Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Report - 3/6/2013

Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:

Charlie Beadon on the Lucky Hooker with Capt. Jason DuBose

Charleston Inshore Report: Bart Manley at the Summerville location of The Charleston Angler was a busy man on March 2, with the 13th annual Spring Fling day at his store, and then attending the Fly Fish Film Tour that night! He told me that water temps are back down in the lower 50's due to the recent cold and wet weather. Redfish are therefore in the large schools that earn them the nickname 'channel bass' by locals who chase them all year round. A stealthy angler can find success though and Bart recommends the 4-inch Z-man in Smoky Shad if not opting to fish with live mud minnows under a cork. Fly fishermen have an advantage now, since their casts make a softer presentation to the sluggish reds. Getting it close makes a difference and smaller, darker patterns seem to be working well. I hope that someone is out filming our channel bass for a future showing in the F3T! Trout can still be caught, but not in any large numbers since the cold has slowed them down. With spring on the horizon, the fish will tend to react with vigor with each warm snap, so anglers should watch for three-day warming trends. For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Charleston Angler.

Scott Hammond at Haddrell's Point West reports that is has been a rainy and windy cycle. A couple of clear fishing days brought some good fish reports through his doors. Large schools of reds can be found on the flats, with a few intrepid reds gravitating towards docks and rock piles. Cut mullet is the go to bait right now, but try artificials like Chatterbaits and Gulp flats worms. The real surprise was some flounder being caught right at the first of March! Good-sized trout are being found in 5 to 10-feet of water using Trout Tricks and Zman Paddlerz at creek mouths and shellrakes. Sheepshead reports have been somewhat hit-and-miss lately with the best action coming in 8 to 20-feet of water using live shrimp and fiddlers. For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Haddrell's Point.

Josh Boyles at Southern Drawl Outfitters in Hilton Head shares that his guys that battle the wind and rain are catching some redfish and sheepshead. But it seems like when the wind stops, it rains, and then when the sun comes out it's blowing a gale. The S.C. Wahoo Series Tournament is underway for the south Lowcountry, and consists of two-fishing days in March and then two shoot-out days to decide a winner in April. For more details and store info visit the Internet at Southern Drawl.

Offshore Fishing: Scott says that the bluewater rigs parked in local driveways are about to come out of hibernation. SOLID reports of wahoo are here now in as little as 130 to 140-feet of water. Yep, that's close! Water temps around the ledge and just inside it have been hanging around 68 to 69-degrees, which is just warm enough to hold wahoo, and the sustainable seafood that anglers love to feast on. The nearshore reefs are yielding black drum and sheepshead for those willing to battle through the armada of black sea bass, which are still off limits. A lot of false albacore are over live bottom areas from 60 to 120-feet of water, and they offer a sporting fight on light tackle.

Bart reports that not many boats are venturing out these days, with wahoo being the main target. Trolling with Ilander lures rigged with ballyhoo is the mainstay combo. Anywhere along the way, a chance to hook up with false albacore can appear, which calls for light tackle to tangle with what Bart calls silver 'speed demons.'

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