Im looking for suggestions for live bottom / relief areas to fish in the area.I have a Top Spots map but with the price of fuel I hate to go prospecting to areas without much chance. Ive gone the Ross twice with my inefficient crew ( non fishing wife and 8 year old son ) and really haven’t had much success.Ive never done much in the way of trying to anchor in 90 feet of water and fishing artificial reefs but have done a lot of drifting live bottoms ( Charleston ). The boat is a 23 Contender so something fairly close would be best for the family. Not asking for specific numbers just areas that might produce. Im also open to finding a fishing partner who would like to go with the understanding that my 8 year old would normally be on board.
i’m also been “prospecting” the broad river areas… I usually put in at the broad or chechessee and head towards hilton head… i wouldn’t mind meeting up and we can prospect in my boat… don’t mind little ones at all either…
Google SCDNRartificialreefs. Tons of info on there, especially for nearshore man made reefs. Build several disposable “reef anchors” and drag one across the reef until it hangs. Try shallow reefs first on calm weekdays. No need to go to Bluewater if you can find bull reds, weakfish, etc. nearshore.
Meant to say “thanks” instead of tanks ! cj5 ,may take you up on that offer, saw people catching bull reds yesterday near the mouth of the Port Royal Sound,north side where the Beaufort River intersects the Broad. spec, thanks for the response. I have all kind of maps etc. and have been offshore fishing for thirty years just not in this area. I`ve made lots of reef anchors and fished reefs but prefer live bottoms. Should have clarified the "close in statement " to say around 20 miles out instead of 40 to 60.
Sorry, my bad. I don’t have any close live bottom areas to share. I don’t think there are extensive areas of live bottom until you get deep. I used to do a lot of bottomfishing many years ago with my dad in a 23ft cuddy. I still have the old loran chart. We ran 158* off the Port Royal seabouy for 40-50 miles to live bottom in 80-90 ft. of water. We had a good paper Si-Tex sounder that I used to watch like a hawk, but mostly I just saw flat sand on the run out/in until we got to the live bottom off Savannah. We knew we were in the right area when we saw the big “headboat” from Savannah and several smaller boats driftfishing. There was an area we used to call the “dumping grounds” 120* off the seabouy. It was a little closer and shallower, maybe in about 75ft. It was still a long run. Maybe some on here can give you a closer area to try.
When the water cools off the bottom fish will move back into the Ross and 45. Right now they’re further off shore. Which you could do on a good weather day. But those are few and far between. And they are a long run which you might not want to do with your 8 yr old. SCDNR has a free book out that has all of the numbers for every tank/apc container etc. on all of the local reefs. They also just added several apc’s etc. which may be available on their website (not sure of that) Keep at it.
Thanks for everyones replies. I kind of thought it was cool enough for the Ross ( 90') but I guess not.I just recently brought the Contender down here from Charleston after a major renovation, new everything except the motor which works fine but will upgrade to a new four stroke if I keep it. Ive been fishing inshore in my 17 ft skiff waiting for the kid to get a little older. Eight is still a little too young for blue water but he eats, lives and dreams fishing which I`d rather have that than video games and the other garbage out there.
I did take him down to our dock to get his “fix” yesterday, caught a 3 ft sandbar , a few whiting and a toad fish until the gnats ran us off so he`s happy for a few days !
Again, thanks for the replies
OK. Wild Idea. Build your own “private live bottom” by depositing a few cinder blocks, etc. on a hard bottom spot you pick. Make new “deposits” each time you go out. After a while, bottom growth attracts baitfish & preditors.
Theres supposed to be live bottom around Hilton Head Reef, about 5 to 7 miles from the last buoy. Dont know if someone hooked an oyster shell there once and declared it live bottom or if it really is. Or if it gets so much fishing pressure from being close in if its worthwhile to try. Guess Ill wait a few weeks for the water to get a little cooler and go exploring.
let me know BinBeaufort… i’ll explore with you… i am heading out Sunday am for a few to see if the trout are in the broad… if you and the little one want to go let me know…
