Winter has finally arrived here in South Carolina. During the cold winter months, water temperatures are the key for inshore fishing. If January weather is extreme and the water temps drop below 50 degrees, the fishing really slows down. However, if the water temps stay above 55 degrees, winter fishing for sheepshead will be good. Find sheepshead by working docks, rock piles, pilings and so forth. Fiddlers are the best bait to use, but oysters, live shrimp or clams will also work. The biggest advantage of fishing in the winter is that the bait stealers are gone. There are no pinfish, croakers or other small fish around to steal baits intended for game fish.
On calm days with little or no wind, the nearshore reefs are really good places to fish. Black sea bass, black drum, redfish, weakfish and sheepshead are the most commonly caught fish, but there may be others around as well. Spiny dogfish sharks usually show up this time of year and are great fun on light tackle using minnows or cut bait. They do not have teeth so mono or fluoro leader will work. Watch out for the spines on their backs as they will curl and roll to try to hook you. Baits used at the reef will depend on the species you wish to catch. Fiddlers will work for sheepshead, while other fish, such as weaks, can be caught on a variety of plastics that you would normally use inshore for trout or reds.
Capt. Mike Waller
www.saltfisher.com
(843) 224-8197
