Sight-casting is probably one of the most exciting ways to fish. It’s similar to stalking deer or jump-shooting ducks, except getting within range with a fishing rod in hand is not even half the battle. Putting the bait in the fish’s path AND getting him to eat it is when the excitement really starts. Try that sitting in a kayak within spitting distance of a 3-foot shark and you’ve just entered the world of guide Justin Carter of Kayakfish SC.
August’s heat can put a damper on fishing for some inshore species, but for bonnethead sharks, the hotter it gets, the better they bite. Bonnetheads are unique among southern sharks; they ply extreme shallow waters inshore and are abundant along the entire South Carolina coastline during the warmer months. This makes them easier to spot when fishing shallow bays and backwaters. It’s in these locations, particularly those with a lot of exposed oyster shell at low tide, where the fish hunt for shrimp, crabs, and small baitfish.
“Once I spot a fish I like to get two baits out pretty quickly, so it helps to be rigged and ready,” said Carter (843-217-0271), who is a member of the Hobie fishing team. “Put one on each side of where you last saw the fish. He’s either going right or going left, so either way, you have him covered.”
Carter said his best tides are two hours before and two hours after low tide when bonnetheads – and the bait they’re stalking – are more exposed. During other tide cycles, he has success by anchoring up with a stake pole and fan-casting baits into deep holes or intersections in the creek.
Bonnetheads don’t tolerate much boat traffic when they’re in the shallows, so the most- remote areas, those almost impossible to fish from powerboats, hold the greatest fishing potential. That’s even more reason to get out and try kayak bonnethead sharkin’.
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