Gentlemen,
I am a new member to this site. I spent several hours fishing the Ashley this Saturday with no luck… I tried Orange groove creek as well as the mouth of Old Town creek with no luck… Any pearls of wisdom?
yes. Really now is the wrong time of the year. Sure some people can catch a few reds and trout, but if you are out trying to get out and learn now is not the time. Wait until the spring. Fish are much eaiser to catch when they are in feeding mode and not survival mode, also warmer water in the spring/summer brings in migratory species. More fish/variety of species to catch.
Welcome grass hopper,
Not to sure anyone did any good this weekend. Seems like eveyone I talk to caught one or two .the pressure was rising all weekend.
Fishing on the Ashley Isn’t always easy , seems like one of the harder rivers to fish. Find a good oyster bank or docks is the main place I seem to find um.
Pm me sometime I’m always out on the Ashley.
Good luck
Aj
Welcome to the site. If you are relatively new to the salt game maybe try a different river. The Ashley is a different world that doesn’t reveal itself as easy as the Wando and Cooper. My opinion, anyway. AJ, will put you on a few, though!
Vinman
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
2011 Carolina Skiff 178DLV
90 HP Honda
I fish the upper Ashley weekly - the spottail bite (for me) slowed way down in mid December and has been super slow all of Jan. They are there - just can’t seem to get them to bite. Live bait, fresh frozen pogies and mullet… was even using live 2-3" pogies yesterday without a bite. Even the catfish bite has slowed to a crawl…
quote:
Originally posted by fishboyReally now is the wrong time of the year.
Really!!?? Schools of hundreds of hungry fish wadded up on smaller flats in gin clear water is the wrong time of the year?
Wow… That may explain why I see so little traffic and have been catching so many fish 
Yeah this is the WORST time of year to fish… just give up til like May…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- www.SCKayakfishing.com
www.lowcountryflyshop.com
Tarpon 160os
Ok Nikon,
winter: Two species around, reds and trout. Most have lockjaw and not feeding aggressivly. These fish are schooled up in shallow flats trying to stay warm and not get eaten by dolphins. This means 90% of the river is a desert. If you have no experience flats fishing, you are more than likley going to strike out everytime. Cold weather makes for a miserable trip, even more miserable if not catching anything but an attitude.
April-November
Bait becomes abundant. Fish are more active. Now you have reds, trout, sheeps, ladyfish, bluefish, many species of sharks, etc etc…
warm weather makes for an enjoyable trip even if not catching much. Schools break up and now 90% of the river holds fish instead of 90% not holding fish. Catching quality fish by accident much more eaiser than at other times of the year.
Apparently you are the expert, know all and I am of course wrong… of course with a LITTLE bit of scouting the fish are easy to find and there are PLENTY of them to find and there are PLENTY of hungry fish to be caught and enjoyed but I like your idea, Stay in the house and wait til every one else if fishing… and BTW… I have caught more quality fish this time of year than I do any other time. I’ll keep fishing through the winter, catching fish and enjoying time on the water while you sit at home watching fishing shows…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- www.SCKayakfishing.com
www.lowcountryflyshop.com
Tarpon 160os
quote:
Originally posted by nikonjediApparently you are the expert, know all and I am of course wrong… of course with a LITTLE bit of scouting the fish are easy to find and there are PLENTY of them to find and there are PLENTY of hungry fish to be caught and enjoyed but I like your idea, Stay in the house and wait til every one else if fishing… and BTW… I have caught more quality fish this time of year than I do any other time. I’ll keep fishing through the winter, catching fish and enjoying time on the water while you sit at home watching fishing shows…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- www.SCKayakfishing.com
www.lowcountryflyshop.com
Tarpon 160os
What river is the OP asking about?
Is there “gin clear” water anywhere on that river?
Like I said already - I fish this river weekly, sometimes 2x per week. Bite has been slow this month.
Slow down with the chest thumping - understand the OP’s question and what river is in question.
In short - AINT NO gin clear water anywhere near the Ashley.
fish docks two hours before low till two hours after low. Not all redfish in the winter are on flats. I still catch 10 - 20 reds every time I go out in the winter. have even had a few days this winter where I have caught 35+ reds. If they aren’t at one dock move to the next. Use cut mullet or shrimp
Redtarpon,
Were these docks on the Ashley or are you referring to the Wando? Thanks
Dang Nikon, sorry if I came out sounding rude. Did not mean to upset you. Not saying that you can’t catch fish in the winter, all I am sayin is it is much harder in the winter than at other times of the year. I just don’t want a bunch of people on here telling a newbie to the sport that he can just go out and tear them up in January. He will become easily frustrated and probably give up. (Take Dustin Cole’s thread for example) If you enjoy fishing in the winter then that is great. I don’t prefer it because catching a few fish is not worth me dressing like an eskimo and freezing my butt off the whole time I am out there. Oh by the way I don’t watch fishing shows, I spend my winter on the golf course and tennis court,Then back to fishing when the water warms up.
A handful of people on this website prefer to fish the Charleston winters than the Charleston summers. Guess you have to pick and choose what you like fished with some friends the other day and we boated 12 Reds, in a short time frame
experience noun \ik-#712;spir–#601;n(t)s
-
the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
-
that thing you get just moments after you needed it.
Winter is one of the best times to fish. You can also target sheepshead.
B don’t tell them what they are missing !
19’ Cobia bay
I fished 4 or 5 days a week for the last 13 years, but have had to cut back, work… and yes this is a tough/fun time to sight fish. Patience is key right now, be stealth… wait, then provide something they cannot resist. Shallow H20 has been nice lately for me. I fish IOP/Sullivans/Mt P backside. Slooowwwwwww retrieve
[quote]Originally posted by Inshorefisher
Winter is one of the best times to fish. You can also target sheepshead.
Speaking of sheeps…any body been out to try them lately?? I like fishing in the late fall/winter because there are less people out and you can still catch fish. Plus, fishing is fun, catching is better, but you can’t beat just being out there!!
Hooked on The Aquatic Narcotic
17’ Key West
“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day…Teach a man to fish, he’ll probably be in your spot next time.”
LKJ
Once again, never said you couldn’t catch fish in the winter. I was only giving advice to a newbie that now is not the easiest time to catch fish. Other times of the year are easier and more fish around. Just didn’t want him to get easily frustrated and give up. I know there are plenty of people that enjoy fishing this time of the year and that is totally fine. I disagree with sheep comment. I fish for them a lot and consider myself to be pretty good at catching them. I am sure there are a few around, but october and november are prime time for them. Late march-mid may is also good. I would not consider now to be the best time to target them inshore.
My bad if I was a person who sounded rude. I was just expressing my opinion…I’m actually itching to get out there any day now!! As soon as wrestling season is over I might! From a beginner’s standpoint I would say that it is easier to catch fish when it warms a little. Might have to go to a near shore reef to catch a sheep unless the dogfish have made it!!!
Hooked on The Aquatic Narcotic
17’ Key West
“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day…Teach a man to fish, he’ll probably be in your spot next time.”
LKJ
quote:
Originally posted by LBoogie[quote]Originally posted by Inshorefisher
Winter is one of the best times to fish. You can also target sheepshead.
Speaking of sheeps…any body been out to try them lately?? I like fishing in the late fall/winter because there are less people out and you can still catch fish. Plus, fishing is fun, catching is better, but you can’t beat just being out there!!
Hooked on The Aquatic Narcotic
17’ Key West
“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day…Teach a man to fish, he’ll probably be in your spot next time.”
LKJ
Caught about 10 heads on Saturday. Inshore on the Wando. Oysters and fids on circles. Not much size to them but fiesty as always. Sheeps are inshore and biting year round.