Fishing Forecast Beaufort, SC

As the days become shorter and the temperature slowly drops many fish go into a feeding mode to fatten up for the winter. Some of the best shrimping and fishing of the year is here so let’s sharpen our hooks and mend our nets to get after them.

This month’s feature is Shrimping

Coolers and coolers of shrimp! You can boil em, bake em, broil em; put em in a stew…you name it. Shrimp are the fruit of the ocean and we have some of the world’s best shrimping here in our back yards. We generally fish for shrimp by throwing a cast net around the estuary creeks or when the conditions are right we will toss into local deep holes, known as deep hole shrimping. This is a true low country tradition and if you have not had the opportunity to go shrimping I would put it high on the list of things to do.

Inshore Fishing

Bull red fishing is in full swing, these bruisers are everywhere. Look to catch redfish in the 25-40 pound range along good numbers of whiting. Speckled sea trout will be feeding heavily; it’s not uncommon to catch 20-30 trout on a half day trip this time of year. Also look to catch good numbers of red fish as they start to school up on the flats. As the water continues to cool down the deep hole shrimping will be in full swing. Spend a few hours with us catching shrimp the low country way…with a cast net on a pristine fall day.

Wreck Fishing

Bull reds will be all over the wrecks this time of year. Also look to catch good numbers of weak fish (summer trout) and sea bass. This is also one of the best times of the year to fish the live bottom areas for big snapper and grouper, sea bass, jacks and cobia. If you’re looking for a trip with non-stop action this is it. Due to the fact that these wrecks are located in open water we generally look for light winds and calm seas to go offshore.

This past month around Beaufort, South Carolina was off the hook with a mixed bag of different options. To start we did well on the tailing flats using light tackle spinning rods rigged with lures and we also caught a number of fish on the fly rod. The only bad news about the tailers is that the season is coming to an end with each cold front that pushes through. On the other hand these cold fronts have been driving the fish into their fall patterns. We have been catching a lot of reds, trout and flounder around the creeks and shell bars here lately and the bite is only getting better. In the deeper water the bull red action was okay this past month. I won’t say that I was catching them in big numbers as I would have expected, but they were pretty consistent. Moreover, the shrimping has been outstanding with lots of nice sized shrimp around to take for dinner! Other than that we have just been getting ready for the winter fishing which should be looks to be shaping up with all of the fish that I have been seeing. Until next time, catch em up! Captain Charlie

Fishing Forecast Beaufort, SC

By this time of the year were starting to see our first mild cold fronts which in turn will drive our fall fishing into full swing. The inshore waters are loaded with bait and the fish are taking advantage of this as they begin to feed up for the winter. Weather is less of a factor inshore, and we will still be looking for calm days to venture out towards open water.

This month’s feature is Bull Redfish

When we talk about bull redfish we are referring to the largest of redfish; many weighing over 30 pounds. These bruisers move into our inshore waters after they spawn and are a true trophy fish for any angler. Bull reds are not only sought after for their great size but also for their power as a great fighting bottom fish. This is the last large fish to push into our inshore waters before winter so get out and enjoy a day on the water fishing for the big bulls.

Inshore Fishing

There are still quite a few tarpon around but we will see less of them as the bull redfish move in. Look to catch good numbers of redfish in the 25-40 pound range along with a hand full of sharks and whiting. This is also a great month to fish the flats for tailing redfish. Speckled sea trout will be moving in and feeding heavily; it’s not uncommon to catch 20-30 trout on a half day trip this time of year. Shrimp season is in full swing…if you enjoy eating shrimp, try eating them on the same day that you caught them.

Wreck Fishing

Bull reds will start to take over the wrecks this time of year. Also look to catch good numbers of weak fish (summer trout) and sea bass. This is also one of the best times of the year to fish the live bottom areas for big snapper and grouper, sea bass, jacks and cobia. If you’re looking for a trip with non-stop action this is it. Due to the fact that these wrecks are located in open water we generally look for light winds and calm seas to go offshore.

Overall I did not fish as much as normal over this past month, but I was able to make the most of the days that I did get out on the water. To start with the shrimp have come in solid, I have been catching 10-15 pounds of nice sized shrimp out of the deep holes with in four to five throws of the cast net, so needless to say we have been eating pretty good this month! As for the fishing, the inshore trout and redfish have been firing off around the creeks and shell bars with moving water as they feed on small shrimp and baitfish. We have still been taking nice sized reds off of the short grass flats with the fly rod. The big bull reds have also been coming in to the river in good numbers. Over three days of fishing for them in the past two weeks we have caught close to twenty bulls up to 40
pounds. Fall fishing is just around the corner so lets get after em! Captain Charlie

Poor Mans Tarpon – Lady Fish

With the dog days of summer we are seeing some of the best fishing of the year. To beat the heat of the day; we decided to get an early start on the days fishing, and leave the dock at day break. There is nothing like the feeling that you get while running down the river in the early morning with low light and you know that you’re on your way to a favorite fishing hole. We pull up a feeder creek that empties into a small bay of oyster bars and mixed spartana grass. The tide is falling out of the creek and bringing with it an abundance of shrimp and baitfish. We get set and immediately start to hook up on “the poor mans tarpon” known more commonly as ladyfish. We can’t keep bait in the water for more than a few seconds before one of these hungry monsters gobbles it down. For an hour we see this steady action and then, as if someone turned off the fish switch, it’s over. Who knows why they stopped but we sure had a great time playing with them while it lasted. To hear more tails of whoppers and mishaps give me a call and let’s put together a fishing trip and until then “catch em up”!