Spanish mackerel, spadefish are top draws, but they’re not all that’s biting
For Charleston-area anglers fishing nearshore or inshore, the fishing couldn’t be better; Spanish mackerel and spadefish are the hottest-biting fish on the nearshore reefs.
Capt. Robert Olsen of Knot@Work Fishing Charters and his parties have been catching spadefish on large, peeled shrimp around the 4KI and Lowcountry Angler reefs. Live menhaden fished on single-hook bottom rigs with 1- to 2-ounce weights are doing the trick on the Spanish mackerel.
“The current and the ocean temperatures have stabilized better than they have in years, and the fishing couldn’t be hotter,” said Olsen (843-442-7724).
And what was a nuisance just a few weeks ago is now a bonus.
“Black sea bass fishing has finally opened, and now we can at least keep a handful of these per angler. Fishing with the large, live menhaden for Spanish keeps the small black sea bass from stealing your bait and often results in some quality-sized bass,” Olsen said.
But black sea bass aren’t the only bonus fish on the nearshore reefs.
“Black drum have usually moved to the inshore waters by now, and we are catching some inshore,” but we are also still catching big numbers of them on the nearshore reefs,” said Olsen, who has been using shrimp and fiddler crabs for bait.
Cobia, which have completed the bulk of their migration, are still biting on the near-shore reefs as well.
“The cobia bite has been hot and has continued a little later than normal, and we are still catching one here and there,” said Olsen, who teamed up with a group of clients to catch five on one recent trip. Live eels and menhaden are great baits for these fish.
The nearshore reefs aren’t the only waters giving up quality fish in the Charleston area. “Inshore fishing has been just as hot. We are still catching bull redfish as well as keeper-sized ones. Large trout are biting better than they have in years, and the flounder fishing has picked up as well,” said Olsen.
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