Any suggestions are appreciated for a near shore trip over the next couple of weeks. It will be the maiden offshore voyage of the new boat and I wanted to keep it simple but still try to produce a few fish. I was thinking about trolling around some of the nearshore reefs. maybe Spanish, blues, etc… I am not going to be picky about the species for this trip, just need to bloody the decks. I would rather troll than bottom fish, maybe use some small planers and some spoons? cigar minnows, cedar plugs, whatever. It has been a few years since I moved away from Charleston(fishing is a bit rusty) and now that the twins are older I can start to take some more trips down. The lake is fun for a party but fresh water fishing just doesn’t get it for me. again any input is appreciated. I would put in either at limehouse bridge, or cherry point so depending on the wind/weather whatever works…
Nearshore in the next few weeks, you’ll be better off targeting Black sea bass or Sheepshead. Trolling right now isn’t productive. Any of the nearshore reefs hold these fish: 4ki, Charleston Nearshore, Capers, Charleston 60. Fiddlers/clams/oysters for sheeps. Any bait works for seabass, but squid is the cheapest.
Trolling gets good offshore towards the end of April and first part of May.
Go re-read all the regulations, size and limit restrictions have changed several times over the last few years.
If I get murdered in the city, don’t go revenging in my name…
You might could troll for Bonita, they are fun to catch but people don’t eat them. They where around pretty thick a month ago and they will definitely bloody your deck if you gaff one and they make good chunk baits for bottom fishing.
Yes I was a SEABEE. Great to hear from another. I was origionaly with CBMU 202 until the units got phased out. I was with 22ncr for a while. deployed to Fallujah with IMEG, IMEF, RCT1 for most of 2004. I miss my friends from the bees a great deal. I lost quite a few in the desert, and lost 1 since we came home. Thanks for asking and thanks for being a SEABEE! Also thanks everyone for the great advise. I am looking forward to a good trip.
I might troll for BONITA just for the heck of it. what do they bite? anything? troll like I would for Spanish with a small planer direct to the rod and 10-12 ft. of leader with clark spoon off that?
I’ve never trolled for them but people use small jigs, spoons and hard baits that are shiny, I’ve also heard that tuna feathers/darts work well. If you mark large schools of bait there usually close by, look for surface action and birds, you can also sight cast them which is cool. If I where you I would bring the bottom gear also just as another option in case the Bonita aren’t around you will still see some action.
Thanks for the advice on the squid! I think I have a few of those already. Gail Wins, No I never fished it. I stick to Wateree and Murray. My best advice for cats is wait til the shad are running at the wateree tail race, get a GIANT dip net and dip a bucket or 2 of big shad. Put them on ice. fish them the same day or next cut in 2-3" chunks on circle hooks. The bigger the circle hook the better. fish them on the bottom like you would shark. BIG bait brings BIG cats. just mind the circle hook and don’t set it. you will yank it right out of their mouth. Let them run it. Good luck. I hear tell of some 2 headed fish in Monticello, especially where the cooling water dumps into the lake…
