Thanks to Ron Davis, inventor of The Chatterbait, for this inshore report.
Sheepshead: Excellent. Sheepshead fishing has been very good around the docks in both rivers. Older docks are best. Fish are being taken on fiddler crabs along with small pieces of clams and oysters. Fishing has been best around low tide in 8-12 feet of water.
Whiting: Excellent. Whiting seem to be in good supply this year. They are being caught in the surf and at the mouths of the rivers around sand bars and cuts in the bars with cut shrimp, squid and mullet on 2-3 hook fish finder rigs.
Redfish: Good. Water and air temperatures in the area have finally begun to rise and feel like the calendar says it should. An incredibly late spring has caused the inshore bite to lag about a month behind normal. Usually in June, the reds are feeding actively on both live baits and artificials, but so far, the artificial bite has stayed slow. Redfish on the main river oyster flats are still a little skittish, especially around low tide. Fishing has been best around mid tides on the grass line with cut mullet and menhaden fished on Carolina rigs. Also, mud minnows fished 2 feet under a float have been producing. Early in the morning, there have been some caught on soft plastic jerkbaits and paddle tail grubs fished on flutter hooks. In the creeks, a good number of over slot fish are being caught around docks and fallen trees in 4-8 feet of water near low tide on mud minnows and cut bait.
Trout: Good. Spotted seatrout have just begun to show in good numbers on the main river deep shell banks. Finding clear water is essential to success in the area. Trout favor 4-10 feet of water over hard bottom areas with deep water access nearby. Mid to upper tides are normally the most productive. Live mud minnows and small live menhaden are the baits of choice now fished on bottom or under floats. Also, DOA shrimp and a variety of soft plastics fished on 1/8-1/4 jigheads are also taking some fish.
Flounder: Good. Some flounder are being caught on the main river shell flats using mud minnows on light Carolina rigs. Also, some have been caught in the inlet and creek mouths closest to the ocean. Better fishing has been up in the smaller creeks around docks and trees in 2-8 feet of water. Mud minnows fished on weedless 1/4 ounce jigheads are a good way to cover lots of water to find the fish. Once one is caught, work the area thoroughly as flounder will tend to hang in clusters.
Offshore: No new report from Edisto Marina.
