We’re staying at Kiawah for the week. Took the boat out on Monday. Launched at Limehouse. We fished the incoming tide at the Stono boat yard and the flats on the other side of the river using mud minnows, cut mullet, plastics and a top water. Battled the wind and cold and got skunked.
My son fished the surf yesterday morning and caught this 18"ish redfish on frozen shrimp.
Something has been eating its tail. We released it to get bigger.
I know that the redfish stay inshore until they are much bigger than this but I’ve seen plenty this size in the surf. Anyone know why the smaller ones are out in the ocean?
Can’t answer your question about reds in the surf. But, if you go back out in the boat, try the docks between Metal Trades and Oyster house creeks on the incoming tide, there should be some large reds around there. And the dock at Metal trades hold trout.
the surf zone is a unique kind of habitat, it can’t really be classed as “inshore” or “offshore”. for some reason, the rules are different in the surf. right on the coast is about the only place there’s ever consistent wave action around here, and a host of species that you wouldn’t normally find in other habitats seek it out (pompano, jacks, tarpon). the constant wave action means there’s always a crab, shrimp, small fish, or other crustacean to hunt even when the eating might suck inshore for some reason (rapidly dropping water temp)… i don’t know, i’m just making stuff up because peapod told me to.
bottom line: nice catch and good of y’all to release him. i’m sure his wife finished chewing his ass when he got home late and tired!
Thanks for the tip sea tonic. Hopefully, the weather will be good enough and I can get out tomorrow. My son leaves today and I’m not sure I want to go solo. I will try Oyster House but don’t know where Metal Trades is.
FlickerFisher, I will catch slot Reds in the surf just about all year. Not so much when the surf temp stays below 65. I have also caught many under and over slot. Here are pics of under and over slots from past month or so.
“If it were catching, Everyone would be good at it.”
