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.   

December 19

Morning surface water temperatures off the front beach at Edisto Island are down to 54 degrees, but the creeks were 60 yesterday. Both rivers are clear. 

The inshore fishing is fairly stable around Edisto, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that the trout have settled into a pretty good pattern. They are almost exclusively in the creeks, and most days they will eat but some days they will not. A lot of the fish are in deep holes and bends, but you will also catch some randomly casting. Trolling the creeks with a ¼ ounce grub on a jighead is a good way to locate fish, and Captain Ron likes to start at the backs. 

For redfish cut mullet and mud minnows are often the best way to catch them, although they will also take scented soft plastics. Besides the schools of fish on the flats there will still be groups of fish in holes back in the smaller creeks that have structure. Low tide is usually the best time to catch them. 

There are still a fair number of inshore sheepshead around, but they are all on deeper structure with at least 15 feet of water.   

Only smaller whiting are left in the surf, and the bigger ones are in more than 10 feet of water. They can be on hard structure or the outskirts of the reefs.  It’s worth noting that schools of trout can be targeted at the mouths of major inlets like Frampton and Jeremy when there is a favorable wind which doesn’t make the surf too rough to spot them.  

Nearshore at the reefs there are some weakfish, but the bluefish have gotten extremely thick and without a leader you will get cut off. There are also bull reds from the Edisto Rocks to the reefs. 

There is still really good bottom fishing in 90 feet of water, but you can also catch limits of nice black sea bass as well as snapper and grouper in 50-70 feet.  However, before long everything will head deeper at the next cold snap. 

In bluewater trolling there’s not much news with the tuna but the wahoo fishing has been pretty good for the high-speed trollers.   

December 4

Morning surface water temperatures off the front beach at Edisto Island are down to 60 degrees, but the creeks are much cooler – especially in the mornings. Both rivers are clear. 

Things happened really, really fast with the inshore fishing around Edisto the past two weeks, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that as temperatures plummeted the shrimp raced out of the creeks. Now they are either in deep holes or the ocean, but luckily a variety of artificial lures are working for most inshore species. 

As predicted for a couple of days there was an incredible trout bite on the main river points as shrimp were leaving and the trout stacked up to gorge on them, but it happened very fast and now the majority of the trout are back in the creeks. A few can be found on the main rivers mixed in with the black drum and reds on the flats. 

Accordingly the trout fishing has gotten tougher, as they can be pretty easily picked over by fishermen in the creeks – and they don’t have to feed every day in cooler temperatures. But fish can still be caught by covering water, and trolling the creeks with a ¼ ounce grub on a jighead is a good way to locate fish. Captain Ron likes to start at the backs. 

For inshore redfish cut mullet and mud minnows are often the best way to catch them, although they will also take scented soft plastics. Besides the fish on the flats there will still be groups of fish in holes back in the smaller creeks that have structure. Low tide is usually the best time to catch them. 

Flounder are gone and the sheepshead are generally headed that way, but some can still be caught on deeper inshore structure in 10-12 feet. 

Only smaller whiting are left in the surf typically, and the bigger ones are in more than 10 feet of water. They can be on hard structure or the outskirts of the reefs.   It’s worth noting that schools of trout can be targeted at the mouths of major inlets like Frampton and Jeremy when there is a favorable wind which doesn’t make the surf too rough to spot them.  

Nearshore at the reefs there are big weakfish, bluefish, black drum, sheepshead, and red drum, but if you want to target the schools of giant redfish ride around in 40-60 feet of water and look for the telltale sign of gannets diving where redfish are feasting on bait schools. Cut mullet off to the side of structure at that depth is also a pretty sure-fire way to catch big reds. 

The best bottom fishing is in 90 feet of water until it gets very cold, and bluewater trolling is slowing down as temperatures drop. 

November 20

Morning surface water temperatures in the creeks around Edisto Island are about 67 degrees. With a significant amount of freshwater inflow both rivers are clear but relatively tannic in parts. 

It’s an odd day to be writing a fishing report for Edisto Island, as today conditions are basically the same as a week ago. However, after overnight lows in the upper 50s and 60s for the last week, overnight lows are expected to dip into the mid- to lower 40s the next four nights and a lot should change. 

Looking ahead, Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that the dropping water temperatures should be an almost unmitigated boon, as each of the next three or four cold fronts should bring about a significant increase in feeding activity for resident inshore species. In particular the trout and redfish should bite much better (they are already biting very well), and as bait starts to leave both species will stack up at creek mouths and points leading out to the ocean to ambush it. The artificial lure bite should also get better back in the creeks as fishermen no longer have to compete with live bait. Expect the next 2-3 weeks to be the peak of the entire year for trout fishing, and for the redfish action to be similar. 

While sheepshead are already starting to make their winter spawning migration offshore, related more to time of year than temperature, good numbers of fish will be around inshore until temperatures drop below the mid-50s. Structure in 5-10 feet of water at low tide is still the best place to look for them, and with so many pecker fish gone the range of bait options is greatly expanded beyond just fiddler crabs. Most any crustacean can work.

The only species that anglers will be sad to see leave in the next few days is the flounder, and once temperatures drop below about 65 they will mostly be gone. 

The bull redfish bite will also change, but not for the worse. As the fish wrap up their spawn they will aggregate in schools of hundreds to thousands and follow bait schools in 30-60 feet. The best way to locate them is looking for diving schools of gannets.   

At the nearshore reefs any Spanish mackerel that have not already left will soon, but little tunny, bonito, bluefish, larger black sea bass, and sheepshead will also be around – in addition to bull reds. Additionally, the next 3-4 weeks will be the annual peak for large weakfish.  

In 60-70 feet of water the bottom fishing will continue to be as good as much further offshore, and on days when you can get out blue water trolling will also be very strong for wahoo and tuna. The only problem will be fronts that make it difficult to impossible to get out to the fish.

November 13

Morning surface water temperatures in the creeks around Edisto Island are 70-71 degrees. Both rivers are clear and there is still plenty of bait in the creeks. 

The inshore action around Edisto is very strong, but Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that at least the trout bite is about to get even better. About three weeks ago the trout fishing was phenomenal, but then as temperatures rose back towards and into the 70s it fell off. Water temperatures should be in the mid-60s right now, but since they are running behind Captain Ron looks for the trout bite to peak around Thanksgiving – about three weeks late.  In the next few days the cold snap should turn it on.  

Live shrimp under a popping cork will be hard to beat for trout, but you will also be able to catch them on DOA shrimp or other artificials. Fish points where trout can ambush shrimp on clean, moving tides. 

The redfish have been extremely cooperative when you can find them, and they will take finger mullet, mud minnows, and live shrimp as well as scented artificials.  There are a few schools on the flats, but the easiest place to locate them is back in the smaller creeks around deep bends with any sort of structure including trees, docks and rocks.  

With current water temperatures flounder are still around, and the sheepshead bite continues to be very good. It will stay that way until water temperatures drop into the mid-60s. At low tide the fish will eat fiddler crabs (as well as clams and oysters, which feature a higher hook-up ratio but attract more pecker fish) around structure in 5-8 feet of water. On higher tides they go in the grass and become very hard to catch. 

Perhaps the best thing going right now is the bull redfish bite, and there seem to be more around this year than in typical years. They can be caught from the surf to the Edisto Rocks (15-20 feet of water) to the nearshore reefs. 

In the surf there are lots of bait stealers around, but besides bull reds there are trout running the beaches, whiting, and summer trout if you can find a good rip. That’s more likely to happen at the inlets than on the front beaches.

At the nearshore reefs summer trout and bluefish are also thick.

By now temperatures have cooled enough that in 60-70 feet of water the bottom fishing is very good, and offshore trolling is also very strong for wahoo and tuna. Both will only get better in the coming weeks. 

October 30

Morning surface water temperatures in the creeks around Edisto Island are 68-69 degrees. Both rivers are clear and there is still plenty of bait in the creeks. 

The inshore action around Edisto is about as good as it gets, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that pretty much everything is peaking right now. It should stay that way for the next 2-3 weeks, and until water temperatures fall out of the 60s fish will feed more after each cold front. The pattern for trout and redfish is the same as at last report, and basically redfish will be shallower along the banks while trout will be a little deeper. Oyster beds surround by harder bottom areas, instead of regular pluff mud, are better. Fish moving tides. 

Both species will eat shrimp but the bigger trout seem to be eating finger mullet or artificials that mimic them better – for a bigger meal. 4-5 inch soft and hard jerkbaits are both very good, and there is still a topwater bite. While live bait is always more effective for redfish, they will also take artificials including scented plastics on weighted hooks. 

Flounder have also showed up in better numbers again on the main river flats, although ¾ are still undersized. 

The sheepshead bite is also peaking right now, and at low tide they will eat fiddler crabs (as well as clams and oysters, which feature a higher hook-up ratio but attract more pecker fish) around structure in 5-8 feet of water. On higher tides they go in the grass and become very hard to catch. 

In the surf there are lots of bait stealers around, but the quality fish besides reds, including bulls, and trout running the beaches are whiting and summer trout if you can find a good rip. That’s more likely to happen at the inlets than on the front beaches.

At the nearshore reefs summer trout and bluefish are thick, while bull drum can be found from the beaches to the reefs. 

By now temperatures have cooled enough that in 60-70 feet of water the bottom fishing is very good, and offshore trolling is also very strong for wahoo and tuna. 

October 17

Morning surface water temperatures in the creeks around Edisto Island are in the low 70s but will likely rebound a couple of degrees after this cold front passes. Both rivers are clear and there is still plenty of bait in the creeks. 

The inshore action around Edisto is absolutely on fire, and Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that the trout bite is particularly incredible. Migratory fish have showed up and the resident fish that have been there all summer are also gorging on shrimp which are on the move. As the temperatures in the smallest creeks drop trout are ambushing them as they leave, and the same phenomenon is going on at the main river points. On pretty much every bank you will see trout eating shrimp right now. 

While live shrimp will obviously catch fish, there is a really good artificial lure bite and live bait isn’t necessary. In the mornings there is good topwater action, and during the day imitation shrimp under a popping cork are hard to beat. The same is true for redfish, and you can catch as many on artificials as live bait. Generally they are a little shallower than the trout. 

The sheepshead bite is also peaking right now, and in a recent tournament tons of big fish were caught. At low tide they will eat fiddler crabs (as well as clams and oysters, which feature a higher hook-up ratio but attract more pecker fish) around structure in 5-8 feet of water. On higher tides they go in the grass and become very hard to catch. 

Whiting and bull red drum are around right off the beaches, but bulls can also be found nearshore out to about 60 feet of water. They are following bait including schools of shrimp and mullet and can be caught at the mouths of inlets casting from the beach, but they will also be on any hard bottom structure. At the reefs the summer trout are thick, bluefish and small black sea bass are prolific, and there are lots of bonito. The Spanish and king mackerel have moved out to 60 plus feet of water. 

In 90-100 feet of water the bottom fishing is very good, and offshore trolling is also hitting a fall peak. Getting 5-6 blackfin tuna and 2-4 wahoo per trip is the norm. 

October 3

Morning surface water temperatures around Edisto Island are about 78-79 degrees and the water is still fairly clear. 

The Edisto River was very low before the storm, and so the combined effects of Helene has simply been to make it come up a little above normal but not flood. While another storm would be a big problem, for now conditions are virtually unchanged.

The inshore action remains pretty consistent, although again Captain Ron Davis, Jr. (843-513-0143) points out that at the next cold front he expects significant changes to the bite. As temperatures cool shrimp will start to leave the creeks and trout will stack up again on the same main river points where they were located during the spawn to ambush them. There are fish there now, but not the numbers of a month ago as they are pretty spread out. 

You can still catch fish in these areas on a popping cork and live shrimp, but it’s an awkward time when there are so many bait stealers around that you go through a ton of shrimp. Soon they will be more receptive to artificial lures, and of course the bait stealers will eventually thin out. 

At the same time the redfish continue to bite very well, and in the creeks and on the flats fish are hungry. Docks have been really good. In general low tide is the best time to fish the creeks.

The action for sheepshead continues to be pretty fantastic, with some really big ones feeding.  For the next few weeks it will be the peak season for them, and at low tide they will eat fiddler crabs (as well as clams and oysters, which feature a higher hook-up ratio but attract more pecker fish) around structure in 5-8 feet of water. On higher tides they go in the grass and become very hard to catch. 

Captain Ron has not been picking up many flounder recently but they should still be around. 

In the inlets there is still an excellent bite for whiting in 6-8 feet of water over the sand bars lining the major ones.  Plenty of small whiting are in the surf and the mullet run is under way which will attract more species. Already the tarpon are concentrating in the ocean and we are in the peak time for them.    

Nearshore there are a lots of king mackerel and Spanish right at the color change, from around 1-4 miles offshore depending on the day, and more big weakfish are showing up. Bluefish, ladyfish and bonita are also around, and the bull red drum spawn is underway. 

Bottom fishing is best in 90-100 feet, and offshore trolling for wahoo and tuna is good when you can get out.