by Capt. Paul Rose, carolinebonefishing.com
Summer came on quickly with high temperatures and humidity arriving earlier and seemingly lasting longer. Fishing was good on most accounts particularly early and late. But now the transition from the dog days of summer to early fall is upon us, creating exciting and pleasant times to be out on the water.
Predator fish become very active and aggressive all day long, chasing fall bait runs to prepare for the approaching winter. Opportunities for any number of popular species exists right now so burn those last few vacation days and enjoy some great fishing. There is plenty of water at the coast plus wind, tide and ever-changing conditions. Hiring a guide is best in the salt the first time out. Here is what the experts have to say.
Capt. Patrick Kelly (843-361-7445) has this time of year pegged as one of his favorite times to fish. Many anglers are tuned in to hunting, leaving water unpressured and fish eager to bite.
Anglers will find reds on the move in shallow water and beginning to transition into winter patterns. As water cools, reds have begun schooling in shallow water. As a bonus to chillier temperatures algae blooms have decreased improving visibility, which makes sight-fishing possible.
If approached with stealth, Reds are readily taking flies and soft plastics. November and December are especially great months for fly-fishing as winds can be very calm between fronts.
Live bait will work if you can get it but Capt. Kelly does not find it necessary this time of year. Use smaller ¼-ounce jig heads with Gulp type baits. Sea trout are also plentiful with 4-to-5-pound fish not uncommon. Try simple popping corks cast along drop-offs in the ICW or grass lines. Again, artificials will trump the need for live bait. The trick is to pop the cork hard enough to attract attention then pausing the retrieve waiting on strikes. Repeat the pop and stop retrieve varying speed and pause until you figure out the bite.
Pier Fishing
Apache Pier (843-497-6486) and Springmaid Pier (866-764-8501) have reported excellent catches. Eric Perry of Perry’s Bait Shop (843-651-2895) has been rigging pier anglers, from the salty veteran to the newbie, for years.
For the speck bite “float Gulp’s under corks on live shrimp, if available, right from the pier for good catches of speckled trout.
DOA bait under corks will work as well for the beginner as they come pre-rigged on a jig head. It is as simple as cast and retrieve a method that works very well with this set-up.
Focus around the pier structure itself. Spots up to one pound and bull whiting up to 2-pounds are also available from both piers. These two popular fish will taper off as cold weather sets in.
Use 2 rig bottom rigs with small J-hooks tipped with bloodworms or cut shrimp. If you’re after a bull red they will stick around well into December. It has not been a numbers game on the piers, but catches are pretty consistent.
If you’re in the surf around the pier use Carolina rigs with 3-ounce weights and big pieces of cut mullet. From the pier itself you can drop down to 2-ounce weights. One big crab cut into four pieces is also excellent bait this time of year for bull reds.
Sharks have moved out, which makes night fishing for whiting, spots, reds, and trout more productive. Both piers have lights and full amentities available. When pier fishing, remember to check the tides and make your fishing plan around the moving water.
Apache Pier (843-497-6486) and Springmaid Pier (866-764-8501) have reported excellent catches. Eric Perry of Perry’s Bait Shop (843-651-2895) has been rigging pier anglers, from the salty veteran to the newbie, for years.
For the speck bite “float Gulp’s under corks on live shrimp, if available, right from the pier for good catches of speckled trout.
DOA bait under corks will work as well for the beginner as they come pre-rigged on a jig head. It is as simple as cast and retrieve a method that works very well with this set-up.
Focus around the pier structure itself. Spots up to one pound and bull whiting up to 2-pounds are also available from both piers. These two popular fish will taper off as cold weather sets in.
Use 2 rig bottom rigs with small J-hooks tipped with bloodworms or cut shrimp. If you’re after a bull red they will stick around well into December. It has not been a numbers game on the piers, but catches are pretty consistent.
If you’re in the surf around the pier use Carolina rigs with 3-ounce weights and big pieces of cut mullet. From the pier itself you can drop down to 2-ounce weights. One big crab cut into four pieces is also excellent bait this time of year for bull reds.
Sharks have moved out, which makes night fishing for whiting, spots, reds, and trout more productive. Both piers have lights and full amentities available. When pier fishing, remember to check the tides and make your fishing plan around the moving water.
With the ability to take anglers offshore, near-shore, and in-shore, Capt. Jay Biesch has November and December filled with options.
Trolling dead Cigar minnows over live bottoms are still catching kings. This bite should last until Thanksgiving. Near-shore anglers are taking flounder in the 5-to-10-pound range on live mullet using bottom rigs around deeper structure.
Inshore is offering some of the year’s best red drum and sea trout fishing. One reason for the consistent bite is the area receives little influx of freshwater, keeping sanity levels stable. Both species are being caught under floats rigged with Gulp soft plastics.
Focus efforts in the ICW channel edges and creeks mouths. The bite is taking place in water depths of 5-to-7-feet. Try to keep baits in this sweet spot. Trout are typically not alone so if you catch one more should follow.
Georgetown Area
Captain Mike McDonald at (843-546-3543) reports fantastic fishing for trout and reds, two commonly sought after gamefish. With cooler water temperatures, Trout are being found at 7-to-11-feet of water. Look for any depth contour changes and fish the drop-off or the edges.
Reds prefer water in depths of 18 inches or less. Like us, dolphins enjoy a good meal of redfish but they can’t get the reds in shallow water – and the reds have learned this lesson. The dolphins’ loss is your gain! At low tide redfish can be seen waking or cruising along oyster bars and grass lines. Anglers should place accurate cast out in front of these fish for exciting takes.
Live bait is becoming less and less available so artificials are working very well. Plus, for catch and release, artificials allow for easy and safer unhooking of undersized fish. Live bait-caught fish tend to be hooked much deeper.
Christopher and April Coble Eller own and operate Coble Water Ski and Wakeboard Camp in Lillington, NC. They are sponsored by MasterCraft Boat Company and HO skis. April is a former US Masters Champion and current Malibu Open slalom champion. Christopher is a MasterCraft Pro Tour driver and US National Medalist. You can learn more about their school at