Sight Fishing Tactics for Charleston Reds with Capt. Ben Alderman
Mastering shallow water redfishing in the flats around Charleston takes many years of faithful exploration and contemplation. As most are, our estuary is a complex system that requires planning and patience for consistent success. Forming a good game plan and working in concert with Mother Nature will help to keep your stress level low and your fish count high. These tactical tips might not make you a master, but they’ll definitely get you started on your way to catching more reds.
Start by planning your trip at the best time to maximize your opportunities. With a local average of six feet of water moving on and off of Charleston area flats every six hours, tides are a major force in determining prime fishing time. With the exception of summer’s extremely high,“spring tides” during the new and full moon, the great majority of our sight fishing and the focus of this article revolve around low tide sight fishing. Variables such as wind speed, wind direction, and moon phase (volume) can affect the tide greatly, so factor them in with printed times to get the big picture. Low tide fishing is least difficult during “neap tides”, when gravity’s pull is it’s weakest. When there is little tidal movement, I’ll normally wait until the water is practically out of the grass to begin the hunt (approximately three hours before low.) Conversely, if the tide will be roaring out, the angler, just like the fish, must quickly adapt as options for escape to deep water become limited in a hurry. Smaller windows of opportunity and drier than usual flats make negative tides more difficult to fish, so put in at least an hour early to be ready and waiting for fish on the move to roll out of the grass with the tide. My Hpx V’s lightweight hull gives me incredible freedom to explore the shallowest areas at any phase of the tide without struggle and stress. Keep your rig as light as possible for maximum time on the flats and watch the water closely for