Reds, specks and flounder all ganged up on pods of shrimp, baitfish
The roller-coaster weather has brought fishermen out of the woodwork in Georgetown’s inshore waters, and a fall blitz is in full swing with the big three – redfish, flounder and speckled trout – smashing live and artificial baits.
Shrimpers are reporting record hauls, and huge congregations of mullet continue to flood the bays and creeks, providing a tasty buffet for a host of predators in the area.
Capt. Robert Mayer of Top Knotch Fishing Charters is living it up, returning happy anglers back to the dock with sore muscles and coolers full of fish.
“Everything is going off right now. It’s the grand slam of fishing with spot-tails, flounder and trout doing real well,” said Mayer (843-240-9477). “Pick your poison; they are all gorging on bait, with big numbers of fish all over.”
Mayer reports fish concentrated from the Winyah Bay jetties along the oceanfront to the shorelines along the rear of Muddy Bay next to Hobcaw Barony.
“The fish are out in the bays mostly and are not concentrated in the creeks yet,” he said.
Both the falling and rising tide are producing good numbers of fish, however, the best time to catch fish is when current moves bait around and allows the predators to position along ambush points. Anywhere there is structure or a shallow-water point or hump breaking the current flow is an ideal place to find fish.
Water temperatures are hovering around 60 degrees, ideal for baitfish and shrimp.
“Live shrimp and live mullet are effective, but it’s a good time to use artificial lures,” Mayer said.
Artificial shrimp such as Vudu Shrimp, D.O.A. Shrimp and Gulp! Shrimp are ideal, along with other grubs, suspending crankbaits and topwater lures.
Mayer prefers ¼-ounce jigs mostly tipped with a Saltwater Assassin sea shad bodies in opening night and electric chicken colors, but he will use topwater surface walkers, including Spook Jrs., early and late or during throughout the day under overcast skies.
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