Lowcountry Fishing Report - 9/5/2012

Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:

Will Brown and Michael Mattson love fresh shrimp

Charleston Inshore Report: Colt Harrison from The Charleston Angler tells us that the fall weather ushers in the best time of the year to go fishing in the Lowcountry. Just about every species that swims in our waters are present until late October when the spartina grass will begin to lose its green hue. Good places to fish for trout and redfish will be along Crab Bank, near the James Island Yacht Club and alongside the U.S.S. Yorktown, known as The Fighting Lady! Fall trout is the number one target for anglers, and the trout will be holding in ambush points associated with structure like oyster bars and grass points that serve to provide a break from the current. Fish a popping cork with a live shrimp in 3 to 6-feet of water or use an artificial bait like the D.O.A. shrimp. Other artificial options include curly-tailed Saltwater Assassin lures on a quarter-ounce jighead. Locating redfish in shallow water can be as easy as spotting shrimp skipping out of the water, which often signals a hungry fish nearby. Sight-fishing for redfish is consistent in September and October when the tides are at extreme high or low levels. Anglers see the backs of these redfish, but they are targeting their stomachs, so remember to try casting Gulp! crabs or Zman Fiddlerz to tempt them. Shrimping season begins Sept. 14 at noon but Colt shares that he is already catching plenty of big shrimp in the creeks. For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at The Charleston Angler.

Scott Hammond at Haddrell's Point West says the September slipped up on us, and so did the tarpon bite! Heavy rains and cooler air temps have dropped the water temps a few degrees, spurring schools of choice mullet into the inlets. When the mullet begin to run, this is the best time of year to fish for a tarpon in S.C., and the tarpon hang near sandbar slews and inlets waiting to eat! The trout bite remains strong too using live minnows, live shrimp, Trout Tricks and D.O.A. shrimp. Bull redfish continue to take cut mullet, blue crab, and live menhaden around the jetties. Shrimp baiting begins at noon on Sept. 14 and early indications are that this should be a great season. Shimp burger anyone? For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Haddrell's Point.

Josh Boyles at Southern Drawl Outfitters reports terrible weather with heavy rain has hindered fishing reports. However, a BLITZ of large spanish mackerel  is happening just off the south coast right now, which is providing great run-and-gun topwater action for both the flyrod enthusiast and the conventional fishermen. For more info visit the Internet at Southern Drawl Outfitters.

Stump from Pawley's Island Outdoors shares that the topwater action has been hot early and late in the day fro redfish and trout. During the middle of the day switch to popping corks fished around rips associated with oyster banks. The tarpon bite is ON and the mullet are stacking up ahead of the fall migration. Target tarpon in high-energy areas around sand bars and inlets where the water can get rough. Plenty of croaker and whiting being caught now too. Shrimp coolers are being filled easily right now without bait and with minimal effort. For more info visit the Internet at Pawley's Island Outdoors.

Charleston Offshore Report: Wahoo. Yep, that's right. Scott shares that the August into September wahoo bite has been very solid from 130 to 250-feet of water, with lots of reports of 2 to 6 wahoo per trip.  This trend was illustrated well during the Fishing For Miracles tourney when several incidental wahoo were boated. The sailfish bite remains strong in 200 to 400-feet of water. On the bottom side, the grouper bite is still pretty good using butterfly jigs and live cigar minnows in 80 to 150-feet of water. The black sea bass fishery closed on Sept. 4,  but keep an ear to the transom for the two weekends open for recreational red snapper fishing - Sept. 14 - 16 and Sept. 21 - 23.

Colt tells us that when the water begins to cool, the nearshore fishery will come to life. Tarpon, king mackerel, bull redfish, sharks and more can be found from the beachfront on out, and this is keyed by the presence of large mullet and menhaden. Throw cast nets for the live bait and rig them up on a 6/0-circle hook with a 100-pound test mono leader and you will be ready for anything.  Later in October when the water drops below 70-degrees these fish will begin to move either southward or offshore.

Stump says that the wahoo bite is on, with a few blackfin tuna and sailfish being mixed in.

To view past fishing reports form the coastal Lowcountry click here.