February is quickly coming to a close that means longer warmer days and hotter fishing! Fishing has been pretty good for this time of the year. Good schools of redfish on the flats. These fish can very spooky. The best days to target these fish are when there is little wind, some current and a little overcast. Don’t wait for the perfect day there is no such thing. My uncle would say go when you can and make the best of what nature provides. Most of the fish in Warsaw this week were very gold in color likely fish that moved from a brackish environment to a salty one. Heavy rain can cause fish to move. Despite new fish on the flats they are extremely wary. Once these fish have been caught one or twice they are educated and less likely to keep falling for the same tricks. Noise is another factor. Simply motoring up on a flat this time will likely spook any fish that were holding. Winter time reds can be caught use a little more stealth as well as lighter tackle. If a fishermen isn’t sure how to fish a flat simply sit and watch. What you want to notice is how fast or slow other fishermen are fishing and of course are they hooking up. During the winter you want to give fellow fishermen so much room its silly’. When in doubt whether you’re too close to another fisherman err on the side of giving too much room. You can try your luck at that spot another day. Anticipate slower fishing with fewer hook up but some quality hook ups. Last week the bites for seatrout and redfish were soft. There were exceptions but in cold water fishermen need to slow their hook sets. Capt. Ray Crawely told me to slow it down on my hook set. On one fish I was convinced I had the fish and missed. Two things going on here: First an early hook set means you’re either going to get him or you wont. Second, when you wait on hook set even with plastics there is a good chance the fish will swallow the lure, hook or jig down to his crunchers. Not good. The fish will have a pretty good chance of surviving by simply cutting the line as close to its’ mouth as possible. Lastly while still on my soap box use your fish gripper just to steady the fish not to lift him. Lifting with a fish puts lots of pressure on the fish’s internals and possibly can kill the fish. All this being said there are reds on the flats that can offer fun and excitement for those who enjoy stealthy fishing. Nature is always changing. This is the pattern is what’s going on now in a few days the pattern will likely change again.
Good catches of sea bass, sheepshead and cold water sharks on near shore wrecks and structure. Its ‘all about location. If you’re not catching fish keep moving and looking. Lots small sea bass close in with some keepers. Bigger ones seem to be further out. The sheepshead bite has been good both offshore and inshore. Capt. Wild Bill and I fish yesterday in his waters landing 29 the number could have larger had Bill wanted to catch more. Lots of fish barely legal to under sized with some nice as well. Definitely great action! Capt. Wild Bill did a great job!
Striper bite appears to have stalled. Some of the guys that have been pretty consistent pulling deep running lures have come up empty. Stripers action will likely pick up as water in the Savannah River get cleans up. Just nature, the water upriver has been pretty dirty. Some seatrout or reds being caught on the top or bottom of the tide.
Seems early but reports of some whiting and blacktip sharks on the sandbars. Around mid March look for stag bass to start roaming the beach fronts. At great bait if mullet are scarce is cut whiting. Fishing has been good this winter. Looks like a good Spring ahead! Want to mention when fishing Capt. Wild Bill we encounter a bunch or yellow tails (bait steelers) already. A couple of good catches of seatrout the beach. As front push through fishing should pick up as conditions clean up.
Hope this of help! Capt. Jack McGowan