Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) reports that as the water clears in December sight-fishing will become a better and better pattern, particularly on low tide but also when the water is first getting in the grass. Look for fish to be aggressive since water temperatures have not yet bottomed out. Scented soft plastics as well as natural baits will all work. Additionally, there should continue to be large numbers of fish found around docks and other cover as Beaufort has an abundant population of redfish. The trout bite has been strong in November and could get even better December. Look for fish in current seams where they will eat soft plastics on ¼ ounce jigheads, and they will also feed on mud minnows – or live shrimp if you can get them. Finally, expect sheepshead and black drum to be found around inshore structure until temperatures force them to move deeper.
Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) reports that in November fish will only continue to ramp up their feeding, storing up reserves since they are about to lose their bait supply. They know that most shrimp and baitfish will eventually leave and crabs will go into hibernation. Redfish should bite better and better on low tide even as they start to group up a bit more, and on very high tides they will continue to tail for the first part of November. Mud minnows, finger mullet, cut mullet and shrimp are all good bait choices. The trout bite will accelerate this month as temperatures drop and fish will be caught around the mouths of creeks and current rips in moving water. Late October was very strong. Shrimp under a popping cork are usually hard to beat, but as shrimp become more rare a variety of artificials will work. Flounder will be caught on mud minnows and finger mullet until water temperatures drop into the lower 60s, and black drum will also feed up more and more this month on shrimp and crabs.
Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) reports that in October fish will eat more and more, storing up reserves since they are about to lose their bait supply as shrimp and most baitfish eventually leave and crabs go into hibernation. Redfish should bite better and better on low and moving tides, and on very high tides they will continue to tail throughout October. Mud minnows, finger mullet, cut mullet and shrimp are all good bait choices. Trout will be caught around the mouths of creeks in moving water, and shrimp under a popping cork should be hard to beat. Artificial lures like DOA shrimp can also be very effective. Flounder fishing should be good around structure on mud minnows and finger mullet, and there should also be some tripletail around well into the month. Black drum will also feed up more and more this month on shrimp and crabs, and the bull red drum will eventually show up in area inlets and off the beaches. To start the month water conditions are a little down, with lots of debris and floating wood, so exercise caution navigating.
Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) reports that in September the tailing pattern for redfish should continue to be strong, but as the reds’ metabolism speeds up the low tide bite should get better and better. It was already good at the end of August, and fish were feeding on everything from shrimp to mud minnows to mullet to Gulp! baits around pretty much any structure including docks, oysters and creek mouths. As a bonus, very soon the fish that are starting out the month just under the slot will be keepers. The black drum fishing should also continue to improve on shrimp, and more large trout will be caught as temperatures cool. Numbers were already strong in late August. More keeper flounder should be caught on mud minnows and finger mullet, and migratory species like tripletail, bluefish and ladyfish should be around until temperatures cool. And the silver king, tarpon, will likely continue to prey on schools of mullet and menhaden all month. Overall, by the end of August and beginning of September the fishing was getting really good, and for the next two months it should be flat-out excellent.
Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) reports that in August redfish are often a little lethargic, but there should still be some good tailing action on high tide. July had some excellent tailing activity. Additionally, they fed surprisingly well on finger mullet and mud minnows in deeper sections of small creeks on the outgoing, and that should continue this month. Docks should also be productive. After an unusually good late July for trout they are optimistic for August, fishing live shrimp or even soft plastics off deeper drops in the creeks. Flounder fishing can be good with live finger mullet or minnows, even though a lot of fish are likely to be short, and the rising tide often offers the best opportunities. Sheepshead fishing will probably continue to get tougher as July was worse than June, but expect to still find a mix of sizes including some nice keepers. Fishing fiddler crabs around docks or oyster beds is the best pattern. Migratory species like jacks, tripletail and tarpon should be around until the fall. Finally, don’t overlook sharks which can provide a ton of action for anglers.
Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) reports that in July tailing redfish can be found on good flood tides when they are in the short grass eating fiddler crabs, and on moving tides fishing live or cut bait in areas where they ambush prey is a good bet. There should also continue to be a good bite on lower tides around docks and other structure. The trout bite was very good in June and should continue into July, and fish will be caught on both live shrimp and imitation shrimp drifted around grass lines and in front of shell beds in clean, moving water. There should also continue to be a good topwater bite for both species early. Jacks and tarpon showed up in late June and should be around until the fall. Flounder fishing can be good with live finger mullet, mud minnows, or soft plastics, but catching legal fish can be a challenge. Sheepshead are also around inshore, but generally they are on the small to medium side. Finally, keep your eyes open for tripletail in the rivers – especially closer to the ocean.
Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) reports that June is an excellent month in Beaufort for a number of species, and even as air temperatures get hot the fish are still biting very well. An above-average year for cobia means the fishing is likely to extend into June in the Broad River, and fish should continue to be caught sight-casting with flies, lures and live bait. Redfish can be found tailing at high tide on the main river grass flats where they are eating fiddler crabs, and at lower stages of the tide you can find them in deep holes surrounded by shallow water in the smaller creeks or around docks. Redfish will eat a wide variety of baits and lures. Trout can be caught this month fishing along grass lines at higher stages of the tide with live shrimp or mud minnows under a popping cork, and you will also pick up other species this way including bluefish, aerially exciting ladyfish and more. Also, don’t overlook an early topwater bite for trout, reds and more. On the bottom around structure and creek mouths you can catch flounder with mud minnows, finger mullet or artificial baits, while fishing fiddler crabs around docks and downed trees is a great way to pick up sheepshead and occasional black drum. Finally, the inlets have delicious whiting that will take small pieces of shrimp and abundant sharks that will take cut bait.
Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) reports that as temperatures rise and even more bait starts to return in May the redfish should feed more regularly. The tailing activity at high tide should pick up as reds devour consistently available fiddler crabs, and fish should also eat better at low tides and moving tides in the creeks. Docks will continue to hold fish. If you can get live shrimp they are hard to beat, but finger mullet, small menhaden, mud minnows and more will catch fish. Trout fishing should also pick up in moving water over shell bars, and both jigs and shrimp will catch fish. Big roe trout will be in the main rivers to spawn. Topwater activity for both trout and reds should also improve this month during low light periods, but the most exciting development in May usually comes when the cobia should return in numbers to the Broad River. A few had already been caught by late April, and people will catch them both sight-fishing and anchoring baits on the bottom. Tripletail, bluefish, ladyfish and other migratory species will also be around in ever-greater numbers, and the bigger flounder should continue to show up after starting to trickle back inshore during April. Finally, don’t overlook the sheepshead bite around docks and other structure on fiddler crabs – especially before it gets very hot and patterns change.
Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) reports that in April redfish will be almost completely broken out of their tight winter schools on the flats, although there could continue to be some docks that hold good numbers of fish. Although they can be a little finicky, cut mullet will be a good bait for reds this month as will live shrimp. As temperatures continue to rise they will feed more and more on fiddler crabs, and tailing activity should get better and better on high. Trout fishing will also improve in April in moving water, with small live shrimp, mud minnows and grubs all working. Topwater activity for trout and reds should also start this month during low light period. This month many of the larger sheepshead that have moved offshore will return inshore, where they can be caught around docks and other structure on fiddler crabs. By the latter part of the month some cobia should arrive and perhaps other migratory species such as bluefish, ladyfish and more.
Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) reports that March fishing will depend on weather conditions, and at some point river flats redfish will start to break out of their tight winter schools. There were some early signs this was happening at the end of February. Early in the month sight-fishing should be productive, and both live bait and artificials can catch fish. Later in the month fish should start to spread out more and forage for fiddler crabs. At the same time, structure like docks that hold fish virtually year-round should fish well throughout the month – as it did in February. Trout should continue to get more active in March, particularly in clean, moving water, and they will take live shrimp fished on a jighead. Finally, this month many of the larger sheepshead that have moved offshore will return inshore, but there are also plenty of small and medium-sized fish that never left. They can be caught around docks and other structure on fiddler crabs.
