By Capt. Geoff Bennett

Wonderful sunny weather has continued day after day, making for awesome fishing conditions. With all this warm weather, it’s no surprise that our fishery is 4-6 weeks ahead of schedule. The water is teeming with bait and even a few sharks are already cruising around. Expect April to be a fantastic month of fishing.

While redfish remain in large schools, they have begun to break up as the water warms. These fish have left survival mode and become predators again. Over the last few weeks, redfish have been finicky with artificial baits. On some days, paddle tail grubs as well as jerk shad of any color failed to elicit a bite.

When redfish are picky, a great solution is to throw chunks of freshly cracked blue crab. This is simply redfish candy and bait that is rarely refused. Redfish have been hitting the crab before it even touched the bottom in the past week, and in some cases, even as we were retrieving the bait. I use size 3/0 circle hooks and put the hook through the bottom flipper hole once I have ripped off the legs. Put the rod in the rod holder and don’t pick it up until the reel is screaming!

The trout bite should really begin in earnest this April. With water temperatures so warm, it’s hard to believe they won’t become aggressive feeders before too long. The preferred rig of live bait under a popping cork is hard to beat. Live shrimp is now available and will give you another option than mud minnows. It’s a good idea to start carrying your cast net and see if you can find some finger mullet. Finger mullet under a cork is just deadly.

With redfish being choosy about artificial plastic lures, they have acted the same towards flies. However, this hasn’t stopped us from having some great days. Focus on fishing around low tide when the fish are out of the grass and easier to target. If you do fish on higher tides, make sure your flies have a good weed guard like a piece of heavy monofilament line. The copperhead fly in rootbeer color has been producing well for us recently.

See you on the water!

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 843-324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.

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Redfish and trout have been active during the past winter.

What a winter! Or rather, what winter? Day after day of unseasonably warm weather has been an angler’s dream. Our fishery has remained active throughout the last few months and is building towards what should be an awesome spring.

Redfish remain in massive schools numbering in the hundreds as they try to avoid dolphins and stay warm. You’ll find these schools on mud flats as well as shallow banks that provide cover. On sunny days, redfish are especially drawn to the flats as the mud retains an extra few degrees of warmth. You’ll find the best fishing tends to be around low tide when these reds are balled up tight together.

Artificial jerk shad lures are a very popular option when casting to these schools. Bigger 4”-5” lures in darker tones that imitate the natural bait in the water have been quite effective. We’ve been particularly lucky with grey lures that have some sparkle or pearl white. I always pair these lures with a flutter hook, usually size 3/0. The flutter hook when combined with a loop knot provides great action and really entices those redfish.

For trout aficionados, this winter has been a welcome change to the past two winters that had very cold temperatures that pushed the trout bite back weeks if not months. We’ve been catching trout in modest numbers and often while targeting reds. It really feels like trout will be flourishing in March as opposed to May this year.

As trout become more active, popping corks cast along grass banks and over oyster beds will be a good bet paired with mud minnows. I usually use a 18”-24” leader and a size 1 circle hook. When working the popping cork, always try to keep slack out of your line and when that cork drops just reel tight to set the hook. You’ll find that the circle hook will do most of the work for you.

This a great time of year for fly fishing. Sight fishing abounds and stalking a school of a hundred plus fish is so exciting you almost fall off the bow with anticipation. Smaller flies in darker colors are working best and a black clouser minnow is a fine example. Remember when the fish hits, resist the temptation to lift your rod tip and strip strike instead.

See you on the water!

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 843-324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com  or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.

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These schools form as the redfish’s metabolism slows down with the dropping water temperature and they seek protection in numbers from the faster dolphins. The redfish will try to stay in as shallow water as possible and come up onto the flats at low tide in hopes of evading their predator. In addition, on sunny days, the mud flats will hold a few extra degrees of temperature which attracts these schools as well.

As you might expect, these fish are spooky and if chased will not eat. Once a school is located, it is often best to wait until the school eventually comes close to you. There is nothing more effective now than a chunk of cracked blue crab putting out a scent trail in the water. Rig these baits with a size 3/0 circle hook and it is imperative that the hook point come cleanly out of the bait. Put the rods in a holder and wait until the reel starts singing before you pick it up.

Bait isn’t the only way to catch these redfish. Fly fishermen have an advantage here as flies can land softly and quietly. Darker flies have been working the best with a size #2 black wiggler drawing some fantastic strikes. Should black not work don’t be afraid to rotate over to a size #2 white/chartreuse clouser minnow. As always, aim towards the edges of the school; a cast right over the middle will send the fish running for cover.

Sheepshead are also available and have begun their seasonal migration offshore, although there will still be some stragglers around. You’ll want to target these fish around barnacle covered pilings or docks. Fiddler crabs and pieces of oyster have been working well. Suspend your bait vertically next to pieces of structure using a small sinker weight a short distance above your hook. The bite of these fish, sometimes referred to as “convict” fish because of their black stripes, can be difficult to detect. Given their fight and taste though, anglers find them well worth the challenge.

See you on the water!

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 843-324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.

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Cool days and lower water temperatures are setting our fishery on fire! Redfish and trout know they need to eat heartily now or go hungry over the winter. Fortunately, our waters are teeming with shrimp and mullet encouraging these fish to strap the feedbags on. If you have put fishing on hold for the rest of the year, get your tackle out and hit the water – you won’t regret it!

Redfish have begun to start schooling up as usual during this time of year. It has made for some fantastic fishing on the flats. On several charters, we’ve watched packs of redfish with their backs out of the water rushing up and down the banks chasing bait. Sometimes, the action has been so frenzied that birds will hover overhead picking up the scraps. Water clarity has been mixed so we’ve been casting darker artificial lures at these schools. Black with gold flakes has been a particularly productive color.

For trout, artificial paddle tail lures have begun to really produce. We fish them on a 1/4oz. jighead and vary the rate of retrieve. Again, we’ve been staying with darker bodies and Bass Assasain’s Chicken On A Chain or D.O.A.’s Fiji Chicken both work well. To make that jighead even more attractive, try putting a piece of shrimp on the hook. You can use pieces of live or frozen shrimp and it will put a scent trail on your lure that is hard to resist.

At the end of September, we had some massive tailing tides with high tides over seven feet. It made for a great opportunity for fly fishermen to stalk redfish up in the grass. The standard spoon fly with a good weed guard worked best. Watching redfish explode in a foot of water when they eat your fly is downright heart stopping. It can take lots of casts to get just one fish but it is worth the effort. Note that we have another series of big tides at the end of October.

See you on the water!

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 charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.

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No doubt it has been a hot summer, but it hasn’t slowed down the fishing. Anglers leaving first thing in morning have been rewarded with hungry redfish and trout.  All tactics, whether it be artificials, live bait or flies have been working well. Add all the seasonal species present to the mix and you have some great fishing.

We’ve been targeting redfish with artificial lures, especially around low tide. The longer jerk shad lures that worked so well in the spring are still productive. However, we have had better luck throwing smaller, darker artificials like Zman’s Streakz curly tail grub in black/gold flake. With both, we have been using flutter hooks to put more action on the lure.

As for trout, nothing new here. Popping corks remain the way to go. Surprisingly, we’ve had better luck with mud minnows under corks than with shrimp. It usually has been the other way around. If little fish keep stealing your live shrimp, switch over to a D.O.A. 3” artificial shrimp. Their Glow/Gold Rush Belly color has been quite effective.

Coinciding with early morning fishing, Spanish Mackerel have been showing up in numbers in the harbor as well as inlets. Gotcha plugs and Deadly Dick lures are traditional favorites. Anglers have reported that these fish have been finicky recently.  Keep changing lures until you find something that works.

Shrimp have started to really show up and their presence has made for some great fly fishing. On the flats at low tide, you can see redfish with their backs out of water charging down the banks chasing shrimp. Throwing gurglers or other surface patterns can provide some explosive strikes. It can be so hard to do, but when that fish slams your fly, set the hook with a strip set instead of lifting your rod tip.

See you on the water!

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 843-324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.

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A relatively mature red

Thanks to ample amounts of bait teeming in our waters, fishing has been great so far this summer. The feeding switch has definitely been turned on. With the summer seasonal species now all present, there are no shortage of fish to target or ways to fish for them. In general, fishing has been best in the morning with its cooler temperatures.

Redfish, in particular, have been making short work of any well-placed bait. Make sure to bring your cast net along and catch some menhaden or finger mullet. We’ve been having the most success around docks or other structures while fishing live baits on a Carolina rig. Make sure to use a heavy-enough weight to hold the bait stationary, otherwise your rig will tumble along the bottom until it snags.

Trout have really reemerged over the last few weeks. It’s great to see that the trout stock was not hurt too badly by our cold winter. Anglers should stick with one of the tried and true methods for catching trout: the popping cork. A live shrimp or mud minnow is a hard treat to refuse when it comes floating by right in a trout’s strike zone. Make sure to lift your cork high and hard enough so it makes that clacking sound.

Anglers targeting flounder have been reporting good numbers. Try fishing finger mullet along the bottom around structures. Move the bait slowly and when you think you have a bite wait a few seconds (if you can) before setting the hook. We’ve been picking up quite a few flounder with mud minnows under a popping cork as well.

All of our seasonal species can be caught using the tactics listed above. My favorite summer-time fish is the ladyfish. These dynamic fish will smack shrimp under a popping cork and make your drag zing. Their acrobatic jumps and hard runs make these fish so entertaining. Look for them in some of the same spots that you find trout.

Fly fishing has also been quite good. While we have been seeing the most numbers of redfish when on the flats at low tide, they have been eating the best while in the grass. The copperhead fly, a local favorite, has been producing consistently. Make sure that your flies have a good weed guard so you don’t get hung up all the time.See you on the water!

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 843-324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.

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During March, calm weather days were few and far between. When the wind did calm down, fishing was excellent, especially sight-fishing for redfish at low tide.  As April ushers in better-behaved weather, anglers can expect fishing for reds to be very good, and should look forward to trout becoming part of the mix.

The large schools of redfish have begun to break up. You’ll find redfish traveling in smaller groups on the flats, as well as under docks and in deeper holes. To counteract the wind, we’ve been fishing with live and cut bait on the bottom. Cracked blue crab has been especially effective. Use circle hooks in size 3/0 and enough weight to hold the bait stationary. Put the rod in a holder and wait for the reel to scream as the fish will set itself!

Trout have just started to appear in deeper water, and live shrimp will be the ticket when targeting them. Working docks and shell beds with a shrimp on a ¼ oz. jighead can be very productive. You’ll want to make sure that you can get this bait deep enough to get in front of the trout. As trout become more active, popping corks cast along grass banks and over oyster beds will be a good bet paired with live or artificial shrimp.

We’ve begun to catch the first flounder of the year. They’ve all been caught on shrimp or mud minnows under docks. Finger mullet is an excellent bait for these fish. You’ll need to focus on structure when fishing for flounder. Pilings are good places to prospect, as well. Flounder bites can be soft and you’ll want to let the fish eat for a few seconds before you set the hook.

Fly fishermen were the most challenged by all the blustery weather. We frequently found redfish tailing on the flats on low tides, sometimes with their backs out of the water as they fed aggressively. Smaller white/chartreuse and black clouser minnow flies were the most productive. As baitfish become more prolific, larger-bodied flies will become part of the rotation. Reports of redfish tailing in the grass at high tide have even begun to circulate.

See you on the water!

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.

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Celebrating the return of the spring bite!

By Captain Geoff Bennett

With spring quickly approaching, sun-filled days with temperatures occasionally reaching into the 70s have fishermen excited to hit the water. Best of all, the bite is markedly improving as warmer waters fill our fishery.

Having spent the last few months lying low and avoiding dolphins, the redfish are transitioning from preservation mode to becoming predators once again. With redfish still in big schools consisting of hundreds of fish, the best fishing will be at low tide when you can sight cast to them. These fish are still easily spooked, so stealth is of upmost importance when approaching a school. Oftentimes, it pays to anchor up when you find a school and wait for them to return to you instead of chasing them down.

Once you are in casting range, jerk shad lures rigged on flutter hooks are my go-to option. These artificial lures, usually 4″-5″ in length, imitate small baitfish. Flutter hooks have a weight on their shank that lets you cast a far distance and puts motion on the lure. I use flutter hooks in size 3/0 with an 1/8oz. weight. You’ll want to work these lures slowly because the redfish are still sluggish. Make sure to cast to the edges of the schools. If you cast right into the middle you stand a good chance of spooking them.

For jerk shad colors, I have been throwing lures with darker blue tops and lighter bellies. However, you will find that, at this time of year, these big schools of redfish often don’t want anything to do with artificials. When this happens, it’s time to soak some cut bait. I’ll put chunks of frozen mullet on size 3/0 circle hooks and just let it sit on the bottom until the redfish swim over it. Put your rod in the rod holder and resist the urge to set the hook when you see a fish begin to eat. The circle hook will do all the work for you and when your reel starts to sing, you are in business.

It’s hard to have a stealthier approach than with a fly rod. This is one of the times of year for fly fishing as it can be a very productive means of catching redfish. A well-cast fly can land making only the slightest splash. We are currently using smaller flies, especially black and white/chartreuse clouser minnows. When the fish are finicky, you can wait until the school is over your fly before you begin your retrieve and often this will draw a strike. See you on the water!

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.

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Fishing is very good right now as the colder nights prove that fall is truly here. Anglers can expect conditions to get even better as fish feed aggressively. As in most years, artificial lures are a sure bet for both redfish and trout. Make sure to get out there and enjoy these remaining gorgeous days!

Trout love shrimp and the water is teeming with them. Unfortunately, lots of smaller fish can’t get enough of shrimp, either. When these bait stealers come out in full force, I switch over to DOA 3″ artificial shrimp. I find these most effective when fished underneath a popping cork. You can use this rig along grass banks, over oyster beds and at creek mouths. When fishing a popping cork, it is important to make sure that you reel in any slack line on the water so you are ready when a fish hits.

Live lining shrimp works well for both trout and redfish. Live lining just means letting the shrimp drift naturally through the water column. I like hooking a live shrimp through the tail on a ¼ oz. jighead, as well as using the ¼ oz. DOA artificial shrimp. You don’t need to put much motion on the lure. I only really lift the lure if I’m wary of snagging on the bottom. You’ll need moving water to make the most of this technique.

Redfish are very active right now, and it’s exciting to watch the size of the schools grow with the cooler weather. Artificial lures are still the name of the game. We continue to switch between throwing paddletail grub and jerk shad lures. Redfish seem to prefer lures with darker colors that mimic the mullet and other small fish in our waters. As always, remember to change up your rate of retrieve to find out what kind of action draws the most strikes.

Fly fishing continues to improve in lockstep with increased water clarity. This trend should continue. Stalking the large schools of redfish on the flats is a real thrill, especially as is becomes easier to see them. If you take your time approaching a school, you’ll often be able to catch several as they are now such willing eaters.

See you on the water!

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 843-324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.

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The fall fishing season is already showing great promise. Photo By Geoff Bennett

by Captain Geoff Bennett

It is a great time to be fishing in Charleston. The air is cool and crisp at first light, and later warms up comfortably into the 70s. True to form, fishing continues to rapidly improve, and we will shortly be in the midst of the celebrated fall bite.

At Charleston Charter Fishing, we put more big redfish in the boat this past September than any other month this year. What worked so well was recommended in last month’s report: artificial lures. Jerk shad lures rigged on flutter hooks really did the trick. Darker colors, especially blue hues, significantly outperformed lighter colors. The flutter hooks have a weight on their shank that imparts additional action when you are working it in the water. Try using a loop knot for even more motion. As redfish begin to school up on the flats, you’ll want to make sure you have these ready in your tackle box.

Trout will also really begin to come into their own this month. Cooler weather and its corresponding lower water temperature will really turn the trout on. You’ll find the water teeming with shrimp and trout will happily be devouring them. Fishing live shrimp under a popping cork is very effective when worked along grass banks, over shell beds and in creek mouths. Artificial shrimp also work, and you should try D.O.A’s 3″ plastic shrimp. I am currently using these lures in clear with different colors of glitter.

As mentioned before, redfish are starting to form larger schools on the flats. Instead of traveling in small packs or even alone, these fish can now be found in groups of 30-50. This makes for excellent flyfishing by providing great sight casting opportunities. You’ll want to get out around low tide for the best conditions. Darker flies are working well right now and we are using patterns that have some flash in them.

See you on the water!

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 843-324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.

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