Fishing Report (Updated 5.9.2008)

The inshore bite has really heated up in the Charleston area as the water has warmed and the baitfish have moved back into the area. 

Spottail Bass: Very good.  Lots of fish are being caught in the ICW, creeks, and Wando River, and large numbers of baitfish such as finger mullet are beginning to appear in the Charleston Harbor.   Some monster spottails are being caught out around the Charleston jetties fishing cut bait such as bluefish.  Large schools of redfish can be seen on the flats   

Trout: Very good.  With the mild winter this should be a very good year for trout and warm temperatures have improved the bite over the last week or two.  Fish are in the Wando, Cooper, and the creeks around Wild Dunes.  Fish live shrimp under a float or Gulp shrimp; fly fishermen also report some nice catches.  Night fishermen have also done well fishing DOA shrimp under well-lit docks.  Anglers report 20 fish days, and lots of nice sized trout are around. 

Flounder: Good.  By now most flounder have completed their migration back inshore and can be found throughout inlets, the ICW, and creeks.  Target flounder using live mud minnows fished slowly on the bottom.  Small flounder are also being caught in the surf.   

Sheepshead: Very good. Sheepshead are schooled up at the nearshore reefs such as Capers Reef and are also starting to be caught inshore.  Reports of nice catches around inshore structure, as well as at the Charleston jetties, are common.   

Folly Beach Pier:  Some whiting, spots, skate, and sharks are being caught, but pier fishing has yet to really pick up.

Offshore: While windy conditions continue on calmer days boats have been doing well.  Some dolphin have showed up as well as some giant wahoo, including one recent fish weighing 93 pounds, and some yellowfin and blackfin tuna are around although those fish are running stronger up near Georgetown.  A few king mackerel are mixed in but offshore fishing is on the brink of exploding. 

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