So, last winter was my first full winter fishing in Charleston and man did I struggle. I moved here in Jan of 2010 and did not fish much that winter because my boat was still in GA. I have been fishing Charleston my whole life because my parents have a beach house here, but we never really used to come in the winter. Also, I usually fished with my dad so I pretty much just went and did whatever he did up around IOP. I made it my goal to not ask for peoples’ spots(except for my dad)and to figure out where to fish all over Charleston on my own. After all, that’s the fun part. When I look back two years ago, and compare it to now, it is astounding how far i have come. I have fished my whole life, so things such as: rod/reel selection,casting methods, fishing knots, bait and lure presentation, species identification I got. What i did not have a clue about was things like: how tides, moon phases, and seasonal changes and predators relate to where and when to catch fish . With countless hours of reading the site, studying my fishing areas at various tide stages, endless talking to the guys at haddrells and the angler and other fisherman and my dad, looking at maps, studying water depths at various tide stages, studying bait patterns,habits and tendency’s, learning the role of the moon , and spending time on the water I have finally learned enough that i have started to catch fish regularly with different methods and baits. Even when i was getting skunked all day i kept fishing, learning and paying close attention to what was going on on the water. The fact that learning to catch fish does not happen only when you are catching fish is something that i noticed early on in my experience. There is no better learning tool that time on the water. Even if you don’t carry a fishing pole! Thanks for all the great info on this site guys. It has helped me out tons. Second only to time on the water.
Took my buddy from college who lives here now out today for a few hours of fishing. We caught fish on z man paddle tails in el
Congrats. Our storys are similar. You took the bull by the horns and rode it. This site has been great and very helpful to people like us. You can be a great fisherman but catch nothing. You have to do what you did to be successful. The maps and Google earth have been my best tool.I have found places to fish that I would have never found. You can even see oyster mounds and some sturcture under the water. The new reds book by Dan Kibler is also great. You have to spend time on the water like you did. Seek and ye shall find. Persitance pays off. Good job and great fish.
19’ Seapro 150 Yamaha
12’ Hydrocraft 25 Evinrude
If that’s all I have to worry about…there’s nothing to worry about.
Congratulations! I really struggled as well when I started fishing the Charleston area. With the help of a couple of great anglers here on CF and perseverance, I have finally been able to go out and catch reds on my own. I am a long way from being the fisherman I want to be but a whole lot better and more confident than I ever was. The trick is to stay here on CF and read everything you can but mainly, spend as much time on the water as you can. That is my one problem area being up here in Cola but it has not deterred me from getting better.
In 1975 when I retired from the US Army I moved back to Charleston.I grew up on the IOP and just loved this area.I bought a 16ft Jon boat and fished the entire area over the next 4 years.Later I settled down and just fished the Stono River with many away trips to the Wando and Edisto areas.You young guys enjoy it while you can because as age catches up to you things happen.First the “Honey do” stuff screws things up then things like work and kids really mess it up.I remember working all week and loading up the boat and (**() it rained all weekend.Monday morning it was bright and a beautiful day until again fri it looked like more crappy weekend weather.Now in the later part of my life i have a hard time getting going.I need a nice warm day,plenty of bait and no “Honey do” stuff.As you drive to work that guy you see on the river will be me.LOL
Jimmya, Good job figuring it out. I have fished here for 6 years and still am learning. Stono you are so right, that honey do list never seems to shrink and affects my fishing even more than mother nature.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
ha thats what I love about working a rotating 8 and 12 hour schedule, somedays off during the week and every other weekend off, stonoman if you ever need someone to join ya just yell
Bragging may not bring happiness,
but no man having caught a large fish,
goes home through the alley.
-Anonymous
Great job, Jimmy. Its like an evolution if you commit to it. Soak bait, learn areas, try some arties, learn a little more, and more, and more. Has been for me anyway. Every bit of knowledge layers up to create the next quest for knowledge.
Of course, once you got all of the knowledge, you’re Stonoman! LOL! I hope there is reincarnation!
very nicely done! i have the same story but without a boat and yup still learning. what frustrated me the most is when i saw water temperatures of high 40s and would catch NOTHING when back home id be demolishing walleye. temperatures hit high 50s i could start catching white bass by the cooler full and starting to get my first largemouth and smallmouth bass at home, but not a nibble here. finally caught a few crappie when the water got to be mid 60s and started to learn cooper river and the whole tide concept in the summer, but most of what i learned for redfish is paying attention to the charter captains when i book with them and of course pointers im given on this site. just back on new years eve i got a 16, 22.5, and 26" red and a 19.5" trout all from shore, but of course find mr skunk more often than id like as well. aint a river pro by any means, but nice to know ive gotten to a point i can help others catch fish now as well.
As you and others have stated, you have to commit to it even if you get skunked a few times. Moving from Seattle/Spokane to here 16 years ago was a whole different fishing from King Salmon,walleye and pike in Moses Lake WA and back to bass,perch and etc… in Spokane Wa but you can’t give up if this is what you like. Once it starts paying off it’s fish on all after. Nice read
Thanks guys! I have a lot to learn and am looking forward to it. You can always learn something with fishing!!! All I can think about is my next day off so I can get back out there.
I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
Joe,I hope I have your energy and zest when I get to be your age. Thanks for taking me fishing and teaching me some new stuff. Tight lines, Mike.
quote:Originally posted by stonoman
In 1975 when I retired from the US Army I moved back to Charleston.I grew up on the IOP and just loved this area.I bought a 16ft Jon boat and fished the entire area over the next 4 years.Later I settled down and just fished the Stono River with many away trips to the Wando and Edisto areas.You young guys enjoy it while you can because as age catches up to you things happen.First the “Honey do” stuff screws things up then things like work and kids really mess it up.I remember working all week and loading up the boat and (**() it rained all weekend.Monday morning it was bright and a beautiful day until again fri it looked like more crappy weekend weather.Now in the later part of my life i have a hard time getting going.I need a nice warm day,plenty of bait and no “Honey do” stuff.As you drive to work that guy you see on the river will be me.LOL
Boat is about ready to get put back on the lift.Maybe next week I will look for reds if the weather is not to bad.I will post when i am going and Guests can hop on and ride with me.All that is expected is you be on time( Tide in my creek)Bring your tackle and food and drink.The rest is on me.
Stonoman, I’d like to take you up on that just to meet you and learn the Stono better for the once or twice a year I make it up that way, Any problem hanging out with a Retired jarhead?
Hey Zach, I totally forgot that i have a great spots for reds that you can fish from shore. I left you a pole in the back of my truck so if you want to go get it and call me ill tell you where to go. just dont post the location on here or it wont be worth going back to because it will get over fished quick.
I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
This was a great post by Jimmy. However, I’d just as much enjoy getting out with guys like Stonoman, which is more fun than doing the whole research part. Not only do they have years of experience and tricks, they got some good stories as well. But the new guy stories are just as entertaining, assuming they don’t end with flipped boats. Thanks Stonoman for the offer. I expect to put the effort in like Jimmy, but will also greatly enjoy getting out with fellers that love their sport.
Many go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
Our storys are similar. You took the bull by the horns and rode it. This site has been great and very helpful to people like us. You can be a great fisherman but catch nothing. You have to do what you did to be successful. The maps and Google earth have been my best tool.
I have found places to fish that I would have never found. You can even see oyster mounds and some sturcture under the water. The new reds book by Dan Kibler is also great. You have to spend time on the water like you did. Seek and ye shall find. Persitance pays off. Good job and great fish.
