Greetings and Happy Hollidays to all. First time posting but have been following this site since I found it a few weeks ago. Thanks to all who graciously share thier knowledge and time. I grew up on the Johns Island marshes as a young chap back in the 70’s but Hugo ran me out of town and I settled in the midlands of SC. I’ve done some occasional salt fishing since over the years with mixed success. My family is planning to come down the day after Christmas to camp with some friends at James Island County Park. Have been reading how the warm weather has extended to fishing season around Charleston and it has me wanting to hit the salt with my son, camping buddy and his son. Both boys are about 11 and love to fish. I’ve looked at the Google maps aerials of the park pier and at the Folly Beach park. Surf fishing would be fine along the beach but I’m more interested in the river and creeks directly behind the parking lot at the park. I’ve walked my share of marshes before but was wondering if anyone has ever attempted to cross the marsh to get to the two creeks due north of the parking area. From the most recent photos it looks like the sand washed over and out into the marsh, making for a shorter hike than walking the sand around the west end of the island carrying all the gear. I’m also assuming that the fishing would be better closer to the ocean than up in the small creek the JI park pier is located on. We only have a couple of days in Charleston so I’d like to make this one attemp to fish with my son count. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
There’s a reason I’m close to the top of the food chain.
Gear: carry some (10?) 1 oz egg sinkers, some (10?) 40lb swivels, some extra mono or flouro leader line ~17lb, some good (Gamagatsu or Owner) 3/0 bait hooks in a Tupperware container along with your rod/reel gear. Basic “fish finder” rig w/ 12" leader (see google images). Not much needed there so you don’t need to carry much gear. Use “uni knots.” Bait: if you can find a live crab, break it half or quarters; good quality shrimp is ok. Catch a small croaker and cut him into steaks and use those as bait. You will definitely get a shark or two, and lose some of that gear to such. Mud minnows work good but I’ve had days when nothing would eat them. If you don’t catch something in 10 - 15 mins, move 20 yds and try again. HAVE FUN!
Crossing the marsh would be tougher than walking around the bend, its only about a fifteen minute walk. At high tide the whole area down there gets flooded and the tide can really rip on the out going. You will definitely catch some small fish fishing by the pole and the creek mouth around the bend in the inlet. There is also a cement wall that goes out by the end of the county park parking lot that has a nice rock pile at the end about 75ft before the pole and a gully beside it. Fish the side toward the inlet by the rocks and you will catch black drum for sure but usually small, easy spot to fish, 2 minute walk, but only good at about mid tide or higher because the sand bar that forms the gully. I use the lightest Carolina rig I can cast to the edge of the rocks and let it fall slack with the current to try to let it fall naturally before pulling tight for feel, my leader is usually 20# Fluoro about 8 inches long with a small owner live bait hook and a 1/16 to 1/4 ounce egg sinkers. The smaller lighter rig helps with hang ups and feel.
Thank you for your input and helpfull advice. Being able to cull out some gear will be helpful. Didn’t realize the walk around the end of the island was so short. Being a land surveyor I’m always looking for the best way to get from point A to point B. Plus, I just got a new hip 4 weeks ago. Just figured that the marsh would be pretty solid to cross being so close to the beach. Another thought was to be able to fish the deeper bends of the eastern creek and have access to both creek mouths. Hoping this little cold snap won’t shut things down. Tides are looking good for a morning trip either way. Been reading about what’s still biting and it looks encoraging. Just getting the boys into some small black drum or a trout would make it worth the effort. Plan to set a minnow trap at the park pier but am prepared to buy some shrimp and minnows for bait. Also bringing a cast net. May as well go all out. Thanks again for your help. Happy holidays to all.
There’s a reason I’m close to the top of the food chain.