In Hilton head for our annual family vacation. Been getting out to do a little fishing between family time. Have mostly fished the low incoming inshore. Reds and a few flounder have been cooperating. Not much interest in mid minnows so bait of choice has been smaller finger mullet and cut mullet. Most reds have been in the slot around 18-20". Actually haven’t caught single fish under slot.
Last two day we fished out to 60 feet. Pogies have been thick off the beach in front of the Hilton Head Marriott in Sea Pines. Although we have seen them in quite a few other spots. 6-8" range. One cast both morning was more than we could use.
Sunday morning they seemed to be a little farther off the beach maybe 1/2 mile. Both days the Spanish have been thick many fish up to about 8 pounds. Lots of smaller kings in the 30-36 inch range. Free lined pogoes off the anchor or slow trolling around the structure has been really good. Caught quite a few on 1 oz gotcha plugs too. Decided to take a few jelly balls with us this morning to target some spades on light tackle. Brought a few spdes home and a few Spanish for dinner.
Oh and no brown fish caught. Did see one boated about two hours into the incoming this morning. King and Spanish bites slowed down substantially after 10am. Cudas we’re thick and hungry.
We didn’t really target them anywhere inside of 15 miles the last two days but have caught quite a few Spanish on gotcha plugs here and there when we happened upon them busting bait around the beach and the sound. Allll of the inshore ones have been around 12-16 inches. Guy we buddy boated with did hook a decent king just off the shipping Channel near the mouth of the sound Sunday late afternoon. Lost him at the boat.
You’re kinda warm. Headed back out in the morning. Inshore bite has been slow for us out of towners the last two days. Picked at the trout and occasional flounder but not much else to speak of. The Creeks are slap full of bait, 20 min soak and we literally had 500 mud minnows. Which is nice cause you can cull out the jumbos. Nice bait shrimp as well.
We have seen quite a few schools of big jacks the last two mornings in the normal spots where you would find people cobia fishing round the calibogue. No takers on a jig or anything top water we threw at them. Haven’t seen them feeding on school of pogies just lazily swimming about sunning. Have also seen several schools just behind the breakers around the bait about daylight as well.
