By Chris Pounder
April is a great month to fish in the Charleston area. The blistering summer heat has yet to bear its teeth, and it’s mild enough to throw on a pair of flip-flops, grab a cold beer from the pier store, and head down the pier to see what’s biting. A great species to target in April is the flounder. The best way to target the doormats is to hop a finger mullet or mud minnow along the bottom between the pier pilings where the tide rips through. Flounder and other predators will sit and wait for the tide to bring an easy meal. Live shrimp or trout candy as I like to call them or mud minnows will be great bait options for trophy trout. Soft plastic jigs and top- water plugs should catch trout and red drum as well. The sheepshead bite should also improve as the water temperature warms. Anglers have had great luck using oysters, clams or fiddler crabs as bait. Oysters and clams can be tricky to keep on your hook, but I recently learned a trick that can help. After sliding the oyster up the hook, tip the bottom of the hook with a small piece of shrimp. This will secure the oyster and keep it from immediately sliding off the hook in the water.
April should be a great month at the pier and should see some diverse catches. Be sure to give the Mount Pleasant Pier a call at (843) 762-9946, and the friendly folks on staff will let you know exactly what is biting and the best way to land your own trophy. It is a great time to hone your skills and get ready for the first pier tournament of the year on Saturday, May 3. The Kahuna on the Cooper tournament officially kicks off the summer for Charleston County Park fishing tournaments. The competition runs from 6am–4pm, and entry is only $5 plus the regular daily fishing fee. Advance registration available at charlestoncountyparks.com.
Chris Pounder
Mt. Pleasant Pier
www.ccprc.com
(843) 762-9946
