So ive been trying to fish the Charleston area rivers for the past year with little luck. Went out Saturday and Sunday and caught nothing.
Bushy park Saturday, used a popping cork with vudu shrimp and vudu mullet, frozen shrimp, and some electric chicken jerk shad (carolina rig).
Sunday i tried the Cooper river under the don holt bridge with the same rigs, still nothing.
Am i doing something wrong? Each time was right before and after low tide, and i tried near structure and near the opening to creeks. Seeing all these reports about catching reds, sheepshead, and speckled trout tells me that they’re there, but i guess no where i am?
I’m no pro but it seems like this last weekend was slow. I got stopped by dnr and they said I was the only boat they stopped that even caught a fish yesterday. I fished for 6 hours and only managed one 15 inch trout via optikers pro advice. He can give you some great pointers. I never fished artificials in the winter and its a whole new ball game. I was using blue crab, frozen finger mullet, live mudd minnows, fresh shrimp, and zman mulletron on a trout eye jig. I slowly retrieved the zman on the bottom with the current pulling it toward me. The water should warm up in the next week or 2.
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
-Benjamin Franklin
Malibu Stealth 12
2008 Carolina Skiff JVX16/ Yamaha F60
Keep fishing! Bite should get better as the days get longer!
God Bless,
Capt Buddy Bizzell
Being on the water is a blessing, catching fish is a bonus!
Matthew 4:19
Patience. Some of the best daytime fishing for big roe trout is from about mid-April through May. Try freshwater lakes for “March Madness” Crappie for a month till the salt wakes up.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
Trying for a year now and the only thing I’ve ever caught here is a couple of speckled trout. My buddy caught a small red fish, but that’s the only one that’s ever been caught between the two of us. I’m not really that experienced at fishing, but he’s been fishing his whole life, just not here. Makes me believe it’s something we’re doing wrong. Too deep? Too shallow? Just not knowing what to look for? I’ve read a lot on the forum and several other pages, but it just seems like every time i take the boat out i come back empty handed.
Would a depth finder help at all? Is there some kind of pattern to look for? I’m by no means giving up; I’m finally getting around to asking for help. I’ve fished this area year round and had very little luck.
Don’t get frustrated. Keep at it. Jan-march can be tough. Focus on learning / scouting fishey areas. This is a great time to see structures under water. Don’t focus on catching so much. If no bites in 10 min move to next spot. Learning the sport is the most fun.
Epres is right. Times are tough now even when your fishing the flats or heavy salt ( which is what I do Jan-March). As the water warms up so will the fishes love for your hook. Keep it up and know that all those spots you tried and didn’t succeed, just might produce in another month. Keep it up!!!
Capt. Joel LeVine
RedFin Charters
1308, don’t give up on this stuff. This forum is fantastic but as a million others have said, you just have to keep getting out there and trying. Reading and local knowledge is great but not a substitute for experience. I fished the surf here for years before scratching up enough to buy a boat, and then the learning curve started all over again. Finally put a red in the boat yesterday but mostly caught catfish up the Ashley, going to try again now. The biggest thing I’ve learned is don’t repeat patterns if you’re not catching fish on them. When you’re new on the water here it’s easy to get stuck in safe, familiar territory, whether the fish are there is another story. Gotta go get the boat stuck a few times and try new things, the “secret” spots should come with time.
On another note, water temps didn’t dip under 60 degrees in the upper Ashley yesterday!
2000 Aquasport Osprey 175 CC
1308, hire a guide. there are good ones on here. you’ll save time and $