Good morning better fisherman than I. I’m Woolum and new to the forum.
I’ve grown up w/ freshwater but new to salt and have spent the past 8 mos or so fishing between breech and bulls and have had very little luck. Caught a huge Spot within the 1st 10 minutes of my first day out and though that was going to happen every trip. Not so.
So I’m here to ask- Do y’all catch fish around the dewees/capers area, or am I just spinning my prop and need to get to more fertile grounds?
Welcome!
First, let me say that I made the switch from fresh to salt back in March of last year. Also, I’m not gonna say I’m a better fisherman than anybody here including you.
I tried up around the Seewee Bay area earlier this month and struck out. I think it’s probably my lack of experience up there that got me skunked. I didn’t see anything schooling and didn’t see the first baitfish. There have to be fish up there.
Are you going back to the same spot every time?
What kind of rigs/bait are you using?
Are you seeing oyster beds or any other kind of structure that might hold fish?
Are you seeing any baitfish?
Are you going out at low tide and scouting for oyster mounds and structure? <- If you are finding these, go back when the water is covering or exposing them and try them when the water is moving.
Answering these questions will help other members help you.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
HI Hoofarded- Thanks for your reply. I’ve been fishing in the creeks behind the islands varying distances in and depths. Seems to me where a smaller creek feeds into a larger or forks should be good place. These sure look like fishy spots.
I started out using cut bait and shrimp on the bottom or under cork and mostly caught blacktips/ skate or horsehoe crabs when my bait didn’t get stolen (which is more often than not).
Now I’m trying artificials- DOA shrimp gulp grubs/minnows. That sort of thing. No luck with the rubber baits so far. Had no bites and zero activity seen this past Saturday. Beautiful day on the marsh, though.
I’m going to continue to put in at IOP and I’m going to continue to keep at it. It’s close to my house and I figure it makes sense to learn the local waters as long as I’m learning and burn as little gas as possible.
You are not wasting your time at all ! Plenty of fish around there you just got work the banks and find them !
19’ Cobia bay
What’s been working for me lately is:
Live bait- mud minnows on a 2/0 circle hook under a cork (not a “Thunder Chicken”, just a regular cork) or on a jig head worked across the bottom
Artificials- trick worm on a jig head worked nice and slow twitching it along on the bottom and picking it up and letting it dead-fall. All shades of purple trick worms (including Trout Trick) is what they’ve been biting on for me.
Are you using a trolling motor and moving or posting up in one spot anchored?
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
Thanks for the tips guys.
Dont have a trolling motor, so I’m anchoring or drifting.
I’ve read lots of references to the trout trick during the past few days. That will be my next purchase
Thanks again
A very productive way to find new fish is to ride on plane with the big motor in a safe depth but close to the shore. Look behind you and to the side of you at low tide for schools
if you plowed thru the school wouldnt that spook them to where you couldnt just turn around and fish em?!
“Fish On”
quote:
Originally posted by coosawkaneA very productive way to find new fish is to ride on plane with the big motor in a safe depth but close to the shore. Look behind you and to the side of you at low tide for schools
This is a great idea if you are looking for the fish to go lockjaw and leave a spot for good.
They don’t get lockjaw and they definitely don’t leave the spot for good. Idk if y’all’s charleston fish are different. I normally dont even fish them that day when I spook a school up. Its more for findin them purposes. It’s a lot easier than trying to cover 3 miles of new territory with a trolling motor going 2.75mph. Ps I said stay a safe distance from the shore. You shouldn’t plow into fish at a safe distance stay just far enough to where you can see them push. And I would definitely look into a trolling motor.
quote:
Originally posted by coosawkaneThey don’t get lockjaw and they definitely don’t leave the spot for good. Idk if y’all’s charleston fish are different. I normally dont even fish them that day when I spook a school up. Its more for findin them purposes. It’s a lot easier than trying to cover 3 miles of new territory with a trolling motor going 2.75mph. Ps I said stay a safe distance from the shore. You shouldn’t plow into fish at a safe distance stay just far enough to where you can see them push. And I would definitely look into a trolling motor.
I honestly thought that you were kidding when you said that. That is a pretty unproductive way to find fish if you ask me. And what kind of fish are you “catching?”… These charleston fish? haha isnt this called charlestonfishing.com?
Nope wasn’t kidding. Redfish and I live in beaufort so don’t fish charleston much.
Not trying to start a I’m right your wrong match I just simply stated how I find a lot of new fish. Going down the bank with the trolling motor wide open can cover a good bit of ground and not spook them as much but if I’m not gonna fish them that day and I’m just searching I could care less how much I spook them just as long as they don’t completely leave the area.
Do you really want to encourage other people to find fish like that?
X2 what islander said…
As a new member posting for the first time, I would agree with all any advance is better than none. No matter where you hunt for species.
Benton L Johanson
Hmmm just learned to uncheck profile signature NEWBE
quote:
Do you really want to encourage other people to find fish like that?
What’s wrong with that? I agree with Kane, I’ve found many a fish while riding around on a plane, usually while heading to a particular spot, but I’m always watching every creek mouth that I pass. If I see fish action anywhere I’ll pull off and let it settle down a bit, then ease back up on them and cast a bait. They usually don’t stay spooked long, and if they do, you will know where to look for them next time.
It never hurts to pay attention, even when on a plane 
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair
Watching the water is what we all do. Not a thing wrong with that. Found my share of fish just as you describe.
Purposely “burning” banks to find fish? I don’t care for it. Hunting/stalking the fish is most of the fun to me. Plus if a bunch of people do that in an area, it will change the fishes behavior.
Would rather not see it become common practice and a replacement for putting some time and effort in, that’s all.
I own a G3 1654 with a 40/60 jet drive, and when I want to find new schools, I run this rig in 6 inches of water on the flats to SPOOK the schools on plane at 30 mph. Obviously, not when other boats are around. Finding fish is 75% of the battle. Less than 10 minutes later, they will bite. Burning the banks with a trolling motor is a whole lot less intrusive. Fish that get beat on every day in the Charleston area don’t change their behavior due to traffic. They are USED to it and adapt. Increasing pressure on current populations of reds is inevitable. Learning how to keep them biting is OUR challenge which makes it fun.