My goal is to provide information to aid you in your selection of charter service. Coastal River Charters is primarily an inshore fishing service. Sighting seeing excursions and near shore trips are available.
Directions
The Fishing
Tackle and What to Expect
The Boat
Fishing – What’s Biting
National Magazine Articles
The Fishing
Most fishing is done with in a 30 minute run from the marina. The boat can comfortably fish one to four anglers. Fishermen are encouraged to practice and release! Keep a few for supper if desired and release the rest. As the coast gets more populated and equipment improves going light on what we take is only smart. Dress according to the time of the year. Expect the temperature to feel 10 degrees cooler on the water than on land. Boat shoes, sunglasses, sun screen, bug spray, a hat, a disposable camera and a small cooler with what ever you would like to eat or drink can add to your enjoyment of the trip. A boxed lunch can be provided for an additional charge. Please no hard soled shoes, glass bottles or trash on the deck of the boat.
Tackle and What to Expect
The tackle used is Shakespeare ugly stick rods (for bottom fishing), Shimano rods and reels , Penn 360 slammer reels, Redington fly rods, and Key Largo tarpon and jig rods. All tackle is in good shape and well maintained. Most of the fishing is done with spinning tackle although there are opportunities to fly fish as well. Tarpon and shark fishing is on casting tackle. The line on the spinning tackle is 30 pound Power Pro. Most of the spin fishing is with jigs and small floats such as “low country lightings”. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, stripers, tarpon and sharks are the primary fish targeted.
The Boat
Manufacturer: SeaPro
Model: SV2100CC Bay Boat
Length: 21′ 6″
Beam: 8′ 6″
Engine: Yamaha 150 hp 4-stroke
Top speed: 40 mph
Misc: A MinnKota 80 lb trolling motor is mounted on the bow.
Fishing – What’s Biting
Usually we can fish year round! Each season has its own uniqueness.
Summer means tarpon, sharks, whiting, flounder, redfish, and seatrout on the flats and along the sandbars. During the summer months most trips are limited to 4 or 6 hours due to typical afternoon pop up thunderstorms. During the summer months we try to be off the water by 2:00pm.. Trips will depart in the morning according to tides and your schedule. Its recommended that you arrive a little earlier than the time of your charter. Trips will normally depart and return exactly on time.
Fall is the time of the year that most locals associate with inshore fishing. Temperatures are cooler. Bait is plentiful and fishing is good! Fall fishing usually peaks in November. Seatrout are schooling and small first year redfish are legal size. Striper have moved into local waters giving angler an excellent opportunity to target this fish on the fly or conventional tackle.
Winter fishing is dependent on the cold fronts. Fronts that are brief followed by sunny warm days can mean good winter fishing. Cold front that are prolonged can slow fishing and deter even the most ardent fisherman. Sheepshead, stripers and redfish are the winter mainstay. Those wishing to target fish to eat should target sheepshead. Stripers are a catch and release only by law (in the Savannah River). The largest stripers move down when is the water is the coldest. Redfish can be finicky in winter. On sunny warm days they might be easy to catch. Gin clear water and porpoises can make winter fishing for redfish challenging. Nonetheless redfish are a winter time favorite on the fly, on jigs as well as jerk baits
Spring means a returns to life in the salt marsh. Seatrout are on the move and redfish action can be good. Mud minnows have replaced shrimp as more consistent bait during the winter and remains that way during the Spring. Before you know it the days are getting longer and hotter and we’re back into a summer pattern. The seasons seem to fly by on the coast. I’m often asked what’s your favorite season to fish. I have to go back to one of the beginning sentences, “each season has its own uniqueness”.. When fall arrives I know another year has almost passed. It’s a great time for fishing as fish fatten up for winter but it’s a little sad knowing that another year is almost over. Hope you come to the coast and experience a little of what our coast has to offer before another year has passed!
My goal is that you have a great time on the water! Young inexperienced as well experienced master anglers can have an enjoyable outing! Fly fishermen are welcome although fly fishing is not my primary focus. Most fly fishing will be for redfish and stripers.Thank you for your interest!