October Fishing Report
By Captain Geoff Bennett
Cooler October weather is making for some great lowcountry fishing.
The last few weeks of fishing have been very good. For a variety of reasons, fall is usually the best time of year to be fishing in the Charleston area. Anglers can expect conditions to improve in October.
September brought a number of significant high tides. This higher water allows redfish to get access to flats and areas otherwise untouched. They will chase bait up onto these flats where they feed on small crabs and other crustaceans. This produces very exciting fishing as anglers can see the backs and tails of redfish as they feed. Sight casting to a redfish and hooking up is a true rush. When fish take your lure in such shallow water the strikes are explosive and you can see your fish take off, winding its way through the grass. You can spend literally a half hour stalking a fish and positioning yourself for just the right cast. It is very rewarding when you land that hard-earned redfish. Anglers using spinning tackle or fly rods can take advantage of this type of fishing. If you are using a spinning rod, you may want to consider tossing Gulp! 2” peeler crabs on a circle hook. Successful colors have included New Penny and Molting. With such shallow water, a delicate presentation is often needed and a fly can be a real advantage. Crab pattern flies are working and it can be helpful to use flies that have a little weight on them in order to get them down and in front of the fish.
Redfish are still responding to bait fished on the bottom as well. Cut mullet has been working the best for me when combined with a Carolina rig. Live mullet will work too and are plentiful. Make sure to bring your cast net along. I’ll often fish the bait around docks while waiting for the redfish to come off the flats. Of course, cracked blue crab is a treat that few redfish will resist.
Trout will really begin to come into their own this month. As I write this, the weather has begun to noticeably cool. Cooler weather and its corresponding lower water temperature will really turn the trout on. Shrimp are readily available and are another reason to bring your cast net with you. Fishing shrimp under a popping cork along grass banks is very effective. I will usually adjust the length of my leader under the popping cork based on where I am fishing. Make sure to try D.O.A’s 3” plastic shrimp both under a popping cork and free lined. If the trout are eating live shrimp, they will often eat these as well. Popular colors include white and clear with different colors of glitter. Make sure to check with the local tackle shops to see what is working best. These trout are accessible to fly fishermen too. Try clouser patterns in white/chartreuse and white/red.
Capt. Geoff Bennett operates Charleston Charter Fishing providing fly fishing and light tackle charters. Clients choose from a full menu of fly rods, artificial and live bait fishing options with charters tailored to their desires. USCG licensed and insured, Capt. Bennett is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels and ages. For more information, call Capt. Bennett at 324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.
