Slot and above-slot fish making up most of anglers’ catches
Lowcountry anglers know that fall means great fishing for a variety of species. And that’s certainly the case around Charleston right now. But the really hot bite this time of year, according to Capt. Addison Rupert of Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures, is the redfish.
“If you like catching lots of fish, right now is the time of year to go,” Rupert said. “This time of year, we have many days of 40-plus catches of redfish. And at certain times during the day, they will bite on every cast.”
This time of year, Rupert catches a combination of over-the-slot fish as well as keepers on both natural bait and Gulp! artificial lures. He catches a lot of them around bridge pilings, docks, rock piles and wooden retaining walls. Rupert likes to use cut chunks of blue crab, shrimp or live minnows on Carolina rigs with 3/0 hooks.
Cut blue crab is king on most days
“Overall, the cut blue crab really is the No. 1 bait for big redfish,” said Rupert, who said on some days, reds prefer live shrimp or cut shrimp over anything else and suggests fishermen keep their livewells stocked with a variety of baits and not be afraid to change if the fish aren’t biting.
Rupert (843-557-3476) likes to set up a few rods with bait, put them in rod holders, then have his clients cast artificials until the baited rods get hit. This keeps folks actively doing something and increases their chance of catching fish. And it helps him determine what the hot bait or lure is that day. Gulp! soft plastics threaded onto jigheads will catch these fish and seem to do best in open water and deep holes.
These fish are biting all around Charleston. The Wando and Cooper rivers, the harbor, jetties and the Grillage all produce quality fish, and Rupert sees no reason to believe the bite will let up anytime soon.
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