I need some advice/opinions on a few questions I have on an upcoming fishing trip to Charleston.
My father (who lives in the Charleston area) and I usually fish mostly inshore around the Wando, Cooper, IOP, etc. Occasionally, we will go to the nearshore reef or the Charleston Sixty. We also troll for spanish with clark spoons and search for schools/birds, but no luck so far this year in the limited number of times we’ve tried. Our boat is a 21’ Bulls Bay 150hp center console.
A couple of my friends and I are coming down Memorial Day Weekend (one of these friends is about to be a first time father, so want to give him one last hoorah before he’s on lockdown for the foreseeable future!) We want to do an offshore trip. Usually the nearshore reef or the Charleston Sixty would be our choice, but want to try something new - don’t want to get caught up in nothing but black sea bass and sharks. Also want the fun of catching something a little (or alot) bigger and possibly variety.
What would you recommend us try? Can bottom-fish, drift, or troll, doesn’t matter to us - Can try all 3. Also not overly set on one specific type of fish. Will take any and all recommedations/advice!
How far out would you feel safe taking a boat like ours (21’ Bulls Bay 150hp center console)? Farthest we’ve taken it so far is the Charleston Sixty. Thoughts on how far out you’d take this boat?
Where would you recommend trying? Thought about Y-73, but wasn’t sure exactly how far out that is (anyone know?) Any other reef recommendations?
You have inadvertently opened up a Pandora’s Box of smart-a## responses. Lots of great guys with some great advice here, and then there the jokers (mostly benign). Hasn’t changed since my first experience with much the same question in 2006. So here is my advice, and you can take it or leave it as you see fit.
Y-73 is appx 26 nautical miles off the END of the jetty’s, Comanche about the same. right at about 100 feet of water.
Trolling here is productive depending on times of the year, and can vary from right offf the beaches for kings to 80+ and out for everything else(clean water with nice weeds lines help), though Wahoo and Blackfin generally run lot deeper than that.
This is where boat size comes into play: Much of how far depends on the weather, your boating knowledge and that of your crew. There are days you could make the run to the reefs, depending on the above. In 21 ft, that’s as far as I would go, and it would be need to be a pretty good day. I am curious about your fuel capacity which is another consideration. Just don’t overestimate yourself and your boat. Lots of ocean, not much fiberglass.
Bait: trolling naked ballyhoo is a good idea, as is a ballyhoo behind a black and white ilander. Slow trolling livies off the beach is great for kings (use wire leader). On the reefs, use cigar minnows and squid. If you can get live bait, so much the better. Baracudas start to get fun this time of year and the ever present sharks (saw a 12Ft Tiger at Commanche last June, accompanied by 2 smaller tigers).
5.My recommendation is to get a Maps Unique chart from Haddrel’s and fish the live bottom which starts not far from the Chas 60. Use flutter jigs or standard bottom rigs and drift a livie. AJ’s Kings, Cobia are not uncommon (throw the cobia back after June 20th, darn it). You might even run into a dolphin or 2. Lots of Vermillions out there if you can find them, Grouper, too.
I am sure more experienced others on the site can add more/ better info to this. Good L
Corey,
There’s great live bottom not far from the 60. It starts in about 80 feet and it’s very productive. King mackerel is one of my favorite species to target this time of year. Anchor up over good live bottom and bottom fish to pass the time while you drift live menhaden out behind the boat. You’ll have a great time and the Kings can get pretty big.
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
When y’all say “drift” a livie, do you mean hook it and let it run freely? Or weight it and drop it to certain depths based on what you’re seeing on the depth finder? Maybe a dumb question, but wanted to make sure.
Also, what size hooks and line test would you recommend for fishing the live bottom/Char 60? Have 25 lb test on currently.
Corey,
25 lb test is plenty. You can land nearly any species you want on 25lb test. Line capacity is key. When drifting for Kings I use 43 lb malin wire or lighter and two 4x trebles. A light drag setting is important, do not horse a king to the boat. Mylar skirts or king dusters go just before the first treble. Ill usually drift two on top unweighted and drift two off the back with 1/4 or 1/8 of an ounce ahead of the swivel.
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
I’ll usually rig a livie or 2 on balloons to keep them near the surface. Otherwise the baits want to swim down to the bottom and hide. They don’t like hanging out up top in eating territory. Kites are great too. With them you can have a few baits on the surface downwind of your drift, and balloons on the upwind side. Kings, cudas, amberjack, cobia all will hit them. The largest red snapper I ever caught was on a drift line in 120’ of water. Didn’t expect that!
Probably will be putting in at IOP or Shem Creek. Anyone know any good spots around these areas to catch Menhaden before we run out to the sixty? Will be throwing a cast net. I’ve run into times before where I’ve spent too long chasing bait and significantly cut down on fishing time, so want to try and avoid this type of scenario. Any other tips/advice on finding Menhaden? I know there is a Menhaden discussion going on, but can’t filter through what is serious and what are smart a** replies.
If weather is nice your 21 with 60 gallons, has a lot of range. Last year we took a 21 sportsman trolling for dolphin many times, also made it in same boat all the way to bubble rock.
From what I saw, early predictions are sloppy this weekend. I’m hoping to make it 5-10 miles offshore in the Gamefish Saturday without beating anyone to death or making my wife sea sick. Thanks for posting this thread because it’s answering a lot of questions I had as well.
No problem. Hoping its nice enough to make it out to the sixty this weekend. Coming in from out of town, so hope forecasts around Thurs-Fri are better.
You have inadvertently opened up a Pandora’s Box of smart-a## responses. Lots of great guys with some great advice here, and then there the jokers (mostly benign).
Wow. Not a single derogatory response thus far; everyone is playing well together.
This is what this site is about.
It’s always better here when we all get to atleast think about fishing. It’s the winter months, and the nasty windy weeks that the head biting usually occurs. LOL
