January 21

Inshore water temperatures are down to the low 50s, but between the wind and larger tides a few days ago the water is still pretty dirty. 

The redfish are still the headline species around Charleston, and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the fishing continues to be very good. On lower stages of the tide redfish are getting up on the mud flats and feeding if conditions are good, but if the flats don’t heat up look for them to be way back in the deepest holes looking for warmer water and safety.  Artificials still continue to outproduce live bait on days when fish are mainly reaction striking.

While redfish are easier to locate at low tide, the trout fishing is best on the incoming tide. The outgoing is okay, and slack tide is the worst. Catches have been pretty good along deep grass edges with about 6 feet of water as the trout are mostly a little further down in the water column right now. Live shrimp, mullet and mud minnows have been fishing the best. 

On the artificial reefs they have been catching sheepshead on fiddler crabs in 30-60 feet of water, but it can be really hard to stay away from the red snapper.  There are also bull reds out there and even some slot-sized fish.

January 8

Inshore waters have gotten cold and mostly clear, but Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that the fishing has been pretty awesome recently. Low tides in warmer parts of the day have been outstanding, and the redfish are getting up on the mud flats and feeding.  When low tide hits a cold morning look for them to get way back in the deepest holes looking for warmer water and safety.  While live bait will certainly work, on some days they have actually gotten more hits on artificials when fish are apparently reaction striking.

Redfish are easier to locate at low tide, but Redfin Charters is having better luck for trout fishing on higher water along current rips beside grass lines. Live shrimp are available in some area tackle stores, and Redfin is catching their own in deep holes, and they will certainly catch fish. However, the biggest trout are being caught on dark Mirrolures right now. 

There are also good numbers of trout out at the jetties. 

On the artificial reefs they have been catching sheepshead on fiddler crabs in 30-60 feet of water, but it can be really hard to stay away from the red snapper.  There are also bull reds out there and even some slot-sized fish.

December 20

Inshore surface water temperatures around Charleston have fallen into the low 50s, and the water is clearing as expected.

The fishing is different than it was a few weeks ago, but Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that there are still plenty of 2-8 pound redfish to be caught inshore. By-and-large they have gotten in bigger schools and moved onto the flats where they can best be targeted at low tide around oyster shells. You can visually search for the schools in the clearing water. The shrimp are gone but the fish will certainly still eat mud minnows and artificial lures. 

For the last couple of weeks thetrout fishing was very good, but in the last few days it has slowed down.  However, while you are now having to search more to find fish when you do find them they are packed in together.  Deep holes in 7-10 feet of water are very likely spots, and the go-to baits right now are Z-man Slim SwimZ on a Trout Eye jighead or a traditional ¼ ounce chartreuse head.

The redfish have left the surf and moved out to the artificial reefs, which are starting to also hold a lot ofsheepshead and for now are still covered up inweakfish.  These grey trout are extremely aggressive and will hit about anything from jigs to spoons to mud minnows, but remember that you can only keep one per person.  Soon the weakfish will leave until spring. 

There are some goodwahoo reports from offshore. 

November 24

Inshore surface water temperatures around Charleston reached 68 yesterday, and while there is still some bait around shrimp are getting much harder to find.

You can scroll back through old reports to see that he is willing to call a spade a spade, but right now Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) advises that it’s hard to imagine that fishing for trout and redfish could get any better. While the trout are a mix of sizes almost all of the redfish are over 15 inches. 

In general the redfish are very tight to the grass lines, and on the dropping tide they are sitting in very shallow water waiting for bait to come out of the grass. They are also sitting at the mouths of small, 5-10 yard wide feeder creeks or docks.  They are feeding the whole tide cycle.

While a few trout can be caught right against the grass, Captain Rob’s boat is catching more trout over submerged oyster bars 10 plus yards off of the grass lines. The best trout action is still at high tide when there are 6-7 feet of water over the shells.  

Shrimp under a popping cork remain very effective, but you have to work really hard to get enough shrimp to fish with.  Luckily, artificial lures are fishing just as well as live bait and pearl or electric chicken Gulp shrimp or grubs on a Trout Eye jighead with gold eyes are about the best. 

Bull red drum are in the process of leaving the surf right now, but when you can get offshore with the wind the action on live bottom and artificial reefs in 30-50 feet of water is outstanding.  Fish are schooled up out there for the spawn.  The king mackerel are also thick if you can get offshore.

November 11

Surface water temperatures around Charleston are still in the upper 60s. Shrimp remain prolific although the next cold snap should send them on their way.

The inshore fishing has been nothing short of phenomenal in Charleston, and Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that they have been getting outstanding action from both the trout and the redfish. Catching 25-40 trout on a trip is common, and the redfish are just as prolific. 

Both species are tearing up live shrimp fished about 2 feet below a popping a cork, and particularly the trout will also take artificials such as twister tail grubs. In general both species are related to oysters next to the grass, but the trout are about 20-30 feet off the grass around submerged oysters a little further out. The best trout action is at high tide when there are 6-7 feet of water over the shells. Meanwhile, the redfish are biting better around docks and oyster beds right beside the grass throughout the tide cycle.   

WhileRedfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports similar action for both species inshore, they are also catching bull red drum in 15-30 feet of water in the harbor. Fish are around the jetties, Fort Moultrie and most any other structure that has some depth.  There have also been some very large black drum in the 20 plus pound range caught around inshore rocks and bridges that have some depth. 

Even though inshore fishing has been outstanding, the best action might actually be taking place offshore.  Around live bottom in 45-90 feet of water theking mackerel are thick right now, and Captain Rob’s boat landed a 52-pounder, a 35-pounder, and then two 20-pound fish earlier this week.  A barracuda got part of the last one.  While he has been fishing with live menhaden, slow-trolling with ballyhoo will also work. 

October 6

Surface water temperatures around Charleston are down to 72-73 degrees. The creeks are full of shrimp and finger mullet and the big mullet are running the beaches. Shrimp boats report an excellent white shrimp season and the baiters are also netting good catches. 

All year inshore fishermen wait for October, but now that it has arrived Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the fishing is exceeding even the lofty expectations anglers set for the fall. The redfish and trout bite is nothing short of spectacular, and in Rob’s most recent guided trip they caught more than 70 fish in 3 ½ hours. Both species are basically in similar areas and so catching a red then a trout and then a red and then a trout again is not unusual.

There’s no reason to fish with anything besides shrimp under a popping cork, and on the lower stages of the tide Rob reports that they are catching fish around docks. When the tide is rising or falling they are catching them where gutter creeks full of oysters join the larger creeks and rivers, while at dead high they are fishing right next to the grass around points near gutter creeks. Fish are biting well at every stage of the tide; you just have to fish different spots. The only noticeable difference in where the trout and redfish are holding is that the trout often stay a bit deeper in the same areas. They also seem to feed better on higher tides than they do at low.

They have not been picking up flounder, but there have been lots of 3-5 pound black drum caught as a by-catch in the same areas where the reds and trout are feeding.  

With the big schools of sea mullet running the beaches the blacktip sharks and tarpon are having a field day. The schools of bait often have a circumference of 20 plus yards, and the fish are under them feeding like it is their last meal.

Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) will only be open a little while longer before they close on October 19 for a long-term renovation/ upgrade project, but they report that the large bull red drum have been hitting very well for the last week. This bite should continue for a couple more weeks. There have also been some nice catches of black drum in the 3-pound range. 

With the inshore fishing so good Captain Rob points out there has been absolutely no reason for him to head offshore!

September 17

Surface water temperatures around Charleston have dropped to about 82 degrees, and wind and rain have dirtied up the water. The creeks are full of shrimp and finger mullet.

While the fall bite hasn’t arrived to the whole South Carolina coast, Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that the redfish and trout action has been pretty awesome around Charleston for the past week or two. There have been lots of 50+ fish days. Both species are in the same areas around oysters, grass and gutter creeks, and they are biting around the tide cycle. This fast action should continue for at least another 45 days. Shrimp are very thick and so Captain Rob’s boat is almost exclusively fishing live shrimp under a popping cork. 

The only difference between where they catch the two species has been that the reds are a little closer to the grass while the trout are a little further out in the current. 

While it’s not an everyday occurrence his boat caught this 7-poundtripletail earlier this week, also on shrimp under a popping cork.  This one was along a grassline but they can also be found around crab pots or other floating structure.

WhileRedfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports similar success with the trout and reds, Captain Erven Roper reports that the bull reds have been a little harder to locate for the last week or two. While the harbor is full of mullet the bulls seemed to disappear when the menhaden got more scarce, and so it seems like we are in an in-between phase for the big drum. 

They have seen some nice flounder caught but those have slowed down from a month ago.  

Next week Captain Rob expects the mullet run to start down the beaches, which will mark the unofficial beginning of the lights-out fall surf fishing season.  Trout, reds, black tipsharks and more will be feeding. 

With windy conditions there has not been much in the way of offshore fishing.