Came in for a much anticipated trip to Charleston with my girlfriend who became my fiance after I popped the question on Saturday night. I’m lucky in that she understands that I have to go fishing for therapy and to keep my sanity, no doubt she’s a keeper.
Went out with Captain Richard Staughton for a morning trip, with my dad who drove in from Columbia. I had never fished for reds and after asking here and talking to many guides I was excited to go with Richard because I wanted to do it the hard way. No live bait, topwater if possible. I’m a firm believer in earning it when it comes to fishing and I love the challenge of making them bite instead of waiting for them to bite. Not knocking live bait, I’ve used it many times, I just like challenges.
First spot we went to Dad and I each had a trout on top but too small. About three casts later I had a big red blow up on my spook but he came unbuttoned before I got him to the boat.
We pushed further back into the marsh and saw some fish on the grass edge with a falling tide. Threw the spook in there and called my shot when he bit. Got a nice 22 inch red in the box. About five minutes later Dad hooked up with about a 3 pound flounder that is going to cook up real nice for Mom and Dad tonight.
Worked around and had a few more blow up but not hook up on the spook. We worked down and saw a nice school and I worked the spook right over them, first one blew up but missed it, I let it lay for a second, gave it a small twitch and boom a nice big red crushed it. Right at 30 inches and was one of the hardest pulling fish I have tangled with, especially on light tackle.
Dad was able to get a few including one on the spoon and I caught a couple more on a swim bait.
We ended the day with 8 total and took three slots and the flounder home. No doubt this is a great fishery and to thank the members on here for supplying info for a TN boy to come visit and get his redfish cherry popped. Trust me I will be back and I’ll throw the invite out to those who want to come to TN a
Cool trip. Big pics!!
BG
Awesome day on the water! My family is from TN and the diffrence between trout and smallies in the rivers there and the spottails/inshore fishery here, though very different, is equally enjoyable. I’m glad Charleston was able to produce a great day for you and your dad. Awesome memories!
“You can’t buy happiness. But you can buy fishing tackle, which is pretty much the same thing.”