Local fishing report (Oct. 8)
Estuary
Look For: Red drum, flounder, spotted seatrout, black drum, croaker, spots, sheepshead.
Comments: In the aftermath of perhaps the worst flooding episode in South Carolina's recorded history, there is hope in the estuaries. Despite plenty of dingy, dark and muddy water, all three of the most sought after estuary species – red drum, spotted seatrout and flounder – are present and accounted for. “I was scared to death,” said Capt. Patrick Kelly of Capt. Smiley Fishing Charters. “I thought we were out of business.” But on a Wednesday trip, Kelly found bull red drum at the Little River jetties using cut bluefish and menhaden. Then, on Thursday, Kelly fished the creeks and used live shrimp to catch two black drum in the 3-4 pound range, three 18-inch red drum, three flounder at 14 inches and a few trout right at 14 inches. “That's an alright day,” said Kelly. “The fish have not gone anywhere.” Capt. Englis Glover, host of Reelin' Up The Coast and the Southern Anglers Radio Show, tested the waters during a quick trip in Murrells Inlet on Tuesday, the day after the storm curtailed. Glover quickly caught a pair of keeper flounder, which he didn't keep, in the creeks of the inlet. “You can't catch 'em on the couch,” said Glover with a laugh. Look for smaller inlets like Murrells Inlet and Cherry Grove to clear up sooner than estuaries such as Winyah Bay. “Somebody told me in five tide cycles (Murrells Inlet) will be back to normal,” said Glover, who noted a fishing buddy, Capt. J Baisch, caught a 20-inch flounder since the storm. “We don't have the influence of outside water.” Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow-Minded Inshore Charters in Little River has focused on the large bull reds at the jetties. “We're still catching them,” said Dickson. “I'm surprised. We actually had a tide (Thursday) – green water was pushing in. it wasn't pretty green water but it was green water.” The bull reds must be released carefully to protect the future of the species in South Carolina waters.
Inshore
Look For: Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, whiting, weakfish, flounder, bluefish, pompano, red drum, black drum, croaker, spadefish, sheepshead.
Comments: The water may look mainly like chocolate milk, but it's October and there's still fish to be caught in the near-shore waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There have been scattered catches of bull reds off Grand Strand piers and also on near-shore bottom spots. Capt. Jason Burton of Fly Girl Charters also caught weakfish (summer trout) on the same bottom spots. Glover reports the water cleared up about six miles offshore and was clear at Belky Bear, about 12 miles east of Murrells Inlet, on a Thursday king mackerel trip. But action was slow with no bites from kings. While catches are not as good as before the historic rain storm, Grand Strand piers are producing scattered catches of croaker, spots, whiting, bluefish, weakfish, pompano and juvenile jack crevalle, along with the bull reds. Ocean water temperature at 4 p.m. Thursday on the Springmaid Pier was 74.3 degrees.
Offshore
Look For: Wahoo, blackfin tuna, dolphin, grouper, vermilion snapper, black sea bass, amberjack, vermilion snapper, triggerfish, porgy.
Comments: The offshore waters are obviously the least affected by the flood waters. Although fishing activity has been at a minimum in recent weeks, bottom fishing on the offshore ledges should be excellent as usual in October. Plus, the slow movement of Hurricane Joaquin in the Bahamas and eventual passage through the Atlantic could well have moved reef fish into South Carolina's offshore waters. Look for vermilion snapper, black sea bass, red porgy, triggerfish, amberjack and a variety of grouper. Don't be surprised to find a few yellowtail snapper present, too. Red snapper are available but must be released indefinitely in the South Atlantic Region. Trolling boats can look for wahoo, blackfin tuna and possibly dolphin.
Freshwater
Look For: Bream, catfish, bass, crappie.
Comments: The focus on the rivers is on the devastating flooding and not fishing. With the rivers way out of their banks, catfish in the channels are likely the best bet. Boaters are best advised to stay off the rivers until the waters recede, but should beware of floating objects if on the water.
Gregg Holshouser
This story was originally published October 8, 2015 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Local fishing report (Oct. 8)."