Lowcountry Fishing Report - 3/6/2012

Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:

Catching them two at a time with Grey Ghost Charters!

Charleston Inshore Report: Scott Hammond at Haddrell's Point West remarks about the 80-degree weather right at the first of March as being a hallmark for redfish to break out of schools and into 'pods' of 4 to 10-fish. Some pods of reds are already being found on the flats, under docks and along structure. Cast Z-man Paddlerz, Yo-Zuri HD shrimp and Gulp jerkshads for your best chances of success. Natural baits work too such as cut mullet, live minnows and shrimp. The trout bite continues to be spotty with the most consistent catches coming near shell rakes in 4 to 8-feet of water using live shrimp or DOA shrimp. Sheepshead are still biting well inshore around bridges or rock piles fishing with fiddlers, oysters and mussels. For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Haddrell's Point.

Water temperatures are attempting to reach the magic number of 60-degrees already says Bart Manly at the Market Street location of the Charleston Angler. Bait should begin to reappear in the creeks and this will trigger the redfish to break out of their schools and feed heavily. The middle of March offers some suitable tides over 6-feet in height that should offer the first tailing redfish opportunities of 2012. Fly fishermen should target them with with natural color patterns like tan and copper. Until the flood tides, fish for the reds with a mud minnow under a popping cork or throw a Z-Man scented Paddlerz in Redbone coloration rigged on an Owner jighead that is weighted. The trout bite has improved for those wanting to troll curly tails along the march going against the current. Sheepshead are also being caught inshore and oysters are the bait of choice this time of year, but a live shrimp can work well too. For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at The Charleston Angler.

Captain Tucker Blythe tells me that the mild winter has baitfish schools prolific in the salt marsh. Expect March to be windy as weather patterns change. Blooming flowers and tailing redfish go hand in hand, and Blythe says we will have both delights in March. Redfish will begin to hunt small shrimp fry, glass minnows and finger mullet in shallow waters that approach 70-degrees. Try MirroLure glass minnows, 1/8-ounce jigs with dark colored paddletails or jerkshads on an 1/8-Owner TwistLock 3-ought hook. When the redfish move onto the flats to target fiddlers, wade towards them with light or fly tackle for sight-fishing on calm days. On windy days, try cut bait like fresh mullet, blue crab or menhaden. Very soon cobia will arrive along with Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and amberjack and Blythe knows how to keep them in range for his customers to get multiple shots. Lowcountry spring fishing doesn't get much better than when the inshore and nearshore options both turn on. To read more about Capt. Tucker Blythe check out his website at Grey Ghost Charters. (Editor's Note - you get to listen to cool tunes while surfing his site) To view a fishing tips video from Blythe, and buddy Capt. John Irwin, just click here.

Charleston Offshore Report:  Bart had few reports from offshore due to unfavorable weather conditions, and with the winds of March now blowing, the immediate bluewater forecast is weak. Later in the month however, the action should really pick up with warmer water temperatures arriving. Wahoo are biting Ilander lures and ballyhoo now but they are well past the ledge in depths 180-feet or deeper. Some scattered blackfin tuna reports are surfacing, when anglers are trolling the Black Bart El Squid Sr. Dolphin lure. Buen Suerte!!

Scott reports solid blackfin tuna action from around the triple ledge and deli areas just south of Charleston. Soon these same areas will represent a 'triple threat' for tuna, mahi and billfish! Scattered reports of wahoo are coming from up around the southwest banks and the Georgetown hole.

To view past Lowcountry fishing reports click here.