January 25
Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are still about 46-48 degrees. Clarity is winter normal.
Fishing for redfishhas been up and down this week, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that even though they had some good days extremely low tides were too late in the day to be ideal for fishing. Things should be much better going forward.
At this time of year the best conditions for fishing is a low to rising tide in the middle of the day when the shallow mud flats can warm. Even though the fish are in a semi-lethargic state, they will eat. You can spot them just laying around, pushing water, or you can see puffs of mud where they have been.
Redfish can also be caught in the creeks, and they will get into small tidal pools with 4-8 feet of water. The fish are not visible to anglers, but primarily they are in these spots hiding from dolphins looking to feed. Sometimes they will be in super shallow areas that can not even be accessed with a boat, and at times Captain Smiley will get out and walk in hard sandy creeks.
Artificial baits like Vudu Shrimp, Gulp! baits in New Penny, and mud minnows fished under a popping cork have all been working.
Trout can be caught at the jetties as well as inside the creeks. Out at the jetties the best pattern is fishing live mullet, mud minnows or ideally shrimp under a slip bobber. Drifting the bait with the current in 4-10 feet of water is the best pattern, which usually means keeping the bobber about January 25
Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are still about 46-48 degrees. Clarity is winter normal.
Fishing for redfishhas been up and down this week, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that even though they had some good days extremely low tides were too late in the day to be ideal for fishing. Things should be much better going forward.
At this time of year the best conditions for fishing is a low to rising tide in the middle of the day when the shallow mud flats can warm. Even though the fish are in a semi-lethargic state, they will eat. You can spot them just laying around, pushing water, or you can see puffs of mud where they have been.
Redfish can also be caught in the creeks, and they will get into small tidal pools with 4-8 feet of water. The fish are not visible to anglers, but primarily they are in these spots hiding from dolphins looking to feed. Sometimes they will be in super shallow areas that can not even be accessed with a boat, and at times Captain Smiley will get out and walk in hard sandy creeks.
Artificial baits like Vudu Shrimp, Gulp! baits in New Penny, and mud minnows fished under a popping cork have all been working.
Trout can be caught at the jetties as well as inside the creeks. Out at the jetties the best pattern is fishing live mullet, mud minnows or ideally shrimp under a slip bobber. Drifting the bait with the current in 4-10 feet of water is the best pattern, which usually means keeping the bobber about 5-10 feet off the rocks. Any closer than that and the bait will usually get hung up.
There is also good trout fishing in the Intracoastal Waterway. Fish will not be on the flats but around drop offs in 5-10 feet of water, and they also look for moving water. Live finger mullet have been working well, with the best action usually on the rising tide but some fish also being caught on the incoming.
There is still a good bite for smaller black drum, with some of the fish keeper-sized. On the ledges fish can be caught in about 10 feet of water on small pieces of cut shrimp.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that surf temperatures have dropped to about 50 degrees and the catch is limited to a few whiting, black drum, and the occasional flounder.

Jay A’Hern
Angler’s Headquarters (www.AnglersHeadquarters.com)
P.O. Box 50225
Columbia, SC 29250
jay@usfishingreport.com-10 feet off the rocks. Any closer than that and the bait will usually get hung up.
There is also good trout fishing in the Intracoastal Waterway. Fish will not be on the flats but around drop offs in 5-10 feet of water, and they also look for moving water. Live finger mullet have been working well, with the best action usually on the rising tide but some fish also being caught on the incoming.
There is still a good bite for smaller black drum, with some of the fish keeper-sized. On the ledges fish can be caught in about 10 feet of water on small pieces of cut shrimp.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that surf temperatures have dropped to about 50 degrees and the catch is limited to a few whiting, black drum, and the occasional flounder.

Jay A’Hern
Angler’s Headquarters (www.AnglersHeadquarters.com)
P.O. Box 50225
Columbia, SC 29250
jay@usfishingreport.com