90 or more feet there lots of king mackerel around – as well as too many barracuda. 

July 11

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s around Charleston. 

Even though it’s hot as a sauna, the fishing off  Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) has been pretty fair – particularly for anglers targeting trout. Manager Noah O’Brien reports that they are seeing lots of trout in the 13-20 inch range seeking oxygenated water in the surf or just behind it, with most of them caught on bobber rigs with fresh dead or live shrimp. The black drum bite has slowed even though there are still some around, but at the same time they are seeing a lot more sheepshead. Most of these are in the 10-16 inch range. 

July 10

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s around Charleston. 

As happens every year about this time with the inshore fishing, Captain Rob Bennett with Lowcountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777) reports that the “rat” redfish are starting to show up in impressive numbers. They can be caught around the tide cycle on a variety of baits, but the constants are that they feed best around oyster shells and when the tide is moving. Better fish are mixed in but there are enough small ones for constant action. 

The flounder fishing also continues to be pretty exceptional, with Captain Rob still catching all of his fish on mud minnows under a cork. The best action is coming on the high incoming tide over mud banks and points alongside the grass in about 2-4 feet of water. 

While trout have been virtually non-existent, Rob reports that the best way to get your line pulled by a big fish is to follow the shrimp boats and target blacktip sharks.  In about 20 feet of water it’s as simple throwing out cut menhaden and holding on. 

While Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) with Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures has been limited to his flats boat this past week, he should be week on the water in his main boat with a new motor this weekend.  However, he reports that tarpon have showed up in some pretty incredible numbers. Just north of Charleston they saw no less than 40-50 fish roll in a couple of hours, and so even though they wouldn’t eat a fly there is no question they are abundant. 

Nearshore Spanish mackerel are thick 3-4 miles out, while further offshore in 40-90 or more feet there lots of king mackerel around – as well as too many barracuda. Rob did see one king hit a bait in just 20 feet of water off Kiawah. 

More to follow.