This can be a particularly breezy month on the beach but wind will benefit fishing conditions as long as it is fewer than 10 knots.
A good wind creates mud-lines in the aqua-colored ocean which serve as camouflage for predatory fish. In addition, August is generally a good chance to target those warm-water predatory species at the pier.
The Florida Pompano will be plentiful as they favor Charleston’s 80°+ water. Part of the Jack Family, Pompano exude tropical characteristics of a yellow silver color with a deep forked tail.
They are very fast swimmers with small teeth for bottom feeding in the shallow surf. It isn’t uncommon to hook a lot in a short period of time.
They run in large schools and will bite if the bait is right. I’ve seen both fresh and frozen shrimp produce successful results.
A common set-up is light tackle and rod with a bottom rig using size 1 plain shank hooks. If you’re having trouble setting the hook, try cutting the shrimp into smaller half or third-size pieces.
With a bit of good fortune you may hook into the larger pound plus Pompano we’ve been seeing off the Folly Pier this year.
Ultimately they will migrate south as the Carolina water temperatures drop in the fall. Despite their slight fishy taste, Pompano have become a popular dish in the south.
Fillets can be prepared in numerous ways including baked, broiled, boiled, steamed, and of course fried. One such famous plate is the Pompano en Papillote from New Orleans.
The fillets are baked in a pouch with white wine sauce, shrimp, and crabmeat. Gather the crew and join Folly Pier’s big Cast-Off Fishing Tournament Saturday, August 11, 6:00am-2:00pm.
Entry fee includes a lunch, raffle ticket, and of course a chance to land the big one for great prizes.
Also, groove under the stars at our Moonlight Mixer Friday, August 17, 7:00pm-11:00pm. For more information visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.
Joey Crawford
Folly Beach Pier
jcrawford@ccprc.com
