September 26
Inshore surface water temperature temperatures are still about 80 degrees around Hilton Head and the water is very dirty.
It’s still a strong inshore bite in Hilton Head, but Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that the redfish bite is still best on the incoming tide – and with dirty water from the very high tides it just gets better and better as the tide rises and the water gets cleaner. Finger mullet are still the best bait, and free-lining the bait over shells has been the best pattern. When the water is more than four feet and they are fishing over a cleaner bottom then a split shot helps get the bait to the fish.
In the lagoons they are catching some trout, flounder and black drum on shrimp, but in the rivers and creeks it’s still mainly a redfish bite.
For inshore fishing Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475) is on a similar pattern, finding a good bite around the grass at high tide on finger mullet.
But Captain Kai is spending most of his time in the big rivers and sounds, and right now bull red drum are moving into the Port Royal and Calibogue Sounds in numbers where pretty much everyone is catching them. Most of the big wads of fish are in 15-40 feet of water on ledges, structure including rock piles and bridges, and live bottom. Cut bait is still out-fishing live bait, and there are plenty of menhaden around. While the mullet aren’t running the beaches yet they are prolific on the inside.
Tarpon are still around in decent numbers but scattered, and Kai’s boat recently landed a good one in the Broad River.
Just off the beaches Spanish mackerel and bonita are prolific.
September 12
Inshore surface water temperature temperatures are down to about 80 degrees around Hilton Head and the water is pretty turbid. It takes some work but finding mullet has been worth it.
While there is still a strong inshore bite in Hilton Head it has completely changed, and Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that he was very surprised when at the beginning of the week the best bite changed to the incoming tide, considering a hard northeast wind bucking the tide. While he is fishing a few shrimp finger mullet are still king, especially for the redfish. Free-lining the mullet has been really good without a split shot if you have the wind at your back – the fish are so shallow that it makes this possible. They are catching most of the reds as the water is pushing up over the shells drifting baits along the bank.
They are catching a few smaller trout on shrimp, and if you can find some calm water early there can be an excellent topwater bite for both species.
When he isn’t targeting other species Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475) is also targeting redfish, and he has found pretty good action with cut bait up in the grass – again on the rising tide.
But Captain Kai is spending most of his time in the big rivers and sounds, where frankly September is off to a disappointing start between rapidly cooling water, bad weather, and dirty water conditions. Most of the negativity is because the tarpon have really slowed down, and it’s unclear if they have left for the season or will make another appearance.
But the bull red drum have been a brighter spot, and they are starting to make their way into all the rivers including the Broad and the Cooper (by Daufuskie, not Charleston). They are making an early spawning run but they will be caught in similar areas through November.
Most of the big wads of fish are in 15-40 feet of water on ledges, structure including rock piles and bridges, and live bottom. Both cut bait and live bait on the bottom will catch fish, and when they get really thick if the water has cleared you can also catch them on big jigs. But for now in the murky conditions Kai is pretty much fishing cut bait.
As a bunch of threadfin herring (greenies) have moved into the area the jack crevalle are congregating on the sand bar rips, along with blues, ladyfish, and Spanish mackerel. This is going on in both the Calibogue and Port Royal Sound. In truth there is a lot going on, but the weakness in the tarpon fishing (and the weather) has been a downer.
August 29
Inshore surface water temperature temperatures are down to 82 around Hilton Head but will go back up. Bait is prolific in the rivers.
There continues to be a very good inshore bite in Hilton Head, and Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that they are still catching plenty of redfish, a few nice trout, and some flounder mixed in. The key is still finger mullet, and Captain Trent is fishing them on a 25-pound fluorocarbon leader with a ¼ ounce split shot and a 3/0 circle hook. The outgoing tide has been the best and creek mouths along the main rivers have been most productive.
Gulp! shrimp in the “molting” color have also been good and they are also getting a few on swimbaits. And in the mornings the topwater bite on chrome walking baits has been so aggressive fish were literally been knocking the paint off baits yesterday.
Meanwhile Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475) has been concentrating on the big rivers and sounds recently – mainly after tarpon. The odd part is that during the recent cold front he was not seeing them but was catching them on the bottom, while after it got warmer the last couple of days he has been seeing tons of them but not catching them. There are abundant menhaden and finger mullet in the Broad River, and jack crevalle and bull redfish are biting well on cut bait. On the rips they are catching lots of 5-pound jacks on cut bait and there are plenty of bluefish and ladyfish around.
Captain Kai hasn’t been off the beaches much as yesterday was the first calm day in a while and he needed to scout to film a fishing show today. We hope the tarpon are both visible and chomping!
August 15
Inshore surface water temperature temperatures are down to 85 around Hilton Head and the rivers are heavily stained.
Luckily it’s a completely different story inshore fishing in the more closed creek systems, and Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that in the areas he is fishing (not as directly influenced by freshwater inflow) the 15 inches of rain they had really did not affect the bite! The exception is that, while he is catching fish on both tides, the better visibility of the high outgoing has been best when there is much cleaner water.
Overall finger mullet are still king, out-fishing shrimp. The best areas have been creek flows on the dropping tide when bait is being washed out and there are plenty of redfish, smaller trout, and a few flounder mixed together. They are also catching a few nice trout on bigger finger mullet.
Finally, they are even catching a few fish on Gulp! jigs, swimbaits and topwaters early.
August 14
Inshore surface water temperature temperatures are down to 85 around Hilton Head and the rivers are heavily stained.
It’s a tail of two bites for Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475), and inshore with all the fresh water coming in the rivers are dark red and basically look like blackwater rivers. At high tide the color is not terrible but on the outgoing and lower stages of the tide it’s very stained, and the fish Captain Kai was on have basically left. Only sharks still seem to be around.
But they had to go somewhere, and in the ocean it has been pretty fantastic fishing for tarpon, big red drum, jacks and even trout. They are catching the trout in the breaking waves by down-sizing to smaller hooks and using finger mullet, and the bull reds are in similar areas. They have also been catching jacks in the 10-pound range on the bottom with the same chunks of mullet and menhaden that reds are eating.
The tarpon fishing has also been outstanding, and they have been bringing at least one or two fish alongside the boat every day. Closer to the full moon it should get even better as another wave of fish arrive, although they may not push into the sounds and rivers based on salinity levels and the bait situation.
Finally, this week Kai had a 100-pound tarpon eaten by a hammerhead shark!
August 1
Inshore surface water temperature temperatures are in the upper 80s around Hilton head, and bait remains abundant. Water clarity varies depending on tide.
It’s still very good inshore fishing around Hilton Head, and Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that first thing throwing topwater baits for both trout and redfish has been very good. After that they are mostly free-lining finger mullet on small circle hooks to catch reds and some trout, although they have also picked up reds on Gulp! shrimp jigs. The best action is still coming fishing deeper water in the 8-foot range where there is a steep drop-off. Overall the trout have been big but the numbers are low, and they do continue to pick up a few big flounder.
The best bite for all species has been on the high outgoing tide when the water is much cleaner.
It’s also been a good week for Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475), chiefly fishing the Broad River as well as the surf. While he isn’t catching great numbers of any species, with a diverse bag of bull reds, tarpon, cobia and jacks there has always been plenty of excitement. For some reason this week the fish have not been hanging around the big menhaden schools and feeding on them as much, and for cobia and jacks they have been fishing the Broad River Bridge or inshore live bottom areas with live menhaden. The jacks are running in the 5-10 pound range, and while not huge they are fun.
Just off the beaches at structure and current rips they are catching bull red drum on live and cut bait, while the tarpon are both in the Broad River and off the beaches. However, there usually needs to be some sort of feature like a current break, inlet, or creek.
July 19
Inshore surface water temperature temperatures are in the upper 80s around Hilton head, and bait remains abundant. Water clarity varies depending on tide.
It’s still very good inshore fishing, but Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that the he can already tell that the big full moon tides are going to change the bite. For a while now the tides have been very moderate, but the bigger tides yesterday dirtied the water and clearly had the fish moved around.
Nonetheless, overall it’s a still a good bite for both trout and redfish with the best action coming fishing deeper water in the 8-foot range where there is a steep drop-off. They have also picked up a few keeper flounder this week.
Free-lining finger mullet and small menhaden (when available) on small circle hooks with a split shot has been very effective. In a reversal, yesterday the high outgoing tide was the best because the water was cleaner than on the low incoming.
July 18
Inshore surface water temperature temperatures are in the upper 80s around Hilton head, and bait remains abundant. Water clarity varies depending on tide.
It’s been a banner week of inshore and surf fishing for big game for Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475), who reports that in the Broad River they are having good success floating live baits and throwing big soft plastic swimbaits into the large schools of 5-6 inch menhaden. They are catching tarpon, jack crevalleand sharks with these techniques, and tide doesn’t really seem to matter as long as there is some moving water.
At the same time they are still catching (small) cobia around the Broad River Bridge and other, lesser known, structure on live menhaden, while just off the beaches at structure and current rips they are catching bull red drum on live and cut bait.
More to follow.
July 12
Inshore surface water temperature temperatures are in the upper 80s around Hilton head, and bait is again abundant. Water clarity varies depending on tide.
Apologies for the late Friday evening report… It’s been steamy weather, but Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that inshore fishing around Hilton Head has been just as hot. The best bait right now has been small finger mullet not much more than about 2 inches long, and both the trout and redfish have been devouring them. The best action has come fishing deeper water in the 8-foot range where there is a steep drop-off.
Free-lining the bait on small circle hooks with a split shot has been very effective. The incoming tide has fished better because the water is dramatically clearer, but they are also catching some fish on the outgoing when the water is dirty. Captain Trent’s boat did get one gator trout on a big bait fishing a main point near the ocean at high tide. A lot of smaller flounder are also being picked up while targeting trout and reds.
Trent has also been seeing a few jack crevalle around in the sound running from spot to spot, and those have been a target species for Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475). He reports that big jacks are abundant in the Calibogue Sound. They are in big schools on the surface and will readily take big poppers.
Finally, the tarpon action has really come on this week and the bite is now wide open. Captain Kai says that fish will be anywhere there is bait, but the most productive areas have been current rips and other areas where there is highly oxygenated water. Mullet and menhaden will both work.
June 27
Morning surface water temperatures around Hilton Head are around 83 in the ocean and 86-87 inshore. Water clarity has dropped and bait has been surprisingly hard to find.
The inshore bite changed dramatically in the last two weeks around Hilton Head, and Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that the hard wind changed the color of the clear points he was fishing for trout to chocolate milk – and the trout bite died. The water is finally starting to clear again, and he is certain that the bite will turn back on, but for the last week they have been focused almost solely on redfish.
Luckily the inshore reds have been cooperative, and Captain Trent reports that as long as you stay out of the still backs the fishing has actually been surprisingly pleasant with the ocean breezes. The go-to patterns have been free-lining live menhaden and mullet (which are around but take a lot of work to catch) along points and grass edges on the incoming tide, although the best action has come on the dropping tide fishing the same way at the mouths of creeks. You can also catch fish on cut bait, but anchoring with cut menhaden or mullet you will catch mostly bonnethead sharks and far less reds.
The creeks are full of tiny two-inch shrimp, which the redfish are no-doubt gorging on, but they are so small that it’s impossible to not catch pinfish with them. As they grow to a size where they can avoid the pinfish a little better Trent may switch over to using them before they eventually leave the creeks and it gets back to a mullet bite.
Meanwhile Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475) has been concentrating his efforts mostly in the Port Royal Sound, where there is an abundance of life including cobia, jacks, sharks, bull reds, bluefish and more. The one drag is that the bait situation has not been good, and without giant schools of bait it’s both harder to get bait and there is less surface activity.
As a result they are mostly fishing with live and cut menhaden on the bottom. The most productive areas have been current rips and other areas where there is highly oxygenated water. They have even seen a few tarpon, but the numbers aren’t around yet to fully target them.
Finally, they are picking up a few trout under a popping cork in the cleaner areas.
June 13
Morning surface water temperatures around Hilton Head are in the low 80s and water clarity is still very good. Bait is abundant.
It’s been a really good week of inshore fishing around Hilton Head, and Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475) reports that an influx of menhaden has clearly made the fishing better. The cobia are still around, and while most of the fish are short they are catching them both bottom fishing and float fishing with live menhaden around structure, shoals or sand bars. In general menhaden are far preferable to the threadfin herring they had been relying on.
Cut menhaden are still catching redfish over white shell flats, but their boat has also been finding a bunch of big trout in the area. Fishing menhaden on deeper cuts adjacent to flats in the current seams has been the trick to catch the trout, and they are also picking up a bunch of bonnethead and sharpnose sharks this way.
But the biggest excitement this week has been the arrival of tripletail, and Captain Kai’s boat managed to land one giant 15-pounder! It’s basically a matter of randomly finding them on the surface, but once you spot them they will eat a bunch of different baits (live shrimp are a good choice) as long as you bother them enough!
June 6
Morning surface water temperatures around Hilton Head are about 81 degrees and the water is unusually clear. Tons of bait including finger mullet and menhaden can be caught, and there seem to be more big white shrimp off the beaches than usual this year.
The inshore bite is outstanding around Hilton Head, and Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that in particular the early morning topwater bite is wide open for both trout and redfish. The big trout up to 6 ½ pounds and more have showed up.
They are catching both species on big 6-8 inch live mullet (or swimbaits), and cut mullet really isn’t fishable right now because there are so many sharks around – especially bonnetheads. Beyond the early topwater bite, the best pattern for redfish and trout has been free-lining the big baits in good moving water, whether that is around main river white shell points or in funnel areas between shells and islands where bait is being flushed through. With big tides the incoming tide has been better because the water is cleaner. That’s a must for trout.
Meanwhile Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475) has been concentrating his efforts in the Broad River mostly, and they are still catching cobia both bottom fishing and float fishing with live threadfin herring or menhaden around structure, shoals or sand bars. The same bait cut up is catching redfish over white shell flats.
There are also a bunch of bluefish and some Spanish mackerel in the Broad River. Casting jigs and spoons will work for both.
Captain Kai has also seen some early tarpon but not enough to target them yet.
May 23
Morning surface water temperatures just off Hilton Head are about 76 degrees while the creeks are a couple of degrees warmer. As a result bait is much easier to find now.
The inshore bite is very good around Hilton head, and Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that each morning there is a really good bite on both topwater lures and live bait. Whether the tide is coming in or out the fish are feeding. Because the redfish are splitting up into smaller schools there are more opportunities to target them, and the bigger trout are also showing up. Both species are shallow in about 3 feet of water or less, and they are mostly around big shell mounds that are isolated away from the bank. Closer to ocean the water has been too dirty for the main river shell points to be very productive, as most of the cleaner water has been back in the sound.
Live bait and artificials will certainly work, but Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475) is having the best results for reds fishing cut threadfin herring (available in the Broad River) on the lower half of the tide cycle. He is fishing them over hard white shell flats in the bigger waterways.
While most of the fish aren’t giants, the cobia seem to be abundant this year in the Broad River. Captain Kai’s boat caught three yesterday anchoring with cut threadfin herring on rips in the Broad River/ Port Royal Sound. You can throw the net for the baitfish but if you want them live (sometimes preferrable) it beats them up too much, and so Captain Kai is using Sabiki rigs to catch them.
Finally, in the rips in the Broad River Spanish mackerel can be caught casting spoons. They aren’t huge or in huge numbers, and the better concentrations of bigger fish are off the beaches.
May 15
Morning surface water temperatures just off Hilton Head are about 75 degrees while the creeks are a bit warmer. Big tides last week pulled the menhaden out of the rivers but other bait is around.
It’s a pretty simple inshore pattern for Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634), who reports that when he can find finger mullet he is catching fish. Regardless of tide every morning he is finding an excellent topwater bite around bait, mostly for redfish but also with some trout mixed in. The best areas are generally broken shell bottoms – the kind of areas you would gig for flounder – not over live shell mounds. The fish have transitioned away from the deeper edges where he was catching them.
During the day he is also catching both species on live bait under a popping cork around normal ambush spots like creek mouths and points.
For Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475) the best way to catch bigger redfish has been pulling up on the flats and fishing in 2-3 feet of water with cut mullet or menhaden. These fish seem to be roaming in small groups of 2-3 fish, and they are generally in the 30-inch range or bigger.
The smaller reds in the slot are spread out around docks, sea walls, and structure, and they are eating about anything he puts in front of them.
But the most popular thing going may be the cobia, and in the Broad River the season is going really well. Fish can be caught in 5-35 feet around every rip, live bottom area, or the bridge. Kai is mostly anchoring and fishing live baits, but his boat did catch one nice cobia on an artificial lure that was in a school of fish swimming with a group of manta rays.
May 2
Morning surface water temperatures just off Hilton Head are about 72 degrees and temperatures are frequently pushing well into the 70s in the creeks.
There is still really good live bait fishing around Hilton Head for redfish, and Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that he is now able to get finger mullet and small menhaden and the reds are blistering both. Recently the incoming tide has been better, especially around oyster points and deep banks, in part because that is when the cleanest water is coming through. When fish are on a live bait bite his boat always does better in clear water, while on a cut bait bite clarity does not matter as much.
On the trout front Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475) has been having a lot of success fishing live shrimp under floats on higher tides. Once again they have had the most success fishing clean, moving water, and steep banks with current have held the most fish. They are also picking up redfish on this pattern.
Captain Kai notes that they are also starting to see tripletails along grass lines.
April 25
Morning surface water temperatures just off Hilton Head are about 69 degrees and frequently pushing well into the 70s in the creeks.
Live bait is now king around Hilton Head, and Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that for him the key to catching fish has been getting his hands on the smaller menhaden. Free-lining them down the deeper edges has been especially good on the dropping tide for redfish, which are pretty spread out by now. As the water has quickly warmed the big schools have broken up and they are hanging in smaller pods, but the fish have also gotten much more aggressive.
While Captain Trent has not been targeting trout very much, some captains have been having success drifting live shrimp along deeper grass lines.
Finally, as temperatures have warmed the lagoon bite has got really good for big redfish and more.
April 11
Morning surface water temperatures just off Hilton Head are about 67 degrees and about 65 in the creeks.
Inshore patterns are changing fast in Hilton Head, and Captain Trent Malphrus with Palmetto Lagoon Charters (843-301-4634) reports that he is no longer fishing grass patches. The better redfish action is now coming around creek mouths and points on the dropping tide when bait is being flushed out. He is also catching some fish on the rising tide around “hard edges” – steeper areas where the water doesn’t have as many places to fill back into the grass and so fish have to follow reliable routes.
Finger mullet have been the best bait when he can get them, but if not cutting up larger mullet is also working.
At the same time Captain Kai Williams with Awesome Adventure Charters (843-816-7475) has been having the best success with live shrimp, picking up redfish and a few trout this way. With strong tides he is having the best success fishing slack tides at either high or low water.
But the most exciting action for Captain Kai’s boat has been nearshore, and in 30-50 feet of water they are having a field day with the sheepshead and black drum on fiddler crabs. Smaller fish are on the closer end of the range while bigger ones are further out. They are also catching tons of undersized black sea bass.
