Set out just after the the high and finished an hour before the low out of Limehouse with a water temp of 50 to 51 . Went looking for some trout first and got a few taps at spots that had been producing this fall on DOAs. They were still there, but the takes were very light and no hookups. Floated some frozen shrimp and had two takes, but again no hookups. Switched it up to fish docks with shrimp for both reds and trout with no takers. Headed south towards Wadmalaw and found intervals of very clear water that let me see the bottom of some of my favorite places I had never seen before. If anyone knows the Stono and how dirty the water can be as these are spots the water may only be 1-3 feet deep. I know the area is full of old submerged tree roots, but it is amazing to see 4-5 foot diameter live oak stumps one after another.
I prospected a 1/4 mile stretch with the current, yet only found them in the to be expected spot that has produced all year. The first fish I saw out of the corner of my eye maul a Zman Paddlerz as I was watching a big trawler come from the south. The captain had graciously slowed don’t for me and then hung around for the show when I hookup up. The fish’s fight really surprised me given the 50 degree water running me around the boat and making me do an under the trolling motor/pin anchor hand switch. Finally in the net and taped out at 28". Got to use some the dart tags that DNR sent me for big fish and released. Worked the area some more and got a 16" and a 27.25" fish that pulled a run straight at the boat, go under, then wrap around a log maneuver on me.
By now it was 3:30 so I headed back towards the ramp stopping at one dock briefly then a short stretch of shoreline that again has some submerged trees. Hooked, tagged, and released a 23.75" fish then set up on a piece of structure to float some shrimp. For some reason the fish at this spot are exceptionally hard to hook. Watch the float go under, wait a second or two, set the hook, rod bends and drag go out, then the