Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Report - 5/15/2013

Fishing Report for the coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:

Frank Gibson's 5/10 Amberjack with Sen. Chip Campsen

Charleston Inshore: Bart Manley at the Summerville location of Charleston Angler reports that May fishing is finally in full effect since the winds have calmed and the sun is out! Water temps are consistently at or about 70-degrees, whereas before the weather sorted itself out the inshore water temps were fluctuating up and down more than usual for May. With favorable tides coming up for tailing redfish, Bart urges fly fishermen to throw patterns that resemble live baits, especially if they carry a little flash. Crab patterns are also a safe bet. Spinning tackle baits like the Zman 3-inch Minnowz in Houdini color with a 1/8th jig head are working well. If you are putting live bait on the hook, go with mud minnows under a popping cork for any of the the inshore slam species - trout, reds and flounder. The trout are also chewing on live shrimp, and the next best thing - a DOA shrimp in natural coloration. When fishing for trout, if one color isn't working, don't wait too long to switch it out. (i.e. don't get lazy about it) For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Charleston Angler.

Offshore: Bart reports that the offshore results have been especially good, with the mahi bite a bit up and down, with wahoo still lurking along the ledge. The cobia run is picking up south of Charleston with success coming from baits like live eels and Hogy jiggin' lures.

Fishing out of Ripley Light Yacht Club on May 10, the 58-foot B&B named Palmetto Guard headed to the Edisto Banks for a day of fun fishing. About a dozen slinger dolphin went into the fish box, but the bite was slow. The story for the week of May 5 - 11 begins with high winds on the 5th and 6th that prevented any fishing. The ocean was still at 8-feet on Monday, but a break in the forecast was ahead. By Wednesday the 8th plenty of boats headed offshore and they found excellent results on dolphin with a few blue marlin releases sprinkled in. On Thursday the 9th a few more boats joined the fleet and again they found a great dolphin bite. With warm and flat conditions on Friday the 10th, it seems that anything with a propeller went offshore, but the dolphin bite was slowing and only a few wahoo and tuna were mixed in. By Saturday the ocean was rough again with 3 to 5-foot waves, keeping smaller boats inshore, but the mahi bite was much slower, although a few boats earned a blue marlin release. Offshore fishing should only get better as May passes, with the S.C. Governor's Cup set to begin on May 23 at the Georgetown Landing Marina.

To view past Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Reports click here.