ok, I dry stack at Rivers edge marina right beside 526. I keep hearing how the menhaden are in the ashely. but where? I know where to go in the cooper and wando but don’t want to go back up that far. the menhaden I am seeing are way to shallow to get to for my boat. I have attempted several times now with no luck. Should I head further into the ashley and away from the harbor? I guess I am looking for bigger creeks like yellow house in the cooper. Thanks for any info.
22 robalo
No offense, but do you know how to identify them when present?
You should see tail flicks randomly in a general area. You can hear them too. When you see them like that, generally they are thick enough underwater that a ‘blind’ cast in the general vicinity should yield some.
If not on the surface, watch your finder and sometimes you will see a big ‘cloud’ at some depth, say 15 ft. Make a cast and let it sink to the bottom of your pull cord. This will often work too.
Hope this helps. Sorry if you already knew this.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
yeah man i catch them all the time in the cooper. Now I will say i dont ever try to catch them in 15ft of water. so maybe ill start looking for the “cloud”
22 robalo
When you ask such questions as this on here many people can come across rude and overconfident. I don’t mean for this to sound like that in any way, but they are everywhere in the Ashley and within a cast from the dock at rivers edge. Basically, if you pull close to a bank, kill your motor for a min and listen you will hear them flicker or see the nervous water. However, to be more specific, they are right there at the bridge (526), and at the mouth of nearly any creek feeding into the Ashley as you head toward the harbor. There is also a heavy concentration (millions) around the entrance to the Citadel. Just get close to a bank, listen and look and you’ll be overwhelmed, if you hear one or two on the surface, there are hundreds to thousands around them.
Hope this helps.
No I appreciate it. The thing is I have done that several times with no luck. I will definitely try again. It is obvious that I am doing something wrong.
22 robalo
They’re thick in the rivers and the harbor but don’t feel bad. Sometimes no matter what you do you just can’t find the good bait.
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
The first thing to do is find the schools. I usually scout for Pelicans first. If you see a pelican dive head over to the spot. Then idle down and look and listen for the flits of the bait on the surface. Don’t blind cast. Wait until your on them. Another important key to success is a heavy net. Get a 6 ft super pro from Hadrells. The heavier nets sink much faster and are way better at catching menhaden. I do prefer being in water 10ft deep or less. They fish are less likely to escape the net in shallow water. Take your time to look around. Once you dial them in the bait will be hanging in the same areas through out the summer.
Dorado II
Carolina Skiff 25DLV
The first thing to do is find the schools. I usually scout for Pelicans first. If you see a pelican dive head over to the spot. Then idle down and look and listen for the flits of the bait on the surface. Don’t blind cast. Wait until your on them. Another important key to success is a heavy net. Get a 6 ft super pro from Hadrells. The heavier nets sink much faster and are way better at catching menhaden. I do prefer being in water 10ft deep or less. They fish are less likely to escape the net in shallow water. Take your time to look around. Once you dial them in the bait will be hanging in the same areas through out the summer.
Dorado II
Carolina Skiff 25DLV
They hangout between the boat ramp, dolphin cove dock and the no wake marker.