Saltwater Fishing Trends
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North Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that late October was strong and November should be no different. At the end of October redfish, flounder, black drum, and trout were abundant--a pleasant surprise even though it seems to be a rebuilding year for the trout stock numbers. Only the flounder should really clear out over the course of November. Everything in the inshore waters will be gorging on bait this month as fish know it gets harder to locate later in the season. Different species should all be found in similar areas, with oyster beds, points, and drops inside the creeks producing and the jetty rocks also very productive. Live mullet and shrimp should continue to be good bait as long as you can get them, but as it gets colder anglers will be just fine switching over to Gulp! baits and other artificials for most species. Cut shrimp will also work for black drum and redfish.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that 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, at least early in the month, and there should be some good black drum and perhaps sheepshead fishing. You can also catch some large flounder in November as they head offshore.
Most detailed North Grand Strand Updates
South Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Caleb Hartley (843-241-7706) reports that October was very consistent, and they have every reason to expect more strong fishing in November. Some 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. Similarly, the best trout fishing usually starts right at the beginning of November. And the black drum shouldn’t go anywhere this month. You can catch the first three species on live finger mullet, mud minnows, or live shrimp, but they will also eat a variety of artificial baits including Gulp! and Vudu shrimp very well. Black drum show a preference for shrimp. All of these species will be in the creeks, and the jetties should also hold these plus more including sheepshead and bull reds. The jetties received very little pressure in late October due to high winds so fish should be ready to bite once conditions settle down and anglers can get out there.
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 also be more willing to eat artificial lures including grubs and hard baits. 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 should not yet move 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 also become 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 this month.
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 not to last at least through the end of the month. Catching fish in the creeks is as simple as fishing live shrimp under a popping cork around oysters, drops, rocks, and grass lines to start the month, and then mud minnows and artificial lures will be productive once shrimp become scarce. Trout will be deeper, reds shallower, and what flounder are still around will usually be 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 some big red drum caught in the harbor and at the jetties, at least early in the month, 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 the month, and there are almost always some sheepshead and black drum around in November.
Most detailed Charleston updates
Edisto Island
Inshore: Captain Ron Davis Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that in November shrimp will become scarce but trout, redfish and more will be hungry and looking to feed on whatever they can find – and easier to trick with artificials. Early in the month trout will be in schools on the main rivers with some already in the creeks, but as the effect of cold fronts, shorter periods of daylight, and longer nights drop water temperatures towards the 60-degree mark most trout will start to get into the creeks. As temperatures drop they will also get into tighter schools as will redfish. Overall, with each 2- or 3-degree drop these inshore species will feed more as winter approaches – as will sheepshead and black drum until they go offshore. Overall, November is an excellent month around Edisto, and combined with the effects of rough weather and tides last month, could easily outshine October.
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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 as they start to group up a bit more, and mud minnows, finger mullet, cut mullet, and shrimp will all be 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. Trout fishing turned on in late October before temperatures rebounded, but early in November the bite should come back around. Shrimp under a popping cork are usually hard to beat, but as shrimp become harder to find a variety of artificials will work for trout. 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, and if we get more pleasant weather it could be the best month of the year. As temperatures fall redfish should move out of summer patterns and feed even more. Grass lines and flats should hold fish depending on the tide, and as fish start to move into tighter schools there will be better concentrations of fish – but also more areas where fish are not. Late 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 well into the month.