Nov. 18, 2010
Saltwater Fishing Trends:


Little River - Grand Strand - Charleston - Beaufort - Tides - S.C. marine recreational fishing regulations (PDF file). Saltwater Fishing License site.

Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.

Little River

* Inshore: Captain Michael Rutenberg reports many inshore fish are now gorging themselves on the abundance of bait and/or gathering in large numbers to spawn. This means more large adult fish are inshore than during the summer months. In the shallow creeks and ICW slot-sized redfish, trout and flounder can all be caught on live mullet or mud minnows under a popping cork. Cut mullet has also been landing black drum, whiting, and croaker. A few big redfish can be caught in the surf along the shallow sandbars adjacent to the main channel using crabs, and in the next few weeks all lines will be focused on the jetties for the big spawning red drum.
* Cherry Grove Pier reports that the fishing is still slow, and only a few spot and whiting have been caught.

Grand Strand

* Flounder: Very good. Perry's reports that inshore flounder fishing around Georgetown remains strong. For best results cast or troll Carolina rigged live mud minnows on the bottom over sandy bottoms and around hard structure. Fishing is often best for a couple of hours either side of low tide.
* Spot: Very good. Perry's Bait and Tackle in Murrell's Inlet reports that the fall spot run has arrived, and boats are catching several hundred fish in a day in Murrell's Inlet. Pieces of shrimp or blood worms fished on the bottom will both produce.
* Sheepshead: Good. At the Georgetown jetties and Murrells Inlet jetties sheepshead fishing has been good. Fish fiddler crabs or small shrimp vertically around structure.
* Surf and Pier Report: Perry's reports the big roe mullet seem to have already passed through, but finger mullet may be yet to arrive. Snapper blues are prolific but fish up to 7 or 8 pound are also present, and there are good numbers of whiting and some spot in the surf. At the south and north end of Pawley's Island some black drum are being caught in the surf where the inlets join the ocean.

Charleston

* Sheepshead: Very good. Haddrell's Point reports that sheepshead fishing continues to improve with the best results from fiddler crabs vertically on a Carolina rig around structures.
* Trout: Very good. Haddrell's Point reports that trout fishing has been very strong along shell rakes and at the mouths of feeder creeks in 3-5 feet of water. Live or DOA shrimp under a popping cork, ZMan chatter jigheads with your favorite grub, and swim shads will all catch fish.
* Spottail Bass: Very good. Haddrell's Point reports that redfish continue to feed heavily, and they can be found all over the estuaries right now. The best bite is coming around structure like docks with deep holes and around submerged rockpiles; also look at the mouths of feeder creek on lower stages of the tide. Carolina rigs baited with mullet, mud minnows, shrimp or cut bait are good bets for fishing around structure, and live shrimp under a float will produce around creek mouths.

Beaufort

* Spottail Bass: Very good. Bay Street Outfitters in Beaufort reports the creeks are getting clearer and sight fishing is especially strong. On lower tides spottails can be found chasing shrimp, but that bite will get stronger once the crabs are gone. Mud minnows and shrimp under a popping cork will both catch fish. Captain Dan "Fishin' Coach" Utley reports that the adult red drum have moved into the local rivers and sounds, and some fishing spots are less than a mile from the landing. Fish around the change of tide at either high or low with live menhaden or cut mullet on the bottom.
* Trout: Good. Bay Street Outfitters reports that trout fishing has been good in deeper holes and around creek mouths. Grubs, Gulp! and shrimp or mud minnows fished under popping corks will both work.