I recently retired to Charleston from Maryland. Bought a 2002 Wellcraft 250CC with a 250 OX66 spent a year before leaving MD fixing shortcomings of the boat and refitting with Garmin 1040, XHD radar, new VHF, ETC. I’ve been close off-shore several times down here to get confidence in the boat and learn the waterways. The boat is doing great. My fishing… not so good. Some fishing on each trip but as it turns out, my limited Chesapeake Bay and Indian River MD experience is too old to be of much value. Or, I just didn’t know anything to begin with.
Went to a local seminar a couple of weeks ago and was told that my gear belongs in a museum. Yep, the gear is old but do the fish know?
Either way – My skills are far below what I thought they were and haven’t been able to catch much down here.
I’d love to find someone with local experience that can give me an honest opinion of my gear and go out on my boat to provide me with some “learn’n”. I checked with some local small boat charter captains but on a tight retirement budget the cost just isn’t affordable. I do understand their commercial need.
Any suggestions?
I trailer the boat and usually put in on the Ashley.
Woody
What species do you want to target? We have some nearshore artificial reefs that have fish that are fairly easy to target, especially in the summertime. Have you tried Charleston Nearshore, 4Ki, Capers, Charleston 60? The Charleston jetties are also an excellent place to target gamefish like red drum, kings, Spanish, cobia.
PM Sellsfish on here. He is a commercial fisherman, former marine, and used to have is own retail fish market. He sometimes goes out with folks to school them up. He knows his stuff and is entertaining as well.
Pioneer 222 Sportfish
Yamaha 250
Sounds like your boat/budget will fit right in. half the people don’t even have “electronics”.
The fish cant tell what’s topside so that doesn’t matter, but you may need to adjust your terminal gear for this area.
So where do you want to fish and what are you trying to target?
Buy a map and start fishing the numbers away from the artificial reefs, live bottom and small ledges. It takes alittle time but before you know it you will start having success.
Thanks for the comments folks. I’ve been trying for reds, flounder, BSB, cobia, and tried sea trout but my rigs are too heavy. getting a lighter rod this week. Open to anything from the bay to jetties and out about 5-10 miles. Single engine OX66 so not going too far off-shore.
2002 Wellcraft 250CC Yam OX66
Start here:
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/artificialreefs/
The nearshore offshore stuff is fairly easy. Fish the bottom to start. Find good structure on your sounder first, then drift fish is the current isn’t too bad or anchor up. Squid, cigar minnows. You can catch bsbs, grouper, jacks. 40-50 leaders and 4-6oz lead depending on the current. These reefs are great for sheepshead too. Fiddlers, oysters, clams on Carolina rig with the least amount of weight you can use for these.
There are often sharks around so be prepared for that. You will catch little two foot sharks as well as hook some grown ones from time to time. Plenty of big barracuda swimming around the reefs this time of year too.
When it’s too choppy to get to the reefs, there’s usually always a side of the jetties that is blocking the wind and chop. The are big reds there, along with sheepshead, black drum, small bsb, lots of species.
The only way to know is to go. Go get it done!