For the past two weeks, I have been traveling and not fishing. This is particularly bad, as the weather has been perfect and the trout have been biting in a big way. Naturally, upon returning to Charleston both would change for the worst.

Saturday morning, a strong front moved up from the south bringing rain and gale force winds. Not wanting to miss another day on the water, I decided (against my better judgment) to go fishing. After launching my skiff, I headed up the Wando with the wind at my back. During the entire ride, I was thinking when the tide starts falling and the current begins running against the wind, this section of the river was going to be absolutely nasty. Unfortunately, the lure of biting trout kept me running up the river. Stopping at a submerged ledge that has consistently held winter fish, the area was completely unfishable. Wind driven waves made working the trolling motor from the bow impossible. Waves were literally breaking over the bow.

With the safety and fun factors being extremely low, I decided to move to the leeward bank (the bank where I never seem to catch any fish). This day was no different. A tiny flounder did feel sorry for me and hit the chartreuse GULP swimming minnow I had been flailing into the wind. I did not feel it bite due to the excessive belly in the line created by the wind and current. The flounder was just hanging on the lure, when I reeled it in to make another cast. Better lucky than good! At least the skunk was off the boat.

The next few hours were painfully slow and uneventful. As the tide began falling, I concentrated on fishing marsh run outs on the leeward bank. Conditions were horrendous. Persistence did result in the completion of an inshore slam. Not wanting to tempt fate further, I called it a day.

The run back down river was torturous. Standing waves, whitecaps and cold wind driven spray pushed the safety and fun factors to near all time lows. On the long ride back to the boat landing, I promised myself to never again go fishing in a gale. If it is not safe and fun, why do it?

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at captaingreg@shallowwatercharters.com or 843-224-0099.

Trout: Very good. Trout fishing is hot as water temperatures have dropped and fish are feeding heavily to fatten up for winter; in addition to good numbers some large fish are being caught. Spottail Bass: Very good. Fish live shrimp under a popping cork, or cast artificial grubs or plugs, for these fish. Large breeder sized red drum are being caught in the surf, particularly in the inlets north of Charleston and in Bulls Bay. Sheepshead: Very good. For now fiddler crabs are the bait of choice, but as these crabs go into hibernation live shrimp will become an effective bait.  Weakfish: Good. At nearshore reefs good numbers of weakfish, or summer trout, are being caught in roughly 30 feet of water.

Folly Beach Pier: Spottail bass, trout and black drum are all being caught off the pier, and whiting and other bottom fish are taking cut shrimp. 

Bream: Very good. Bluegill are feeding very well in Lake Moultrie over brush piles and other cover like stake beds that have been put down for crappie in 12 to 35 feet. This bite should continue until mid-November. Catfish: Good.  During the day use salties and cut bait fished around stumps and other submerged structure, or drifting in 18 to 55 feet. Early, late, and at night the catfish are moving much shallower and can be caught in only 3 to 4 feet of water using the same baits or stinkbaits. Largemouth Bass: Good. Best results are coming from fishing worms and crankbaits, and some very good days for large numbers of bass are being reported. Crappie: Fair. Crappie fishing is improving, and fish can be caught over the same structure as the bream using small jigs and minnows. 

Weekend Tides at Charleston Harbor