by Capt. Mark Phelps
Charleston is a terrific place to fish in November as cool mornings, mild days, lower humidity and hungry fish are the perfect combination for great days on the water. This time of year, we focus on trout and redfish. November typically brings the first frost, so the fish will be very hungry as there is less bait in the water. This is very good news for anglers as redfish and trout will be very willing to eat artificial lures and flies with little hesitation.
Fishing for trout can be all or nothing this time of year. Cooler weather and lack of bait will have trout schooled up and moving to find warm water and food. This means you might hit a few of your favorite trout spots and get nothing. However, if you do find a spot with trout, they will be hungry and in large numbers. On a good day, you might catch 30 to 50 fish in an hour or so. Try floating a DOA shrimp under a cork or try a jig and grub on the bottom in your favorite color. It is important to remember that, as the water cools down, you will need to fish slower.
Red fishing will be at its best in November as they can tolerate the colder water better than trout and bait fish. They will take advantage of the sluggish bait and clear water to hunt down anything they see. Redfish will be in large schools around low tide, so sight casting to them should be fantastic as it will not be uncommon to see over 100 or more fish in a school! Work the schools slowly and quietly. With 200 eyes and lots of ears, they can hear and see very well and spook easily. However, if you get close enough to the school to cast a light artificial or fly, redfish will often eat anything you put in front of them. There is nothing more exciting than seeing a school of 100 redfish in the 5- to 15-pound range coming down the bank!
A great way to spend the day on the water is to book one of the area’s great guides. Having fished in Charleston for almost 18 years, I am extremely knowledgeable and experienced in this area. As owner and operator of Shore Thang Charters, I would love to share my expertise with you on the water
Capt. Mark Phelps,
Shore Thang Charters
(843) 475-1274
www.ShoreThangCharters.com
shorethangcharter@hotmail.com
