Coastal River Charters

March is a transitional month. Some days are mild and sunny. Other days can be cold and blustery. That said, temperatures are on rise! Yesterday water temperature was around 57 degrees. The whiting bite still hasn’t happened. On the other hand, it wont be long! Whiting are indicator fish. When whiting are present predator fish wont be far behind. Fishermen are seeing occasional schools small menhaden popping up the rivers. One report already of glass minnows showing up. Glass minnows and small menhaden are good indicators for sea trout and redfish. The marsh grass is beginning to show life with lots of green toward the base of this plant. Shrimp is available at Adams Bait House as well as fiddlers and mud minnows. When fishing shrimp for slow reluctant sea trout try breaking the hone of the shrimp. Some fishermen believe breaking the hone puts scent into the water. Likely breaking the hone makes the shrimp more vulnerable. When fishing for springtime sea trout sometimes these fish will sometimes just peck at the bait. These are reluctant fish. Their digestive processes have yet to turn on. Trick is just to wait until fish commits. With that said some conservation groups (with the Coastal Conservation Association leading the initiative) are recommending releasing those sea trout 18 inches and larger. Recent winters have been mild enabling the sea trout to survive with the exception of last winter. Until scientist can get a fix on sea trout populations in local waters fishermen are encouraged to release the large females. One fish (over 18 inches) can put over 17 million egg back into the fishery. It is always a good idea to go light on the largest roe sea trout!

As the temperature warm the bite will be heating up!. With coming days warming into the 80′s the bite will quickly change from a winter bite to spring bite. Already the large winter time school of redfish are breaking up into smaller groups of fish. Reds are beginning to show in more traditional redfish haunts as well as on the flats. Still a little early for sea trout and whiting! Typically when the azaleas are in boom sea trout is picking up! Azaleas on the islands are in the bud stage with a few plants blooming. As soon as the tides subside fishing should be picking up!

For right now the best inshore bite remains to be redfish and sheepshead. Near shore and offshore fishermen have done extremely well on sea bass and sheepshead when conditions have allowed fishermen to get offshore. Some trophy size fish have been boated!

Water clarity in the Savannah River system has been poor making fishing difficult. The better bite has been in saltier, cleaner water near the sounds. Large evening tides this week will make fishing challenging. Those fishing this week will likely find a better bite during the morning hours: fishing the last of incoming, first of the outgoing. Once the currents start moving they will be swift carrying lots of slit and debris. As we move into the first week of April tides will subside into the 6 and 7 foot range improving fishing.

Hope this of interest and help! Fish On!

Capt. Jack McGowan

Stopping by Tybee Island Bait and Tackle a few days ago , the owner and manager – CT, said this first time in three weeks his thermometer has read over 50 degrees. (CT said)This does not sounds significant however it is. It was great to see temperatures rise this week to around 55 degrees. Fishermen are still finding large schools of redfish on the flats. Redfish, fish in general, will move. Finding fish on flat one day does not mean this is a given. Lots of things can influence where schools end up: dolphins, boats, fishing pressure, water conditions, and an available food source just to name a few. Nonetheless when you find a spot that fish like at some time they will return. Trick is being there when conditions are right!

As one fly fisherman recently said most of the reds this of the are in about a foot of water. This means extreme shallow drafting boats will have an advantage. That said more conventional drafting boats can still stay on fish.

The sheepshead fishing can be good to excellent this time of year! Fishermen have done well offshore as well as inshore. Friday we managed 10 or 12 keepers, a couple of nice black drum and one redfish. We caught our fish on fiddler crabs using either a carolina rig or light float rig. The trick is to find fish in places that are fishable. Wind and current can play havoc on the best drops. When conditions allow the sheepshead bite should be good inshore as well offshore!

Most action on redfish has been on plastics. Some reports of fishermen catching reds on mud minnows. Seatrout reports have been few. Anticipate seatrout to start showing up temperatures continue to raise.

Stripers although action has been relatively consistent with most anglers catching some fish. Most reports of fish being caught on live or dead finger mullet on bottom or float rigs. Raising temperatures should likely help!

With St. Patrick’s day on Wednesday, March 17th most of the attention is turning to local festivities. Strong west, southwest winds has made fishing challenging. Tides look good this week. As wind lay fishing conditions will likely vastly improve allowing fishermen to access flats they haven’t been able to fish in weeks. Fishing has been challenging with below normal water temperatures and windly conditions. On the other hand the seasons are rapidly changing. Water temperatures are on raise! Neat time to target redfish, blackdrum, sheepshead and stripers!

Hope this of interest and help!

Capt. Jack McGowan

Fiddler crabs are pleniful a good sign nature is heating up!

As winter is winding down fishermen are getting ready for Spring fishing! The Savannah Boat Show, Bass Pro Shop Savannah Fishing Classic as well the Savannah Chapter Coastal Conservation Association Annual Banquet were all excellent opportunities for fishermen to gather and enjoy good friendship as well exchange plenty of good information through seminars or just conversation. When attending events such as these you can not help but learn more about fishing, make new friends and reacquaint with old ones. If you could not attend, you might want to schedule a few of these events in for 2011. There is always plenty to learn! When listening to a seminar I try to go by the three rule. If I hear something three times this is likely something important. When guys are saying the same thing you can pretty much count on it. Also when you listen to seminar perhaps a large portion wont pertain to your type of fishing. The trick is pick out what you can use then apply it. If you’re learning a new knot try tying it as soon you can.

Now back to fishing – redfish numbers look good! Anglers are catching reds on a variety of soft plastics and flies. One seminar tip is you can soften the way your bait or plastic hits by slowly pulling your line as before your plastic hit the water. This is something I do and often instruct those on my boat on how to cast in skinny water. Redfish can be very skittish. Long soft casts can greatly help during this time of the year.

The sheepshead bite has been good! A fellow guide recently said the offshore is good but the big ones are still inshore. Best bet is call ahead if planning on purchasing fiddler crabs from your favorite bait shop.

The water is still pretty cold. Don Adams of Adams Bait House said normally the water temperature this time of the year will be around 53 degree. Don said todays’ reading was at 50 degrees. This is much colder than norm. It will likely take afew warm days before water temperatures start to climb.

Some seatrout have been caught during the last couple of weeks on mud minnows and bits of dead shrimp. Some Stripers action up river despite unusual currents. The tide can be coming in and the flow is going out. Most of the striper action has been with finger mullet and jigs. Those catching fish are fishing deep and near structure.

As winter is winding down the opportunity to attend seminars is also winding down. Check the Coastal Conservation Association for upcoming banquets. This is a great way to support the coast and enjoy the company of fellow fishermen!

Hope this of interest and help!

Fish On! Capt. Jack McGowan