May 23
Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the mid- to upper 70s, and the water is very clear – especially on the incoming tide.
As temperatures have gotten consistently warm the action has really improved, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that for about the last week fishing has been pretty outstanding.
Small shrimp are abundant and can be easily cast-netted, and the best place to fish them has been at the jetties. Rigging the shrimp on a split shot rig with a size 4 hook and casting into the rocks they have been catching an awesome mixed bag of species, including redfish, black drum, trout, bluefis hand even Spanish mackerel.
In the Intracoastal they are also catching some really nice trout, like the 5-pounder pictured below, on topwater plugs like Spooks and Mirrolures fished over shallow water first thing. You will also pick up bluefish up to about 20 inches the same way. After the sun gets up a little then fishing the ledges with shrimp has been effective for trout.
Besides at the jetties, fishing for reds in grass flats at higher tides has been effective. Find small open spots in the thick stuff, and soak cut chunks of mullet. Just like it would for a catfish, the smell will bring the fish in.
Smaller black drum are also biting well around docks in the Intracoastal.
While they are still not seeing the numbers of flounder they would like, live mud minnows, Gulp! jerk shad and shrimp in new penny color are also picking up some flatfish.
Small striper are usually around in the ICW and they are being caught right now.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that whiting and croaker are both being caught off the pier, and there have also been Spanish up to 17 plus inches caught today. A nice 27-inch black drum was caught recently, but kings and flounder have been absent of late.
On pretty days a fantastic cobia bite has just developed, and from 6-10 miles out at the nearshore reefs the fishing has been very strong. One of Captain Smiley’s boats hooked 15 cobia and landed 10 on Tuesday! They are using Sabiki rigs to jig up small reef baitfish like pinfish. Spadefish are also around by the thousands but they have been difficult to get to bite so far.
Jay A’Hern
Angler’s Headquarters (www.AnglersHeadquarters.com)
P.O. Box 50225
Columbia, SC 29250
jay@usfishingreport.com