Fished Coosaw with my brother-in-law on his boat this morning. I caught one short flounder. I had low expectations given the poor reports lately, but we needed to check out the boat. A stiff breeze blew all morning out of the W & SW. The river looked like chocolate milk. Very muddy everywhere. Water Temp was 82 to 83. We fished several holes that normally produce. Nada except for the one flounder that was caught on a jighead/mudminnow drug across a creekmouth bottom on low outgoing tide. When the tide turned in against the wind, a nasty chop was building, and we headed home.
The fishing usually picks up about mid-September. I plan to fish a lot when things “get right”. Hopefully, I’ll have better reports then!
I’ve been keeping a log since the 80’s. My best “luck” of the year with trout and reds has always been in October. Actually, mid-Sept to mid November is my “primetime”. That doesn’t mean they will bite every day, but bad days are rare that time of year. Friday, October 10th has a 9.3 ft. high tide at Broad River Bridge. I usually avoid the big tides. The flats boat guys love them, but my 21ft won’t get up skinny on the high grass “fiddler flats”. By the next Tuesday, the 14th, the tides go neap, and pretty much stay that way, except for a few days either side of the new moon October 25th, until about November 3rd. This should be some of the best fishing of the year. The rivers are usually uncrowded then, as football, night-shrimping, and hunting occupy many outdoorsmen. The “new crop” reds should be legal size, or at least fighting size by then, and the young reds are agressive and have not been “educated” yet. Trout are in their “fall feeding frenzy”, getting fat on shrimp, etc. for the winter. I can’t wait!
Thanks for the info Spec!!! We’ve usually been down in the Coosaw area in the middle of Oct for quite a few years (missed last year ). We’ll be bringing my river running 16’ johnboat down with us and pretty well know where we can/can’t get into. Two years ago we almost couldn’t buy a red drum-until NN took us out one day and we hit a couple of nice plus slot sized ones however we did get more than our fill of trout and flounder.
Looking forward to this year because we’ll be bringing my 80 year old Dad with us that has never fished in salt water. Already talked to Capt Wally about getting him out for an offshore trip too. Hopefully the Mother Nature is nice to us this year!..we got chased out by Hurricane Sandy two years ago.
Dadsr, sounds like you “know the ropes”. That 16’ johnboat should be a great all around fishing boat. You can get up there skinny with the flats boats! Mid-October should be a great time to introduce your dad to the salt. The weather is usually super pleasant - IF the hurricaines stay away! I catch most of my reds when the water is out of, or nearly out of the grass. I cast to less that a foot of water tight to oyster beds just inside or just outside creek mouths. A “drain” running across the oysters is a big plus. Put a 1 ft. or less 20# leader under a rattlecork & toss it to within inches of the shells. Attach a split shot lead 1/2 way down the leader. Use live shrimp on a circle hook. Don’t tarry in an area if there is no activity. Keep moving until you find a “live” area. Call Capt. Rick Percy - he’s the man for reds. I’m envious: I’ve never got “more than my fill” of trout and flounder! Trout are my favorite - I love to feel that “shaky head” on the other end of my line. But, I also love to catch Reds and flounder! Good luck!
Thanks NN. I’m no expert. But, the little I know I am happy to share. However, ya’ll should take with a grain of salt fishing advice from a guy who could only catch one flounder yesterday!
Hey Glenn! Glad that Spec started this thread!!! It’s been two years but I’m already remembering some of the hot spots that we have usually hit with the 14’r we used to bring down-now with a little bigger boat/motor I’m wondering what other possibilities we can get too For sure we’ll be hitting the grass/oyster beds that you took us to the last time…can’t wait to see my Dad hauling out a slot+ red from the grass
I’ve been haunting the site (like usual) but have been waiting until I knew for sure that we were going to be heading down again. Oh yeah- the boat I picked up is a 16’ Landau with a 35 Merc jetdrive-can’t recall seeing any jet drives down there before so if anyone sees one running around in mid Oct it’s probably me.
). We’ll be bringing my river running 16’ johnboat down with us and pretty well know where we can/can’t get into. Two years ago we almost couldn’t buy a red drum-until NN took us out one day and we hit a couple of nice plus slot sized ones however we did get more than our fill of trout and flounder.