Most of the action in recent days have been around the barrier islands due to low salinity. A good low salinity bait is the mud minnow. Redfish will eat almost anything. A fat mud minnow, a chuck of mullet or dead shrimp are all good redfish baits. So far, action has not been wide spread. Many flats aren’t holding fish then one can produce plenty of action. Lots of fishermen are catching one fish. That said when you a flat with fish that action can be good. A favorite winter pattern is to fish an afternoon low incoming tide. As winter changes to spring think just the opposite. A high going tide seems the best in recent days. Redfish will be forced to leave the grass. Most the schoolie reds (those between 18 and 20 inches) will have fiddler crabs in their stomachs. A live or dead bait can be a treat for a hungry spring time. Soft plastics can be effective but in recents days we’ve been catching most baits.
With more folks having down time due our national healthy crisis we seeing more folks on the water. The number of boats on the water week days and weekends almost looks a holiday weekend. Most of boaters aren’t fishing but boat traffic and more fishermen can add one challenge to fishing. For day boaters a fun fish is the lowly whiting. While not deemed a sport fish it can fish to catch and tasty in the pan. Whiting have started running. Its seems like the whiting run could be a little early this year. Once whiting are running usually the bite sea bite action is soon to follow. Last winter was a mild winter with no fish kills and definite signs that sea trout were reproducing during the winter. We’ll likely be seeing good sea trout action in the coming days and weeks.
Its not unlikely for those fishing for whiting to chunk a piece of whiting out on a heavier rod and hook into a large red drum. The big reds put up a great fight and make a great memory and picture. When releasing a big drum take more care to make the big breeders can continue their cycle. We’re catching reds on live and dead baits as well as few on soft plastic jigs. We’re avoiding fishing low salinity area and fishing more outgoing and than incoming tides. Whiting are biting good on the incoming. In general look for whiting on the lower tide stages. When sea trout start to turn on during the spring fishing points on a low incoming tides can be good.
Sheepshead is another springtime favorite. When fishermen have able to get offshore action has been good. Some fishermen are saying take more fiddler crabs than your standard load. It’s uncommon for boats to carry 100 crabs per fishermen. With this in mind those fishermen would carry 200 crabs per fishermen. In Savannah the crab of choice is the purple back. As a result of protection sea bass there a lots of small sea bass on wrecks. Getting a bait to a sheepshead could a trick. Despite lots of small sea bass fishermen are catching some nice sheepshead on near shore wreck.
As conditions continue to warm up and salinity balances out the bite will be getting better. The whiting bite is good. The sheepshead bite is ok. Redfish action on some flats is good.
Hope this report is of interest and help. Stay healthy, happy and safe. Hope to see you on the water!
Fish On!
Jack
912.441.9930
Capt. Jack McGowan
Coastal River Charters
