This Week's Saltwater Report - Updated Oct. 25

[Jay]

Week 43 Saltwater Fishing Report

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Little River

Inshore: Captain Michael Rutenberg (843-685-2737) reports that big red drum can be found at the Little River Jetties and can be caught on cut bait fished on a stout Carolina rig. Trout are moving back into the IntraCoastal Waterway and striper should show up in the brackish waters soon.

Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625): Water has been very clear but there seem to be less mullet in the surf than a week ago. A few spot have been caught as well as some bluefish, flounder, whiting and pompano. The sheepshead bite remains extraordinary and a fish over ten pounds was caught and weighed in this week.

Offshore: No reports.


Grand Strand

Spot: Excellent. At times spot are running in the surf and off the piers but the spot bite in Murrell’s Inlet is on fire. Perry’s Bait and Tackle (843-651-2895) reports that the public landing on the inlet is packed and the road is also lined with boat trailers. Cut shrimp are a good bait.

Spottail Bass: Very good. Perry’s reports that nice catches of slot sized red drum and short fish in the 13 inch range continue to be made in the creeks. Finger mullet continue to be the hot bait. On low tide fish can be found on creek edges and patrolling around oyster rakes; on higher tides the fish will move alongside and then into the grass. Bigger fish can be found in the surf and around the jetties.

Sheepshead and black drum: Very good. Sheepshead and black drum are biting very well at the jetties and around most any inshore structure. Black drum are also being caught in good numbers in deep holes in the creek. Use fiddler crabs or shrimp.

Flounder: Good. After a slow early fall the flounder bite was much improved two weeks ago and continued to be strong this past week. In the creeks, off the beach and around jetties the fish have turned on. Pulling live mud minnows or finger mullet on the bottom, particularly around structure with moving water, will catch fish.

Weakfish: Good. Conditions have improved for weakfish and at Springmaid Pier and in Garden City the bite is turning on again. Surf casting, fishing off the piers or trolling will all work. There is also good action reported at night off Myrtle Beach. Fish strips of fresh mullet on the bottom.

Spotted Sea Trout: Good. Perry’s reports that as temperatures have stabilized the trout bite has improved again. Look in Murrells Inlet area creeks and the creeks behind Pawley’s Island and fish in holes at lower stages of the tide and along the grass on higher tides. Fish are also being caught off the Second Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach. Live shrimp (available at Perry’s Bait and Tackle) fished under a float or DOA shrimp will work.

Surf and Pier Report: While they are moving out of the creeks the surf remains awash with schools of 6-8 inch mullet holding right on the beaches and schools of bluefish up to 3 or 4 pounds are gorging on them. Spanish mackerel seem to have moved a little further offshore as temperatures have dropped.

Offshore Report: Georgetown Landing Marina (843-546-1776) reports that sailfish and blackfin tuna were caught last week as well as a few wahoo and occasional dolphins. Boats were fishing from 40-50 miles offshore out to the break. From the middle of October to December the king mackerel bite should be strong nearshore.


Charleston

Trout: Excellent. Haddrell’s Point (843-881-3644) reports that trout action is “on fire” and early in the morning fishing with topwater lures like Super Spook Juniors or Bomber Pop N Minnows is catching both quality fish and good numbers. After the sun gets up fishing DOA shrimp under a rattling cork will work.

Spottail Bass: Very good. Haddrell’s Point reports that spottail bass are scattered throughout inshore estuaries; on higher tides there is still good tailing action in the spartina grass. Throw spoons or Gulp! jerk shad to tailing redfish. There are also good numbers of schooling spottails being caught around docks and oyster beds/ rock piles with water moving over them.

Sheepshead: Good. Haddrell’s Point reports that sheepshead are biting well as they stage inshore before making the move offshore for winter. Fish fiddler crabs vertically on a Carolina rig around structure.

Flounder: Fair to good. Haddrell’s Point reports that flounder fishing is “spotty” with cooling temperatures. Fish live mud minnows or finger mullet on the bottom around the mouths of feeder creeks on the outgoing tide.

Folly Beach Pier (843-588-3474): The pier reports that whiting, trout, and some red drum have been caught in the last week.

Offshore: Haddrell’s Point reports that a brisk Northeast wind has kept many boats at the docks but in 400 feet of water sailfish are still being sighted and caught. Some big wahoo are also around in 150-450 feet of water.


Edisto Island

Thanks to Ron Davis for this week's inshore report.

Redfish: Excellent. Reds are feeding actively on all the flats adjacent to the big water in the entire ACE Basin and the North Edisto River. Look for reds pushing water around the shallow shell bars at low tide. Live shrimp and finger mullet will not be refused when a school is located, but those using artificials can do almost as well with Gulp! shrimps and other scented soft plastics fished on 1/8-1/4 oz. jigheads. During the windy days, large numbers are also being caught well up in the smaller creeks around the deep bends where wood or rock structure is prevalent.

Trout: Excellent. Good numbers of fish are being caught on live shrimp and DOAs fished 2-3 feet under popping corks around the deeper shell banks in both rivers as well as in the St. Helena Sound. The average size has been relatively small and the ratio of keepers to non-keepers is running about 1 to 4, but 50 plus fish per day is not uncommon. Remember, clear water is key around Edisto, so look for places that have at least 1 foot visibility, good current, and some type of shell structure to be successful. Days with light to moderate East winds are best. Weakfish have started to show on the rocks and nearshore wrecks and reefs as well. They should become more plentiful as the water cools through November. Heavy jigs tipped with shrimp will catch an easy limit if they are present.

Flounder: Good. The cooling water has also got the flounder moving and catch rates have increased since water temperatures have fallen. When weather permits, the nearshore reefs are very productive for flatfish using live mullet and mud minnows. Otherwise, a falling tide at the small creek mouths with good hard bottom has been most productive.

Sheephead: Good. Lots of 2-3 pound sheephead are being caught around the dock pilings in Big Bay Creek on live shrimp and fiddlers, especially the concrete pilings. Quarter moon tides seem to be the most productive as it is easier to keep the bait close to the structure with the slower moving water.

Offshore: Edisto Marina (843-869-3504) reports that the king mackerel bite has fallen off but tarpon have showed up nearshore and can be caught just off the beaches. Bull reds in the 40-50 pound range are also being found a few miles out. Some sailfish are being caught and out at the ledge grouper, big snapper and some very nice black sea bass have been landed in the last few days.


Beaufort/ Hilton Head

Bull red drum: Excellent. Captain Dan “Fishin’ Coach” Utley (843-757-2126) and Captain Brian Vaughn (843-298-4376) report that the bite for bull red drums 30 pounds or more has been outstanding. Fish can be found around the rock piles off Bay Point and they have also moved into the sounds and sandbars right off the beach. Use cut mullet on stout Carolina rigs and 12/0 to 15/0 circle hooks.

Spottail Bass: Very good. Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that tailing action remains strong but soon it will end when fiddler crabs go into hibernation. On one recent trip which Bay Street Outfitters guided two anglers caught 15 tailing fish on the fly! The bite has also been good on the dropping tide and at low tide sight casting has been productive. The creeks are so full of shrimp right now that it seems as if mud minnows are making better bait than shrimp.

Trout: Good. Good catches of trout continue on live shrimp, mud minnows, and artificials such as Gulp! and DOA shrimp. However, sizes continue to be down. Best action has been reported in deep holes but also fish along the grass at higher stages of the tide; both the rising and dropping tide have been productive.

Flounder: Good. Flounder are around in good numbers in the inlets and creeks; fish around artificial structure, rocks and sea walls. Live mud minnows and mullet fished on the bottom will both work.

Tarpon: Slow. Bay Street Outfitters reports that the tarpon season appears to be over and the fish have moved south.

Paradise Pier: Whiting, a few sheepshead and little sharks are being caught.

Offshore: No new reports.


Thanks to contributing experts on these message boards, Inlet Convenience and Fishing Supplies (Murrells Inlet), Perry’s Bait and Tackle (Murrells Inlet), Georgetown Landing Marina, Captain George Gallager (Cape Romain), The Charleston Angler, Haddrell’s Point Tackle and Supply (Charleston), J.J.W. Luden’s (Cooper River and Charleston), Edisto Marina, Bay Street Outfitters (Beaufort), Captain Wally Phinney (Beaufort), and Low Country Outfitters (Hilton Head).Edisto Marina, Bay Street Outfitters (Beaufort), Captain Wally Phinney (Beaufort), and Low Country Outfitters (Hilton Head).