Went out on the kayak today about 2 hours before low tide. Caught one decent trout but I was searching for the schooling reds. Anyways, a buddy and I paddled up in a very shallow creek/flat with oysters and saw fins of dolphins swimming frantically. Got closer to them and realized that they were stuck because of the low tide and were swimming on their side to get more water. They eventually got out of the flat but we stayed in there because we saw a lot of fish in less than a foot of water. I’m new to redfishing but I wasn’t sure if these were spooked redfish that the dolphins were feeding on or big mullet. The water was so murky from the dolphins and shallow water that we couldn’t get a visual on the fish except for a decent size wake and powerful short bursts with swirling mud below us as are kayaks drifted over these fish. Anyone experience something like this? They wouldn’t bit anything and we spooked by our lures everytime. Also, saw no fish actually jumping out of the water so I maybe thought they were reds. Water was so shallow our kayaks barely made it in there lol
Dolphins were most likely strand feeding
it is easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission
14’’ McKee/30 'rude(SOLD)
“Shenanigans”
After coming up on a Dolphin feeding like that, you best bet would have been to move to another area and mark this spot for a time that Dolphins are not in it. Sounds like you may have found a good spot to come back to. Good luck!
Dolphin will herd reds and throw them on the banks. I’ve seen them go 20’ up a mud bank to eat the fish, and come right back down. They weren’t stuck, they know what they’re doing.
quote:
After coming up on a Dolphin feeding like that, you best bet would have been to move to another area and mark this spot for a time that Dolphins are not in it. Sounds like you may have found a good spot to come back to.
Exactly!
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
I’ve seen Dolphin swimming side ways so they could swim in shallow water back on oyster fields at low tide. When a Dolphin hauls tale because you spooked him in a foot of water and rockets out of the tiny creek right next to your boat, you realize how much more they can do then you thought, after all they are mammals and breath air.
Im going to go back today and see if I can get to the reds before flipper does lol
What Larry said! I’ve seen similar shows in the Bluffton-HHI waters. They feed in a pack and each member knows its job. I once saw big red tail walking in an effort to escape the dolphin.
oc
I would like to thank that video for destroying what was once an exelent winter fishing dock.
Sabalo 21 150 Yamaha
Key West Stealth 150 V-max (SOLD)
You mean to tell me that that someone figured out where that was based solely on that video?
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
“The good ole days.” They are not in there like that anymore.
quote:
Originally posted by Flat BottomI would like to thank that video for destroying what was once an exelent winter fishing dock.
Sabalo 21 150 Yamaha
Key West Stealth 150 V-max (SOLD)
I’d like to thank the video for sharing some cool footage!! You really think that video destroyed that fishing spot? Any good fishing hole has long been discovered and over fished in today’s crowed areas. All anyone has to do is charter a trip or follow a charter and know all the “hot” spots. I’d bet repeated trips to the same spot by several charters are more to blame than this video…
Spottail are a dime a dozen. I’d dare say other than shark, BSB, and whiting, probably the easiest and most plentiful salt water fish to catch in our area.
I really want to know. I personally know the man that took the video, and know he would love to hear the story about his video destroying a fishing spot.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
I watched the video hoping that I would learn a new fishing spot… That did not happen. Someone owes me some GPS coordinates… 
I know the guy that made the video as well, I’m not a friend of his but I know who he is, he knows alot about dolphins and fishing.
I have fished that dock for years, been invited to fish off of the dock by a friend and had conversations with the owner ( nice guy he has even given me some pointers). I’m not saying that the dock dosent have fish on it anymore but seeing 150+ fish at a time… I havent seen them like that on it in a while and they are certainly gun shy now. Do I think the guides did it? No most of those guides that fish kiawah rarely kill fish, they are pulling resort guests around.
I will agree that if someone sees a guide fishing a dock they will at some point give that dock a try ( I’ve done it) but how much traffic do you see on the kiawah river? But you put up a video labled kiawah river and then show 150 + fish is less than 3 min and show exact where they are on the dock… well I would say some people ventured into the kiawah river trying to find that dock. You look on google and see less than 40 docks on the river that are close together it narrows down the search pretty quickly. So yes I do think that video taught more people about where and how to fish that dock then someone seeing a guide anchored up on it. Do I have any ill feelings towards the guy for sharing it? No, it’s a cool video it shows how tight fish acutaly stick to cover. I havent fished that dock since the summer before last so there is a good chance I’m full of it.
SkinneeJ - you can figure it out I know you have it in you…
Sabalo 21 150 Yamaha
Key West Stealth 150 V-max (SOLD)
Once you have spent some time in there, it’s easy, but this video does not hurt the red fishing as much as an unknown factor in the past 4 years that has caused the juvenile redfish not to repopulate inshore waters as they used to.
quote:
Originally posted by Flat BottomI know the guy that made the video as well, I’m not a friend of his but I know who he is, he knows alot about dolphins and fishing.
I have fished that dock for years, been invited to fish off of the dock by a friend and had conversations with the owner ( nice guy he has even given me some pointers). I’m not saying that the dock dosent have fish on it anymore but seeing 150+ fish at a time… I havent seen them like that on it in a while and they are certainly gun shy now. Do I think the guides did it? No most of those guides that fish kiawah rarely kill fish, they are pulling resort guests around.
I will agree that if someone sees a guide fishing a dock they will at some point give that dock a try ( I’ve done it) but how much traffic do you see on the kiawah river? But you put up a video labled kiawah river and then show 150 + fish is less than 3 min and show exact where they are on the dock… well I would say some people ventured into the kiawah river trying to find that dock. You look on google and see less than 40 docks on the river that are close together it narrows down the search pretty quickly. So yes I do think that video taught more people about where and how to fish that dock then someone seeing a guide anchored up on it. Do I have any ill feelings towards the guy for sharing it? No, it’s a cool video it shows how tight fish acutaly stick to cover. I havent fished that dock since the summer before last so there is a good chance I’m full of it.
SkinneeJ - you can figure it out I know you have it in you…Sabalo 21 150 Yamaha
Key West Stealth 150 V-max (SOLD)
<hr height="1" noshade
I can understand that, but if simply mentioning the Kiawah in the video drove people to fish the Kiawah and look for that dock is hard to fathom for me.
Not saying it’s not possible, but certainly hard to believe.
Anyway, Captain Chad is a steward of these waterways, and if he knew that a video he made and posted drove fish numbers down in the river, he would be devastated.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
I know that dolphin 
“Everyone should believe in something; I believe I’ll go fishing.” Henry David Thoreau
Nervous Mullet
1986 Boston Whaler 15 Sport
2000 70 Yamama
Mud Minnow
Wilderness System Tarpon 120
quote:I think I have it, but if you send me the coordinates, I can cross check against my answer.
Originally posted by Flat BottomSkinneeJ - you can figure it out I know you have it in you…
I just sent Flat Bottom and leadenwahboy my calculations… Let me know how close I am… I feel good about it…