Inshore:

Trout! Trout! Trout! The past week has brought us numerous good reports on the speckled trout, with numbers in the 15-30 fish per trip. Though lots of smaller fish in the 12-13″ range, this is great to see after the previous two cold winters we had where we lost a lot of our stock. DOA shrimp and live shrimp have been the most consistent baits of choice, both fished under popping floats. Flounder are definately starting to pick up in good numbers, and while it is always hard to beat an old mud minnow for a flattie, the ZMAN PaddlerZ have been producing well on the flounder when fished slowly along the bottom. The newest addition to this weeks report is the bluefish and spanish have started to show up in force. Reports of catching 40-50 blues in a couple hours around the jetties has been common, and the spanish have begun to show up strong just offshore of the inlets. #00 clarkspoons or a sea striker casting jig are “can’t fail” choices for fast paced action with the blues and spanish.

Offshore:

The time has definately come! If you have not prepped all tyour bluewater gear at this point, you are starting to miss out. Solid reports of wahoo are still coming through daily from 140-300ft of water, good numbers of blackfin tuna being found also around the ledge, and dolphin numbers averaging 5-20 fish per trip are the norm currently. Most of the dolphin have been “teenager” fish in the 8-20# range, but there have been several bulls caught in excess of 30#’s. In addition to the solid reports of all the meat fish, there has also already been a couple of blue marlin caught and released as well as several sails!

Scott Hammond

Manager – Haddrell’s Point

843-573-3474

Inshore:

Coming back in from vacation this week, I had no idea what had gone on recently on our inshore bite. After talking with a dozen or so charter Capts today, I have learned that a pretty good little trout bite kicked in last week. DOA shrimp under a rattle float or live shrimp have been deadly on the trout fished around 3-6ft of water along shell rakes and creek mouths. Sheepshead are still doing well around heavy structure using fiddlers, and though occasionally they have not fed heavily coming off these full mooon tides, we are hearing of redfish being found anywhere from the shallow flats, to under docks, to along rock piles, and yes we are even hearing of reds already tailing up in the grass at high water!

Offshore:

A continued flurry of good fishing in early spring is still being found offshore of SC right now. Still hearing solid reports of wahoo from 140-250ft of water, blackfin tuna in and around 150-200ft, and solid numbers of dolphin have been found anywhere from 180ft out to as deep as 800ft. To make a long story short, the offshore season is officially upon us and good weather is all we need to get out and take advantage of the strong bite! I have spoken with numerous charter boats lately, and while they all seem to have plenty of trips upcoming in May, many have lots of openings still for April as most anticipated the fishing not being as good until the month of May. DayMaker charters and Game Day charters, both out of Ripley, are two great boats to get you out there on some fish while everyone else is waiting for the month to roll over. Water temps are right, time for some bluewater!!!!!

Scott Hammond

Manager – Haddrell’s Point

843-573-3474