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August 27, 2026

Anchoring up as dusk approaches can be a great way to produce nice catches of Lake Monticello cats.

Drift-fishing isn’t the only way to catch catfish; anchoring has its moments

Terry Madewell

Justin Whiteside said he seldom drifts at Lake Monticello unless he’s targeting suspended fish. […]

In low-light or stained-water conditions, a silver jigging spoon can becomea gold with an application of Spike-It’s lure dye.

For quick color fixes, pull out that container of dye

Dusty Wilson

Ask two anglers for their opinion on lure color, and you may get two different answers. But the general consensus is that silver or chrome spoons perform best on bright sunny days with clear conditions and gold or painted spoons are best for cloudy days or stained water. […]

A balloon rig is an effective way for an anchored angler to cover more water without moving.

Try a balloon rig for big catfish

Terry Madewell

Justin Whiteside said he can tap into the suspended catfish action even from an anchored position, as easy as blowing up a balloon. […]

Anglers like Greg Dreibelbois are allowed to keep one amberjack per day; this one has no problem exceeding the 28-inch size minimum.

Many rules govern snapper, groupers

Craig Holt

The snapper-grouper complex in the South Atlantic includes 59 species, as determined by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. […]

The perfect pole for vertical jigging crappie is light, sensitive and has plenty of backbone.

How to make a good jigging rod for crappie? Sam Heaton asked B’n’M and got one.

Phillip Gentry

Legendary fisherman Sam Heaton once earned a living by guiding for crappie on Alabama’s Lake Weiss, a relatively shallow, lowland lake filled with stumps, logs and standing timber. He spent a lot of time fishing for crappie the old fashioned way: one pole, one hook. […]

Greg Dreibelbois of Gastonia battles a large amberjack fishing offshore with Capt. Kevin Sneed.

Weather, vessel size are keys to offshore fishing

Craig Holt

Weather and boat size are keys to bottom-fishing in the ocean. […]

Find the right pattern and load the boat with Cooper River bream

Terry Madewell

Wyn Mullins of North Charleston said the quickest way to limit out on bluegill in July is to find the right pattern quickly. […]

Noisy lures with imbedded rattles will often get the attention of speckled trout from long distances, drawing strikes other lures wouldn’t get.

Noisy lures attract more trout bites

Mike Marsh

Daybreak is the best time to catch speckled trout during summer. Helping fish locate the lure takes more than just the typical vibration of an injured or swimming baitfish or the subtle movements of a soft plastic. […]

Spanish mackerel are fast swimmers with keen eyesight and sharp teeth, often requiring angler to trick them into a reaction bite.

Three trolling rigs for Spanish mackerel are popular among South Carolina fishermen

Phillip Gentry

Trolling for Spanish mackerel is a great way to locate fish when searching a large area. According to John Boy Koonce, a Charleston-area guide, you can make trolling as simple or as complex as you like; it’s a good way to fish with clients with children who aren’t as accomplished with tackle. […]

Gray trout are often caught on the same lures, in the same areas, as the more-popular speckled trout.

Weakfish are a big bonus for speckled trout fishermen

Mike Marsh

While most anglers who catch summer trout are targeting spotted seatrout exclusively, other species will torpedo lures intended for specks. One of the best of these bonus species is the gray trout, aka weakfish, so-called for its weak mouth. However, a mouthful of treble hooks that snags one usually holds it tightly all the way to the boat. […]