Dec. 2, 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

* Cherry Grove Pier reports that they have had several good days of spot fishing recently, and lots of flounder and whiting are also being caught off the pier. Occasional black drum are also being picked up.

Grand Strand

* Spot: Very good. 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.
* Red drum: Very good. Perry’s Bait and Tackle reports spottail fishing has been really hot this October. Fish are biting well in the creeks on live and cut bait, and the bull drum fishing is very strong at the tip of both Murrells Inlet jetties for a couple of hours either side of low and high tide. For big red drum at the jetties anchor a bottom rig - fish finder or Carolina rig-style - with a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook baited with cut bait. The big fish often refuse to chase a live offering. Cut mullet, menhaden or quartered blue crabs will all work
* Flounder: Very good. Perry’s reports that inshore flounder fishing has been very strong this month, with large fish caught in the creeks and off the piers. 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.
* Trout: Good. In the last couple of weeks limits of trout have been caught in Murrell’s Inlet, behind Pawley’s Island and in the creeks around Debordieu. Most of the fish have been small, however. Fishing shrimp underneath a popping cork alongside flooded spartina grass is hard to beat. 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 that schools of mullet are running the beaches, but right now they are mainly in the 7-9 inch range. 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.
* Nearshore Report: Perry’s reports that Spanish mackerel aren’t around right now, but at Belkie Bear and the Myrtle Beach Rocks kings are biting well.
* Offshore Report: Georgetown Landing Marina reports strong bottom fishing for grouper, triggerfish, beeliners, silver snapper and black sea bass.

Charleston

* Trout: Very good. Haddrell’s Point reports that trout fishing remains very strong and bigger 18-22 fish are starting to show up. Fish along shell rakes and at the mouths of feeder creeks in 3-6 feet of water with live or DOA shrimp under a popping cork, ZMan chatter jigheads with your favorite grub, and swim shads.
* 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. In addition to artificials, 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. Tailing activity is pretty much over for the year, but sight-fishing will be good in clearer, colder water.
* Sheepshead: Very good. Haddrell’s Point reports that sheepshead fishing around bridges and hard structure is in full swing. Fish fiddler crabs vertically on a Carolina rig.
* Folly Beach Pier reports that slot-sized spottails have been caught with shrimp, as well as some spot, whiting, and occasional trout.
* Offshore: Haddrell’s Point reports that black sea bass and triggerfish are doing very well in 55-90 feet of water using squid and cigar minnows. Some grouper are also being caught on butterfly jigs in 90-180 feet. Remember that vermillion snapper cannot be kept as of Nov. 1 due to a seasonal closure.

Beaufort

* Spottail Bass: Very good. Bay Street Outfitters in Beaufort reports that fish are hungry and fattening up for winter. Lots of fish are feeding on the edges of tall grass and around cuts into the marsh on the incoming tide, and on the outgoing tide fish can be found where small creeks are draining larger flats and around moving water. Fish will take bait as well as chartreuse and gold Dupre spoons. Fiddler crabs are mostly gone but occasional tailing fish can still be spotted. The best fishing is on calm days when you can fish in the afternoon when fish are most active. Water is clearing and sight fishing will be strong for the next few months.
* Trout: Good. Bay Street Outfitters reports that nice trout in the 3 pound range have been caught around moving water coming across oyster shells. Small shrimp fished about 18 inches below a popping cork work best; the trout are not eating a lot of large shrimp right now.