So I’ve just been assigned to the Navy base in Goose Creek and I’m crazy about fishing. I’ve been strictly a clear, freshwater fisherman my whole life coming from Michigan. I’d like to get into pier or surf fishing. Also freshwater fishing as well because of all the great waterways around the area. I’d really appreciate any advice on tactics, tackle, fishing strategies, anything. I’m looking forward to taking advantage of this great fishery so if anyone feels like teaching an avid angler about the area I’m all ears!
you should private message ohionavynuke on here. he fishes a lot and will be a help to you im sure.
ill be glad to tell you a few things as well. i dont have a boat or anything but i can hook you up with some general techniques.
good luck to ya
“mr keys”
PM recieved and replied to. surf and pier fishing can be good, but being navy in goose creek you have cooper river both in bushy park and on base to work with and is considered inshore, meaning saltwater river and is affected by the ocean tides…a HUGE thing myself as a northerner had to get used to!!! as for tackle a standard bass/walleye rod with 12ish pound line will work fine to get you started in the rivers if you have gear with you here. as for surf fishing i have a 10 foot surf spinning rod with about 400 yards of 65lb braid and works great vs sharks and bull reds. if you dont have gear here then sometime ill personally take you to a tackle shop and help get you started when time permits. its way different than were used to, but heres some of my catches in the charleston area.
5 foot blacktip from the surf, sullivans island
top 2 are flounder, bottom a sea trout. both can be caught from base and are excellent eating.
30" redfish i just caught a couple days ago on base. that one was too big to keep, but when in the legal slot limit of 15-23" they arent bad on the table either.
23" sheephead. VERY different than the ones were used to! 
thats only a small handful of whats around and usually when i go out i at least catch something, however the skunk comes along plenty too. im sure youll figure it out when you get one but everyone here will probably count down the days til you get your first toadfish too 
Wow that’s a pretty mixed bag of species there. I have all my stuff from up north (a couple casting rods and a few spinning ones with all my pike/bass/walleye tackle) and my father-in-law bought me a nice 9 foot spinning rod for the shore. What kind of lures or bait did you use for all those? I was at Dick’s a few days ago and I didn’t recognize half the stuff they had in the fishing section
Go to the local tackle shops, dicks has stuff in a pinch but money better spent at the Charleston angler or haddrells point. Go introduce to colt or capt Joe or josh at the angler or Scott or Michael or Darrel at haddrells. They will get ya set up and allot of advice! Definitely go with Ohionavynuke a few times!
Hunter P. Hames
11’ Tarpon 100
19’ Sea Fox 125 merc
absolutely the 2 tackle shops yakman mentioned are good, but not being familiar with the area much sports authority has an ok selection and is on rivers ave by china buffet. closest to base is duncans stop n shop. its a gas station right before ace hardware on redbank going towards northwoods mall and isnt too bad either. gotta go to work soon but if you are able to get out before i can go with ya, get some red jigheads about 3/8-1/2 oz each and some of the 4" plastic paddletail minnows in natural baitfish, white, or electric chicken (chartruese and pink) color. ill show/tell ya more stuff that works around here when i get the time, but that will at least get you in the water and catch flounder, redfish, and sea trout when bumped along the bottom.
hey KJ I am new to the area as well and have been fishing at Fort Moultrie about three times a week with fair success. 3 1/2 ft shark on friday! And lots of small blues.I am looking to find some new spots and would like to have a fishin buddy to explore new areas I have a volvo wagon with built in rod racks and lots of room for gear.I was a guide in mexico for three years (inshore and offshore) and am a keen fisherman. I am getting a kayak next week to open up new water( a cheap way to access a LOT of water). I would be kool with driving and spilting gas $. I can carry two kayaks on my roof racks as well . Shoot me a call 843-822-6404 Douglas “FISH ON”
oh yea almost forgot somethun else…you can rent a canoe on base for $12 for a 14 footer or $14 for a 16 footer. you can take em to the boat ramp at the end of the “river run” as youll get to know very well, along with both the freshwater and saltwater sides of bushy park. freshwater side has bass, big crappie, sunfish/bluegill, catfish, various junk fish, and of course gators. saltwater side has sea trout, flounder, redfish, junk fish, and gators. i work night shift this week so maybe i can get you out this weekend in the evening a bit if that works for you.
Thanks for all the tips guys! It’s been a little bit of a crazy week so the first fishing I’ll be able to do us probably next weekend.
There are a lot of freshwater opportunities all over the state. Santee Cooper lakes Marion,Moultrie and the canal offer very good largemouth, bream, crappie and catfish fisheries. I’ve fished several largemouth tournaments there and almost always caught fish. There are monsterous flathead catfish there and of course watch out for the gators. Most of the bass I’ve caught on Santee were caught on Texas or Carolina rigged plastic worms. When if doubt throw a Zoom Green Pumpkin or June Bug trick or finnesse worm.
There should be a largemouth bass club near you. Most clubs are open to potential members fishing with them as co-anglers. Joining a local club will definitely help you locate, catch and hopefully release some nice largemouth bass.
Other good lakes for largemouth, in my opinion, are Murray (my home lake), Clark Hill, Greenwood, Wateree and Monticello.
Murray is stocked with striped bass and also has plenty of bream, bass, crappie, white perch and catfish. Good luck.
crazy week for a new nuke student…i could NEVER imagne that one!!! you can also rent a boat from short stay at lake moultrie and as someone else mentioned has good potential too. unfortunately the words walleye, steelhead, and king/coho salmon are a foreign language down here but what saltwater has to offer definately makes up for it. you can definately catch fish year round…however the ice fishing down here really sucks
guess if ya have any more ?s you can also walk a whole 7 doors down the street and find me lol