I just moved here from Arizona and I know nothing about catching saltwater fish. I picked up a kayak and I’ve been out a few times with jerk baits but I never seem to catch anything. What’s the trick? I’m going after specs and reds. I’m just not sure where to begin. I live on James island and regularly take my kayak out from the landing on folly river. People tell me it’s all about the tides. I’m not sure how you guys deal with that, when I get some free time to fish I gotta take go, I can really consider the tide. Any general advice would be appreciated. My past fishing experience consists of pulling brook trout out of mountain streams.
Join the Stono River Fishing Club. Also the Search utility on this site is priceless. Lastly, if you have the $, Lost@Sea and TooBusy on this site are Kayak guides. This would be the fastest way for a crash course.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
I’ve never belonged to a fishing club, how would that help?
You would meet a lot of local fisherman…who would be more than likely to share fishing tips and info. They may invite you to go fishing.
And monthly fishing seminars. And most tackle shops give you a 10% discount. It’s a no brainer.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
2nd hire 2busy
Domromer, welcome. Also check out the kayak forum. Post when you’re planning to fish, and you might hook up with others. There was a meet and fish out by Kiawah just a couple of weeks ago. Lost@sea was organizing it. Folks were catching reds and trout. There should be another one in January. Like you, I am new and just got my first kayak. I have been lucky enough to get a couple reds, mostly trout, and caught my first sheepshead on Saturday. You definitely can pick up a ton of info from this site. TooBusy has a youtube channel and offers tips. Lost@Sea has taken over the kayak guiding business from TooBusy and they offer great prices compared to the boat guides.
Many go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
Welcome,This a question that is very frequently asked. Yes tides matter a good bit here. Scout at low tide and when you catch a few fish in a spot remember or log the point in the tide cycle at which you caught fish in a specific spot. I have to go to a Christmas party (yes at 10 pm) or I would type up more. Use the search function on the site and you will have info overload in no time at all. Good luck.
- I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
Also, Haddrells Point is a great tackle shop, and the west ashley store is near you. They will help you with all your fishing gear, and seem to tolerate novice questions pretty well. I had no idea how to put the hook in the Zman Paddlers so they hooked a couple for me. I also got my fiddlers from them, but recommend focusing on trouts and reds first.
Many go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
welcome here and good luck!! careful in that kayak on the ocean, MaryLee is still roaming around here… lol
yep, join a fishing club to take advantage of getting to know and talk to people that have fished here all their lives
look on Haddrells Point and Charleston Anglers websites and watch for events/seminars they have… both have some really great seminars IMHO
I was a member of the Stono river fishing club some years back, there’s a wealth of info in that group… I just recently decided to join them again, great group of people!
most are also members of the West Ashley Outboard Motor Club (WAOMC) too, which is the oldest boat club in the lowcountry
watch the reports, fish the mud flats, points, mouths… low tide for reds, high falling for trout seems to be what I’m reading most are having the best luck with right now
Sea Hunt Triton 177
115 Yamaha
on the advise for joining a fishing club, you can read stuff on here until you eyes cross. Actually getting out and doing it is the way to learn. With clubs you’ll get some productive spots right off the rip, then you’ll have an idea what to look for to find your very own “secret” spots.
Go as often as you can, one productive tide level may not produce the very next day. Don’t get discouraged. The people that are catching a lot usually are the ones that go a lot, or had some good pointers from someone else that does.
As far as bait, shrimp on the bottom will catch almost any species in our waters. After that it gets more target specific.
< Evil is simply the absence of God >
And any of the local clubs will serve that purpose. I suggested SRFC based on where you live. There are many clubs in the area…
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
is there not a Hanahan Salt Water Anglers Club?..might have to see about that! lol
“Fish On”
Domromer, I’m in the same boat as you (except the part about moving from Arizona!). I began fishing about a year ago, with zero prior experience, and I didnt really have anyone to show me the ropes. It takes TIME to become familiar with the area, the tides, the different species, all the tackle, the weather, etc… So my advice is very simple, just go fish! As it has been said, do NOT allow yourself to get discouraged if you have trips without a single bite; you are LEARNING.
I read the reports the all-stars post on this site of catching 20 reds and 30 trout and I am just befuddled. Perhaps one day that will be you and me making those reports. But right now, I’m just happy to be on the water. If a catch a fish or two (or 20), that is icing on the cake!
more and more time on the water find the fish they dont find you and once u found that spot keep records on time tide and bait but a shrimp or mud minnow on a popin cork set at diffrent depths fished along creek mouths in abouth 6 feet of water is a no fail option
the basics
cold water, fish a jighead with any plastic, slow and with the current
warmer water fish live bait on carolina rig
Welcome, It seems like we have new kayak fisherman every week. I think it’s great. We’ve all been in your situation at some point. I think you’ll find that most of the people around here are more than willing to help out, provide advice, etc. With all the new people it might be a good idea to start a new kayak fishing club. The “Charleston Greenhorn Fishing Club”. Anyone interested? There is alot of good advice posted above. I would definitely attend the next monthly meet and fish. Keep an eye on the kayak page for date and time. Also, post a message the day before you head out asking for people to join you. It’s always good to fish in pairs or groups when using a kayak. Welcome to Charleston, I look forward to seeing you out there.
If two wrongs don’t make a right, try three.
Thanks for all the ■■■■■■■■. I guess I just need more time on the water, and it seems I need to slow my presentation down. Fishing for brookies involves ripping 1/16 rooter tails across the stream. Slightly different that going after the sea trout. I’ll check out the kayak page as well. Maybe I can hook up with some fellow kayak fisherman…although it’s a stretch to call myself that as I’ve yet to get a fish into the boat! But I have pulled in some blue crabs and oysters…that must count for something!
Domromer - Here are a few things I wish someone would have explained to me when I first started inshore fishing. When I started, I had plenty of experience in “sweet” water, but not much correllated to fishing inshore.
General Information
- Scout new areas you will fish within 1 hr. of low water (already mentioned), to look for structure and for safety reasons
- On average, the most productive tides will be around each qtr. moon
- Water clarity is key for most species. Avoid places where visibility isn’t at least 1 foot
- Trout, reds, and flounder are mostly caught within 1 ft. of the bottom. Lead + hook + bait will catch all 3
- Normally, T,R, and F will be around some kind of structure
- Study maps and charts- Just picking up a Top Spots map will give you a good idea of the kinds of places that are productive
Species specific information. For this, you need to understand there are 2 general, but very different, areas you can fish inshore: main river flats and banks and smaller feeder creeks that lead to big water. The Intracoastal waterway can fish like either depending on your location.
Redfish- Main river flats
Flats reds will stay in 2-3 feet of water or LESS during the entire tide cycle. A GOOD flat will have lots of shallow water at low tide with live oysters lining the bank and extending from the bank onto the flat. During low tide, reds will be laying on mud in water usually just deep enough to cover their backs. As the tide comes in, they will move to the oyster structure, then into the grass. As the tide recedes, they come out of the grass to the oyster structure, then back to the mud. It is easier to catch them when they are NOT in the grass. Finding reds on the flats for me is 100% visual when scouting new areas. I run my trolling motor on high in about 18 inches of water until I spook some fish, then I’ll circle back around and fish.
Trout- Main River flats and banks
Trout prefer a little deeper water than reds. Most trout in this area are caught between 3-12 ft. deep. High
great day Rad. that’s a nice read.