The cooler fall temperatures that we have been experiencing will undoubtedly bring on an earlier fall bite here while fishing inshore waters in Charleston SC. This will make it easier for anglers to catch the variety of inshore species, specifically redfish (red drum) and spotted sea trout, that they may have missed out on this summer. Our inshore species of fish in Charleston will be trying to fatten up for the winter so they will hardly be turning down any baits that you present in front of them!
For the live bait enthusiast, you cannot go wrong with live shrimp under a popping cork. However, if you were ever looking to challenge yourself with artificial baits, now is the time. A great all around bait is a Zman MinnowZ paired up on a 3/16 oz. Trout Eye jighead. The weight of the jighead compared to the depth and current is critical to match, for more information on this topic click on this article here. The MinnowZ is a great all around bait that will catch every inshore species our Charleston water has to offer. These baits are so durable it is not uncommon to catch over 40 fish without changing the bait. Zman has created a variety of colors but don’t get overwhelmed with the deep color selection as it is the profile of the bait and the action you emit on the bait that is largely responsible for triggering the bite.
So where are the fish? An analogy I like to use is the same as where you find people, typically where living conditions are optimal. The majority of people are going to be where the living conditions are optimal including but not limited to climate, housing, water supply, food, safety, etc. When you are on the water it is no different, fish want certain amenities in life and are willing to move and settle based upon finding those things. Redfish in Charleston SC are pretty big on a food source and security meaning structure such as oyster bars, dock pylons, etc., if you are able to find those two things without finding