Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Report - 5/13/2014

Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:

Cobia 'cut-back' Artwork

Inshore Report: Shane Clevenger at Charleston Angler in West Ashley shares a report from a local fishing guide. Captain Kevin Bair says that Folly Beach and Charleston anglers have a lot of options right now as a good variety of fish are now within reach. Bluefish and Spanish mackerel are eager to chase artificial plugs like 'Gotcha' lures and diamond jigs, and are both easy and fun to catch. Redfish and speckled trout and flounder continue to provide exciting action on soft plastics made by DOA lures and Z-man just to name a few. If using live bait, mud minnows under a popping cork, on a bottom rig, or even just on a jighead will catch just about everything inshore right now. Load up on fiddlers before heading to the jetties or the grillage cause the sheepshead bite is still good. Use mullet or menhaden if looking to catch a few sharks. For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at The Charleston Angler.

Scott Hammond at Hadrell's Point West reports that water temps are now holding well over 70-degrees now, and the usual suspects are showing up now - including the cobia! A strong flounder bite is going on around our inlets and harbor using live minnows and jerk shads. Spanish mackerel have shown up in good numbers all along the tideline, the front beaches, and in the harbor. A 1/2-ounce silver casting jig or #00 clarkspoon is all you need to catch and release schooling Spanish and bluefish. Trout reports have been a little bit spotty by the catch numbers, but those specks are in the 16 to 22-inch range, and they are falling for 17MR Mirrolures, Zman Streakz and the new savage gear shrimp. For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Haddrells' Point.

Offshore Report: Scott says there can be NO Doubt that it is May off the S.C. coast, since the dolphin bite is now WIDE OPEN. With the pretty weather of late the bite has been everywhere from 130-feet to 1200-feet of water, and the dolphin have been good-sized gaffer fish. Blackfin tuna are being found in good numbers, and the wahoo are still hanging around the ledge. We are already hearing the first blue marlin and sailfish reports too. In the nearshore, the cobia are gathering at the artificial reefs, and some larger fish in the 45 to 70-pound range are coming to the store scales to weigh in. Try throwing a Hogy eel or Bomber bucktail to the cobia, and it never hurts to have some live baits ready too.

To view past Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Reports click here.