Rate your inshore success for 2014

Saltwater Inshore Discussion
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I know everyone’s definition of fishing success is all relative and definitely not a constant; however, I am curious as to how the inshore fishing was for everyone in 2014 as compared to past years. Here are some of my thoughts per species in the waters I usually fish around Edisto.

Redfish- Poor inshore, Good Nearshore- Numbers on the flats and creeks have been dropping over the past 5 years. Flats that used to hold hundreds now hold dozens if that. Several are void. I don’t attribute this to fishing pressure, rather just several years of poor spawning cycles, and the fish that were here just grew up and headed offshore with few to replace them. The good news is that there are lots of small fish in the area now due to a decent spawn in 2013 and restocking efforts. Also, the numbers of spawning adults nearshore and offshore are strong around the hard bottom and reefs.

Trout- Well Below Average- The cold winter of 2014 killed many of our legal sized fish. We do not have the deep water refuges such as Charleston Harbor or Port Royal Sound, so our fish are particularly more sensitive to cold spells. There were virtually no trout around the spawning areas from May-August. Some fish started showing in September and October-November proved to be decent. We need a string of 2-3 consecutive winters of water temps staying above 47 degrees to get numbers close to where they were between '03-'09

Flounder- Below Average- The Edisto area is not a Mecca for flounder fishing by any stretch, but reported catches on rod and reel and gigging were lower than normal. The fishing was decent early in the year (April-June) nearest the ocean, but as the summer progressed, it tailed off quickly. The Fall bite is usually best for quality flounder but a consistent bite never materialized.

Sheepshead- Good- This proved to be a bright point in the inshore fishing this year. Fishing was good for size and numbers in March-April. As the summer progressed, numbers stayed high but the size decreased. This year’s Fall fishing for sh

2

Good subject for today! I’ll try to give my observations for Charlestons rivers (Ashley, Wando, Cooper), which are not nearly as thorough as yours.

Redfish - Consistent with recent years in all rivers. Lots of juvi fish around and a good variety of sizes.

Trout - Off from last year without question. IMO we had a partial knockback last winter, but there are still fair numbers of 21" +/- trout around. The exception is the Ashley, where trout have been all but non-existent in the upper reaches. Last winter the water got down to 39F in the upper reaches of the Ashley. Overall, the numbers of trout in the Cooper and Wando are decent, and the fall bite was pretty good.

Flounder - I don’t catch many nor target them specifically, but this fall I had my best flounder bite ever, with a few trips of 6 - 8 per trip which is unheard of for me. SaltFisher has suggested that the late commercial shrimp trawling season allowed the small ones to migrate inshore in better numbers than usual, and I believe him.

Sheeps - I didn’t target them this year.

Tarpon - N/A for me

Cobia - From what I heard, the reefs were on fire, but on St Helena sound I struck out this year. SSWA cobia flotilla caught zero this year (First time ever) and a couple were seen.

I’ll add a species since I targeted them often:

Riverine Striper - Cooper river, consistent with prior years - fall bite was good with many trips of up to 7 of good size. Wando, had many reports of a very strong stocker bite in the upper reaches. Ashley- Poor - Upper reaches of the Ashley have been way off from prior years. A few are around but small.

2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com

3

I started saltwater fishing in the second half of 2013 and it was 2014 before I could even pretend like I knew what I was doing. (I still pretend, but it takes a bit of a salt to know that I’m pretending)
I would say most of my purely inshore (ICW/Creeks) was wildly unsuccessful. Granted there are quite a bit of growing pains in there. I probably ventured out with the purpose of fishing in my boat 12 times in 2014 (Unfortunately, I live 4 hours from Charleston) and most of the time I was skunked or caught one fish and a few rays or something. Cumulatively I doubt my boat caught more than 3 or 4 redfish and probably a dozen trout, a flounder or two and a couple bonnetheads while in creeks/rivers/ICW.
I probably did best at Grillage/Jetties. I caught two big redfish, a 37 incher (my avatar) at Grillage and a significantly larger 40 incher at the Jetties. Of course, both Grillage and the Jetties have produced and zillion undersized BSB. I caught a handful of decent sized flounder and a couple slot"ish" sized reds. Most trips to the Jetties this year produced a little shark or two as well. Had something huge on my line (probably would’ve spooled me) at Grillage on a large piece of cut bluefish for about 5-10 seconds. It broke the surface (but I only saw the splash see if as I was staring at the reel trying to tighten down the drag that was already maxed out) then my (apparently cheap) tackle broke and it was off.
I only ventured outside the Jetties twice, both to nearshore reef which produced nothing but BSB

207 CC SeaHunt
Yamaha 150

4

overall pretty crappy… i blame it on lack of trips honestly…repowered boat, and a few personal bs reasons.

but as far as progression for myself i would say 2014 was my best year…

i caught fish consistently… every trip was rather successful with size fish… early on made 2 charleston trips got on a few big reds(not normal season) rest of the season was in georgetown… the catch was steady for most part… my worst day of chasing fish turned into my best day in the last hour when i put to friends on 40+inch reds on a double hookup… the last trip ended early due to fishing partner not having comfort with 5+ft sharks but we were on the bite…

i do have some expectations for 2015 but they are not big ones…

5

For me in 2014:

Redfish: - about the same for numbers but smaller size compared to 2013

Trout: - definitely didn’t seen as many as 2013

Sheephead: - I didn’t fish them much but caught quite a few - most were under

Flounder: - about the same or better than last year. Maybe I just know how to target them better?

Narcosis

6

GOOD THREAD…

Winyah Bay Area:

Reds - my numbers are down from 4 years ago and from last year, but I caught more upper slot (20" - 22") fish and more over slot fish ( 28" - 32"). 2 -4 years ago I would load up on 15" - 19" fish and plenty of shorts. That is not the case now. A good day this past year was 10 - 15 fish caught, all upper slot or up to 30". A good day before that was 25 - 30 reds, in the smaller range, no overslots.

I also caught my first large Bulls this year (42" - 46") in the same locations.
Since thanksgiving my luck has been very bad.

I am concerned about the lack of smaller reds where I fish.

Black Drum - 2 years ago was catching probably a half dozen short fish per trip, no keepers. This year none.

Flounder - no luck for me with legal size Stopped fishing for them.

Trout - I still haven’t figured these out. I need to book a trip with RADDADDY…:sunglasses:

2015 Goals- ( The actual pursuit of the fish is becoming more interesting now)

Flounder - fish nearshore and reefs with jigs and gulp bait

Tarpon - hopefully hookup with one & possibly land one
( I am getting closer every year… )

Bull Reds - get more into these…

7

My results have been different than most above with reds and trout, maybe because I fish 40 miles south of most of yall in Port Royal. We’ve had a lot of 100+ fish days this year.

Reds have been more plentiful this year than in the last 3. Especially slot size reds. Catching quite a few shorts too which is a good sign. Not many over slot but I don’t target big reds.

Trout, catching more of them and overall larger size this year than in the last couple. And catching a good many shorts too, good sign for the future.

Black Drum, caught a lot of those this year, more than normal, some short, some keepers, don’t target big ones.

Sheeps, targeted them only once. Bite was good, my technique not so much, caught about 5 and missed 50. Caught another dozen by accident fishing for something else.

Flounder, I might have caught 3 all year, way down on those.

Cobia, only went once in Broad River this year, caught 2, 1 short, 1 keeper. Small keeper.

Tarpon, didn’t even try, sometimes catch them by accident, not this year.

Whiting seemed down some too.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

8

For me a below average year for sure. To a degree this was down to me. When I know conditions are not favorable I fish less days and fish less hard. I fish Wadmalaw Sound/North Edisto areas. Artificials only.

Redfish. Very poor year. On many trips I stopped looking for them cos I was convinced they were not there. Later in the year some small fish. One stat I keep is my best 10 Redfish total weight. In many years this used to be 80lbs. or ten fish 27-32 inches. in 2014 i think my biggest Red was 26"

Trout. OK for me. A couple of good trips Oct/Nov with me and my partner getting 40+ with no dinks and an average size of 16" and a few 17/18/19 inch fish. Im wondering what this cold snap is doing to those fish right now.

Flounder. Cannot pattern them. Catch a few by accident.

Thats it from me. Just as well I have other hobbies.

BB

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quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry

Sheeps caught about 5 and missed 50.

this troubles me greatly.

tighten up man.

10

Great year for me . I was ill and recovered the rest is gravy.God is good.

Stonoman

11

I think the absence of shrimp is the reason for some poor reports!
Due to my health I haven’t fished as much in the past 3 years but I seem to be some better now and hope to catch up this year. The few times I have been down and fished I did catch some good fish! I beleve the more you are on the water the better your fishing gets.

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quote:
Great year for me . I was ill and recovered the rest is gravy.God is good.

That’s better than catching fish :sunglasses:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

13

Edisto Palmetto Charters 2014 Fishing Report
North/South Edisto Rivers
Nearshore Reefs
St Helena Sound
Ashepoo/Combahee/Coosaw Rivers
Reds-Good/Very Good…numbers were similar to the last few years! Plenty of juviniles for the future!
Trout-Fair/Good…numbers were better this year, more good days than bad. More keeper trout for sure than past couple years!
Sheephead-Fair…I don’t target sheephead, but caught a few keepers similar to past years!
Flounder-Fair…caught a few keepers similar to past few years!
Tarpon-Did Not Fish for these big boys, but some of my friends said it was slow this year!
Cobia-Good/Very Good…numbers were as good as years past. Over 350#! Donated DNR several carcasses for migration study! 71# Cobia was the biggest! 2007 spawn looks to be producing well! Should be plenty 80# Cobia in the area this year!
Captain Buddy Bizzell
803-603-2781
BEING ON THE WATER IS A BLESSING, CATCHING FISH IS A BONUS!

14

Trout - GOOD even thought I was not targeting them
Redfish - EXCELLENT and mostly in the upper end of the slot, lucky!
Flounder - GREAT, first year I’ve figured em out but again, lucky.

Used mostly live bait on the bottom near oysters or Cajun thunder w/ various shrimp lures near grasses.

15

Spend most of my time offshore or on the Ashley out of pure convenience… (offshore I rate a 10 of 10)- Inshore fishing has been very limited this year.

I can’t figure out the Ashley - some days its 10 reds and a bunch of cats - some weeks its nothing. More nothing this year than the past 3. Tides, moon, rain & temps all considered - the river just isn’t consistent.

Cobia - Two trips to the Broad River, 4 hookups. A ton of lessons learned. Did well offshore 3/3 when we found them - not really looking.

Tarpon - Two hookups at the jetty by accident - more lessons learned. That’s a beast of a fish.

Bull Reds in the fall - decent fishing this year. Trips were limited, but we had some good days.

Lake Moultrie Stripers - Excellent fishery.

16

For me 2014 was about average for Redfish. I caught a lot of over the slot fish from April-August. Unfortunately due to person reasons I missed most of the fall fishing season. I didn’t really target trout, flounder or sheeps, but there were severals days in late summer when I caught 50+ under-sized trout on live shrimp under a cork.
I read on this site that many think the redfish populations are down. I have no scientific information, but I have caught more reds in the last 5 years or so than ever. I fish mostly the Wando and it’s creeks, with a few trips down to the North Edisto area each year. I primarily use live and cut bait. I do switch to artificials when the bait gets scarce in the late fall.

Jack Taylor

17

Close to your report Raddaddy, with the exception of Spot tail. Could do no wrong most of the time, even with the extra fresh water. Asheepoo and Combahee are full of them. I think better than in the last couple of years.

Had a couple of good trout trips right before our first hard cold snap near Otter Island and at a new spot near the governor’s dock. (normal secret spot was taken:smiley:). Earlier in the year not so good.

Only flounder were a few legal size caught while dragging for some shrimp.

Thinking back I believe 2004 or 5 was my best fishing for trout, spot tail, flounder, black drum, whiting, and shark in the last 20 years.

The biggest constant are the little 4th of July (hot dog) black tips that make all the kids happy that something is biting off the dock and biting in a major way! Something about kids and catching a SHARK.

18

Ron,

I will take your poor to average fishing year anytime!!!:smiley: Don’t be a stranger.

Jenkins

He must Increase,but I must decrease. John 3:30

19

I like your water better! Just takes me a while to get there.

quote:
Originally posted by C Tackle

Ron,

I will take your poor to average fishing year anytime!!!:smiley: Don’t be a stranger.

Jenkins

He must Increase,but I must decrease. John 3:30

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Redfish- jumped in the boat
Trout- almost nonexistent
Flounder- had good results gigging them
sheepshead- a few more than usual

17’ Mako
283 Grady White Release