The title is kind of self explanatory. Although I live in Tennessee, I'm wanting to get my Stratos 1850 out on some salt water. No offshore, just some near shore.
I've been fishing for decades. It used to be bass back until I got into local freshwater stripers and there was no looking back after that. Lately I've been running downriggers for lake trout on out mountain lakes. 100+' isn't unusual with the lack of rain and clear days pushing them deep. Spot schools of baitfish and adjust accordingly.
Anyway, heavy poles and associated terminal tackle isn't a problem as are many fishing techniques. Drift trolling, regular trolling, jigging etc...T here is just knowledge to be gained by partnering with others who can give some insight.
My Stratos is a solid deep hulled center console with a rock solid motor and fitments. Good chart plotter with secondary GPS and radio. No EPIRB; however, due to my other hobby of bikepacking, I would carry my DeLorme InReach satellite tracker.
So, if it looks like there is good weather coming for a weekend, I would trailer down to Charleston (straight shot on I-26) or close by and try to spend a couple of days out on the water. If someone is going out and has an extra spot, I would be good with driving down sans boat to go along and cover my share of expenses. In return, you'd always be welcome to come up into our mountains and enjoy some clear water lake trout trolling.
Thanks
In doing some more research, I'm now leaning toward a trip down to St. Helena. It seems a lot less crowded and cheaper than the Charleston area.
Anyone else fishing that area with any advice, things to look out for, etc?
Don't know either area real well (I'm up in Wilmington), but finding red drum/sheepshead/etc successfully would probably require some local knowledge or some cheater structure like a jetty.
Just my $.02, but your best bet going in blind this time of year is to grab a couple of planers and spoons for your trolling rods. Maybe get a #1 and a #2 planer to run different depths, and run about 8-10ft of leader to some #0 spoons. You'd be set up for about $25. Plenty of Spanish lurking around right off the beaches, and they make pretty good tacos.
For while you're trolling around, grab a little metallic casting jig to put on a spinning rod with 1-2ft of leader. There are False Albacore (i.e. Bonita/Little Tunny) around here lately, so they are likely there too. If you see birds and bait busting, cast into the school and reel like crazy, Albies are terrible eating, but lots of fun to catch.
King mackerel are possible close in, but not terribly likely. I wouldn't go more than 5 miles out in a stratos with even a light East wind. Some will argue with that, and I'll admit I'm a bit of a chicken. Again, just my $.02.
Don't know which species you want to target but by the info you described " boat - set up - ect , " you might want to look at the Beauford - broad river area..
Great trout , flounder , reds on the flats and oyster rakes up river around the 170 bridge area ,,, kings , spanish , cobia closer down around Hilton Head area or set up on some humps and drown large baits for some monster sharks......
Don't know which species you want to target but by the info you described " boat - set up - ect , " you might want to look at the Beauford - broad river area..
Great trout , flounder , reds on the flats and oyster rakes up river around the 170 bridge area ,,, kings , spanish , cobia closer down around Hilton Head area or set up on some humps and drown large baits for some monster sharks......
Thanks for the tips. Very much appreciated.
I've been looking into a long weekend trip here in a few weeks. Scoped out some places to stay on St. Helena and launch over on the Port Royal side as recommended by some folks on THT. The water sounds like it is better over there.
As with everything, I'm starting with baby steps.
Also worth noting that our lovely Saturday weather is quickly turning into a sh**show.
All i have to do is turn twords Beaufort and the storm of the century will hit :eew: :eew: :wall: :wall: :wall:
I lived and fished there (Beaufort, SC) for 10 years, inshore and offshore. It is one of those places that you really have to know the area.I kept my boat in the water in Port Royal and fished a lot. Tides are brutal, shallow water and oyster bars are plentiful. I did catch a lot of nice trout, reds, and cobia, but it took years and a lot of fishing to do it. I do not recommend it for fishing for anyone not experienced in that area.
Not being local, all I can do is seek opinions and weigh options.
Everyone has to start somewhere.
Back to your original post. Charleston will be much more crowded and expensive. The Beaufort, SC area is never crowded and is actually underfished. I am only talking about inshore fishing. Beaufort is expensive on Thurs and Fri because Marines graduate every Friday. If you are weathered out, I highly recommend you go the the Marine Corps Graduation Ceremony on Friday at 0900. There are just so many places there to fish and most of them do not have names. In Oct, your best bet is a curly tail plastic on a 1/4 oz lead head fished slowly either close to a grassy area or in a deep hole, deep there would be 8' or more. Next to oyster bars, I always had better luck with a popping cork and either a mud minnow, live shrimp or Gulp fished about 2' or less below it. The tides will determine everything, they are big and they are swift, best bet is too fish an hour before and after high and low tides. Neither city is good for offshore fishing in an 18' boat. I would seriously consider driving a bit more and going to the Wilmington, NC area. Incredible fishing, inshore and just offshore, lots of guides,and lots of tackle shops. I did not mean to be negative in my other reply.
I SECOND MOST OF FISHANGEL COMMENTS ON BEAUFORT FISHING ;; FAST TIDE WITH ABOUT A 6FT HIGH TO LOW FALL.. BEING AS YOUR NEW TO AREA I WOULD TRY TO PLAN ON STARTING ON A LOW END TIDE AND FISHING THE RISING TIDE .. YOU SURE AS #ELL DON'T WANT TO GROUND ON A FALLING TIDE .. FISH THE DEEP HOLES AS MENTIONED WHILE OBSERVING THE AREA AND THE BOTTOM CONTOURS TO ACCESS THE GRASS LINES FOR YOUR CORK FISHING... THERE IS SOME GREAT SHEEP AND BLACK DRUM FISHING ALONG THE 170 BRIDGE STRUCTURE,,, WILMINGTON IS GOOD FISHING AND EASIER FISHING ESPECIALLY LOWER CAPE FEAR ( SOUTHPORT AREA ) ;;NOTE ALL FLATTIE FISHING IS CLOSED IN NC UNTIL >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>??????? TROUT , REDS , BLACK DRUM IN CREEKS AND AROUND STRUCTURE ALONG THE SOUTHPORT WATERFRONT , SLOW TROLL LIVE BAIT ALONG THE OAK ISLAND BEACH FOR KINGS AND SPANISH UNTIL TEMP SENDS THEM OFF SHORE........
Thanks for all of the input and advice. This is why I hang out on forums such as this. You learn a lot and get sage advice from people in the know.
I did go read up on the Port Royal area and the intensity of the tides. I didn't know that there were no rivers feeding the sound but that's what learning is all about. Awareness of falling tides and the possibility of getting stuck aground is certainly one aspect that I am tracking. The funny thing is that the same thing happens here. People will get out on one of our rivers while the TVA is generating which raises water levels. The schedule is published but not always 100% accurate so sometimes the water drops a couple of hours before it should and boaters get stuck in deep pools between shallow spots.
Travel distance isn't really that big of an issue. I'm in this to learn as I go, to enjoy the journey and return safe.
My wife and I have been to Wilmington before. In fact, our sons oldest and best friend in the world is the head brewmaster at Front Street Brewing down near the Cape Fear River so Wilmington is always a prime destination for us as he's like our 3rd son. Over on THT they've been discussing the N.C. flounder restriction.
What about down near Savannah? I know that it is not quite the Carolinas but my wife has been dying to spend a day at Jekyll Island to go to the Sea Turtle Center. I did find a BnB right on the river close to a full service marina. I've not done any other reconnoitering of the area other than that but it looks like a well developed river chain.
Again, thanks for the insight.
Keep us posted on where you end up going. The fishing has been pretty good inshore and offshore here in Wilmington lately if the weather is right.
GONNA FISH PORT ROYAL / BEAUFORT WED & THURS THIS WEEK ; TROUT , REDS , FLOUNDER , HOPE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO POST END OF WEEK !!!!