Coastal River Charters

The dominate factor has been wind. Late season cold fronts colliding with warm fronts have produced strong winds and unseasonably cool conditions. Prior to, during and after the windy conditions there were nice catches of both seatrout and redfish. Large roe trout are in creeks! Not much bait is available from local baitshop. Consequently most of fish are being caught on platics. DOA shrimps and Bass Assasins have been effective for both seatrout and redfish.

The tide for the coming week ( beginning Apr. 25) are small, more aptly suited for redfish. Seatrout prefer current. Nonetheless it’s still possible for good seatrout catches on small tides. As water temperature heats up the water will become cloudier making conditions easier to fish. Expect large trout to be on the move to the beach fronts as their spawn begins. Conditions continue to improve as rain water dissipates into the ocean. Redfish are returning to their old haunts. This is an excellent time of the year to see tailing redfish. These fish are focusing on one of their favorites “crabs”. It’s possible sometimes to see several redfish going after the same crab. When redfish are focusing on crabs I like to throw a soft bait very close. These fish can be so focused on foraging that they fail to see almost anything else. On these occasions throw close!

As always practice catch and release when possible! Kept a few and release the rest! As the coast becomes more populated, fishing becomes more popular and equipment and know how improves going light on the fish only make sense.

Good Fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan

The dominate condition for past couple of weeks has been low salinity and wind. Many areas that traditionally hold fish at this time of year are producing few if any fish. When fishermen are able to find clean, saltier water these have been areas which are producing fish. Conventional wisdom says fish the sounds during periods of low salinity. Although this statement appears correct the best bites have come from the rivers. Some fishermen are doing well on artificials. Others are catching fish on mud minnows. Some are claiming shrimp is the only bait which will produce fish. You can likely catch fish on any of these baits. Capt. Stan reports some seatrout have been catch off the Tybee Pier as well as some sharks. The whiting bite has been strong but like any fishing if one area isn’t producing fish try another. Generally you’ll find these fish are location specific at various tide stages. My terminal tackle preference is an 1 ? ounce pan sinker, small spro swivel, roughly a 12 inch leader of 25 pound mono and Eagle Claw 085 #1 hook. Whiting are pretty easy to catch. Resist the urge to set the hook when they bump your bait. Usually they’ll follow a bump with a bite. Like most fishing most fish are missed because fishermen are too quick rather than too slow. In general the faster the bite the quicker the hook set. For the most part in whiting fishing if you’re missing most of the fish try the putting your rod in a rod holder and letting the fish hook itself. The whiting are biting! Like any fishing keep what you want to eat and release the rest. A whiting that swallows the hook will not likely survive. To test the fish you can put it in your live well, chances are if the fish doesn’t go belly up in a few minuets it’s all right.

We’ve caught some nice redfish on all stages of the tide. The trick is to find saltier, clean water. Several flounder have been caught this week as well as some nice seatrout. Live shrimp has been difficult to come by. Both Adams and Bandys have struggled in finding shrimp. Best bet have a back up plan in lieu of live shrimp. Mud minnows are plentiful. Finger mullet are in the creeks.

Conditions will likely remain tough until the water becomes saltier. As temperatures and salinity raises fishing should improve. Tides for the coming week look aptly suited for redfish or sheephead. Small tides mean a slow drift. Fishermen who catch fish will likely have to hunt the fish. Small tides will make make most mud flats accessible at low water creating favorable conditions for those pitching artificials or a fly.

Good Fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan