Fishing Report (Updated 1.15.2012)

Spottail Bass: Good to very good.  Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) in Beaufort reports that bait is very scarce on the tidal flats, and a few mullet, sand eels and crabs are all that’s left.  Redfish are schooled up in big winter schools, and most flats will only have one large school of fish.  The best stage of the tide is low water, and it’s an excellent time to sight fish for reds.  White jigs, Redfish Magic and Gulp! will all catch fish on spinning tackle, and on the fly shrimp patterns, mud minnow patterns or attractor patterns like Dupre Spoon flies are all effective.   

Captain Dan “Fishin’ Coach” Utley (843-757-2126) in Hilton Head reports that fish have been a little harder to locate in the last week or two, but once fish are found they are generally willing to eat.  Clear water brings excellent sight fishing opportunities, and with a mild winter likely the best fishing is still ahead.  Casting Gulp! Shrimp on a ¼ ounce jig head just ahead of visible fish is fun fishing, but a more passive approach is to wait for high water and fish along grass edges and in thin grass areas with bait under a rattling cork.  Gulp! baits have outfished live mud minnows, and in the grass cut mullet has been the bait of choice under the float. 

Trout: Bay Street Outfitters reports that a few trout have been picked up in deep holes. 

No new report from Hunting Island Pier.   

Offshore: No new report from Captain Wally Phinney (843-838-7437). 

Saltwater Fishing at Basspro.com 

For most recent updates click here.