Fishing the Grillage in the Charleston Harbor

Saltwater Inshore Discussion
1

Any tips on fishing the grillage from a boat? Like bait, what type of fish are usually caught here, and certain fishing methods. Thanks

2

Just do a search on here…lot’s of info, even some good stuff mixed in. Be careful, it can get rough in no time and the current can really haul through there…lot’s of big reds and sharks come through there…live menhaden/mullet/whiting/crab chunks will all produce fish…carolina rig with suitable weight to keep it on bottom. Expect there to be other boats nearby, it’s not a place to go to expect any type of seclusion. I stopped fishing there years ago, lots of equally as good spots without the hassle.

'a stranger is just a friend i havent met yet’jt

3

Bottom there is full of old junk, cables, lost ground tackle etc.
Easy to foul/lose your anchor.
I, too, stopped fishing there.
You can catch fish; but it’s usually crowded with boats and bumpy water from boat and freighter wakes.

16’ Alumacraft Mod V Hull Jon Boat
25hp Yammy 4 stroke

4

Been a while since we had a grillage thread. Peapod, care to chime in?

“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?

5

PeaPod’s next constructive comment on this site will also be his first :wink: I might think higher of him if he’d ever take me gigging…but until then, I’m holding strong on my position…

'a stranger is just a friend i havent met yet’jt

6

Dammit

7

I remember several years ago when people got mad at anyone mentioning the “secret” grillage spot! I wouldn’t fish it on the weekend, save that spot for a less crowded weekday.

I’ve fished there and caught fish, also lost a few along with an anchor and much tackle. Use a cheap reef anchor if you go. My 2cents.

Good luck Trent, go catch em up!

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/tagfish/pdf/CharlestonHarbor.pdf

“Why Bruce?”

8

Been fishing there for close to 30 years and we have only had to leave one anchor. Now we have bent several getting them up, but we did get them. Have used nothing but a danforth style anchor, but we do use alot of chain! As gail says, have a spare just in case. I thik that is a good idea regardless of where you ae fishing. On a side note, we probably have brought up a dozen or so anchors with our anchor over those 30 years.

Area:
Some quick info. Som ereally good fish can be had at the grillage and it does get crowded at times in certain spots, but I always wondered why they all like to get in those “certain” spots. I know many are just copying what they see, but no need to be where all the boats are! The grillage is huge and more than enough area to get away from the crowd. For the newbies, if you take the time to survey the grillage with your depth finders you will see a very sharp drop off that generally runs from the jetty on Sullivans (little red can bouy) on out to the red channel marker where all the boats are usually anchored. Don’t know the number of that buoy now. Used to be Buoy 22, but I think it mat be 24 now, IDK. Anyway, that drop off runs in an arc between those two points and it is drastic. It goes from 70-80 ft on the channel side to 30 ft in a hurry. The gradually shallows as you get closer to the beach. We call that the shelf. I have found that it is live bottom over the entire area, thus the good fishing.

Anchoring:
This is just how I have always done it, but I always go around 1 hour before either tide and fish until the tide turns good. What we are trying to catch dictates where we try to anchor. If bull reds, smaller black drum are your target. Anchor anywhere in between those two points, on the dropp off or on the shelf. It does not matter. Now, we do look at the finder to see if there are any depressions or structure showing up as it is always good to at least try and anchor on that if you see any. I have been pure lazy and looking to just relax and drink beer, pul

9
quote:
Originally posted by RWL

Been fishing there for close to 30 years and we have only had to leave one anchor. Now we have bent several getting them up, but we did get them. Have used nothing but a danforth style anchor, but we do use alot of chain! As gail says, have a spare just in case. I thik that is a good idea regardless of where you ae fishing. On a side note, we probably have brought up a dozen or so anchors with our anchor over those 30 years.

Area:
Some quick info. Som ereally good fish can be had at the grillage and it does get crowded at times in certain spots, but I always wondered why they all like to get in those “certain” spots. I know many are just copying what they see, but no need to be where all the boats are! The grillage is huge and more than enough area to get away from the crowd. For the newbies, if you take the time to survey the grillage with your depth finders you will see a very sharp drop off that generally runs from the jetty on Sullivans (little red can bouy) on out to the red channel marker where all the boats are usually anchored. Don’t know the number of that buoy now. Used to be Buoy 22, but I think it mat be 24 now, IDK. Anyway, that drop off runs in an arc between those two points and it is drastic. It goes from 70-80 ft on the channel side to 30 ft in a hurry. The gradually shallows as you get closer to the beach. We call that the shelf. I have found that it is live bottom over the entire area, thus the good fishing.

Anchoring:
This is just how I have always done it, but I always go around 1 hour before either tide and fish until the tide turns good. What we are trying to catch dictates where we try to anchor. If bull reds, smaller black drum are your target. Anchor anywhere in between those two points, on the dropp off or on the shelf. It does not matter. Now, we do look at the finder to see if there are any depressions or

10
quote:
Originally posted by RWL

Been fishing there for close to 30 years and we have only had to leave one anchor. Now we have bent several getting them up, but we did get them. Have used nothing but a danforth style anchor, but we do use alot of chain! As gail says, have a spare just in case. I thik that is a good idea regardless of where you ae fishing. On a side note, we probably have brought up a dozen or so anchors with our anchor over those 30 years.

Area:
Some quick info. Som ereally good fish can be had at the grillage and it does get crowded at times in certain spots, but I always wondered why they all like to get in those “certain” spots. I know many are just copying what they see, but no need to be where all the boats are! The grillage is huge and more than enough area to get away from the crowd. For the newbies, if you take the time to survey the grillage with your depth finders you will see a very sharp drop off that generally runs from the jetty on Sullivans (little red can bouy) on out to the red channel marker where all the boats are usually anchored. Don’t know the number of that buoy now. Used to be Buoy 22, but I think it mat be 24 now, IDK. Anyway, that drop off runs in an arc between those two points and it is drastic. It goes from 70-80 ft on the channel side to 30 ft in a hurry. The gradually shallows as you get closer to the beach. We call that the shelf. I have found that it is live bottom over the entire area, thus the good fishing.

Anchoring:
This is just how I have always done it, but I always go around 1 hour before either tide and fish until the tide turns good. What we are trying to catch dictates where we try to anchor. If bull reds, smaller black drum are your target. Anchor anywhere in between those two points, on the dropp off or on the shelf. It does not matter. Now, we do look at the finder to see if there are any depressions or

11
quote:
Originally posted by RWL

Been fishing there for close to 30 years and we have only had to leave one anchor. Now we have bent several getting them up, but we did get them. Have used nothing but a danforth style anchor, but we do use alot of chain! As gail says, have a spare just in case. I thik that is a good idea regardless of where you ae fishing. On a side note, we probably have brought up a dozen or so anchors with our anchor over those 30 years.

Area:
Some quick info. Som ereally good fish can be had at the grillage and it does get crowded at times in certain spots, but I always wondered why they all like to get in those “certain” spots. I know many are just copying what they see, but no need to be where all the boats are! The grillage is huge and more than enough area to get away from the crowd. For the newbies, if you take the time to survey the grillage with your depth finders you will see a very sharp drop off that generally runs from the jetty on Sullivans (little red can bouy) on out to the red channel marker where all the boats are usually anchored. Don’t know the number of that buoy now. Used to be Buoy 22, but I think it mat be 24 now, IDK. Anyway, that drop off runs in an arc between those two points and it is drastic. It goes from 70-80 ft on the channel side to 30 ft in a hurry. The gradually shallows as you get closer to the beach. We call that the shelf. I have found that it is live bottom over the entire area, thus the good fishing.

Anchoring:
This is just how I have always done it, but I always go around 1 hour before either tide and fish until the tide turns good. What we are trying to catch dictates where we try to anchor. If bull reds, smaller black drum are your target. Anchor anywhere in between those two points, on the dropp off or on the shelf. It does not matter. Now, we do look at the finder to see if there are any depressions or

12

Great post RWL. That’s what a fishing community should be all about - passing on knowledge.

“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad

Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 22 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 18 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)

ECFC

13

There is a ledge right off Sullivan’s before the red buoys. It holds flounders its that time of year also. There is a shark hole between the 2nd and 3rd bouy and Sullivan’s.

14
quote:
Originally posted by RWL

Been fishing there for close to 30 years and we have only had to leave one anchor. Now we have bent several getting them up, but we did get them. Have used nothing but a danforth style anchor, but we do use alot of chain! As gail says, have a spare just in case. I thik that is a good idea regardless of where you ae fishing. On a side note, we probably have brought up a dozen or so anchors with our anchor over those 30 years.

Area:
Some quick info. Som ereally good fish can be had at the grillage and it does get crowded at times in certain spots, but I always wondered why they all like to get in those “certain” spots. I know many are just copying what they see, but no need to be where all the boats are! The grillage is huge and more than enough area to get away from the crowd. For the newbies, if you take the time to survey the grillage with your depth finders you will see a very sharp drop off that generally runs from the jetty on Sullivans (little red can bouy) on out to the red channel marker where all the boats are usually anchored. Don’t know the number of that buoy now. Used to be Buoy 22, but I think it mat be 24 now, IDK. Anyway, that drop off runs in an arc between those two points and it is drastic. It goes from 70-80 ft on the channel side to 30 ft in a hurry. The gradually shallows as you get closer to the beach. We call that the shelf. I have found that it is live bottom over the entire area, thus the good fishing.

Anchoring:
This is just how I have always done it, but I always go around 1 hour before either tide and fish until the tide turns good. What we are trying to catch dictates where we try to anchor. If bull reds, smaller black drum are your target. Anchor anywhere in between those two points, on the dropp off or on the shelf. It does not matter. Now, we do look at the finder to see if there are any depressions or

15
quote:
Originally posted by Fred67

“Why Bruce?”

On my friends charter, I called his passengers “Bruce”, mostly because I’m horrible about remembering names. But why “Bruce”?

There’s a simple reason why I called people Bruce…

1 - What was the name of the mechanical shark they used to film Jaws? Bruce.

2 - What was the name of the shark in Finding Nemo? Bruce.

3 - Who saved the world from Arrmageddon? Bruce Willis.

4 - Who was the best martial arts fighter? Bruce Lee.

5 - Who was Batman? Bruce Wayne.

Finally…the old Monty Python skit
Bruces:
Second Bruce: G’day, Bruce!
First Bruce: Oh, Hello Bruce!
Third Bruce: How are you Bruce?
(Enter fourth Bruce with English person, Michael)
Fourth Bruce: 'Ow are you, Bruce?
First Bruce: G’day Bruce!
Fourth Bruce: Bruce.
Second Bruce: Hello Bruce.
Fourth Bruce: Bruce.
Third Bruce: How are you, Bruce?
Fourth Bruce: G’day Bruce.
Fourth Bruce: Michael Baldwin, Bruce. Michael Baldwin, Bruce. Michael Baldwin, Bruce.
First Bruce: Is your name not Bruce?
Michael: No, it’s Michael.
Second Bruce: That’s going to cause a little confusion.
Third Bruce: Mind if we call you ‘Bruce’ to keep it clear?

*****

That’s why I call people Bruce when I can’t remember their names.

Oh…One day I was on the bow pulling the anchor and the sun was spectacularly setting over the harbor and a guy said “My god, what a view.” I turned and looked at Bruce and said…“Why thank you…Katlyn!” His friends almost fell out of the boat laughing at him.

Good times.

“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad

Equipment:
2007 Grady White 222 Fisherman / 250 Yamaha
Simrad NSS evo2 and G4
1- 22 boy that won’t move out)
1 - 18 year o

16

LOL!!! Love the Monty Python reference!!!

No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.

17

I appreciate the good words guys. Just passing on info.

This will give you an idea of just how rocky and vertical that dropp off is at the Grillage. This will enlighten many and may change how some try to fish it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFctTZWylMg

18

what a great movie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyVX3uJpqxc

1 Like
19

has anyone dove the grillage?

20

Good stuff. If you don’t own a venting tool or know how to use one, you have no business fishing there. These fish are old and breeding the future stocks. Hold them properly, vent them, revive them until they are plenty strong to swim away. Might take 30 minutes!

2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com