Summer time mean lots of small fish. Fishermen are catching lots of small sea trout and redfish. It will be a few more weeks before these small fish are legal size but its good to see them. Bait is plentiful in the creeks and rivers. Shrimp is the favorite bait for inshore fishermen on the Georgia and South Carolina coasts. Shrimp is abundant as well thick schools of finger mullet. Sometimes finger mullet and other bait fish will catch the larger fish. Its not unusual to look into a sea trout’s stomach and see a partially digested finger mullet or two. Even a small sea trout will take on a finger mullet. Generally the larger fish feed on fish. Live shrimp produces more fish action more often. Another trick for larger sea trout is fish a plastic shrimp under a popping cork as well top water lures fished early in the morning on calm days. An abundance of small sea trout and redfish during the summer will likely mean a good fall bite!

Those fishing for sharks are finding slower action. Slower shark action can mean opportunities to catch a tarpon. There are some tarpon on the coast. As the mullet run intensifies the tarpon could heat up. Large schools of menhaden can be found in the sounds and on the beach fronts. When schools of bait fish show up predator fish (shark, tarpon and jacks) will be close by. When pelican are diving on large menhaden drifting a bait close to the popping menhaden can produce some produce fast action. So far this summer we’ve had many rainy days. Low salinity can mean bait fish and predator fish will push out to saltier water. Each day is a different and nature is constantly changing. Fish the conditions for the day.

Some fishermen are saying this is another good year for flounder! Flounders are one of those fish that can bite during the heat of the day. Generally during the summer its best to get out early or fish late in the afternoon. A low incoming tide is a favorite tide to target flounders. Finger mullet, mud minnow and shrimp fished on a 1/4 oz. jig or under a small float is a good rig for flounders. Sometimes people add a small white buck tail duster as a flounder attractor. Pitching a white curl grub can also be effective for catching flounder.

I hope this report is of interest and help! I hope to see you on the water!

Fish On! Jack

Capt. Jack McGowan
Coastal River Charters