My wife and I are coming into town with our 26’ cabin cruiser on Thursday and will be staying until Monday, hopefully fishing everyday. I have been surf fishing off Sullivans Island all my life, but I have never been off shore or inshore fishing in Charleston. Need help on where to go off shore, not too far, we have not been off shore before, or inshore. Where to catch or buy live bait and what kind to look for. Also what we can expect to catch with what baits.
Lots of requests I know, but we are new to this and would like to start bringing the boat with us on our 2 trips a year to Charleston. Any advice at all would be appreciated.
Get a MapsUnique chart and plug some numbers to live bottom areas in your gps. The Charleston Nearshore Reef is only about 3 miles off the jetties and you can catch small Black Sea bass, sharks, sheepsheads and a few others. Nothing too big though. If you are comfrortable you can go out to the charleston 60’ reef which is about 14 miles off the jetties. It will have some keeper BSB, Spadefish, Triggers, Sharks, Amberjacks, and more. As far as bait goes I always carry a pack of frozen squid and double hook pre made wire rigs. You need to carry a selection of 4-8 ounce weights to get your bait down. If you can get Menhaden from behind Morris island that will go great on a Carolina rig. Watch your GPS and look for good structure to anchor on. Dont be suprised if your anchor gets hung up on the reef and you have to cut it. i would suggest a reef anchor.Make sure you don’t leave the dock without a functional VHF, life jackets, etc… If you have any more questions PM me on here. I am a beginner also but have made around 10 trips in my boat out. You may want to get a friend or a local guide to come with you because it can get bad quick. Last weekend we were at the 60 and the Wind turned. Before we knew it it was 3-4 ft seas and almost no visibility.
1989 21’ Pursuit 2100-Mercury 225
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2006 21’ Action Craft Bay- Yamaha 150
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My Duck Hunting Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a17VvhGflSQ
The one time I’ve been to the 60 got ugly real quick. We made it back fine, but I wouldn’t suggest you go out there alone unless you know your boat VERY well. It’s not any more dangerous than any other place offshore… it’s just that the weather turns on a dime around here.
“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza
[quote]Originally posted by Redfish_matt
The one time I’ve been to the 60 got ugly real quick. We made it back fine, but I wouldn’t suggest you go out there alone unless you know your boat VERY well. It’s not any more dangerous than any other place offshore… it’s just that the weather turns on a dime around here.
Can’t Emphasize this more…
1989 21’ Pursuit 2100-Mercury 225
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2006 21’ Action Craft Bay- Yamaha 150
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My Duck Hunting Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a17VvhGflSQ
If you’ve never been offshore before, I would not recommend you trying it with out an experienced captain on your boat. There’s nothing wrong with fishing the jetties out of Charleston harbor. Lots of big boy fish and quality fish too. Fish Carolina rig on the bottom with mullet chunks. Anywhere between two and six ounces of lead to keep you on the bottom depending on what the current is doing. You’ll catch big reds and sharks. I use 40lb flouro leader when targeting reds at the jetties. If you want sharks, you’ll need wire leaders. Get lucky and you could hook a tarpon on the same bait.
Don’t be the guy that trailers his boat to a new location, runs offshore with family in tow only to find that you read the weather conditions wrong and something bad happen. Play it safe. You’ll likely catch more quality at the jetties than at nearshore or Charleston 60 anyways.
Gonna have to agree with 23Sailfish, the jetties are a great place to fish for beginners that aren’t used to the waters around here. I’ve caught plenty of bull reds among other fish at the end of the jetties before the rocks run out. Be careful at the ends of the rocks because at high tide you may not see them below the surface but they are down there and keep going out a little ways. Anchor your boat to where the rocks are blocking the waves and make sure any wind will not push you into the rocks. Throw out a double hook bottom rig with a bank sinker to minimize getting tangled in the rocks. I used cut squid and catch alot of BSBs, weakfish, whiting, croaker, and the occasional ray. If you anchor on the channel side of the rocks you can throw a drum rig in open water towards the channel with cut or whole mullet or squid and usually pick up redfish or sharks. I’ll be headin out towards the Charleston 60 on Saturday if you’re looking to go out to a reef offshore, if you wanna follow me out
25’ Sport-Craft
Suzuki 225
Fishin’ On Credit
Knee Deep, 23 Sailfish is right you should go with someone who has experience off-shore.Safety always is first,the boat comes first!!If you do go make sure you know all the rules and regs so you don’t get busted for undersized fish go to the SAFMC website for this.
The local tackle shops will have everything you need and can answer questions,Haddrells,Atlantic Game and Tackle etc.
Be safe first and have fun later,you got to know what to do in a emergency before it happens.
PM me if i can help in any way.
Thanks for your input guys. Our safety is the most important thing, we have 3 girls at home waiting on us to return. I will go by Haddrell’s and pick up a reef anchor and some frozen baits on Friday and give the ends of the jetties a try. Any suggestions on catching live bait?
Rickyparish, it would be great if you are going out Saturday and don’t mind us tagging along. If anyone else is up to letting us tag along on Friday or Sunday would be great. This way we are not ALONE and can get some tips for bottom fishing in the big water.
Wellcraft Martinique 2600
“Knee Deep”
quote:
Originally posted by Knee DeepThanks for your input guys. Our safety is the most important thing, we have 3 girls at home waiting on us to return. I will go by Haddrell’s and pick up a reef anchor and some frozen baits on Friday and give the ends of the jetties a try. Any suggestions on catching live bait?
Rickyparish, it would be great if you are going out Saturday and don’t mind us tagging along. If anyone else is up to letting us tag along on Friday or Sunday would be great. This way we are not ALONE and can get some tips for bottom fishing in the big water.Wellcraft Martinique 2600
“Knee Deep”
Get a cast net 6-7 feet and go behind Morris island and look for pelicans diving. If its calm you may hear the tails of the menhaden flicking. Cast on them. Or just mullet if you can find it
1989 21’ Pursuit 2100-Mercury 225
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2006 21’ Action Craft Bay- Yamaha 150
.
My Duck Hunting Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a17VvhGflSQ
And if you have a anchor ball puller…those can come in handy too at the jetties and grillage… Watch for the boat traffic before you set anchor to get a idea of “how close is too close”. And leave a little extra wiggle room. There’s plenty of mullet around on low tide ESP. Four casts today and I had plenty…haddrells will help you in info… Good people right there ;). Hope you have a fun and safe weekend.
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16
Ok, got into town late… I already have wire double drop bottom rigs and regular double rigs and some 7/0 circle hooks. What other size circle hooks do I need to get in the morning? I was talking to someone about trolling for tarpon or shark, he said something about a wire leader with a float??? Any ideas?
Wellcraft Martinique 2600
“Knee Deep”
I personally like using a 5/0 but can never find them so I settle for a 4/0. I find better results using a straight shank hook opposed to the circle when using bait for bigger fish but that 7/0 circle might do the trick
25’ Sport-Craft
Suzuki 225
Fishin’ On Credit
quote:
Originally posted by rickyparishI find better results using a straight shank hook opposed to the circle when using bait for bigger fish but that 7/0 circle might do the trick
25’ Sport-Craft
Suzuki 225
Fishin’ On Credit
If I am not mistaken, a non-stainless circle hook is required for bottomfishing. You are also required to have a dehooking device and bladder deflator on board.
28 WA Hydra Sport
Twin 225 4 stoke Yammies
“Fin Loco”
Not sure about the law, but I always use circle hooks and have a venting tool on hand. Although it’s shallow enough at the jetties that you shouldn’t need to vent too many fish.
If two wrongs don’t make a right, try three.
[/quote]
If I am not mistaken, a non-stainless circle hook is required for bottomfishing. You are also required to have a dehooking device and bladder deflator on board.
28 WA Hydra Sport
Twin 225 4 stoke Yammies
“Fin Loco”
[/quote]
Circle hooks are not required whenever bottom fishing. They are required when fishing for species in the Snapper-Grouper complex.
See the rules here: http://www.safmc.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=5Fp0q3sslVA%3D&tabid=248.
Well we ventured out to the near shore reef today around 11. We arrived and had no other boats fishing there for an hour or so. We dropped anchor upwind of the barge and drifted back on top of it. We then spent the next 4 hours pulling in 135 BSB, 1 trigger and 3 black tips around 3 feet long, what a blast. We had a few BSB that were borderline legal, but wasnt going to chance it and I wasn’t sure the size limit of the trigger. We really want to go out to the 60, but thats a long way for rookies to go alone, so back to the near shore tomorrow. Thanks to all you guys for your input. Next trip to the IOP, maybe I can arrange a tag along with someone so I can try the 60. Thanks again guys.
Wellcraft Martinique 2600
“Knee Deep”
Wow, great trip Knee. Glad you put the hurtin’ on them.
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.