I was heading up the wando a few days ago and noticed the dolphins in front of the terminal just off Hobcaw point were in a feeding frenzy. Not just casually coming up for air but shooting up to the surface and thrashing to get back down. Probably around 15-20 in a relatively concentrated area. So out of curiosity I idled through the area with my chirp sounder and there were massive bait balls at around 20-30’. At 50’ on the ledge of the channel there were lot of bigger Fish arcs on the bottom (smaller than dolphin). I assume the bait balls were menhaden and the bigger arcs on bottom were Redfish. Talked to a few people at ramps the last few days and they confirmed that Menhaden were already coming in as well, for about 2 weeks now. Just wondering if everyone else would draw similar conclusions about this? Thanks!
the only thing I can speak to on this is yes, the menhaden are here. Saw them for the first time in the harbor just under two weeks ago. They are not thick yet, but they are here and there.
new to boat fishing. I have the hook 5 lowrance. What is best setting and how can u tell they are fish? I was out in folly river and many times saw things on the fish finder but not sure what I am looking for or settings I may want.
Suggestion, tie a large swim bait on a heavy jig and drop it down till it hits bottom then start vertical jigging. I’ve had success doing this in the cooper in deep water with our 1oz StriperEye jigs and 6" SwimmerZ by z-man
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
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Spook572 If you go to YouTube and search Lowrance hook 5 you will find many helpful videos.
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Originally posted by Spook572new to boat fishing. I have the hook 5 lowrance. What is best setting and how can u tell they are fish? I was out in folly river and many times saw things on the fish finder but not sure what I am looking for or settings I may want.
Thanks for the advice optiker, I recently separated all of my nearshore and inshore tackle and only had smaller stuff that day,but thats what I was thinking as well. Can’t beat yalls jigheads with zman plastics in any combo for a wide variety of situations.
Spook, I can’t speak to the settings on your finder. I use simrad and even though they are the same parent company with Lowrance they tend to vary a lot. As for marking Fish they look like an arc on the screen. Like a wide upside down U.
2015 Sportsman Masters 207
2015 Yamaha 150
Salt, some advice you may need if you follow Optiker’s advice. You need a way to send a large fish back down from those depths, as in a venting tool or better yet a release device. Large fish cannot get back down without help from those depths. There are areas in the harbor I have stopped fishing because I don’t want to subject very large fish to higher mortality. This is just a friendly FYI, have fun and good luck.
2005 Sea Hunt 212 Triton
“Head East”
Thanks for the advice, I never went back and tried to catch those Fish as I’ve been focused on the southern redfish cup tournament. I agree with you about the larger Fish in the harbor though, I quit fishing for them, as well showing people where they are. Nothing against anyone who catches them I just don’t enjoy that type of fishing anymore.
2015 Sportsman Masters 207
2015 Yamaha 150