Fishing Report (Updated 5.14.2008)

Spottail Bass: Good.  Fish are beginning to spread out and feed aggressively on the large mullet schools which are showing up, although some spottails are still congregated in large schools.  Spottails are beginning to tail in large numbers in the grass and can be sight-fished for by lure or fly fishermen.  Some topwater action is also being reported. 

Trout: Good.  A mild winter should make for an outstanding trout season and warmer temperatures have improved trout fishing over the past several weeks. The fish are beginning to spread out through the rivers and creeks; however, more fish are being caught near the islands than in the Broad River area.  Fish holes and drops, although some topwater action is being reported on the Bite A Bait topwater lure.  Around low tide fly fishermen are catching some good-sized trout on lime green and orange rattling flies near the creek banks alongside spartina grass. 

Flounder:  Good.  Flounder are in the inlets and beginning to be caught throughout the creeks.  Fish mud minnows along the bottom.  Most fish are still at or below the legal limit; this may improve somewhat as the season continues but biologists suspect the average size of the flounder stock is smaller than usual this year.

Sheepshead: Fair. Catches of sheepshead are still being reported around inshore bridges, pilings, and wood, but many of the larger fish seem to have headed offshore to spawn.  They should be back in time for late spring and summer.

Cobia:  Cobia have arrived in full force in the Port Royal Sound and Broad River, if a little late, and fish range from little peanuts to 70 plus pound fish.  The Christmas Tree rip has been productive.  Fish are being caught on all types of baits, such as threadfin, eels, squid, and whiting, when anchored up or drifting.  Sight fishing with plugs has been off and on, and the fish have been willing to take flies, too.  Puglisi fly patterns have worked the best.  Best fishing is two hour each side of the tide change – when tides are running strongest fish are unlikely to bite.

Paradise Pier:  Some decent whiting have been caught as well as black tip sharks and stingrays.  The biggest catch is blue crabs which are being caught by the 5 gallon bucketful around low tide.    

Offshore: Spanish Mackerel are being caught off Bay Point 8 miles out, and little tunny and king mackerel are 20 miles out.  Bottom fishing has dropped off somewhat but spadefish are at the reefs and will bite well once jelly balls show up.  Dolphin and wahoo are abundant in the Gulf Stream, and yellowfin tuna are being taken sporadically fishing deep.

Click here for most recent updates.