Good morning ladies and gentleman. I’m fairly new to the board and this is my first post. I’m looking for a little help, because I’m getting my butt handed to me regularly. If my family depended on me to provide food by fishing, we’d be starving by now! 
I’ve just begun fishing in the last 6 weeks or so, other than a few trips bottom fishing with an old buddy of mine and his dad when I was younger. I’ve been fishing for reds with buddies in flats(2x), off the bridge at Breach Inlet, off of a small pier on the Folly and in the surf on the north end of Folly Beach.
Out of all of that, I’ve brought home one keeper flounder.
Typically, I go out 2 hours before peak high tide, regardless of the area. I’ve used live bait, cut bait, fiddler crabs, cut shrimp, Powerbait Shrimp, Gulp peeler crabs. If I keep coming back with empty coolers, my wife might start to think my time would be better spent actually doing work around the house…
- Use search function
- Hire a guide
Groupon has a good deal today, half off a 2 person 1/2 day charter. Don’t know the guide, maybe someone here does.
I will say this, I am still no where near the fisherman I want to be but, I learn a little more each time I go out and feel more confident with each trip. Read the posts everyday, ask questions and experiment with baits, tides, times, rigs, etc… Keep notes on what works and what does not. My biggest handicap (beside being me) is being 2 hours from salt which limits the number of times I actually get on the water each month. If you live down there, get out there and learn.
Good luck.
Oh and welcome!
Thanks for the quick responses and welcome! Yeah, I’ve been reading the forums for a few weeks now and actually have tried a lot of what I’ve seen here. I’ll have to look into that Groupon special. I guess should remember that a little patience goes a long way. And regardless of the catch, or lack thereof, it’s still better than work!
try low tide!!
let em live!!! let em spawn!!!
Will do!
That is one thing I have to remind myself of, there is no such thing as a bad day spent on the water. Most of my “fishing trips” are with my wife and 2 boys. It is actually hard to do any serious fishing with everyone along for the ride. It is still all good though.
One thing I noticed yesterday while surf fishing, using pieces of shrimp, all that would be left was the shell. I wasn’t sure if it was the breakers pulling it off or if I was being picked clean by the fish.
the shell may actually keep fish from getting hooked. try peelin a few small pieces next time. learned that trick from a tourny winning whitenen slayer
Mountain Dew or Crab Juice. Eeww…sheesh…I’ll take a crab juice.
Thanks, I’ll do it!
Here is a pciture of myself and a nice redfish incase you don’t know what one looks like!
P.S. Now that I have had some fun it has taken me 4 years to get decent at catching fish like that.
2007 Scout 221 150 Yamaha 4 stroke
That is a beautiful fish! I’d seen pics and actually did see some tailing in the flats, just didn’t hook any. Come to think of it, neither did my friend, who has been typically pretty successful.
I think the best results come from guys who post what they have been trying and letting people respond with suggestions to change or correct what you are trying. Catching fish is usually an accumulation of many hours spent on/at the water. If people feel you are putting in the time, they go out of their way to help you get better.
Fishing with a guide could teach you a lot about these waters and what rigs to use for best results.
Keep posting what you are trying and I bet the help will come more and more.
Dnvziblone check your pm
Ok go out at about dead low and get you some bait. Fish creek mouths and catch the fish going in.
“In every species of fish I’ve angled for, it is the ones that have got away that thrill me the most, the ones that keep fresh in my memory. So I say it is good to lose fish. If we didn’t, much of the thrill of angling would be gone.” Ray Bergman
RiverMonster,I’ll take that info and run with it. Thanks!
Remember you are fishing at the worst time of the year, too. Dog days of summer have always been hard for me. Don’t be so hard on yourself and keep trying. Even Stonoman got skunked the other day. On Friday my friend and I fished Holbreck creek for four hours without a decent bite. Moved to Nowell creek and fished another hour and finally caught a total of four rat reds just before the thunder chased us.
17 Trophy-Merc 90
CBJ, I’m glad you told me that. I’m a beginner, so I didn’t realize that this was the worst time of the year. Yesterday, I fished a dock on the Folly for a few hours, only caught a small black sea bass, a croaker and a spot – but was robbed of shrimp all day long! So, it’s just a matter of getting familiar with the fish. Thanks to everyone for being so helpful! I’ll keep you all updated on my progress.