Headed out from Cherry Point Tuesday morning with Fishb8, Fish@4KI and daughter’s bf, Robbie to try our luck with the spades at 4KI. The ride between the mouth of the N. Edisto and 2NE bouy was a little bumpy, but smoothed out after that. After passing 2NE, we saw something tailing on the surface. As we approached we identified it as about an 8 ft. hammerhead (will post pics later). Once we reached the reef we were able to find the school of spades fairly quick. They seemed pretty finicky at first, ignoring the shrimp and jelly ball pieces we were throwing at them. Eventually their appetite turned on and we began bringing them to the boat. We saw quite a few AJ’s and cobia following the school of spades but couldn’t get hooked up on them with the artificials we had. We ended the day boating about 35 or so spades and putting 20 in the box. We left the reef around 1:30 or so and ran back on a flat ocean. All in all, a great day on the water.
thanks for the post bdawg & shoe. i’m hoping it’s calm enough to try for spades on sunday (since that looks like the calmer of the days to come this weekend). either of you heading to 4ki then? just for the sake of boating buddy. i usually put in early (around 7 or so… probably 8 if the wife plans on coming). just let me know. i’m right off maybank and plan on heading out of cherry pt.
Trying to get some good Info. on how to catch those Spades, I want to take my kids out and get them hooked on fishing - thought if i could get them on some spades that would be fun.
semperfish, if they’re hungry I’ve found they will rarely turn down a small chunk of a cannonball jelly( the jelly balls with the dark brown/puprle ring and little to no tentacles-they wont sting you). The jellies are readily found floating in the current around the jetties. Pieces of shrimp will work as well.
I use small mesquito hooks on a flouro leader. They can see well and will swim away from bulky rigs at times.
As the pictures show, its easy to see and follow them when they’re at the surface. casting to them and watching them eat the bait is awesome, but I’ve heard of people tying a jelly ball off a few yards from the boat to keep the school around the boat while you’re anchored up and you can cast at them this way.
Anyways, hope this helps you out. And as mentioned there are some big fish out there. I’m willing to bet there are some state record beaters out there! (its only 14.2)
Just ride around and look for them is all I do and use a net. We only found 2, but we had shrimp in the boat also. peel the shrimp and put on the hook.
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
Thanks. I figured it was a reef, but couldn’t find it on the Reefs Section. How far out is it? At 40’ it can’t be too far off. Any suggestions on lat/long on where to start looking.
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
It’s PA-29 Kiawah Reef (4KI). Like fishb8 mentioned, look under resources, Reefs. There’s quite a few structures listed with lat/longs.
quote:Originally posted by TexasRed
Thanks. I figured it was a reef, but couldn’t find it on the Reefs Section. How far out is it? At 40’ it can’t be too far off. Any suggestions on lat/long on where to start looking.
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
