Me and a friend guy took the ride out to the jetties last weekend with no luck. Is it a certain bait everyone is using at the jettys. Also we were inside the south jetty along with a few more boats and a fee boats were on the outside of the south jetty. Which side have yall had the most luck. Plan on coming down and taking my brother from Atlanta on a Jetty fishing trip and wanted to get him on some nice size fish. Any help would be appreciated… Thanks guys.
I know people catch fish like crazy out there, but my experience so far has been like yours.
I’ve been 3 times.
All 3 times I set up on the inside of the south jetty.
Fished an hour before and after low tide.
Fished menhaden (cut and live) on the bottom.
Threw shrimp and sand fleas into the rocks. Had all shrimp stolen.
Caught zero fish.
I also anchored up outside the jetty for a bit and threw some carolina rigs into dynamite hole…not even a bite.
I feel like my trips are not typical for fisherman out there, but it’s left me less excited about getting out there and trying again. I catch fish regularly in other places so it’s hard to be motivated to get out there again.
I will say this: watching the sunrise out there is AWESOME. Just wish I could get some fish while there to add to the experience.
Look forward to hearing other replies.
Fish can be caught on both sets of rocks, inside and out, top to bottom. Hard to go wrong with cut or live menhaden or mullet fished on the bottom with plenty of lead, 2 to 8 oz!
I was out there one time and a boat 100ft from me was catching bull after bull for hours while we caught a shark every 20 min or so…same bait too…sometimes you just never know. Keep trying and you’ll find em!
Fishing Nerd
“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
Moral Kiosk. That is definitely how i am feeling. I dont wwant to give up on the jettys but dang i need them lines being pulled soon or later. I know they are out there. Caught fish out there before but lately nothing.
Thanks StumpNocker. Will definitely try cut bait next time.
Fishing really close to the structure with a weight hook or jig a 1/16 to 3/4 ounce and pitch it to the structure pulling it away and letting the current and wash push and pull your bait through the strike zones. You will probably lose a lot of tackle but I rather lose tackle and catch fish then save a rig and no bites. The light weight will keep you from hanging up and let the bait drift more natural. Only use enough weight to get your bait to drift the strike zone. If your getting hung really quick, like where you casted than your weight is to heavy. When done right you can feel your bait drift over, through and under rocks. Often the spot you get hung will have the most hits and it will probably take a few rigs to figure out the perfect drift for your bait. Once figured out this is some of the funest fishing. You know as soon as your line hits the water to prepare for the bite when it hits the point where the fish bite. If your in a good area you will pull up many different species doing the same thing and if using shrimp will have to pick through the little guys.
your in the general area. now fine tune it. drive around and watch the radar. look for contour changes. know the bottom/structure. Look for a specific spot, not a general area. There are specific spots and channels the fish frequent.
like stumpnocker said. 100ft over and your on them.
thanks 40inchreds and friogatto… Good info…
Yes, thank you stump, 40 & friogatto. You guys have me thinking about giving it another try as I’ve not been back out there in some time. Appreciate the help.
Probably trying too hard…unless you’re targeting sheepshead, anchor 10-20 yards off the rocks, chunk out some Carolina rigs with appropriate weights with some mullet/menhaden/cut bait…and just listen for the bite (inside the rocks, no matter which side). This time of year its pretty simple out there.
'a stranger is just a friend i havent met yet’jt
yeah tennispro24 I actually havent targeted sheephead out there yet. I was actually going for anything big that wanted to play. Bringing my brother down this weekend to Charleston so hopefully put him on something big
There is also a channel right behind Morris island anchor 30ft from bank and spread out some live or cut mullets from Morris island bank in the channel and to the sand bar between Morris island and fort Sumter. Have at least 30# line and a heavier flouro or mono leader knocker or Carolina rigs and some 7/0 to 12/0 size circle hooks sized to your bait and put the rods in the holder with the drag lose, when it screams off, tighten drag and reel. There is a lot of big stuff there like reds, rays, and sharks. It usually is a lot calmer there than the jetties and some times you can catch the bull reds running and catch them back to back to back. Sometimes the bite is slow so set the lines try to eat lunch or do something distracting and your rod will zing.
I’ve been all over the water this summer, 40inchreds, and that’s one place I’ve never fished. I’d love to try it out sometime and will let you know how it goes.
Like you, gonefishing, I often have someone visiting who just wants to hook something big. I enjoy seeing a friend fight in a large fish (even if it’s a ray) and see the joy they get out of it. That’s as fun to me as catching something tasty myself.
Second that, Moral.
2002 17’SeaHunt
X3 that Moral. Rather take others fishing and let them have a good time… I will have to try that myself.