I’ve recently started kayak fishing (and saltwater fishing for that matter), I’ve been out 5 times so far and I’ve gotten skunked every time.
I’ve tried high tide, low tide, incoming, outgoing, fishing flats, points, oyster beds, etc. Most of this has been off the stono (upper towards limehouse and lower towards sol legare.I have been using cut mullet, gulps, and DOA with carolina and popping cork rigs.
Aaand Nothing! I don’t think I’ve even gotten a bite. All I’m catching is blue crab. I have been seeing fish - mostly small bait fish, dolphin, and some larger fish. I just haven’t had any activity on my lure.
Get you some mud minnows or catch some live bait in a cast net…hook 'em on a circle hook on some type of bottom rig (fish finder/carolina rig) and fish creek mouths and around structure like docks, oyster mounds, etc.
In a few weeks the fish will start feeding much better.
In the mean time, keep moving. If you pitch a shrimp or mudder near structure and you don’t get bit within 5 min, keep moving.
When you find a spot where you catch a fish, make note of the tide condition. For example, "I caught a X-fish on Y-structure at Z tide.
They will often be at that spot at that same tide cycle pretty reliably.
After some time on the water, you will have a list of spots that produce at any given tide.
Also, every time you go out, hit your honey spots, hopefully catch some fish, then try a brand new spot or two. This is fun and rewarding and also will keep your inventory of spots up to date.
You will always have success if you follow this advice.
Also try a mud minnow on a jighead. Cast it and retrieve it slowly across the bottom. Try at the openings of small feeder creeks, around oyster rakes, etc…
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
I also have just recently begun kayak fishing and I’m at about 0-8 or 9. What Optiker said seems to be great advice. I think I spend to much time at spots I think should produce even though they aren’t. I’ll be sure to put that information to use from now on.
I feel like I’ve tried everything. I have yet to catch a fish in Charleston. I still enjoy going out but it’s getting kind of ridiculous. I’ll give it a shot a few more times…
Man you must be doing something really weird! 0/20? You need to find a good oyster bed and fish the edges of it with a live mullet on a Carolina rig. Can’t do that without catching something. . keep at it, you’ll get one soon. Try under docks too!
Capt. R. Killin
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I feel your pain when I started I did not catch anything for four months. If you can make it out on Saturday the 19th the LKA is having there Sept. meet & greet but we also fish and it will be at the Danial Island Pier. It is open to anyone who wants to show and you can pick up some pointers from the experienced guys. Check out our forum page in the club section and I also think its posted here on this forum also for the show time. Hang in there & Tight Lines!!
Where are you fishing. Try different tides, time of day, baits, and rigs. If your still not catching any thing you really should try the folly Creek by Bowens you will catch something. There is a launch fee like five bucks put when you consider the time and energy saved to get to good fishing it’s well worth it. You can even launch out of Crosby and get bait there too.
Try live shrimp under a popping cork along grass lines and around submerged oyster beds. If it’s too tough to keep the float where you want it, try live shrimp on a Carolina rig around structure. Lower tides are typically better, since the bait (and game fish) can’t seek shelter in the grass.
You’ll get there – fall is right around the corner, and the bite will really start to turn on soon.
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