Does anyone know where there is an easily accessed flat that has some tailing redfish lately. Im trying to get my first red on fly and I’ve had some problems finding them. If anyone has any tips or spots it would be greatly appreciated.
Might not seem like it, but you’re asking for a lot here. Not many people are going to divulge this kind of info a public forum after they have put the time and research into finding these types of spots. What they will tell you is use Google Maps, drive around coastal places on a high tide and LOOK, purchase a guided trip and get out there and try your luck. Also, use the search section up at the top of your screen. Good luck!
Fishing Nerd
“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
I’d suggest you consider taking a charter to get yourself shots at them. I did that a few years ago and my (highly recommended) guide, Capt. Jeremy Mehlhaff (Charleston Shallows) put me on about 50 fish, of which I was only able to get 1 to the boat due to my sucky casting. But that is exactly what I needed, some shots at fish. It was an awesome day that I will remember a long time.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
I doubt anyone will tell you anything that’s of use so I will. The flats next to solegre on the folly creek side, Kiawah by the stono johns island side, Behind fort sumter, by the golf course under the connecter. All of these areas hold fish and they move into the flat. The best way is get there early and wait on the tide to come up. If your having trouble with poling spooking and position and following the fish get out your boat. Go on the calmest day you can and if you can get the right conditions around sunset or day break that is optimum. If you get there late forget site fishing and fish the start of the creek out the marsh, where it goes from normal grass to the tiny start of a creek. The fish usually exit at the first switch of high tide. If it is windy fish the edge of the side where the wind pushes you to, often bait and coverage is pushed to this area.
Actually the best way to figure out if a flat is good is at low tide if you can get close to them. Look for signs like a creek on to the flat a patch of short grass, sand or mud mussels and fiddlers and other holes in the bottom, snails, crabs. The marshes I see the most fish in have a ton of life, I’ve been in what looks like prime area and it has no life on it, at high tide I would of thought this place was golden and would of tried over and over and likely never caught a thing. Some times a really lively will just be regular grass, the mouth of elis/james island creek has tall dense grass that’s unfishable and I’ve seen and heard large schools of fish in there.
help me out 40inchreds…need an easily accessed area that has some teal or pintails. worth a shot.
I appreciate all of the help guys and I do realize everyone is secretive about there best spots the help and and advice is appreciated.
Not a duck hunter can’t help yeah.
Right now might not be the best time to try and find tailing reds (near the end of the season for that), but you can definitely scout flats. Sometimes it’s a bust, but sometimes you get lucky. Right now I wouldn’t necessarily be looking for tailing fish, but I would be looking for areas that hold the right amount of water and have the right “structure” – as in hard bottom with short(er) grass. It’s a tough game and it takes a while, but it’s worth it once you get a few spots figured out.
Hiring a guide is a great idea – not just for the fish you catch, but for the information shared when out on the water. They’ve usually got the game pretty well figured out, and you might be able to pick up some tips on how to figure it out yourself.
1994 Hewes Redfisher 18, 2004 Yamaha 150 VMAX
Malibu X-Factor Kayak
That boat ramp that just got shut down on Sullivans Island, try around that area on a flood tide, or take a boat ride on a flood tide and look for others fishing the flats. There’s plenty of folks chasing them now, should be easy to spot someone and come back the next day to that spot.