Coastal River Charters

Fishing has been good! There have been statements like the fishing is so good fish are literally jumping in the boat and last week will likely be the best week of the year for fishing. Both statements are overstatements. Fishing has been good for those finding fish. That said a good fisherman can still struggle if your drops aren’t producing. Last week saw good to excellent action on seatrout and redfish! Shrimp in the Savannah area have been hard to come by for local bait shrimpers. Don Adams, Adams Bait House, thinks the large amount of rain has messed up the shrimping. On one hand if shrimp aren’t in the creeks one would assume they moved out to the sounds but not according to Donny. As big tides approach during the weekend salinity levels should balance out and improve shrimping. That said cast netters are still able to catch a quart and half in thirty minuets or so. Throwing a cast net is messy business but it’s a good way to get shrimp when supply has dwindled. Nonetheless, even cast netters will find catching shrimp difficult as tides build. Big tides literally pull shrimp into the sounds reducing the numbers left in the creeks. With more tournaments and more fishermen part of the shrimp supply problem is simply more demand . When shrimp aren’t available artifical shrimp, screw tails or a paddle tail under a float can be productive. DOA shrimp, XPS and Bett’s holgraphic, and Glup shrimp are all great choices. Some favorite colors are red with glitter, new penny, white, natural, clear, chartreuse as well a holographic patterns. Sea trout and redfish are taking center stage. One fishermen says this is also great time of the year for large flounders coming in from the ocean!

Fishing will likely become trickier as tides build on Wednesday to over 8.4 feet, peaking with a 9.3 foot tide on Saturday. Big tides means fast moving dirty water. Tides over 8.5 feet coupled with an east or northeast wind could be a good time to target reds back in the grass. When fishing big tides focus your fishing on the top or bottom of the tide. Generally as the currents slow down sediments will fall out of the water and you’ll opportunity to catch fish. The trick is guessing right. If you pick a hot spot it’s possible to limit out on sea trout. On the other hand if your first drop wasn’t that productive there wont be much time to recover. Tides will remain over 8 feet till 31st. (Halloween) then subside to fishier ranges later in the week and into the weekend 9th, 10th and 11th of November.

Last night at first annual CCA barbeque honoring James Lynah. Michael Schubert announced President Bush signed a bill granting game fish status to redfish in federal waters. On one hand one could argue that wasn’t necessary. On the other hand it is bold conservation statement saying red drum are important to our country and need and will be protected. Congratulations Mr. President! Michael also announced that the CCA reef will be renamed the CCAJL reef in honor of Jim Lynah and his commitment to conservation. Jim no doubt is deeply loved and missed. In my beginning days as a guide I’m proud to say Jim was friend and gave tangible help and guidance to me. Jim is due many thanks! God bless!

Hope this report is of interest and use. Join your local CCA chapter. Good Fishing!

Capt. Jack McGowan

Fishing has been good despite constant wind. Typically a northeaster will blow for week then lay. Windy days for the past month have been rule. Fishermen who have found fish have produced catches of large seatrout and redfish. It’s not unusual to hear of catches of over fifty legal reds with fishermen keeping only fish 16 inch fish or greater. Those finding success are finding clean water with little or no trash fish. Seatrout are on move fattening up before winter. Seatrout might be thick as thieves in an area for a several days then gone. Trash fish usually don’t have a big presence when seatrout and redfish are around. Fishing a drop with lots of trash fish then suddenly no trash are biting. Stay put! The bite is likely about to turn on Some fishermen have covered massive areas in search of seatrout and redfish with little no luck. Water temperature is high enough to have plenty of trash fish (pin fish, pig fish, yellow tails to name a few) present. When fishing an area with lots of trash present expect to go through your bait quickly. A strategy that works is limit your shrimp to just a few shrimp unless the drop starts producing. Best bet when trash fish are biting just move. Shrimp are plentiful. Both seatrout and redfish are keying on shrimp. This is time of year to fish some of the many types of poppers and rattle floats. They all work. Find the one you like and it will likely be your next secrete weapon. Look for ones that cast well, make a nice rattle or pop and retrieves easily. Betts makes several good ones as well the all time favorite Cajun Thunder.

Black drum are present. On days with little or no drift this can be the time to pick up not only redfish but black drum as well. A give away for a drum bite is the shrimp is eaten from the tail to the head. When you think drum are present start tail hooking and crushing your bait. Drum are excellent fighting fish. Most are in the three to five pound range.

Those enjoying eating a mess of whiting now is likely time to catch a mess. For best success fish lee shores close to the sound using cut bait, pieces of squid, or shrimp. Lots of sting rays so be careful when handling or you might have an unplanned visit to the emergency room. A few large female bonnet head roaming the inshore waters but not nearly what was there just a few weeks ago.

A friend an avid fisherman Joey Wiggly is thinking about starting a sport fishing club for artificals only. Joey is testing the water to see there interest to sustain a group like this. As tournaments become more popular groups that are catch and release and artificial only will log valuable time on the water for tournament fishing. If there is an interest email me your name and number and I’ll forward it to Joey.

One note of caution when fishing the Savannah River and the jetties pay close attention to where you are in relation to the structure. Accidents can happen. Don’t cut corners. When in doubt, put it out.

Tides for the coming week look excellence!

Hope this of help! Good Fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan