Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Report - 9/16/2014

Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:

Flatfish abound in the Lowcountry in September

Inshore Report: Scott Hammond at Haddrell's Point West shares that September brings a lot more than just college football to the table. Especially here in the Lowcountry!! Shrimping season has kicked off on Sept. 12 and the mullet are about to run south as they head to the End Zone down in Florida. The flounder bite is still going strong, with flatfish found in solid numbers around the inlets and along rock piles using live minnows tipped on a Zman FlatZ jig. Trout are starting to finally produce some better numbers though many of the fish are smaller juveniles this time of year. Redfish have produced awesome tailing reports during moon tides and that should continue until October, so try using Zman Pop Shadz and Gulp jerkshads. For tarpon, try fishing large live mullet or menhaden near the tips of the Charleston jetties and in between sandbars located around our ocean inlets and then HOLD ON. For the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Haddrell's Point.

Craig Lupton at Buck, Bass and Beyond in Beaufort shares that the KingSize Tides are providing some of the best sight fishing of the summer for redfish. Whenever the surging tide water reaches further into the marshes it opens up new feeding grounds for the reds, allowing them to gorge on fiddler crabs, which can make them finicky for other baits. Craig suggests that fly anglers should cast a Gutless Crab Fly. Once the water backs off the grass try some cut mullet on a Carolina rig or under a popping cork. Good reports are coming in from the marshes along the Broad River and the Combahee River in the ACE Basin. The trout bite is slowly picking up so start the day with topwater lures and then fish for them in deep holes near creek intersections. Sheepshead are back in full swing around docks and they are biting fiddlers and mussels. The Hwy. 170 bridge is a hot spot for sheepies at the moment! And don't forget that there are still tons of tarpon around from the beach and inlets up into the Broad River. Fish for them using dead menhaden fished on the bottom near where sand bars drop off. For the latest store information visit the Internet at Buck, Bass and Beyond.

Nearshore and Beach: Craig reports that the Hunting Island State Park Pier is producing some great big fish for visitors. The same goes for Pritchard's Inlet too for redfish and trout. Watch for bird activity that can point out bluefish, ladyfish, jack crevalle and Spanish mackerel cruising through the area. Cast bucktails tipped with Gulp swimming mullet or spoons for these schooling species.

Offshore: Craig reports that lots of wahoo are being caught as well as some blackfin tuna. It's a long run in late summer, but it sounds a little more worthwhile right now, especially if you have time to stop and bottom fish too. Great reports for vermillion snapper, black sea bass and grouper are coming in and they are all biting live pinfish. The Betsy Ross artificial reef is still producing cobia on the weekdays when pressure is down. A kingfish or even a sailfish may show up there too so keep and eye out for their sign and keep a live bait ready to rock and roll.

Scott reports that the past week includes a surge in the wahoo bite offshore, with best results coming in from 130 to 250-feet of water, though several nice hoos were reported from as shallow as 90-feet. Decent numbers of sailfish have still been hanging around in 200 to 400-feet of water and the king mackerel are staging in 50 to 80-feet of water. Bottom fishing continues to produce some huge triggerfish and quality b-liners with the better reports coming in from 75 - 90-feet of water using cigar minnows, cut squid and jigging butterfly lures for grouper.

To view past Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Reports click here.