I was out dragging baits this weekend and I noticed fliers out around 180 feet.
We started dragging at the 200 feet mark and went out as far as 400 feet.
We were getting the best strikes around the weeds at 220 feet.
We found a nice weed line around 110 feet, but we were on the way back and were too tired to get all the gear back out. That just seemed a little to shallow nice fish. How shallow are the dolphin/tuna/wahoo running this time of year?
In years past we’ve caught them while bottom fishing in 90’. They will move in shallow with the water temp, but they aren’t there yet.
Redfish Baron Extraordinaire
Fished Saturday and caught fish from 140-170’, went deeper to 300, caught one, came back in and started catching triples. Water was below 76 in and up to 78 out, too warm.
Look for a rip with or with out weed, temp change, color change, bait , big weed mats , feeding birds, large floating objects. If I see a combination of these in 130 0r deeper - troll. As the water warms the fish get deeper and scatter. In hot summer the fish we have left are from 140’ - 250’
Surprised to see several flying fish near Charleston 60 reef this week. 75 water temp.
Roger
Couple of years ago we fished SW banks in early April and caught a few Mahi but was pretty slow. When we ran back in we found a large weed line outside red banks in 100ft of water and more than doubled our catch total in 20mins. I Try to remember to fish where there is signs of life and not neccessarly depth. That being said, most of the fish we caught both trips this year have been 800 plus feet.
I caught a 50 lb dolphin and saw a blue marlin about 10’ from the boat two years ago in 130’. That was on Memorial Day.
I use to fish from a 18’ center console in the 90’s. Couldn’t go to stream but csught plenty of dolphin. I remember one year the weed line started about 3miles off edisto. Green water on one side beautiful clear blue on the other. Sargassum actually was a problem washing up on the beaches that year, if I remember correctly. Caught lots of dolphin in the area around the Betsy Ross.
I’ve caught 60+ lb wahoos inside 120’
I’ve caught sailfish in the shipping channel…bait and water temp, boys.
Next time you come in, come heavy, or not at all…
quote:
Originally posted by ReeldawgI use to fish from a 18’ center console in the 90’s. Couldn’t go to stream but csught plenty of dolphin. I remember one year the weed line started about 3miles off edisto. Green water on one side beautiful clear blue on the other. Sargassum actually was a problem washing up on the beaches that year, if I remember correctly. Caught lots of dolphin in the area around the Betsy Ross.
Come on now, that seems to be stretching it a little too far!
I’ve seen a sailfish free jumping within 5 miles of the beach, but blue water and loads of dolphin 3 miles off the each, well…
Probably 5 years ago we saw the most awsome weed line in 40 feet, near the vicinity of the 4KI. Cruised up and down it but the biggest dolphin was probably 2-3 lbs. Nothing but flip-flops and they would be huddled together in spots. Saw a sail free-jumping in 60ft once. Sometimes good fish can be caught in close but it’s more often a blind squirrel finding a good nut, your chances are better when the bigger ones are concentrated in deeper water.
218WA Sailfish
200 Verado
The "Penn"sion Plan
Blackfin, I never said I caught loads of dolphin on that weed line. Never used the word “loads” at all. I didn’t catch a single dolphin on that weed line. The folphin we caught that week were around the Betsy Ross. I tried to find a news article from that summer. Since your such an expert you should defiantly remember the summer in the late 90’s when the beaches were covered with sargassum. I’ve caught a good many dolphin king fishing out of little river in less then 100’ also.
Caught 2 nice bulls in 60 ft. before.
‘87 Pacemaker 31’ SF
‘04 Renegade 29’ 2 225’s
‘97 Maycraft 17’ 40 hp
Caught one this past weekend in 115ft
Sea Hunt 207CC,Yam F150
Carolina Skiff (old school model)17’ Suz D50
quote:
Originally posted by mattc14Caught 2 nice bulls in 60 ft. before.
‘87 Pacemaker 31’ SF
‘04 Renegade 29’ 2 225’s
‘97 Maycraft 17’ 40 hp
Nice! What time of year? Were you trolling for kings?
We caught a 30lb Wahoo in 70ft of water trolling back from Edisto Banks to the North Edisto. It was July around 10 years ago.
2005 Grady 209 Yam F200
“El Dorado”
1989 High Tide Super V-14
2004 Yam 25 2-Stroke
Johns Island, SC
[quote] What time of year? Were you trolling for kings?
It was late June coming in on one engine trying not to run out of fuel. We were coming from 226 to HHI and had 3 lines in pulling ballyhoo to help pass time. After a half dozen cuda"s we started to quit but just trying to help pass time. Running low on fuel gives me a head ache. Catching two big phins unexpected helped the head.
‘87 Pacemaker 31’ SF
‘04 Renegade 29’ 2 225’s
‘97 Maycraft 17’ 40 hp