I have 2 children 4 and 8 years old who are dying to go fishing from the boat. My boat is a heavy 25’ sterndrive with a considerable draft. It seems that most inshore fishing is done on the flats and I am nervous about that due to size of boat. I don’t care if a single keeper is caught. What is an easy way to fish with the kids inshore? Bottom fishing would be great (no casting or shallow water to worry about). Dock pilings maybe? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
You could try around the jetties , dynamite hole, grillage , etc.
17’ Mako
Thanks. What is the dynamite hole, grillage?
Ryan
Park you boat on the bar in front of Sullivan’s island and fish that channel. Should be plenty of bites for the kids and maybe a big ray or shark for you. The bar is likely exposed mid tide and lower.
First, Most, Biggest
I want to catch them all
Go to the near shore reef just beyond the jetty. You can catch a hundred black sea bass. They are all under sized so no keepers, but they are very easy to catch. Fun for kids that just want some action.
J-16 Carolina Skiff
Here is the location of the grillage, dynamite hole, and some other spots in the harbor. You should be able to easily get to these spots with your boat, but pick a nice calm day to bring your kids. You can catch big bull redfish, sharks, rays, etc. at the grillage and jetties (please search how to properly handle and release big breeder redfish before going here though). I would recommend finding a dock in prey deep water and just throw some cut shrimp on the bottom…lots of whiting and croaker for the kids which provides constant action
Connor Malark
quote:
Originally posted by RedFish4http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/tagfish/pdf/CharlestonHarbor.pdf
Connor Malark
Can’t ask for much better!
You guys are great. Thanks a million. I was hoping to get out tomorrow am but work has gotten in the way. Maybe next weekend. Plan is to drop some shrimp on the bottom and see what we can get. I am a flat beginner when it comes to salt water so any advise is greatly appreciated.
Ryan
Ryan50; Some of the best bottom fishing in the harbor is the channel
area between Mt.pleasant and the crab banks from Shem creek down to
Pitt st. bridge. Stay in channel and don’t venture too close to
to Banks, water gets reeeel skinnee out there!!!
Good luck and catch em up…
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When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown
Gail Wins-Thanks. That is exactly what we will try first. What tides are best?
Ryan
Ryan50; I always advise ;;;if you aren’t familiar with area always</font id=“size3”></font id=“red”> start out on dead low tide so as
to have rising water in case of grounding, especially since you’re
gonna have young ones on board!!! If your depth finder is dependable just try to troll, drift, the deepest part of channel in said area, pay close attention to depths and make notes or mark with plotter where you catch something or points of interest are!!! Be prepared to catch most anything from small sharks to
bull reds… Go get um!!! Ryan; I didn’t think to ask as to where
you plan to launch from??? If shem creek hold tight left leaving creek
skinnnneeeee water on right just out of mouth. Just remember LOW and SLOW until familiar!!!
[http://www.militaryappreciationday.org
When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown
Start in Shem creek around 7am, there will be 25 guides leaving Reds and Waters Edge, follow one of them and anchor about 100 yards away from them and observe. Do this maybe 15 times and you will have enough spots to last awhile. It’s all the rage these days.
Seriously though, you are thinking right with shrimp on the bottom. Anchor in about 10-20 feet of water and put the shrimp out, whiting croakers and sea bass to name a few will provide plenty of action for the kids.
Charleston City Papers Best Guide of 2014
Lol
any advice on selecting a guide to follow? there seem to be a lot of dumb new ones out there these days
“Enough hijacking, this is a major thread”
quote:
Originally posted by PeaPodLol
any advice on selecting a guide to follow? there seem to be a lot of dumb new ones out there these days
"Enough hijacking, this is a major thread" :smiley::smiley:
I’d say follow Fritz, but from a few earlier posts I’d say he has had enough people messing with his fishing. I also heard some of the new guides are actually following some of the older ones …
Thanks guys. Although I am new to fishing, I have been cruising these waters for a few years now, even ventured a few miles past jetties several times to get a feel. I have surveyed pretty much everywhere in the harbor and rivers at low tide and have good chart data. What I ususally do is launch her on Friday after work and slip it for the weekend so I don’t have to deal with launching in the am-just climb aboard and go. I know the shem creek channel well-we love to take friends to Reds, Water’s Edge, etc. Didn’t know it could be good fishing for the kids. Although a few keepers would be nice, the main thing is to find a little action for the kids. Aside from purchasing boat, I think joining this forum is the smartest thing I have done. Thanks again.
Ryan
Ryan; good to read your last post to know you’re familiar with
area. Now take the little ones and let them catch a bunch.
[http://www.militaryappreciationday.org
When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown