The month of December is reserved for the angler that is truly dedicated to fishing, as this month is typically one of our colder months with some of the windier days we face during the year. However, winter is also one of the prettiest times of year. There are days where the sky is so blue, it does not look real and some of the sunsets will be etched in your mind forever. This is the beauty of the Lowcountry. The bonus is that there are actually some fish to catch during this time as well.
Inshore, the redfish will be schooled up on low-tide flats on sunny days. Getting them to eat on really cold days may be a little tricky, but scented baits or live baits fished very slowly will generally do the trick. Trout will be schooling up as well and can be found around structure like oyster beds and docks. Trout are very much ambush-type feeders, so keep this in mind when targeting them. Look for points and areas where they can wait for food to appear. Sheepshead fishing will be good around inshore structures and around the jetties. Live fiddler crabs are hard to beat for a good choice of bait.
Nearshore and offshore, the bottom fishing will be very good. Large black sea bass dominated the reports last year, and this year should be no different. Trigger fish and grouper should make for some really good fishing as well. The wahoo bite will be steady throughout the winter if you are willing to make the ride. Every year, someone comes in with a report of a huge winter wahoo that made their day.
If you have not had a chance to visit our website, please check it out. The site is free, and the information is real time. As always, we appreciate everyone’s participation on our site and thank our many members who share their fishing experiences and knowledge. We hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas holiday season.
Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.com
