The weather offshore is rarely as predicted…
Redfish Baron Extraordinaire
It’s not what happens when the weather man is wrong it’s what happens when the weatherman is wrong you beat some wire loose/or start taking water in from somewhere then you take a wave over the side. Handling one of these wouldn’t be great but not catastrophic but all at the time…
Mayhem
Pioneer 197
Pay attention to the tide as well. If it’s wind against current, I.e. Southeast wind with outgoing tide, it’s always going to be rougher than predicted at the entrance to the inlets around here.
Sounds like I should ask a different question. I moved down here in February 2013 and bought a Sea Hunt bx 22 pro. Other than a jon boat, this is really my first boat. Based on the ■■■■■■■■ so far, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to go 30 miles out in my boat with my lack of experience. That being said, I hear the dolphin come in close in the spring, and that blackfin are in close now.
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How far do I have to go to get to blackfin in the winter and what do I catch them on?
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How far do I have to go for Dolphin when they are in shallower water, what do I catch them on, and when is this time?
Gotten some great advice so far. Keep em coming!
Looks like a nice boat, but Sea Hunt info says it only holds 53 gal fuel. I think this is what will limit you.
Parker 2520
quote:
Originally posted by bsolomonSounds like I should ask a different question. I moved down here in February 2013 and bought a Sea Hunt bx 22 pro. Other than a jon boat, this is really my first boat. Based on the ■■■■■■■■ so far, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to go 30 miles out in my boat with my lack of experience. That being said, I hear the dolphin come in close in the spring, and that blackfin are in close now.
How far do I have to go to get to blackfin in the winter and what do I catch them on?
How far do I have to go for Dolphin when they are in shallower water, what do I catch them on, and when is this time?
Gotten some great advice so far. Keep em coming!
I’ve caught dolphin as shallow as 50 ft as early as late May. Most of the time they are small but I’ve had a few 20’s. The Blackfin your looking at the ledge and beyond. If I were you I would focus on Cobia, Kings, and hope for the occasional dolphin or sailfish while live baiting. Tons of bottom fishing within your range too. I’m not going to say you can’t do it but to make it worth while to target on a regular basis is a little ambitious.
Mayhem
Pioneer 197
Dolphin in shallower water may not be what you are thinking. People catch a few slingers around the Charleston 60. That’s about as close in as they get. That’s 50 - 60 feet of water, and about 14 miles from the end of the jetties. In the Spring, like late April to early June, you have to head out to the temp break because the water between the shore and the Gulf Stream is still too cool for them. The temp break will reside, at that time of year, somewhere around 50 miles. You will not have dolphin in close during the spring. After the water between the shore and and Gulf Stream evens out in temp, like July and past, you can catch dolphin out there in “shallow,” but they are so scattered and spread out it makes it harder to target them. The reason Spring is the big deal here is because they are all “concentrated” along the rips and temp breaks making it easier to target them.
Fish with some folks first and learn or Odds are against you if you go without knowledge. Thats a very bad ocean out there if you do not know what you are doing.
Local Boy, Just having fun.
Anytime the water temp is warm enough just be ready. This was one we boated in around 70 feet while bottom bumping. Not the biggest but fun all the same on light tackle.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
All of this varies greatly on what part of our coast you are fishing from. From a pure miles standpoint I think Georgetown wins. From the jetty tips to the nearest point you can blue water fish it’s about 30/40 miles depending on the time of year. I think most of this debate is about getting to 100’ plus feet of water where the pelagic fish start. The only time I would ever do that in a bay boat is in the fall when the weather is ultra dependable. If you don’t hqve the boat to do that then find members here that need gas money… there are plenty. Between inshore and off…there are bsb’s…gags at times…cobia, spanish and kings…big flounder if you find the spots…reds…etc…A lot of people just fail to understand how the fishing changes as the depth and temps do. That or they fail to realize the distances offshore and equipment it takes to get there.
I’m gonna also add we caught a 90 lb wahoo.in 75 feet of green water 2 years ago. You never know. I know trolling the horseshoe out of MI produces a bunch of dolphin, sails etc in July. Its a long run relatively from MI, but not so bad from Gtown.
quote:
Originally posted by oops_lostAnytime the water temp is warm enough just be ready. This was one we boated in around 70 feet while bottom bumping. Not the biggest but fun all the same on light tackle.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
Hey, a five pound dolphin tastes just as good as a thirty pounder!!!
Redfish Baron Extraordinaire