My son and I welcome some tips on catching live bait for some near-shore wreck fishing. We launch out of the Colleton and plan to fish the Ross in the comming weeks. We welcome any suggestions for finding bait before heading out to the wreck. We can throw a net fairly well and have sabiki rigs but really don’t want to waste too much time on the search. Do many of you just watch for schools of bait on your way out to the wrecks or search inshore before heading out? Your experience is appreciated.
Look for the Charter boat fleet around 8 am on the North end of Hilton Head. As you ride out the sound should be plenty of bait somewhere along the shore of HH. Diving Pelicans or guys on the front of boats casting nets good sign everytime.
Thank you Dan We appreciate your help.
Wishing all of you tight lines and screaming drags.
17 Ft Seastrike 90 Yammie
You will see the menhaden school flicking the water surface or jumping completely out the water on occasion. I usually just ride mid throttle until I see pelicans dive and I hammer down and get to them. You will then see the bait flicking the surface. Just ease up to it and cast the net. You have to kind of get the drift right and know how close to get or how close not to get. You’ll figure it out. Even if you can’t see them cast the net anyway and let it sink down deeper. I wouldn’t put any attention on smaller birds diving they usually after glass minnows and such not the menhaden. Pelicans are the key when it comes to birds. As far as mullet your best bet is to find them in feeder creeks on the low side of the tide. Once they get in the grass they are near impossible to catch. Use your sabiki rig around the bouys at the wrecks to jig up bait.
07 Scout Winyah Bay 221 Yamaha F150
Many Thanks and much appreciated. I wouldn’t dare venture out there in my 17 ft seastrike. We will be aboard a 22 ft ProSport so weather permitting it should be comfortable. Bob T.
Wishing all of you tight lines and screaming drags.
17 Ft Seastrike 90 Yammie