Spotted seatrout is the second most popular gamefish species in South Carolina.</font id=“size1”>
SCDNR urging catch and release to help spotted seatrout recover</font id=“size3”>
Unusually cold weather has gripped South Carolina this January, lowering water temperatures along the coast to levels that can be deadly for many marine animals. As South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) biologists work to understand the severity of this winter weather’s impacts on important fisheries, they’re also asking the public to help – by practicing catch and release of spotted seatrout, one of the fish hardest hit by the low temperatures.
After a rapid and steep decline in December, water temperatures across the coast plummeted in early January. Charleston Harbor experienced a daily average low of 42 degrees Fahrenheit on January 7, while shallow tidal creeks reached even lower. While unusual, these temperatures are not unprecedented – currently the 2017-2018 winter ranks as the coast’s fifth coldest since recordkeeping began in 1950. However, two months of winter remain, and the lower and longer the duration of low temperatures, the greater the potential damage on fisheries.
Sustained water temperatures below 48 degrees can injure or kill many marine animals, and shortly after the first week of January, SCDNR staff and members of the public began reporting dead fish and shrimp along the shores of tidal marshes and saltwater impoundments across the coast. The agency acted quickly to protect surviving white shrimp by closing the shrimp trawl season.
“White shrimp are prolific spawners and can recover relatively quickly,” said David Whitaker, deputy director of the agency’s Marine
You 2 would seriously not keep a fish to eat that you caught and instead go buy one from Food Lion?
Make that 3?..Food Lion for seafood is a stretch, but local Fish Market, heck yeah! Grouper, Snapper, Mahi maybe Flounder. Throw in some Scallops and Shrimp, good stuff:smiley:. And WAAY less $$$'s, especially if the bank owns your fishing rig…and tow vehichle[:I] And tast alot better than a mushy Speck:dizzy_face:.
Trout ain’t the best fight and they ain’t the best eatin,don’t know why I’m addicted to going after the little ba$tads.Maybe this fish kill will give me a reason to target other species more.
Not that I eat them often but trout are excellent in my opinion, you just got to take care of them more than other fish. Scale down your tackle and trout fishing is more fun. I fish ultralight rods and 500 series reels 2 to 8lb test, mostly 6lb line.
I agree 40 ,ultralight is a lot more fun but usually mr. big bad red will come along and tear my set-up out the frame.Trout are the prettiest fish out there imo.I think that’s why i like to go after them.
You 2 would seriously not keep a fish to eat that you caught and instead go buy one from Food Lion?
Make that 3?..Food Lion for seafood is a stretch, but local Fish Market, heck yeah! Grouper, Snapper, Mahi maybe Flounder. Throw in some Scallops and Shrimp, good stuff:smiley:. And WAAY less $$$'s, especially if the bank owns your fishing rig…and tow vehichle[:I] And tast alot better than a mushy Speck:dizzy_face:.
If I’m hungry and want to eat trout the same day I catch em (which is usually the case)… I’ll stop at two eaters and toss the rest back. Deal? Again it depends on what’s in the freezer too. I don’t like to freeze speckled seatrout but I really love their flavor.
Folks, three fishermen and three hours of hard fishing netted not even a bump, much less a real bite. Went to places that have always held fish and there were none to be found. Tried numerous artificials, popping corks, and soaking shrimp on the bottom. Keeping our fingers crossed for better days. Only marine life all day was one Mr. Flipper.
quote:Originally posted by redfish4sure
I am in and I will let my three fishing buddies know as well. We are going this afternoon and will let you folks know what we find.
quote:Originally posted by drterry
I’m in, unfortunately due to my lack of skills my contribution will prob be in the single figures!
In all seriousness I will follow this guidance.
Fished a creek a few weeks ago (Merry Fishmas 2017), 20+ trout for several consecutive days.
Went back last weekend and no trout at all.
Reds were still biting so I know fish were still there but the trout were gone or hiding.
Talked to another boat and they confirmed the same thing. Reds but no trout.
I cant confirm they are all dead, but if they aren’t dead, the cold has definitely changed their habits.
Also saw a few trout in the Cooper. Sunbathing in very shallow water. Very white coloring, alive but not much movement. Water temps were 44.
Went in the Folly River this past Thursday, beautiful day. 6 trout (released, small) west of bridge, deep on trout tricks. Nothing in shallow water, except a small flounder.
