I recently moved down to Charleston from Long Island where I plugged for Stripers from the surf. Wondering if any of you guys use plugs for Red Drum from the surf around inlets and such. Bucktails swimmers poppers would be my plugs of choice. I know bait is a great option and I know I could use both bai and lures. I would prefer to walk the beach with a bag of plugs around sunrise and sunset and leave the bait setup at home. Am I crazy?
Any input would be much appreciated
Cheers
Thomas
I have been here a little over a year and have not touched my surf bag. Lived in Patchogue and plugged the beaches all the way out to MTK. I prefer walking the surf and throwing the bag at em. I use just bait now but it can’t hurt to try a bucktail or popper, you never know. Lots of small bait around here so no need for big plugs.
Earlier in summer you can cast bucktail for Spanish and blues. Just don’t expect the same quality and quantity as up north. Have fished the striper run before, what I would give to have that down here lol
Stick with sea trout type setups or at most a 9ft spinner you can huck a half or one oz tandem speck type rig… Mirror lures will work but have done better with plastic or gulp. Topwater works around structure and inlets when conditions are calmer. Early and late is the right idea.
Buck tails tipped and flounder rigged, fish ledges and rocks and structure where the current runs and around under water grass patches and you catch flounder, year round but best in fall near inlets. The blues are here from April to December but the numbers are in June-Augs and most are about a # any shiny fast moving bait will work, spoons and gotchas work well. The Spanish show up around June and stay thru September but with the numbers being in June-Augs any shiny fast bait like gotcha, mirror lure, badonks. As far as reds never really seen anybody surf fishing arties for them, you would have to have some real patients and determination. Lady fish can be fun on arties and sometimes the are thick at the beach.
Thanks guys