After two slow trips on the Ashley (both on moon tides) I tried to tips the odds in my favor a little more and fish the Stono with my son. It has been over three months since the last time.
Put it at Limehouse at the top of the tide and during the slack had the always difficult task of catching bait. I had one crab in the cooler already and with a lot of work put some nice shrimp in the livewell. Started working along a bank; my son tossed a Z-man on top of one red and I got a small thump from another before moving to one of our better spots. I started by throwing a Z-man up current and bouncing it back to the boat over the submerged timber. After 15 or so casts I got a solid thump, reeled up, and drove the hook home on a 33" red that ran into the grass twice and tried to snag me several times. Big reds really put 2000 size reels and matched rods to the test. Got composed again and saw some fish in the grass. We baited up a quartered crab and tossed it over. Less than a minute later my son drags a 26"+ red from the grass. I finished up with a 30.5" red on live shrimp. Despite the three solid fish, the spot was actually quite slow which is what most of the river was like…very few indications of fish or bait. We fished some docks and caught 2 trout and a small red on shrimp.
Still looking for what I consider a “really good” day this year. I am just not seeing the numbers of reds like in years past. I am hoping they turn on when the water drops below 70.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14