I’m headed to HHI the end of July. I was hoping to troll for mackerel and sight cast into some blues if I can find any. Is this a good time for this will I have any luck? Where should I go? I’ll be docking in Calibogue Sound. Thanks! Carolina Skiff 218 w/115hp
In July, I first troll the beach for a little hoping to find the spanish. Then head to any of the near shore reefs but I am looking for birds diving along the way.
Bait is easy to find and catch these days so you can always drift some live bait on one of the reefs for kings.
Good luck and have fun,
Thanks HHwolf!
Searching the archives of this site has been very helpful for a newbie. Last year I was able to use advice on here to safely navigate around Daufuskie and Palmetto Bluff. This year I plan on trying to get out of Calibouge Sound and finding a reef. I found a lot of info about the shallow water exiting Calibogue. I feel good about using some live bait for kings now and saw a bunch of old post about using cannonball jellyfish to catch spadefish. I can’t wait to get on the water and figure things out.
Can someone tell me if the Gaskin Banks is a reasonable fishing spot or danger that should be avoided? Also, my boat (and crew) are not built for chop. When I check the forecast in the morning to determine if we should go out, what wind/wave combo equates to clam, choppy, and rough condions near shore? Thanks again!
Calibogue is fairly easy and safe, and well marked. I would avoid Gaskin Banks. Very shallow there with rocks. I would not expect much for fish there now. Maybe some reds and sharks, but it’s an easy place to get in trouble.
There should be plenty of spanish and kings off the inlet, along the beach front and along the Tybee shipping channel. Just look for birds and you will find the fish. Watch for container ships in that channel, they throw a heck of a wake.
All of these inlets can get rough when the wind is against the tidal current. Especially in an easterly wind and outgoing tide. I’d avoid anything from the NE, stay inshore. Best conditions are anything SE to W and less than 10 kts.
That’s my home waters, feel free to send me a PM with any specific questions you have.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
It might be a bit of a run for you from Calibogue, but there are usually spanish and lots of other species at the rip on the north end of Hilton Head near marker #1. Fish it on the early to mid flood tide.
oc
Great stuff all, I’m locked, loaded, and ready to go!
Let us know how it goes lewisj81.
Too choppy for us Sun and Mon, so stayed inshore and caught mini sharks in Bulls Creek. Made it to whitewater reef on Wed and trolled/drifted around some pogies-no action. Went closer to shore and saw a bunch of boats anchored up where the blue water turns white on the GPS. We followed suit and caught a couple more sharks and what we think are called whiting. Called it quits today and took the kids to see dolphins and happened to catch a couple more sharks along the way. I’m sick of catching sharks. Heard a couple charter captains at the dock saying they were taking there clients to Lady Hole. Ever heard of it? I thought about just following them out to see where it was, but was out of spirit. Talked to another boat pulling in to skull creek that said they went every reef with no action-made me feel a little better. This boat is turning into a sunset and dolphin cruiser! I have been able to catch a whole lot of bait every time we go out throwing the cast net. That is now the extent of my credibility with my crew. Oh well, will try again we come back for thanksgiving. Thanks for trying to help everyone.
Oh ya, thanksgiving is my favorate time to fish the salt!
Lots of wind and hot water this year. What a suck azz fishing season.