Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Report - 10/15/2013

Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:

Pete Ferrara and his 23.5-pound Gag Grouper from the Island Sportsman Club Tourney

Charleston Inshore: Captain Stephen Fields with The Charleston Angler says that great fishing has arrived, and that both redfish and trout are chomping at the bit for every meal opportunity before winter.   Use low tide to target schools of reds on mud flats, and don't overlook any trype of structure associated with them like oyster bars. Cast artificial lures, hard or soft, and Field's recommends the Zman Paddlerz in smoky mullet coloration when the water is clear. For dirty water, try Live Target's Swimming mullet, or Aqua Dream's Gold Spoon. High tide has been producing redfish as well for Fields when he targets them just outside of the grass chasing schools of baitfish trying to make a hasty retreat. Despite this being the month of Halloweeen - the redfish have NOT been SPOOKY, and Fields says not to be SCARED to get up close and personal with the redfish that you'd like to tame. The trout bite can't be En FUEGO just yet, but it is plenty good on the middle incoming tide and the high outgoing tide. Locate drop offs near points and creeks and give it a few casts - it won't take long to find out if any specks are around! Rig Zman Paddlerz on a one-quarter jighead and toss it upstream of your target area, then let it sink to the bottom where you jig it every so often. Or go with the good 'ole popping cork rigged with a live shrimp or mud minnow running about 2 to 3-feet deep. For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Charleston Angler.

Scott Hammond at Haddrell's Point West shares that the month of October is often referred to as Red October, and for good reason. The big bull redfish have been showing up in good numbers off the front beaches, chomping on half a blue crab and cut mullet. One frenetic report of big drum in the surf came from Wild Dunes on October 12. The trout bite has begun to heat up as water temps cool down into the low 70's. What's producing some solid catch numbers for anglers is trolling for trout using a 4-inch paddle tail grub along grassy edges - which is a throwback to the days when all we had was either an all-yellow grub or and all-white grub to troll with and we managed to catch plenty of trout! The DOA deadly combo, which is a DOA shrimp rigged under a popping cork, is perfect for those casting towards shell banks and creek mouths. Inshore reds have begun to transition a little bit into larger schools now, and they are ready to inhale artificials like the new Savage Shrimp or Zman Pogz. Flounder have still been hanging around rock piles and structure in 4 to 12-feet of water and while live mullet or minnows are hard to beat for an old flat fish don't overlook throwing a 5-inch jerkshad jigged on a quarter-ounce jighead. For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Haddrell's Point.

Offshore: Scott shares that when the weather has allowed, the offshore trolling reports have consisted of great numbers of blackfin tuna in 150 to 200-feet of water. Some mid-sized wahoo are hanging around the ledge in those same water depths. The sailfish bite has picked up a bit in the past week, with fishermen getting 2 to 8-shots a day in 250 to 450-feet of water targeting pods of bait. Bottom fishing reports continue to produce some really large triggerfish in 80 to 110-feet of water, with plenty of vermillion snapper and some nice grouper mixed in. The bottom fish are taking live baits or butterfly jigs.

To view past Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Reports click here.