Feb. 8, 2010
Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.

Little River

Captain Michael Rutenberg reports that some anglers are sight fishing for redfish on the flats in very shallow water. Trout and black drum have moved into the IntraCoastal Waterway, and particularly the trout can be caught trolling grubs. Along the jetties sheepshead fishing is good.
Cherry Grove Pier: Only a few whiting are being caught.

Grand Strand

Inshore: Fair. Georgetown Landing Marina reports that inshore fishing is very slow with only an occasional spottail caught. However, most trout appear to have made it through last weekend.
Offshore: Georgetown Landing Marina reports that despite the cold the "Sea Brooke" continues to limit out on black sea bass, triggerfish and silver snapper. The "Rib Cracker" also came back with a nice load of sea bass recently.

Charleston

Spottail Bass: Very good. Haddrell’s Point reports that the current warming trend has put the redfish in a feeding frenzy. Fish are schooled up on the flats in groups of 50-75 fish and will take a fly, Gulp! jerk shad or Gulp! shrimp.
Sheepshead: Good. Haddrell’s Point reports that sheepshead are staged up around heavy structure in deep water near inlets. Fiddle crabs, oysters or clam strips fished vertically will all work.
Trout: Fair. Haddrell’s Point reports that the majority of the trout appear to have made it through the cold spell, and a few fish are even feeding again around deeper creek mouths and ledges. Free line DOA shrimp up current and then twitch them along the bottom, or slow roll Zman Curly Streakz along the bottom in the same areas
Offshore: Haddrell’s Point reports that on a couple of recent nice days offshore boats made it out to the Ledge and did some high speed trolling for wahoo, catching several good fish in the 30-60 pound range. Black sea bass and triggerfish have also been caught consistently in 50-75 feet of water on squid, cigar minnows and bucktail jigs.

Beaufort

Spottail Bass: Good. Bay Street Outfitters in Beaufort reports the redfish bite is much improved and they are seeing schools with 50-300 fish on the flats. The bite is better on low tide, and an afternoon low in the "heat" of the day makes both fish and fishermen more energetic. On the fly the top pattern is Dupre Spoon flies. Shrimp and sand eel patterns will also catch fish, and the Electric Chicken and Deceiver will both work. On spinning tackle use Gulp!, grubs or the Red Ripper. Further south in Hilton Head Captain Dan "Fishin’ Coach" Utley reports that fish have gone back to eating. In addition to catching fish on Gulp! products he has tricked some redfish on the Red Ripper spoons.
Trout: Fair. Bay Street Outfitters reports that most trout appear to have made it through the cold spell, although dolphins may have eaten a substantial number of stunned fish. A few have even started feeding again up the Whale Branch.
Offshore: Captain Wally Phinney reports that he has caught some nice black sea bass around the Betsy Ross, and he has heard good reports from the inside of the North Hole area. He has not found baitfish schools, hence no tuna.