Dolphin Dave’s favorites

Kayak-fishing expert gives Charleston advice

It doesn’t take a leap of faith to believe that a man with a name like “Dolphin” would have a keen interest in the water and in redfish. In the case of Dolphin Dave Hamilton, you’d be correct on both accounts. Hamilton is the manger at Time Out Sport & Ski in Mount Pleasant, and he loves to catch redfish, especially from a kayak. And yes, the name “Dolphin” does appear on his birth certificate — Dolphin Davis Hamilton IV — no less.

When he’s not behind the counter giving out expert advice on all things kayak-related, June will find Hamilton sitting in a paddleboat trying to entice a redfish to bite. I had the chance to sit down with him one day and pick his brain on paddling and putting reds in the boat.

SC Sportsman: Of all the places that there are to fish in the Charleston area, how do go about selecting where you want to fish from a kayak?

DDH: Obviously, it is based on what the tides are doing. The second is what’s got good easy access. I’d rather not to have to paddle 20 miles to get where I’m going. The good old standbys are the upper part of the Wando River at Paradise Landing; Garris Landing, where the Bull Island Ferry is docked; fishing Bulls Bay; and the Gadsenville Road Landing to get to Copahee Sound.

SCS: What are the favorable tides that you want to fish from a kayak in these locations this time of year?

DDH: This year may be a little different, as warm as it has been, but in years past, late May and into June, we’re getting the tail end of the winter redfish pattern. You won’t see the huge numbers of fish in a school, but they’re still tightened, and when they’re like this I like to fish a falling tide. Probably closer to low is what I like to fish better this time of year.

As it gets warmer and we get some bigger flood tides, the fish are going to start tailing a whole lot sooner this year than they normally would, and I personally like to get in the grass, fish that high tide while the fish are in and wait for them to come out of the grass. But right now, you can catch some good redfish just fishing the edges of the grass as the water falls off. Look for where the water drains out into those moisture mound mazes.

SCS: What kind of baits do you like to throw on a falling tide?

DDH: If we’re talking artificial baits, I’m a huge fan of the Z-Man Paddlers, the 4-inch stuff; as far as colors, I like to mix it up. The Houdini and the Redbone have really been killing it for me. I rig them on either an 1/8- or ¼-ounce jighead. If I’m fishing closer up into the grass, in the shallower water, I’ve been using some flutter hooks. The weight on those depends on how deep the water is. I try to bury the weight up a little bit into the bait to make it more weedless, and I’ll use anything from a 1/16-ounce to 3/16-ounce weighted hook.

SCS: Do you prefer different tackle when you are fishing out of the kayak compared to what you’d use in a power boat?

DDH: Most of my rods are 7-foot, medium-action rods, paired with 2500 and 3000 series reels spooled with 15-pound braid. One thing I do differently than some of my powerboat buddies is to fish with some longer rods, typically 7-foot, occasionally 7-foot-6 lengths. This is just something that makes it a little easier to reach that rod all the way around the front of the boat while you’re fighting a fish.

SCS: Speaking of boats, what boat are you fishing out of and how do you have it rigged?

DDH: I’m in a Wilderness Systems Ride 135, and I really like that boat around here, primarily for the ability of being able to stand up and sight-fish out of it. I can also push that boat though an inch of water if I have to. I’ve got it rigged with way too many rod holders and a couple of anchor trolleys. I used to run some electronics on it, a depth finder, but I’ve taken that off as I never really used it that much in most of the water I was fishing. I do have a rudder on that boat. I absolutely love the Wilderness Systems rudder systems.