Ashley River fishing

Saltwater Inshore Reports
1

Anyone have any advice for reds or trout on the Ashley as far as location?

2

I hear in the water is a good place to start looking:sunglasses:

3
quote:
Originally posted by bellyup

I hear in the water is a good place to start looking:sunglasses:

I concure

SEAFOX 185DC MERC 125
[MRS KAREN]
14’TARPON 100 paddlepower
[SALTY FLY]

4

Stay down towards the harbor. I live on the Ashley and if I’m fishing for anything outside of catfish, I’m going somewhere else. There are certainly reds, trout and flounder in the Ashley, but not like some other, close by waters.
Good luck!

“Junk always sounds best.”

5

Learn to use the search. There are lots of posts on catching fish in the Ashley River. Then get out and learn the waters. If you need to catch fish, hire a guide. If you are out there to learn, there are fish all over the Ashley River. For reds, fish anywhere from the County Farm Landing down toward the Harbor. For a big red, fish half a crab up near any oyster bank or on the edge of the grass.

Tidewater 196DC
Yamaha F115

Pungo 120
6

Thanks for the info, I’m new to Charleston and keep my boat at Dolphin Cove so was just trying to see if there was quality fishing in the Ashley. Seems like most posts mention other areas. It’ll take me a while to learn the water. Thanks again anyway.

7

Welcome to Charleston, Jason. Most of the folks on this site are busy guys and gals, working hard to make a living and fishing when they can. They also post when they can. You may not get an answer the day you post,especially if your question is very broad. That’s why I recommended using the site search function. There are so many thoughtful and detailed answers on here already that will answer specific questions that it is one of the best ways to get a good answer to any question. If you can’t find a bunch of posts about the Ashley, just let us know. We’ll help you get better on the search function. Once you get to know a bit more, you can ask more specific questions, which usually are much easier to answer.

And truthfully, the guys have already given you some great answers. The reason is that the Ashley has fish everywhere, but more so between County Farm Landing and the harbor than in the other direction. Here is a little bit more specific answer, in this case for catching large reds. Get some fresh crabs. Often there will be a crabber out on the water who will sell you a bunch for $5 (but I always give them $10, cause they are some hard working men and women). Prepare crab halfs (YouTube will show you how if you don’t know). Put in at County Farm and head left toward the harbor. There are some creeks and docks on the left side of the river. Anchor close enough to throw right up to the grass or on an oyster bank. Reds will often be in surprisingly shallow water, so throw up near the edge. Then relax and enjoy the view. Usually within 15-20 minutes I’ll catch a nice big fish. If you don’t get any hits, you don’t need to move far. They bite on virtually any tide, but best when the water is moving.

Good luck!

Tidewater 196DC
Yamaha F115

Pungo 120
8
quote:
Originally posted by 24Flatback

Thanks for the info, I’m new to Charleston and keep my boat at Dolphin Cove so was just trying to see if there was quality fishing in the Ashley. Seems like most posts mention other areas. It’ll take me a while to learn the water. Thanks again anyway.

We used to keep our boat at Dolphin Cove as well. If you go upriver towards the Northbridge, there are some old pilings sticking out of the water. These pilings hold fish on the rising tide. Also, the grass along there will have reds cruising back and forth along the edge as the tide is rising. Try those spots and then there are plenty more…seek and you shall find!!!

btw, how’s the new Restaurant???

9

I’m speaking only for myself, but I wouldn’t eat anything that came out of the Ashley River unless you were way up the river. I know about some of the businesses there in the neck area.

10

Where is county farm landing? Are yall talking about the W.O. Thomas boat landing off of leeds avenue?

11

Sea Tonic, the new restaurant is pretty good, good live music on weekends and usually quite a few people. Cool place to go after a long day on the water.

12

I know no specific places to look for them in the Ashley. But as a general rule you’ll nearly always find trout at the mouths of small tidal creeks running into the bigger river and along the bank near the grass feeding. The same goes for redfish, although you should be able to find reds around docks or downed pilings in the water.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. -Wayne Gretsky

13

Hey OccamsRaiser, Please tell me what you know about the Ashley River. Been eating fish out of that river for a long Time!! Am I going to go bald, Be killed with cancer, or have serious health problem with my tally wacker!! God I would hate that!!! Just wondering what you know. Please respond asap possible, Have just seen gray hair growing from my ears. Could the fish becausing this.

I am a southern boy and pround of It!!!

14

Here’s a link to the Superfund site. I can’t figure out how to turn html on, so you may have to copy and paste the link below. There’s a couple other chemical companies still active up there too. I guess you’re old enough to remember the “popping” shrimp years ago. They had a very high concentration of phosphorus in them. Phosphorus ignites when it comes into contact with air. Like I said, I personally wouldn’t eat anything out of that river, but to each his own!

http://scorecard.goodguide.com/env-releases/land/site-desc-long.tcl?epa_id=SCD980310239

15

yup, I remember shrimp baiting the AR in 90 or 91 and the shrimp we were catching were turning red in the cooler within minutes after we dumped them in there. Looked just like they were cooked…

It ain’t as bad as the pig tries to make it sound.

16

Thanks for the reply OR. Funny thing Is that I have caught tagged and released fish from the Ashley in the Cooper and the Wando!! So I guess all the fish is bad. Fish follow the bait and where it goes the fish go. I just get tired of people bashing the Fishing in the Ashley, when they really do not know what they are Talking about. Maybe you are just trying to hide your honey holes. Over the years here lately, I see more and more Fishing Guide fishing the Ashley, So the water must be better or the the fishing is getting Better. Hell, the fishing has all way been great, just takes a few years to understand the river and learn it. Yes the water has been bad, but all saltwater fish move, with the tide. But, if that is what kills me, a fish from the ashley river, It was time well spent on this river, but could it have been the fish, or the the Many cold beers while drinking on this great river!!!

I am a southern boy and pround of It!!!

17
quote:
Originally posted by MaybeNextTIme

Where is county farm landing? Are yall talking about the W.O. Thomas boat landing off of leeds avenue?

Yes. Still listed on the DNR website as County Farm Landing. We’re old school! :sunglasses:

Tidewater 196DC
Yamaha F115

Pungo 120