Lowcountry Fishing Report - 3/20/2012

Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:


Charleston Inshore Report: Bart Manley at the Market Street location of The Charleston Angler reports water temperatures steady at 64 to 65-degrees, and the redfish have started to break away from their schools. Increased redfish activity includes anglers seeing the fish on the flats during high tides that are sufficient to flood those areas. An imitation crab lure such as D.O.A. or Gulp have been producing strikes, but live mud minnows should do the trick too. Cut mullet and blue crab chunks are just two of the best stink bait options where the pig redfish can nose their way into your float plan. The trout bite is sparse, but not altogether obsolete when trolling Z-man grubs along the marsh edge or when fishing oyster bars using a D.O.A. shrimp under a popping cork. For all the latest seminar information on the web visit Charleston Angler.

Whether it's Tournament Time or a charter, Tucker pushes the limit.

Scott Hammond at Haddrell's Point West is almost too busy to fish since he is busy running in-store sales and making trips into the turkey woods, however his customers who target trout are seeing some consistency. Not too many in terms of big catch totals but solid days with between 5 and 15-trout running from 14-18 inches in length. The trout are biting Zman paddlerz, D.O.A. shrimp, live shrimp, or even a good ole mud minnow (or mumichug). Redfish continue to transition into a warm water pattern and can be located under docks, on the flats and around structure like rock piles. Live bait and cut bait are still a no-fail option for spot-tails but Gulp artificials and Refish Magic spinners are working reasonably well. Solid reports of sheepshead are coming in from the jetties and the nearshore reefs, but plan on weeding through several black sea bass before nailing the sheepies. For the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Haddrell's Point.

Captain Jody Tucker with Looking For Tail Charters is fishing the tournament trail pretty hard, but his charter customers are finding out that the redfish bite is strong. Tucker reports water temperature around 69-degrees in the ICW and the redfish are being found around oyster beds, under docks and on the flats. Other redfish delights include live finger mullet, mud minnows, or live shrimp under popping corks are working well. Carolina rigs with cut mullet is Tucker's go-to bait for working reds in deep pockets under docks, while scented soft plastics work in the tighter spots. The trout bite is erratic but Tucker can find one or two around deeper oyster banks in 4 to 8-feet of water. If it's sheepshead you want, Tucker says they are being found at bridge pilings and will eat fiddlers, oysters and clams. Looking for Capt. Jody Tucker? Try LookingForTailCharters@gmail.com or call 843-870-5245.

Charleston Offshore Report: Scott sounds joyful in reporting that the bluewater has awakened with some awesome fishing! Unless you are under a rock well inland, then anglers have heard that the wahoo bite is going off right now. Reports of 5 to 10-wahoo per boat have been pouring in from boats fishing in the 150 to 300-foot range, while a few report success in 700-feet of water. Most boats are fishing to the north in the neighborhood of the southwest banks and the Georgetown Hole. The deli area has begun serving up some slinger dolphin (perfect for a mahi sandwich), and blackfin tuna are being found along the ledge. This is one of the best starts to the offshore season in recent memory, and may be related to the mild winter, which may translate into the gulf stream being more robust.

Bart relays that offshore results have been varied thanks to those March winds that roared like a lion. Black seabass have started to move into the offshore and nearshore wrecks, and although anglers are not allowed to keep them, they can provide a morale booster. The mahi bite should start to pick up towards the end of the month, and it could be sooner rather than later that the first schools come through. The moon has been good for the wahoo bite when trolling dark colors like black, purple and orange using an Ilander lure and ballyhoo combo.

To view past Lowcountry fishing reports click here.

JAKES turkey hunt in Ridgeland

Dennis Axson and Hal Wall with the successful JAKES

The female JAKES and Hal Wall

Most of the youth hunters from the March 17 event

Adam and Rob Wallace from Senoia, Ga.

For the 7th year now, the Board of Directors of the S.C. Chapter of NWTF has put on a youth turkey hunt in the South Lowcountry. Roseland Plantation owner Hal Wall is the event's organizer and the 2012 hunt included 30 youth hunters! The youths fanned out onto different properties on March 17 in hopes of finding a willing tom turkey. With light rain the afternoon before and overnight, the gobbling activity was less than normal, but five youths were able to bring back a Lowcountry longbeard to the hunt camp breakfast at 11 a.m. on the banks of the Coosawhatchie River. Dennis Axson sits on the NWTF state chapter board and serves as the JAKES coordinator for S.C. and said, "This is a great opportunity to let kids experience God's nature, and to give them an alternative from video games and being indoors." The successful youth hunters were D.T. Smith, Adam Wallace, Tristan Sistare, Jed Coltrane and Harrison Wall - Congrats!! D.T. Smith actually shot his first ever turkey while hunting with his Uncle John Treadway and dispatched the gobbler at 20-yards with his single-shot 20-gauge Savage shotgun. When asked how he felt at that moment, Smith said he was speechless. All of the youth participants were smiling after this hunt, and special thanks go to all the landowners who share their hunting grounds.

For more blog entries about the NWTF in the Lowcountry click here.

Turkey Season IN - March 15

Jeff Dennis, Tony Chachere of La., Lori Bell Johnson and Steve Cobb

A sporting depiction of the wild turkey

Jeremy Burnham from Atlantic Tackle takes measurements

Steve Cobb congratulates me on a nice opening day tom

The early onset of spring brought temperatures well into the 80's for the opening day of turkey season. Azaleas and dogwoods are blooming and the heads of local gobbler are turning red once again. Opening day reports varied with one hunter reporting very quiet woods, and another reporting eight gobblers sounding off - but alas no luck. A well-planned opening day hunt was put into effect at Deux Cheneaux Plantation with some special guests in town. Tony Chachere came all the way from Louisiana to spread some of his cajun seasoning on some fresh turkey meat, while H.S. Strut Pro Staffer Steve Cobb came down from the upstate to call in the toms. Cobb helped Lori Bell Johnson to stop a gobbling tom while Tony was backing her up, and both veteran hunters marveled at her shot saying, the boss tom never even flopped around. Good Shot! Another hunter had a tale of woe to tell after having a turkey called in for him and he took aim at the turkey's chest. It seems the turkey's feathers deflected most of the shot, allowing the big bird to beat a hasty retreat, leaving the shooter to face good-natured judgement back at hunt camp. The rule is - always aim for the head of a turkey! I heeded every bit of Steve Cobb's advice and was able to call in a turkey of my own. The tale of the tape: 19-pounds, 1-inch spurs and a 10-inch beard. Turkey season is IN!!

To see past blog entries about the opening day of turkey season click here.

ACE Basin update / Edisto Land Trust

John Frampton of SCDNR and Charles Lane

Two recent important meetings in the ACE Basin demonstrate how viable the conservation initiative has been in the past, and how it is taking shape in the future. On Monday March 5 the ACE Basin Task Force met at the Donnelly Wildlife Management Area in Green Pond, in part to honor outgoing SCDNR Executive Director John Frampton. It was Frampton who represented the state when the ACE Basin partnership began to form 20 years ago between private and public (gov't) entities. Although Frampton's presence will be missed, the ACE Basin Task Force is focused on moving ahead where issues like water quality and invasive species are concerned. Thank You John Frampton!

This property is under conservation easement

George Kimberly and Chip Campsen after the boat tour

Map of Edisto Island's protected properties

The Edisto Open Land Trust played host for a special meeting with State Senator Chip Campsen on March 13 at Sand Creek Farm. Edisto Island, Bennett's Point and the southern tip of Colleton County are now in Campsen's district and he was taking a 'boat tour' to visit his new constituents. Executive Director George Kimberly addressed the crowd of conservationists assembled for a wonderful sunset over Sand Creek by saying that conservation bank funding, tax credits for easements and scenic highway upkeep funding were all priorities. Edisto is but one piece of the ACE Basin puzzle, but since they have conserved over 50% of their island, they set a good example for the rest of the Sea Islands, Colleton County and the entire ACE Basin (see video).

For past blog entries about the ACE Basin click here.

2012 Lowcountry Redfish Cup - Beaufort

First Place photo by Mrs. Liza Hough

Capt. Jody Tucker's RAM team with Shane Lewis Green fished the Beaufort LRC

Brian Rose and Ashley Lowder at the Capt. Mtg.

Third place photo by Mrs. Jessica Chappell

The Lowcountry Redfish Cup fished their second leg of the 2012 season out of Beaufort on March 10. With rainy conditions on Friday night at the Captain's Meeting at Butler Marine in Beaufort, and a windy cold front due to hit the coast on Saturday morning, participation was limited to 33 two-man teams. When the Lady's Island Marina weigh-in was complete, it was a local team - Team Two Reds that walked away with first place check of $4700. Chuck and Shane Lather won this same event in 2011 and are favorites each year during the LRC - Congrats again! Third place went to Christopher Chapell Jr. and Tim Cole.

For the full slate of results click here. (but not yet, still waiting for them to be posted)

To view past blog entries about the Lowcountry Redfish Cup click here.

2012 State Youth Coon Hunt

Lori Bell Johnson, Tyler Johnson and Chad Beard strike a pose

The 2012 State Youth Coon Hunt was held on February 25 at the Webb Wildlife Management Area in Hampton County. Tyler Johnson, an 8-year old student at Colleton Prep, finished in second place overall in the Youth Division and figures to be in the hunt for future competitions.
Finishing in first place in the Junior Division was Jace Shuler, while Kevin Barnes won the Junior Sportsman ship award. The first place finisher in the Senior Division was Austin Williamson who was hunting over his dog Bo Didley. The sportsmanship winner for the senior division was female hunter Vonne Doran, who actually was the 2011 champ at the State Youth Coon Hunt.

            Johnson’s adult supervision team during the hunt included Lori Bell Johnson and Chad Beard. Lori shares that there were five ‘casts’ with four youth division hunters each. Those groups drove to separate locations to hunt just after dark on Saturday night. Two ‘drops’ of coonhounds were completed with a one-hour time limit per hunt. “Tyler wasn’t the first boy to strike his coon dog, but he was the first to holler that his dog had treed a coon,” said Bell Johnson.

Richard Jones (Saluda), Kevin Barnes (Ulmer),
Lane Owenby (Aiken) and Tyler Johnson (Walterboro)

Coon dog handler Tyler Johnson and Bootsie

            Hunting with a borrowed coonhound named Bootsie, the female Treeing Walker was accurate and when a coon squalor was blown, the judge was able to identify a coon was looking down from the tree. Tyler Johnson actually finished first in his cast, but later finished second overall in the points standings. “When Tyler was handed the 2nd place trophy he lit up that room with an enthusiastic smile and a determination to return next year,” said Bell Johnson.

To view past blog entries about the State Youth Coon Hunt click here.

2012 S.C. State Duck Calling Contest

Daryl Hodge and Blake Hodge are The Wrecking Crew

The 2012 S.C. State Duck Calling Contest is hosted by Mark Ackerman of Swamp Thing Mallard Calls. Every two years a special Champion of Champions calling contest is held between past state champs and Ackerman blew his own duck call against other past champions - but the excitement was soon over as Mark Prudhomme of Georgetown was crowned Champion of Champions in 2012. The next event was the Jr. State Calling contest and a former two-time champion returned to the top of the class to claim his third Jr. State duck calling title. Blake Hodge is the teenage son of Daryl Hodge, and together they are the Wrecking Crew Guide Service out of Lancaster. Daryl Hodge is the South Atlantic Flyway, Field Expert Manager for Drake Waterfowl, and is a former Jr. duck calling contest competitor. (from WAY back) The title of 2012 S.C. Sate Duck Call Champion went to Zach Peavy, a former two-time S.C. champ who returned to form to beat Mark Prudhomme, Hugh McLaurin and a 14-man field. Congrats to Zach, who was blowing a Big Lake Duck Call - Force performance series call.

To view blog entires from past S.C. State duck calling contests click here.

VIDEO by Jeff Dennis: Listen to Blake Hodge blow away the competition in the Jr. Calling Contest

Mark Prudhomme: Champion of Champions

Hugh McLaurin applauds Zach Peavy's 3rd title

Faces in the crowd: Capt. J Baisch, Capt. Englis Glover,
Daryl Hodge, Zach Earle and Whitney Hemby