April 9

Morning surface water temperatures at the mouths of the main rivers are about 68-70 degrees and both the North and South Edisto are extremely clear.

The inshore fishing around Edisto is improving, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that right now the biggest numbers of redfish are in the very backs of small creeks off major creeks. There aren’t a lot of fish on the main rivers right now. It can require a small skiff to get to these areas, and if you don’t want to get stuck then planning around the rising tide can be a good option.  When located the fish are feeding pretty well on a variety of baits.  

The numbers of trout still appear to be good after the concerns of a winter kill, but it won’t really be until the first new fish start arriving and spawning later this month that Captain Ron has a better idea.   We still have about four degrees to go before that happens, and for now the vast majority of the catchable trout are still in the creeks.  

They can still be caught throwing grubs or dragging mud minnows on the bottom, but as temperatures rise very soon topwater fishing in the early morning will get to be a very good way to locate them. 

Early flounder are also returning inshore, and some giggers are starting to pursue them at night. But the best thing going is still the sheepshead bite, and fish are feeding on structure in 6-8 feet of water and will take fiddler crabs, barnacles, and more. There are also plenty of black drum to be caught on the same pattern. 

But the best overall bite is nearshore, where tons of 1-4 pound bluefish, bonito, and big weakfish have arrived. Spanish mackerel have also arrived but are not yet thick, and on the bottom there are big schools of red drum. Except for the drum most of the fish are suspended in the water column and 1-2 ounce jigging spoons and bucktails are very effective for catching them. Cut bait is all you need for the red drum, but with so many species around sharks have arrived and so anglers should use sufficiently heavy tackle to get them to the surface before they become prey. Captain Ron also notes that they often get skittish after you catch a few. 

This is still a good time for bottom fishing for black sea bass in 45-60 feet, while the best bottom fishing for other species is in 90-100 feet. 

The offshore trolling for wahoo is picking up and some tuna are also being caught, but it should still be about two weeks before dolphins arrive. After a cold winter they look for the run to start at the last few days of April. 

March 26

Morning surface water temperatures at the mouths of the main rivers are about 62 degrees and both the North and South Edisto are extremely clear.

The inshore fishing around Edisto has picked up, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that particularly the creeks have gotten good. They are catching surprising numbers of trout right now, especially considering the concerns about a winter kill, as people are catching limits throwing grubs or dragging mud minnows on the bottom. While only about half the fish are keepers, there are also plenty of good ones being caught. Numbers are a little down from normal but not bad. In addition, they are still catching plenty of redfish around structure on low tide. 

The main rivers have very few trout right now – it’ll be about three weeks before that bite picks up – but there are a few redfish being caught on the flats. Sight fishing is good when you can find them, and they are getting less pressure because instead of mega-schools it's small groups of 2-5 fish. 

But the best thing going inshore is the sheepshead, which will continue to bite very, very well for the next two to three weeks while temperatures stay in their ideal 55-65 degree range. Besides a similar window in October this is the best time of the year to catch them. Fish are feeding on structure in 6-8 feet of water and will take fiddler crabs, barnacles, and more. 

A few under-sized flounder are starting to show up, with three or four being caught per trip, but no keepers. 

Nearshore summer trout and tons of bluefish have arrived at the reefs, and if there is bait around then bull red drum are too. Spanish mackerel will arrive in the next couple of weeks when temperatures hit about 65 degrees, and there are still sheepshead and black drum around at the reefs. It’s surprising that they can be so heavy inshore and nearshore at the same time. 

This is the prime time for bottom fishing for black sea bass in 45-60 feet, while the best bottom fishing for other species is in 90-100 feet. 

The offshore trolling for wahoo is picking up, with some 90-100 pound fish landed recently, but there are no numbers of tuna and it’s too early for dolphin. 

March 12 

Morning surface water temperatures at the mouths of the main rivers are about 57 degrees and both the North and South Edisto are clear. 

It’s a transition time for inshore fishing around Edisto, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that species like trout and redfish are in that phase where they are feeding on tiny minnows, crabs, and grass shrimp and accordingly get very finicky. By this weekend water temperatures should hit about 60 degrees, but it won’t be until water temperatures hit about 65 when more typical bait schools show up that they will really start chasing baits again. Certainly you can catch some fish right now, but it’s perhaps the toughest time of the year.  The best bet for reds is probably fishing in low tide holes around structure in the creeks with fresh dead shrimp or mud minnows, and you can still try your luck casting or trolling grubs for trout in the backs.   

But the bright spot is the sheepshead, and as predicted based on the 57-degree water temperatures the bite has gotten very good in the creeks around structure in 4-10 feet of water. The fish are very hungry as they return from spawning, and with few pecker fish around clams and oysters will be great baits in addition to the always-reliable fiddler crabs.   

Nearshore on pleasant days there are still sheepshead around, and the reefs also have bluefish, bull reds, early weakfish, and mostly small black sea bass. The bigger ones are in 60-70 feet.

The bottom fishing is good in 90-100 feet, although a lot of the snapper and grouper are still out in 140-180 feet where it is warmer – while triggerfish, vermillion snapper, and red porgy have lower temperature tolerances. 

February 27

Morning surface water temperatures at the mouths of the main rivers are 53-54 degrees and both the North and South Edisto are clear. 

There’s still more good news with the inshore fishing this week, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that the creek fishing has been very good for redfish and they are also picking up a decent number of trout. On low tide the reds are eating mud minnows fished in holes and around structure, and around the tide cycle trout are eating the same 3-4 inch grubs on ¼ ounce jigheads that 80% of anglers are fishing this time of year. A few people are also pulling mud minnows along the bottom and having some success, but obviously the best news is that trout are still a regular catch after the cold winter and concerns about fish kills.

On the flats it’s still a good time to fish for redfish with a fly in the clear conditions, although as temperatures warm fish can get a little more finicky. 

90% of the sheepshead are still in deeper water spawning, but when temperatures hit about 55 degrees inshore expect a major push back. By 57 it should get very good. Some of the best inshore sheepshead fishing is right around the corner as they return from spawning and are starving. With no pecker fish around clams and oysters will be great baits. 

Nearshore on pleasant days sheepshead are getting hammered right now, and the reefs also have bluefish, bull reds, and mostly small black sea bass. The bigger ones are in 60-70 feet.

The bottom fishing is good in 90-100 feet, but with water temperatures even there below 68 degrees a lot of the snapper and grouper will be further out in 140-180 feet – while triggerfish, vermillion snapper, and red porgy have lower temperature tolerances. 

No new offshore trolling reports.

February 13

Morning surface water temperatures at the mouths of the main rivers are 50 degrees and both the North and South Edisto are clear. 

It’s good news with the inshore fishing this week, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that – despite days of persistently low temperatures well below the apparent “kill” threshold for trout – the population seems to have weathered the storm. A friend caught eight trout in the creeks this week, and there were never reports of massive kills. It appears that that the gradual decline in temperatures, where they went from the upper 40s to mid-40s to low 40s and even upper 30s over a week or more, either allowed the trout to adjust or to move. Past kills have generally involved more rapid declines in temperature. 

On the flats it’s a good time to fish for redfish with a fly in the clear conditions, although if you can find them they are generally moving pretty slowly. The creek reds are a little easier to catch in holes on mud minnows and artificials. In both areas low tide has been best. 

90% of the sheepshead are in deeper water spawning, but when temperatures hit about 53-55 degrees inshore expect a major push back. Some of the best inshore sheepshead fishing is right around the corner as they return from spawning and are starving. With no pecker fish around clams and oysters are great baits. 

Nearshore on pleasant days sheepshead are getting hammered right now, and the reefs also have bluefish, bull reds, and mostly small black sea bass. The bigger ones are in 60-70 feet.

The bottom fishing is good in 90-100 feet, but with water temperatures even there below 66 degrees a lot of the snapper and grouper will be further out in 140-180 feet – while triggerfish, vermillion snapper, and red porgy have lower temperature tolerances. 

Offshore trolling for wahoo is a mixed bag, and it seems like boats are either catching 3-5 fish or getting skunked. It just depends on whether they are running. Tuna won’t be caught in numbers until April as they are too deep right now.

February 7

Morning surface water temperatures at the mouths of the main rivers are back to 50 degrees and both the North and South Edisto are clear. 

We promise a full inshore report next week, but for now Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that the redfish action has gotten back to normal around Edisto. Fish are mixed between the river flats and structure in the creeks, particularly deep holes, and if you find them they will generally bite. 

The fate of the trout is still uncertain, and Captain Ron has not seen or heard of any caught since the snow. However, biologists did report seeing healthy trout sunning in the shallows in the following days and so at least some fish certainly made it.

Perhaps the best thing going right now is at the nearshore reefs, where the sheepshead catches are very good on days when you can get out. 

January 29

Morning surface water temperatures at the mouths of the main rivers are in the mid-40s and both the North and South Edisto are clear. 

There are mixed signals with the inshore fish around Edisto, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that two days before the snow hit eagles and ospreys were perched on every dock mopping up trout and other species.  The river mouths got down to 41 degrees on the coldest morning, and a boat that he knows went out to 60 feet and found 45-degree water temperatures – where Ron has never seen it below 50! 

While all these signs point to a major kill from which it will take the system a couple of years to recover, biologists in the area report seeing healthy trout sunning in the shallows as recently as yesterday. 

The bottom line is that we won’t have a full picture of the significance of last week until the summer.

More information to follow as we receive it. 

January 15

Morning surface water temperatures at the mouths of the main rivers have stabilized at about 48 degrees and both rivers are clear. 

It’s a tough period for inshore fish around Edisto, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that how to catch fish is pretty much a secondary concern at the moment. For now water temperatures have stabilized high enough to avoid a trout “stun,” but with very cold temperatures predicted for next week it’s hard to imagine they won’t stay below 47 for several days. Trout can only survive that temperature for a few days, and each degree below that increase the chances of a faster kill. Dolphin predation is also a concern. 

In terms of fishing, the first day when it got very cold did set off a trout bite in deep holes – almost like they were trying to get a last feed in before having to hunker down – but since then the bite has been almost nonexistent. Redfish are also very lethargic in the creeks, and on the flats – if you can find them. Most of the big schools have gone way the up the rivers.  And if you do hook one they barely fight.  There are a few smaller sheepshead feeding, but you basically have to go nearshore or offshore to do anything right now. Of course, a few warm days before the next very cold front could offer some brief improvement. 

In 40 feet at the nearshore reefs you can find lots of sheepshead and smaller black sea bass. In 60 feet there are good numbers of keeper black sea bass, but the rest of the bottom fishing is out in 90 plus feet. 

There are also large schools of bull reds in 50-70 feet, and on calm days you can locate them if you find diving gannets. 

In bluewater trolling the tuna are winding down but the wahoo fishing has been pretty good for the high-speed trollers.   

January 8

Morning surface water temperatures off the front beach at Edisto Island are down to 49 degrees and the creeks are around 47 in the mornings. Both rivers are clear. 

It’s hard to know exactly what is coming with inshore fishing around Edisto, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that it won’t be for some time until we know just how much of a trout kill, if any, there is the coming days. However, with water temperatures dropping it’s a virtual certainty that a lot of fish will be getting eaten by dolphins as they slow down and become very lethargic. And a general rule of thumb is that three days below 47 will set off a trout kill – it usually correlates with an inland shad kill at 43 degrees in our lakes. 

Given that it’s unsurprising that the trout fishing is not very good, although you can catch a few fish in deep holes. The redfish are also very lethargic in the creeks, although you can catch one or two. Mud minnows worked slowly are the best bait for both. 

On the flats the clear conditions are conducive to spotting redfish, but there are just not a lot of big schools of fish around. Most of those large schools have gone way back up the creeks and rivers. If you do find redfish on the flats they will take mud minnows, but smaller soft plastics on a flutter hook (they don’t like a plunging jighead in the cold) will also work.

Whiting have become essentially nonexistent off the beaches as they head for deeper water, but in 40 feet at the nearshore reefs you can find lots of sheepshead and smaller black sea bass. In 60 feet there are good numbers of keeper black sea bass, but the rest of the bottom fishing is out in 90 plus feet. 

There are also large schools of bull reds in 50-70 feet, and on calm days you can locate them if you find diving gannets. 

In bluewater trolling the tuna are winding down but the wahoo fishing has been pretty good for the high-speed trollers.