Top tips for catching Georgetown’s wintertime redfish

Scented soft plastics catch redfish all winter

For redfish anglers, the wintertime bite can be off the chain this time of year. And the marshes near Georgetown, S.C. historically bring excellent winter action for reds with the right types of bait.

Redfish can provide bumper days on the water at any time of year. The winter months often provide above average days, sometimes from the same staked-out position in the marsh. This time of year, redfish school up into large groups in the backcountry marsh areas and keep warm on mud flats near a slightly deeper creek bend. They may not eat as readily as they do in October or June, but a well placed bait or lure can still bring heavy action.

In the Georgetown area, Guide Greg Holmes of Fish Skinny Charters lives up to his name and fishes the skinny waters around the region.

“Redfish school up in the back of the creeks,” said Holmes (843-241-0594) “They’re in large schools, sometimes with over 100 fish in them.”

Scented lures are good options

Holmes usually finds them in some of the same creeks year after year. And he targets them at low tide when the fish are corralled in the limited water available on this tidal stage.

“Reds in these areas are sometimes lethargic. But they can surely be enticed to eat the right bait. It’s hard to beat a live mud minnow or even a fresh chunk of mullet or shrimp,” he said.

Scented artificial lures are a good option and typically Holmes’ go-to choice for wintertime redfishing.

“Any kind of scented bait is about as good as live bait. Live bait is hard to come by in January and the scented plastics are excellent,” he said.

Holmes will either use soft plastics infused with scent like Berkley Gulp or he will spray an attractant on his soft plastics like Pro Cure. Scents are more effective on some species than others.

Holmes uses soft plastics that have screw tails. They activate with little movement in the water.

“The reds will be sluggish this time of year anyway. And any bait would be as well. But that little movement in the tail is sometimes just what is needed to get them to commit,” he said.