New to saltwater fishing and looking for some tips on fishing the nearshore reefs. Best times to fish, best bait, rigs, etc.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Most med/hvy inshore equipment will get you started. A chicken rigg can be tied quickly or use a fish finder rigg. Squid/cigar minnows work but live bait is easy to catch on sabica riggs and is better. Fiddlers for the sheepheads. Capers is a great reef that is close.
big dog
I’m still fairly new to this game myself, but catching on quick. I agree with big dog on the rigs and bait. Also try using some vertical jigs around the structures. They work real well on a variety. Don’t know where you’re putting in at, but if you go out of N Edisto (Cherry Point Landing) try the 4KI (Kiawah reef), or the Edisto 60. Either one will produce good numbers. Especially when the spades start up here in another week or 2, I’ll be hanging out at 4KI a lot. If you see me out there anchored get up tight to me and anchor up you won’t be disapointed. Best thing for spades is jelly balls (cut-up red cannonball jellyfish), or dead shrimp work fine too. We also catch cobia, sp macks, cuda s, & bsb s. Don’t forget the purple ballons!!
Key West 196;150 Yammie
Life Is Good…Gotta Love It!!!
I have never done anything but inshore fishing. How far out is the closest reef going out of Charleston Harbor?
Don’t know about all reefs but Edisto nearshore try some grubs along with everything else mentioned and you may locate weakfish. In july try carolina rigs and cut menheaden for big spotails(make sure they are revived good before turning loose,as all will be too big to keep.)Take live shrimp when you can and everything at Edisto Nearshore,4KI,Edisto 40&60 will kill em. Edisto 40 good for sheeps&black drum right now with fiddlers and crabs.
You can’t catch fish on a dry line
quote:
Originally posted by DFreedomI have never done anything but inshore fishing. How far out is the closest reef going out of Charleston Harbor?
Hey DF…the closest NS reef would be right outside the channel bouys going out of the harbor. I think there is a bouy marking it, but you can get the numbers off the DNR website. I’ve never fished it, but I have been told there are good numbers of BSBs, sheeps, & an occasional king on it. Good luck!
Key West 196;150 Yammie
Life Is Good…Gotta Love It!!!
Thanks, I’ll check that out. I have a 17’ CC so don’t really venture out farther than the Morris Island lighthouse but, if there was a reef 2 - 3 miles out, I would be comfortable doing that in good weather.
The Char. NS reef is about 2 miles past the rocks left of the channel.
Fishb8 (Fish Bait)
23 Sea Hunt “My Last Boat V”
If you can’t stand behind our soldiers, try standing in front of them.
Capers reef is straight out from Dewees cut at the head of IOP.
Cape Horn 24OS
twin 150 Optimax
bwulmer is correct, the DNR site will give you the numbers for the Charleston Nearshore Reef. Also, the Lowcountry Anglers’ Reef is about 4 or 5 miles out from the Stono.
2002 Key West 1720 CC
90 Yamaha 2-Stroke
http://old.charlestonfishing.com/reefs.asp
Fishb8 (Fish Bait)
23 Sea Hunt “My Last Boat V”
If you can’t stand behind our soldiers, try standing in front of them.
Net a few jellyballs (cannonball jellyfish) on your way out-look for any tide line or color change and they should be congregated. Spend the time to be anchored properly over the structure. Hang a chum bag off the transom. The spadefish will come up to your boat. Hook a small piece of jellyball on a small circle hook (hide the hook a little) with light fluorocarbon leader and nothing else, and drift it back to them. Hang on. Also, keep a heavier spinning rod ready to pitch a live bait, bucktail, etc. to any curious cobia that come up to inspect your chumbag.
Cool, I will definitely have to try that. Does it matter what you chum with?
Any chum is better than none. A frozen block of menhaden chum is probably the easiest and works well.