Seeing red in Murrells Inlet

As the March weather warms the water temps in Murrells Inlet, the redfish move into a spring-like pattern.

Redfish are biting in Murrells Inlet

Guide Jordan Pate of Carolina Guide Service (www.carolinaguideservice.com) said March is a transitional period and the redfish move into a spring-like pattern. And Murrells Inlet, he said, is a great place to ambush them.

“You can expect redfish to begin breaking out of their large winter schools,” said Pate (843-814-7900). “I’m often finding fish roaming in smaller packs of three to five fish this time of year.”

While the large winter schools are favored by many, the smaller packs of fish will be more spaced out offering more opportunities to find these fish in a greater number of creeks and tidal flats. Typically, the reds are still patrolling the creeks though and will switch back from the front to the rear of many of the creeks depending on the tide and water temperature.

“We often experience big tides and windy days in March. But if your timing is right between the big moon tides and cold fronts, you can have some of the best redfishing of the year in our area,” he said.

Look for big changes in coming days

Conditions can change drastically day to day. But the real drastic change is from the beginning of March to the end of March.

“Expect water temperatures to fluctuate by 5 to 10 degrees from the beginning of the month until the end of month. Be prepared to change tactics until you find a pattern since the fish may be held up in deep pockets when it’s cold and then roaming on shallow mud flats when it warms up significantly,” he said.

Pate primarily uses scented baits such as Z-Man and Berkley Gulp. But he will also use shrimp-flavored Pro-Cure on other non-scented lures to get the fish’s attention. Natural bait can also bring fish to the boat in a hurry.

“It’s an excellent month to dead stick cut mullet, frozen shrimp or chunks of blue crab,” he said.

Pate also will utilize a technique coined by the late Capt. Lynn Fore of Georgetown for tempting spring reds into chewing.

“He used frozen shrimp just a few feet under a popping cork, under a couple of split shot on a circle hook. Float them along a grass edge or over submerged oyster bars and they can’t resist them. You fish the popping corks less aggressively than you would an artificial shrimp. But it surely does the trick this time of year when you have the frozen shrimp handy,” he said.

About Jeff Burleson 1308 Articles
Jeff Burleson is a native of Lumberton, N.C., who lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C. He graduated from N.C. State University with a degree in fisheries and wildlife sciences and is a certified biologist and professional forester for Southern Palmetto Environmental Consulting.

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