Fishing Reports

Charleston Weather & Buoys Weather: Mostly Cloudy   Feels Like: 49.0º

Fishing Reports are updated regularly so check here often for great tips from an expert:

Last Update: February 4th, 2010

Inshore:
Seriously, enough already with all the rain! While recent rainfall has kept the water clarity in our estuaries pretty dirty, the redfish have still been congregating in solid numbers up on the mud flats at lower tide levels. I equate winter time redfishing to that it can either be feast or famine. You may hit 3 or 4 flats before finding fish, but when you do find fish, it is likely that you will find a large school of reds (sometimes numbers as high as 50-100 fish in school). Gulp shrimp or jerkshads are always a go-to bait to present to schooling reds, but lately a lot of anglers have gone to ZMAN swim baits and will put a smear of Pro-Cure bait scent on them. The Pro-Cure will stick amazingly well to soft plastics and lasts for dozens of casts before another application is needed. Other than the reds, sheepshead are still providing outstanding action inshore. We have fiddlers back in stock, and solid numbers are still being caught around bridges and rock piles near inlets or deep water. Though the wind has not allowed many to venture off the coast lately, it is getting very close to time for sheepshead on our nearshore reefs. Mid February to mid March has always been prime time for sheepshead on the reefs from my past experiences. As always, I just highly encourage being very selective of the number of sheepshead you take home from the reefs this time of year. These fish are in fact a large portion of our breeding stock, so it is important to let many survive on through in order to produce numbers for future years.




Offshore:
Looking for a fish fry? Look no further than some good live bottom areas in 45-65ft of water. We have weighed in some real nice "green-head" black sea bass recently from such areas and these fish are as good of table fare as you will find. Squid, Cigar minnows, or almost any jig will produce plenty of black sea bass this time of year. In addition to bumping the bottom for black sea bass, a couple of boats have ventured out for some high speed trolling for wahoo. There were only 1 or 2 days in the past couple weeks that allowed some to get out, but those that did were able to produce some nice 'hoos in the 30-50# class. Troll almost any heavy bullet shaped trolling lure at 10-12 knots for best success, and most fish will be found in 160-300ft of water. A Black Bart San Sal Candy or ZMAN HSL lure are two very good choices.


**Spring is fast approaching, and we are wrapping up our reserve orders for Bionic Ballyhoo. Don't get caught late season with "summer caught" ballyhoo!!!**

Questions? Comments? Reports? Never hesitate to contact either store location for even more up to date information!

Tight Lines and Calm Winds!!

Scott Hammond
Asst Manager
Haddrell's Point Tackle West Ashley


Additional fishing tools:
Fishing Hot Spots
Charleston Fishing
Fishing Works
SC Coastal Saltwater Fishing Guide

•   "Winter Reds on the Flats" with Capt John Ward of Affinity Charters
     February 2nd 2010, 6 pm at Haddrell's Point (West Ashley); RSVP 843-573-3474;   FREE
  
  
•   "ZMAN Product Show" with Capt John Ward of Affinity Charters
     February 6th 2010, 11 am - 3 pm at Haddrell's Point (West Ashley); ZMAN Representatives on hand!   FREE
     View a wide selection of soft baits, chatterbaits, offshore lures, and much more that the ZMAN line of tackle has to offer!
  
  
•   "Shad Fishing Seminar" with John Fuss
     February 7th 2010, 1 pm at Haddrell's Point (West Ashley); RSVP 843-573-3474;   FREE
  
  
•   "Rod-n-Reel Maintenance" with Capt. Steve Baysinger
     February 8th 2010, 6 pm at Haddrell's Point (Mount Pleasant); RSVP 843-881-3644;   FREE
  
  
•   "Preparing Boat for Upcoming Fishing Season" with Capt. Mike Murphy of Hanckel Marine
     February 22nd 2010, 6 pm at Haddrell's Point (Mount Pleasant); RSVP 843-881-3644;   FREE
  
  
•   "Inshore TopWater Seminar" with Capt. Mike Able Jr.
     March 9th 2010, 6 pm at Haddrell's Point (West Ashley); RSVP 843-573-3474;   FREE
  
  
•   "Spring Redfish Seminar" with Capt. Geoff Bennett of Charleston Charter Fishing
     March 21st 2010, 1 pm at Haddrell's Point (West Ashley); RSVP 843-573-3474;   FREE
  
  
•   "Cobia Seminar" with Capt. John Fuss
     April 11th 2010, 1 pm at Haddrell's Point (West Ashley); RSVP 843-573-3474;   FREE