Hey guys, I’m new to fly fishing but do not have access to a boat. I was wondering if anyone knows of some places that I can access from shore to fish in. I talked to some guys at Charleston Angler and they said my best bet to find places would be to post here. I live in Mount Pleasant and would like to fish near there but I don’t mind driving to other places as I know I’m limited without a boat. Thanks for any help.
try the beaches…in my opinion they are the most overlooked areas in Charleston and have plenty to fish for. Although i was skunked last week in the sand, a few guys caught trout and whiting on bait, so i know they’re there. Redfish, blackdrum, sharks all get extremely shallow and can be sight fished…id imagine if you spent time fishing the beaches…you’d eventually stumble on a - dare i say it- tarpon…feeding on bait it has pushed close…but thats gonna take alotta stars lining up! Google earth or bing maps will show you detail of the beaches contours and give up subtle but useful info. flats can be seen all over also and will give you places to access them too. they’ll look like lighter shades of color than the surrounding grasses…look deeper into the edges and you’ll see em.
Have you ever fished the flats before getting into fly fishing?
Not having a boat, flats fishing is definitely on top of my list…especially catching a tailing redfish on the fly.
My first experience on the flats, is when I was learning to fly fish. Now I fish the flats OTF or light spinning tackle. But definitely give it a shot. Like scottyd said, check out google maps or bing maps (I like bing bcuz of the birds eye view), and look for some hard bottom flats.
Or if you know of a spot, that has short grass, and is pretty dry during low tide, and holds alot of fiddler crabs…that’s a good place to start.
Thanks scottyd and Poker3. The extent of my previous saltwater fishing has been either off the surf using a surf rod, off one of the various piers and bridges around, or a few charters using spin tackle. I have been fly fishing on a pond for trout. I was just looking for some spots I could try while I’m still learning to fly fish. Also, do you use waders or just wear shoes or sandles?
What wt rod do you have, that might limit your abilities also, it would be difficult to land a 25+ red on a 3wt … not saying that it can’t be done though
Bragging may not bring happiness,
but no man having caught a large fish,
goes home through the alley.
-Anonymous
I’m also interested in fly fishing from the surf.
What would you throw out there? clouser? crab? What about tide? low tide best? Also, would you head for some structure like a pier or a jetty? Would you use a fast retrieve?
Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
quote:
Originally posted by MDOTFI’m also interested in fly fishing from the surf.
What would you throw out there? clouser? crab? What about tide? low tide best? Also, would you head for some structure like a pier or a jetty? Would you use a fast retrieve?
Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
I am very interested in this as well. I have done it a few times with no luck. Now I live in Myrtle Beach so we lack structure on the beach unless you get down toward garden city. I used 2/0 clousers and casted parallel to the beach in the pool ocean side of the sand bar at low tide. I could see many fish darting in and of the slough but couldnt get any takers. It was a lot like fishing a trout stream when i think about it haha. I tied up a sand flea fly and have yet to try it on pomps. So that may not help as I didnt land a fish, but i know they were there.
Look for structure and the troughs like MB said… I am O-4 fly fishing in the surf but I have an idea on a few spots that may be better then where I was. I did hook into a nice bluefish that broke off my fly, had something knock the dookie out of my fly and saw smaller blues following my fly so I know they are out there… There is a fly, it’s called the Bearded Clam, no not trying to be funny, and it is pretty dang awesome and I know more than a few people that wore out some beach fish on it last year… head down to the Low Country Fly Shop and grab a couple…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
