Fishing has been good although there are definite signs the seasons are changing. Most noticeable shrimp are becoming harder to find. As a result, seatrout are leaving areas where bait is scarce moving to areas where bait is more abundant. Numbers of fish being brought in by local fishermen while still impressive are less than catches just a few weeks ago. Many fishermen are reporting a banner for the seatrout while an average or less than average year for redfish. Likely this is just peculiarity of nature: an up year for one species, an average year for another. Regardless the reason for these vagaries of nature practicing catch and release only make sense. Each year we are seeing more and more boaters placing greater demands on the resource. Tom Demoss, a Florida Keys fishing guide (he and George Woodward) fished with me in the Redbone Tournament over this past weekend. Tom said taking fish has already diminish the quality of fishing in the Keys and will have similar on other fisheries . A quality fishery is vital not only to an individual experience and to our community . Take only those fish you plan to eat fresh and release the rest. My sentiments have been more towards redfish. These fish have to survive three years of fishermen, porpoises, and mother nature (storms, drought, high or low salinity and freezes) only to graduate to big league, ” the ocean”. Fish responsibly and encourage and practice, catch and release!
When winds have blown fishermen for the most have struggled. When winds have abated fishermen have brought in good catches of seatrout. The redfish bite has been less consistent. Nonetheless some fishermen have found no problem in finding reds. Water temperature on most mornings for the past week has been in the 50’s. The best fishing has been in those areas where a food chain can be found. The elements to look for are clean moving water, structure, bait and perhaps evidence of active feeding: birds diving or bait popping on the surface. The best fishing last week when there was some cloud coverage , moving water and food chain . Twice just prior to bite turning on it looked as if there were diamonds on the surface of the water. The rays of the sun were hitting the water just the right angle where the water sparkled. This did not last for long. First the morning glare, then the glistening water, followed by a hot bite. Raising water will bring bait up. Small menhaden can be heard popping in some creeks and rivers. Don’t overlook menhaden as bait source. Seatrout and redfish will definitely eat menhaden. The popping sound is menhaden being forced to the surface. Usually this means there are blue fish under them but at time of the year it could be seatrout. Even on windy days look for the food chain. If the activity is on the wind ward side then that’s where you need to be fishing. Windy days can be problematic as fishermen move from one drop to the next. Holding tight (not running from drop to drop) you’re not as likely to have a big catch (or strike out) but you’ll catch some fish.
There have been several reports of stripers and seatrout well up the Savannah River. Currents can be strong. Fish neap tides. Concentrate your fishing up river when the river isn’t boiling. When seatrout aren’t biting it can mean stripers are present. Stripers will hit finger mullet, shrimp as well jigs, flies and lures. Some fisherman say fish wood, other say fish concrete structure. Stripers will and do hold on both. For best chances of success fish smaller tides. The limit is two per fisherman and the fish have to be over 27 inches. Indications are this should be a good year for stripers!
Hope this of help! Good fishing!
Capt. Jack McGowan