August 25, 2011
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 some red drum, black drum, flounder, sheepshead, spot and whiting have all been caught.

Grand Strand

Spottail Bass: Very good. Perry's Bait and Tackle reports that redfish in the creeks are feeding very well, with lots of slot sized and bigger fish being caught. The bite at the jetties is also very strong. The best action has been on the incoming tide. Live mud minnows, live finger mullet, live shrimp and a variety of artificial lures will all work.
Flounder: Fair. Perry's reports that flounder fishing in Murrells Inlet has slowed. 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.
Sheepshead: Perry's reports that at the Georgetown jetties and around the closer reefs sheepshead fishing is strong. Fish fiddler crabs vertically on a Carolina rig.
Surf and Pier report: Whiting are around in good numbers, and small bluefish and Spanish mackerel can be caught off the piers. Flounder fishing is slow off the piers but sharks are everywhere.

Charleston

Sheepshead: Good. Haddrell's Point reports that sheepshead fishing has been above average for this time of year, and the best reports have come from anglers fishing around docks, rocks and bridge pilings with heavy barnacle growth using fiddler crabs. There have also been an unusually large number of sheepshead caught as a by-catch by anglers targeting other fish.
Spottail bass: Fair to good. Haddrell's Point reports that redfish are scattered throughout the estuaries, and on low tide fish are readily taking live baits fished around docks and rock piles. Tailing activity has been fair on higher tides, with fish finicky at times. Small gold spoons or Gulp! Jerkshad rigged weedless are good bets for tailing fish. At the jetties large bull reds are being caught.
Flounder: Fair. Haddrell's Point reports that flounder catches have been fairly steady, with fish caught on live mullet, minnows and Chatterbaits fished near inlets and the edges of rock piles.
Folly Beach Pier reports that whiting, bluefish, flounder, small spadefish and pompano have all been caught recently, but nothing is hot.

Beaufort

Spottail Bass: Fair to good. Bay Street Outfitters in Beaufort reports that with the heat the best bite has been early, but as long as you avoid the heat of the day fish have continued to feed pretty well. Low tide has been a little muddy, and fish have eaten better when the water is clearer. Whereas mud minnows were the best live bait a few weeks ago, shrimp have come on strong and been out-producing mud minnows lately. Captain Dan "Fishin' Coach" Utley in Hilton Head says that his most productive pattern has been fishing at the mouths of very small creeks at low tide and then following the fish into the creeks as the tide rises. Fish your bait very shallow and float it into the creeks with the rising tide. Shrimp, mud minnows and cut bait will all work. Fish can also be caught on the high outgoing tide around oyster bed points a little deeper than usual, up to 4 feet deep. On the half tides his boat has been finding some fish holding deeper in creeks with bends and structures like docks or fallen trees. On good high tides there has been some strong tailing activity.
Flounder: Fair to good. Bay Street Outfitters reports that good numbers of flounder are being caught in the creeks. Fish mud minnows on lower stages of the tide around good ambush points.
Hunting Island Pier: Some whiting and small bluefish are being caught, but sharks, rays and toadfish are more prolific right now.