Greetings Charleston Fishing. Been following for about 2 months and found out officially today that I will be moving there in late November. I have a sportsman 24 foot bayboat and currently fish the Texas coast inshore and offshore as often as I can. I have a few questions if anyone cares to answer.
How’s the winter fishing?
When I fish I new area I generally hire a local guide or helpful fisherman on my boat to cut the learning curve. Any suggestions?
Is the area fairly easy to learn to navigate with GPS and a local navionics chip?
What’s the best central ramp to use? I’ll be on base for a while until I can close on a house.
Any indoor storage besides a high and dry marina you recommend?
I work 48 hours shifts so I plan to learn during he week when I can to avoid the crowds until I get it dialed in. If anyone wants to fish on my boat to show me the ropes just say the word. Thanks and look forward to being part of the Charleston fishing community soon.
Russcue1 ; you’re already on the best info site in area… I assume you’re AF stationed at JAB charleston , if so ,a few miles down Dorchester is wo thomas public ramp, some call it Leeds ave landing… also I526 to james island is the Wapoo landing which gives you easy access to harbor or the stono river ; across the harbor is the Remley landing in Mt Pleasant ;;;;hope this helps a little!!!
George McDonald
US Navy Seabees,Retired,
MAD, Charleston Chapter
[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.
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Thanks for the info, George.
welcome to the lowcountry
Anything that pulls drag, right?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJapLk9rt91Jop89mxRU7eg?
I think rogue motion in west nasty does indoor storage, it would be on your way to the cut if you chose to use that ramp. If you are a decent fisher no need to hire anyone. Spend a trips worth of time studying up and game planning, then hit the water. Id start with fishing the harbor because its got a lot of options. Structure is your friend. Have some sort of fresh bait rod and a artie rod. The bait rod will let you know if your artie game sucks. Winter fishing can vary a little depending how cold it gets. Its pretty much on like donkey kong from now until Christmas if you get skunked in this time frame your gonna have a tough time catching decent fish in charleston. The flounder and black drum will then out first but the trout and reds will stay inshore unless it gets real cold then it will basically be reds. You can catch reds from a inch of water to 80ft all year round, if its really cold move to bigger water close to a flat. They go deeper when its real cold and will move to which water is warmer throughout the day. The radiant energy warms them up so i prefer to fish the afternoons in winter. The nearshore reefs stack up from november to march and bottom fishing can be great in the winter. The nearshores main target will be sheeps and flounders but most people never get to the flounder because of how they fish the reef and all the bsb getting to the bait first. Grouper season ends in December and trolling for wahoo is better in the winter. Late winter early spring the blackfin show up thick and Bonita do to. A good offshore plan is first light wahoo and then bottom critters. This gurantees some meat in the box. We got a decent fishing community here so you will have no problem with help.
That’s a great write up 40inch, thank you. Looking forward to some winter fishing.
Welcome to SC Rescue, I moved here from TX about a year ago and actually fish out of Georgetown, mostly inshore these days for me but an occasional nearshore trip - I fish out of an 18’ flats boat. I have had some decent luck finding redfish (which is my favorite target) with only one day of getting totally skunked since spring. I am retired and enjoy the luxury of only fishing on weekdays, usually Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and an occasional Friday morning.
I am still learning myself around these waters but one thing for sure, on the inshore side of things the biggest difference from TX is the necessity of fishing the tides, Atlantic tides bring huge swings that you don’t see on the gulf. Also, Haddrell’s Point Tackle and The Charleston Angler are excellent assets for good local information and tackle.
Hope you enjoy the area and best of luck with your fishing !
Thanks, Beavertail. I’ve been reading about the tidal swings there. As you know, here in Texas we fish signs and although tide is important, birds, bait, water clarity related to depth is more important. Thanks again for the tips!
Welcome, I like winter inshore fishing better than any time of the year! Offshore bottom fishing is hard to beat during the winter, the fish come in closer an the weather is calmer!
That’s great news, really looking forward to getting there next month. I ended up calling rogue motion for storage and for a 24 bay boat it runs about $350 a month and it stays on a trailer!!!
Offer stands. If you know the area but don’t have a boat—send me a text. 210-278-8102