Saltwater Fishing Trends
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North Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that January typically offers some of the clearest, prettiest water of the year, and as a result it can be an excellent month for sight-fishing on the north end of the Grand Strand. Redfish will be grouped up in large winter schools that are easy to spot, and it is hard to beat fresh cut shrimp fished on a jighead to entice them to bite. Black drum can also be caught on shrimp fished around docks and ledges in the Intracoastal Waterway or holes in the creeks. If water temperatures stay in the upper 40s then trout should continue to bite right through January. They will be caught on artificial lures such as Vudu Shrimp in the ICW and around the jetties, and at times they will even be mixed in with redfish on the shallow flats. Storms and dirty water can slow the bite and spread the fish out, but they will usually return to eating once conditions improve.
Most detailed North Grand Strand Updates
South Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Tom Cushman (843-997-5850) reports that last January was better than December, and this year he’s hopeful the same pattern will repeat. This month redfish and black drum should still bite well in the creeks. In the clear conditions you can often spot them, but particularly if it gets very cold they can be lethargic. To increase your chances of catching them shrimp are hard to beat. Trout should also be around in deeper holes and at the jetties, and live shrimp really increase your chances of hooking up.
Most detailed Southern Grand Strand Updates
Georgetown
Inshore: Captain Greg Holmes (843-241-0594) reports that January can have tough fishing conditions, but for anglers willing to brave the cold redfish can often be found grouped up in the skinniest water (avoiding dolphins and trying to warm on sunny days) where they will usually still feed. Trout can sometimes be in the same areas but are more likely to head for deeper bends and holes in the creeks, and they will also stack up at the jetties. The best way to catch trout is working artificial lures like imitation shrimp very, very slowly – or fishing live shrimp. A unique Georgetown fishery is the striped bass that can be found in the winter around bridges like the US 17 bridge, while more familiar is the presence of juvenile black drum in holes and around structure in inshore areas. They can be caught on fresh cut shrimp.
Charleston
Inshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) report that January fishing in Charleston is mostly about redfish and trout. In the clear conditions anglers should be able to locate big schools of redfish on low tide. Some days they may be difficult to get to bite, but this month can offer some of the most exciting and usually the most visual fishing of the year. There will also be some fish caught around docks. As long as it does not get terribly cold trout fishing should remain good this month along deeper grass lines and in deep holes. Live shrimp as well as a variety of artificial lures should catch fish, although fishing slowly is key.
Surf and pier: Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that whiting should continue to bite this month, and there should also be some trout and black drum around.
Most detailed Charleston updates
Edisto Island
Inshore: Captain Ron Davis Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that in January weather conditions will affect the fishing, but generally redfish should bite well on artificial lures fished on the flats if you can locate them. In the creeks anglers do not have to worry about the bait stealers that have mostly left the area and so fishing around structure with cut shrimp or mullet is a reliable choice for reds. Unless water temperatures get very cold trout should be caught on grubs in the creeks, but anglers should think about times of day and conditions when fish are most likely to be active. Juvenile black drum should be catchable on cut shrimp, while sheepshead have generally moved offshore to spawn.
Most detailed Edisto Island Updates
Beaufort
Inshore: Captain Tuck Scott (843-524-5250) and Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) report that in January redfish will get in even tighter schools. In January sight-fishing is an excellent way to target fish on the flats with natural baits or artificial lures in the clear conditions, but if it gets very cold at some point they may get more lethargic. There can also be reliable fishing around docks, particularly those with some oyster beds nearby. Trout should continue to be caught in deeper holes in the creeks on soft plastics fished on ¼-ounce jigheads as long as it does not get super cold, and they will also take mud minnows – or live shrimp if you can get them. There are still black drum around inshore that will eat cut shrimp, and until the bulk of the better sheepshead move offshore next month they can still be caught on deeper structure with fiddler crabs.
Most detailed Beaufort Updates
Hilton Head
Inshore: Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) and Captain Trent Malphrus (843-301-4634) report that January is an excellent month for sight-fishing for redfish around Hilton Head, and for at least the first part of the month fish should still be very active. They will take a variety of live and natural baits, with Gulp, ZMan StreakZ, and mud minnows all working well. Locating mullet/ glass minnows and fishing in areas with bait will usually improve your odds. If conditions get very cold then fish may become more lethargic, and anglers may have to adjust their approach to finicky fish. Trout should also feed heavily well into January if not straight through the month. Live mud minnows, or live shrimp if you can get them, are hard to beat for trout, but artificial lures worked very slowly in deep holes will also catch fish.