Saltwater Fishing Trends
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North Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that with a mild October fishing should be wide open for most of November. By the end of October flounder were already thinning out, but trout, redfish, and black drum should all be gorging on bait before it gets harder to locate later in the season. In particular they expect the trout fishing to really turn on this month. Different species should all be found in the same areas, with oyster beds and drops inside the creeks producing and the jetty rocks also very productive. Until water temperatures drop live mullet and shrimp should continue to be abundant, but as it gets colder anglers will be switching over to Gulp! baits and other artificials. Cut shrimp will also work for black drum and redfish.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that water temperatures are starting out so warm in November that even a few cold fronts should not drop the ocean temperature too much. Blues and Spanish should be around until water temperatures drop below the mid-60s, and the best fall bite for shrimp-eaters like whiting, croaker and spots should take place this month. Some big red drum should continue to be caught off the pier and they hope for one more run of king mackerel.
Most detailed North Grand Strand Updates
South Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Tom Cushman (843-997-5850) and Captain Robert Orr (843-347-4464) report that people think of September and October as peak months at the top of our coast, but with mild fall weather the last few years they are finding November to often be the best month around Murrells Inlet. Flounder are usually in the creeks through the middle of the month or even Thanksgiving, and the redfish action seems to get better as the temperatures drop and the schools start to tighten up. The best trout fishing usually starts around Halloween. Of course you can catch all three species on live finger mullet, mud mullet, or live shrimp (a trout’s absolute favorite), but they will also eat a variety of artificial baits including Gulp! and Vudu shrimp very well. All of these species will be in the creeks, and the jetties should also hold all three – as well as bull reds. So far this fall it’s been an off-and-on bite for bull redfish, but they may still get more consistent as temperatures drop. Live mullet and menhaden will both catch them.
Most detailed Southern Grand Strand Updates
Georgetown
Inshore: Captain Greg Holmes (843-241-0594) reports that in November the trout fishing will get better while many of the bigger “bull” red drum will leave the inshore areas. By the end of October, they were already seeing improvement in the trout fishing with the cooler conditions, and as temperatures drop into the lower 60s more fish will be feeding around current rips, points, creek mouths and other areas that affect water flow. They will be more willing to eat artificial lures including grubs and hard baits, and on lower tides targeting a bit deeper water. Juvenile redfish generally under 30 inches will also be around in good numbers, and they will start to group up a little tighter this month even as they will not have gotten into huge winter schools. Reds can be found anywhere in the creeks depending on the height of the tide, and while they will still eat mullet, cut shrimp, mud minnows and other natural baits they are also easier to catch on artificials with less bait around. In general Captain Greg likes to target trout on cleaner, higher water and redfish on lower water.
Charleston
Inshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) report that the last couple of years November has been just as good as October, and there’s no reason to expect the excellent bite for inshore species such as trout and redfish – and flounder – not to last at least through the end of the month. This has already been one of the best falls for trout in memory. Catching fish in the creeks is as simple as fishing live shrimp under a popping cork around oysters, drops and grass lines. Trout will be deeper, reds shallower, and flounder usually shallowest. As we approach December redfish should start to group up in tighter schools, but it will be a while before they get more finicky. Trout are also unlikely to slow down until it gets very cool. There should also continue to be big red drum caught in the harbor and at the jetties, and sheepshead will also be around the jetties.
Surf and pier: Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports redfish and whiting should continue to bite through December, and there are also almost always sheepshead around.
Most detailed Charleston updates
Edisto Island
Inshore: Captain Ron Davis Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that November is known as DOA month around Edisto because this month shrimp will become scarce but trout, redfish and more will be hungry and looking to feed on whatever they can find – including artificial lures! Early in the month trout will be in schools on the main rivers with some already in the creeks, and as the effect of cold fronts, shorter periods of daylight, and longer nights drop temperatures and they approach the 60-degree mark more trout will start to get into the creeks. As temperatures drop they will also get into tighter schools. Further, with each 2- or 3-degree drop all the inshore species will feed better as winter approaches, and the sheepshead and black drum bites should get better and better until they go offshore. Flounder will stay until temperatures drop below about 65 degrees and the reds will just school up tighter when it gets cold. It shouldn’t be until much later that they get finicky about eating. It has been an excellent October for fishing around Edisto, and November should be more of the same.
Most detailed Edisto Island Updates
Beaufort
Inshore: Captain Tuck Scott (843-524-5250) and Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) report that in November fish will only continue to ramp up their feeding, storing up reserves since they are about to lose their bait supply. They know that most shrimp and baitfish will eventually leave and crabs will go into hibernation. Redfish should bite better and better on low tide even as they start to group up a bit more, and on very high tides they will continue to tail for the first part of November. Mud minnows, finger mullet, cut mullet and shrimp are all good bait choices. The trout bite will accelerate this month as temperatures drop and fish will be caught around the mouths of creeks and current rips in moving water. Late October was very strong. Shrimp under a popping cork are usually hard to beat, but as shrimp become more rare a variety of artificials will work. Flounder will be caught on mud minnows and finger mullet until water temperatures drop into the lower 60s, and black drum will also feed up more and more this month on shrimp and crabs.
Most detailed Beaufort Updates
Hilton Head
Inshore: Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) and Captain Trent Malphrus (843-301-4634) report that November should be another “golden” month in the Hilton Head area, especially as temperatures really didn’t drop that much for most of October. As temperatures fall redfish should move out of summer patterns and start to feed better along grass edges. Oyster bars should remain excellent places to look, and as fish start to move into tighter schools there will be better concentrations of fish but also more areas where fish are not. October already had some good trout fishing at creek mouths, but when temperatures really drop trout fishing should be wide open in areas with current and clean water. Both artificials and live bait will work. Big red drum will also continue to be found up the rivers and off the beaches.