Ive been visiting the Charleston area for the last several years and have gone fishing in your beautiful inshore area each time (even in a 30 degree December).
So it was only natural that I would take the plunge and buy a home in Mt. Pleasant and transition to this lovely area.
All the Captains that have taken me inshore fishing have been great, and I still plan on using them, but want to earn my sea legs and start going out on my own.
My question to you long time fishermen is what are the best ways to catch baitfish? Does this type of thing have to be done by a certain time of day? What type of net should I purchase? And are there any fish that live bait doesnt seem to make a difference on (i.e. jigs and flounder)
thanks for any tips, and I look forward to sharing information with you
First, I would suggest getting a minnow trap and learning some good ditches where you can easily catch some mud minnows. Reds, trout, and flounder will eat them all year long. Second, buy a 6 or 7 ft. radius, 1/2 inch mesh cast net to use for mullet, shrimp, menhaden, spots, croakers, etc. Mullet are present year-round. The backs of creeks and shallow flats are the best places to find them now. They will be too large to use whole, but use them as cut-bait. Menhaden can show up any time depending on water temp. You will see them in the rivers dimpling the surface from April through the Fall. Spring redfish, and BIG trout LOVE menhaden! Shrimp show up thick usually in May (brown), and they will be around through the Fall. (After June, white shrimp is mostly what you will catch). Live bait is normally not very difficult to find once May rolls around, but finding it now can be tough. Catching mud minnows in March and April is definitely the most consistant.
Welcome to the site and 'nuff said by the Daddy! ^^^All you need to know^^^. In warmer temps if you cruise a creek look for either a “V” in the water or some movement - which usually means mullet. Keep peeking and slinging and you’ll figure them out.
Mud minnows plentiful at Haddrell’s year round, also, along with frozen mullet (although fresh is always better IMO).
Rad had good advice but I use a 3/8 mesh net for bait. Time of day never matters,height of tide does. Lower tides are usually better than high water for casting a net for bait, Dont spend tons of money on a cast net for catching bait,sooner or later, you will find an oyster bed with it and its trashed.
I find a good 6-7 foot cast net to be indispensable. You don’t need anything more than the common lower-priced 3/8" unless you plan on fishing a few times a week.
If you don’t know how to throw a cast net, find someone who can teach you. I could teach you how to throw one, but it’s up to you to find places to throw it without losing it in an oyster bed.
If the boat ramp is not busy, I almost always try to net up a few before I leave, but that’s mostly because tossing a net from my small boat, with a 4 year old, is a bit tricky. Boat ramps are generally a good place to catch a dozen or two finger mullet and not lose your net on an oyster bed.
Dont forget about blue crabs! Half or quarter them depending on their size and run the hook through once and then tuck it back into the meat. Reds LOVE blue crab.
lol… i learned how to throw a cast net last year by watching youtube…even a video from one of the guys here on this forum. I just looked thru them until I found one that looked easy enough. I just practiced by throwing at stuff in the grass of my back yard until I got comfortable enough to do it from the deck of my boat. I moved to a smaller mesh net because I got tired of the menhaden going belly up before I could get them unstuck from the net.
I’ve been able to throw smaller nets (under 6’) ever since I was a young teenager, but Stonoman showed me how to throw 7-8’ nets. I can open it all I want. Far from perfect but I put bait in the cooler
thanks everyone for the replies and advice, especially Raddaddy. I picked up some minnow traps and a 6 foot 3/8 inch casting net on Amazon and Im looking forward to putting it to good use.
Dave not sure where you live in Mt. P but Pitt St provides a perfect area to learn how to throw a cast net and get some finger mullet in the process… especially during the summer months
experience noun \ik-#712;spir–#601;n(t)s
the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
that thing you get just moments after you needed it.
Dave, first take your cast net and stand on your picnic table and learn to throw it well. Find some spots at dead low tide to throw your net. Remember these spots and you will not tear your net up on oyster shells. I like a 6 foot 3/8th mesh, menhaden will not gill theirselves in it, some finger mullet, and mud minnows will, but they are fairly hardy if you get them in bait tank soon. This mesh size will let the smaller baitfish and shrimp out. Try creeks and river banks at low tide. Furthermore, if you find any of the spoil area dredge pipes running in the Cooper, clouter, and yellow house creek throw about 15 feet behind the outflow. The outflow pipe always has a lot of rocks in front to prevent erosion. Just remember the tide movements in these areas. Have yourself a good round bait tank with plenty of aeration. Menhaden, and, shrimp die fast.
