Murrells Inlet fishing great for bull reds, gray trout, flounder

Jetties outside Murrells Inlet have been particularly productive

Fall is a great time for catching the inshore slam of redfish, flounder and trout in Murrells Inlet waters, and Capt. J. Baisch of Fishful Thinking Guide Service has been catching bull reds about a quarter-mile off the beach, as well as flounder at the Paradise reef, trout, flounder and redfish around the jetties.

The big reds have been coming from a spot known to the locals as “Area 5” and gray trout, aka weakfish, have been thick off an area known as “The Chimneys.”

Baisch is catching most of his fish on cut bait and live bait fished on Carolina rigs with 1-ounce weights and 12- to 18-inch leaders. He’s been catching his bait around the inlet and just off the surf in a cast net.

“I prefer to use the bigger mullet and menhaden for cut bait, and use the smaller ones live,” said Baisch (843-902-0346).

When fishing “Area 51,” Baisch suggests dropping your bait straight down, then jigging it slightly. He offers the same advice for fishing the Chimneys but likes a different approach at the jetties and Paradise Reef. In those places, anglers need to cast with the current, then allow their rigs to hit bottom before slowly working their bait back in.

“Don’t move your bait by reeling. Slowly lift your rod to move your bait in closer, and only use the reel to take up the slack,” Baisch said, who isn’t one to sit too long in a spot that’s not producing.

“You have to give them time to bite, but there are so many options in Murrells Inlet, you have to make sure you don’t waste too much time in a spot that isn’t producing,” he said.

Fishermen with a limited amount of time can usually find some degree of success fishing along the jetties.

“Flounder and rat reds are definitely hanging out here along this wall,” Baisch said, pointing at the North Jetty. “Just anchor your boat so you can throw parallel to the wall and for flounder, slowly work your bait back to the boat.”

Baisch likes cut bait for reds along the jetties and live minnows for flounder, but he said not to be surprised if a redfish engulfs your live minnow.