This has been my first year living on fishing on James Island. Grew up fishing the Cape Fear region of NC so I’m not new to inshore fishing.
So far, I have been less than thrilled with the results of my fishing trips in the lower Stono area. I use the Sol Legare ramp. With a Top spot chart and google earth, I have become somewhat familiar with the waters in this area and, admittedly, Ive probably spent more time learning my way around than actually fishing. Other than sharks and croaker, Ive been striking out.
I have been focusing on some of the area creeks: abbappoola, green, cinder, bass, etc. Ive tried fishing some docks on the Kiawah River and Stono River to little avail. In the creeks I try fishing feeder creeks mouths and oyster mounds or rip rap. What can I do differently in creeks? Im used to fishing a falling tide at the mouths but that hasn’t been productive.
Last week was the first time Ive gotten up in the flats on the high tide. I poled around a bit and found a few reds, but spooked them off. That was cool (first tailing reds Ive seen) and I plan on doing that more. So far, Ive just explored some kiawah flats. Should I also consider poling shallow creeks at low tide for reds?
Ive tried drifting the stono inlet with carolina rigs with no luck. I need to try that some more, I feel it could be productive. Thats how I caught many flounder back home.
I think Im just going to break down and hire a good local guide to help me speed up the learning curve.
I guess Im just frustrated fishing and learning a new area. I got so used to fishing the same old spots in NC that I forgot how challenging it can be finding new areas. Any little bits of advice would be greatly appreciated! Help out a brotha in need!
Sounds like you’re doing what you’re suppose to, be patient and keep at it. Don’t know about tides in NC but the fishing types and rigs depend a lot on the tides here. Hiring a guide would instill some confidence that the fish are here for sure.
I just started fishing here this summer and I’m on James Island as well. I tried mainly carolina rigs and took advice from some members on this site about rigs and bait, as well as some helpful guys I met on the pier at demetre park next to the JI yacht club (learned something new each time I went out, it’s a good place if you haven’t tried there yet). I went awhile without catching anything but I found an old sabiki rig someone left on the pier, attached a 3 oz weight to it and added shrimp to the hooks, a guy that fishes there all the time helped me out and explained how to use it, and I got spot, croaker, pinfish, and surprisingly, a young sharpnose shark on it. I don’t expect it will catch anything too big but I’m happy catching baitfish for other fishermen and learning from what they do.
I know the feeling. Keep at it. I’m not at all new to inshore fishing (Floridian), but I can’t catch chit inshore here. Striking out all year so far. Finally a couple weekends ago caught a couple nice over slot reds and this morning caught a handful of both trout and reds, but all small. Seems it’s starting to come together a little but I need to start a written trip log. I have burned so much fuel exploring everywhere except the Cooper so far.
I try to pick everybodys brains everywhere I go when I get engaged in fishing talk. Trying to file my existing knowledge somewhere in the way back of my mind because hardly any of it applies here. Guide is a good way to go I think. I traded a half day with one in exchange for a favor and learned a few tweaks to rigs that are new to me.
People are generally more willing to share and help in person than they are over the website. I’m thinking I’m going to join one of the clubs in attempt to make a few more regular experienced fishing partners to learn from.
I fish Beaufort, not Charleston, but I struggle in July and August and February and March. Peak seasons where I fish are October and May, plus a couple of weeks either side of those months. Fish bite at or B4 sunrise in Summer. Hang in there. Better days are coming!
I know some good spots all really close to the areas you were fishing so the fish are there. It is a little slower on the good fish compared to spring and fall but the sharks and small fish like whiting, spot, croaker, pin fish are biting and are thick so you will have to weed through them, live mullet helps. Tides are a big factor and mid day fishing seems to be slower than morning or evening when fishing similar tides. The flats by solegre rd, king flats, is accessible from folly creek or green creek and is a great area to poll around trout and reds, but be careful go at dead low and follow the channel to learn the area because its a oyster feild.
Bosun, don’t feel too bad, the stono is difficult to fish. I’ve caught more reds in the surf in front of folly than I have in the inlet. The stono is difficult to navigate and it’s loaded w/sharks (atlantic, bonnethead, blacktip, bull, etc.) they are thick in that inlet and in the river and creeks as well. There are fish around the inlet, just pick a direction (folly or Kiawah), get out early in am and fish the mouths of creeks off the river 2 hours into the tide change and you’ll come across some fish.
Sounds like you’re getting close. I prefer to catch the fish as they come in the creek. The creek next to my house feeds a couple acre flat. When it get’s 6" of water in it fish start moving in with the tide. IMO they all want to be in as early as possible so the fiddlers are not as deep in their holes and the bait is concentrated. My creek is about ready to fish 2 hours after low and you’ll have to gauge the magic time for each creek you fish.
Luckily you already found Reds on a flat. So go on google maps and backtrack to the creeks that feed that flat. Start with the biggest feeder off the main as it will likely have more fish if it feeds the most flat (in theory). If you have to, go at dead low and wait for this tide to get high enough to get your boat in. If it is high enough at dead low, then push as far in as you can.
It’s kinda hard to just use maps as nothing beats boots on the ground but try something like this. https://goo.gl/maps/lQps0
If you can be set up in creek at low tide and work into it with the tide you’ll likely find fish. I would follow one of the two on the right after it T’s off past that little bank in the middle of the creek. How you approach the drift in will vary on the draft of your boat, the contours of the creek, and how worried you are about oysters (glass or aluminum?).
This intersection also looks promising. https://goo.gl/maps/zjXOr
If you can get in there ahead of them I would try to set up with 1 bottom rig upstream and a float rig downstream that you let feed some line and let it drift in with the tide. As you wait on the fish pitch a trouttrick around. Keep note of what time you start seeing or catching fish and to figure out the height of the tide at that time so you know when to be there next time. If your in a glass boat just keep fishing your spot until they stop biting then move as far into the creek as you can, anchor up, and repeat.
Bosun,
I’m assuming if youre catching sharks and croaker you must be fishing cut bait on the bottom. I’m sure you’ve tried everything but my advice would be to master throwing a cast net if you haven’t already. Try live finger mullet on Carolina rigs next to a big oyster bed or under docks. It sounds like you’ve put in some time, You’ll soon find some spots. It won’t take too long.
Andy,
You sold me an awesome boat and as you know the Day Tripper isn’t exactly a flats boat. I haven’t gone to my inshore spots nearly as much as the harbor or offshore this summer. I’d be more than happy to show you some spots that I know of. I’m off the next 3 days and plan on fishing quite a bit if this weather ever cooperates. Let me know if you’d like to join me. I believe I owe you some spots anyways!
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
I find Reds around docks this time of year more than anywhere else. The water is hot, so they’re looking for shade and a place to hide from Flipper. Shell beds closer to the ocean have worked well for me during the summer. The water in those areas isn’t as hot and has more oxygen during the heat of the summer I think.
Here’s an article I found few years ago written by a guide on Edisto. I found it to be very helpful. http://www.scfishingreport.com/a-year-round-guide-to-edisto-island-inshore-fishing/
I’ve always heard and believed that during the hot months, inshore fish move closer to the ocean due to the salinity levels. might be crazy, but it’s seemed to be true at least
having said that… I never fish inshore anymore so I probably wouldn’t listen to me [:0] actually been thinking of getting a little skiff just so I can topwater and sheephead fish in the harbor.
This is solid information that you should have to pay for by Great White. Thanks for sharing and being respectful!
quote:Originally posted by Great White
Sounds like you’re getting close. I prefer to catch the fish as they come in the creek. The creek next to my house feeds a couple acre flat. When it get’s 6" of water in it fish start moving in with the tide. IMO they all want to be in as early as possible so the fiddlers are not as deep in their holes and the bait is concentrated. My creek is about ready to fish 2 hours after low and you’ll have to gauge the magic time for each creek you fish.
Luckily you already found Reds on a flat. So go on google maps and backtrack to the creeks that feed that flat. Start with the biggest feeder off the main as it will likely have more fish if it feeds the most flat (in theory). If you have to, go at dead low and wait for this tide to get high enough to get your boat in. If it is high enough at dead low, then push as far in as you can.
It’s kinda hard to just use maps as nothing beats boots on the ground but try something like this. https://goo.gl/maps/lQps0
If you can be set up in creek at low tide and work into it with the tide you’ll likely find fish. I would follow one of the two on the right after it T’s off past that little bank in the middle of the creek. How you approach the drift in will vary on the draft of your boat, the contours of the creek, and how worried you are about oysters (glass or aluminum?).
This intersection also looks promising. https://goo.gl/maps/zjXOr
If you can get in there ahead of them I would try to set up with 1 bottom rig upstream and a float rig downstream that you let feed some line and let it drift in with the tide. As you wait on the fish pitch a trouttrick around. Keep note of what time you start seeing or catching fish and to figure out the height of the tide at that
Haha we’ll know how solid the info was once we get his next report. XD
The best scouting won’t guarantee you find or catch fish. What works for me might not on the other side of the river. He already found some fish so he did the hard part. He’ll get them eventually.
