Got in three days of fishing from nearshore to the 60. Water temps were 77 degrees close in, and all the way to the 60. Still lots of debris in the water.
The big sharks remain top of the food chain at the 60. They are everywhere, and a beautiful sight to behold. My first Bull Red of the year got taken for a ride by one, who stripped 250 yards of drag, only to spit out the head when he was finished. If you can distract the Sharks long enough, Ringtails and 20 inch+ highly endangered Red Snapper are there in numbers.
The 40 is still full of juvenile 14 inch Red Snapper and almost keeper size BSBs. Can’t believe I’m writing this, but it was nice to see some “almoster” BSBs make it into the boat. I thought they had all been eaten by the ARS.
Nearshore the popular spots off the beach where last year on this very day I was catching Bull Reds still aren’t holding them. Any day now. There are plenty of Whiting, Bluefish, Pompano, Bonnetheads and Sharpnose to make for an enjoyable time. I even caught an unusual Guitarfish 2 miles from the beach. In honor of EF and Optiker I took him home and made beef jerky out of him /s.
guitarfish are on the threatened and endangered lists all over the world and currently under protected status in SC waters along with our federal waters.
I hope you enjoy the jerky,
Thanks again for a great report, if we were bowling I’d say you picked up a “spare”.
Please keep the report coming. Don’t let people discourage you - just harmless words lost in the ether. I have never seen a guitarfish before, so thanks.
I fish some of the same spots. Surprised you do not run into mackerel or barracuda. I have caught kings and spanish at 60 and 40. Not huge but tasty. Barracuda have probably taken my lunch money at 40 more than sharks when water temps are higher.
Do you ever troll hard baits like diving plugs or trolling spoons behind a planer? Really easy to do and two rods is plenty if only a few people on the boat. Also, a great way to find some of the live bottom spots around the artificial reefs that aren’t public.
I caught two Barracuda over the summer at the Edisto 40. Floated live bait on a popping cork. Made the mistake of bringing them in the boat. Stunk it up something awful. “Mean green”, “algae on steroids” were some of the ways the smell was described.
As for Mackerel and Bonita, they were very visible a month ago, with many large schools busting bait about a mile west of the 40 reef.
Being a lowly level two fisherman, I dont troll much, but I do use a split screen wherever I go, and do mark interesting spots to return to, and hopefully name if they prove productive
Glad you find the reports useful. Ill keep them coming.
