Last Updated on March 20, 2021 by SteamWorks 2
Saltwater Fishing Report for Pawleys Island, Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Georgetown, Charleston South Carolina.
With a favorable weather pattern in place, 2020 is off to a fantastic start as my fishing charters continue to experience excellent inshore and flats fishing. Mild temperatures and sunny conditions have allowed for some excellent sight fishing over the last few weeks as we are targeting redfish in shallow water. Look for redfish to continue their Winter schooling patterns through late March or until water temps climb back into the 60s.
My spin-fishing charters have been productive with various artificial lures rigged weedless or on jig heads depending on the depth of the water. I like to use a 1/4oz jig head rigged with DOA’s C.A.L. Series shad baits in the Gold Rush color when reds are “holed up” in water more than 4ft. You’ll often find speckled trout stacked up in these deeper holes in the winter and the Arkansas Glow is a great color for both species. When fishing shallow areas(3 feet or less) I’ve been having success with the Red Gold glitter CAL shad rigged weedless on a 1/8oz worm hook.
My Flyfishing clients have enjoyed success fishing the estuaries around Winyah Bay where the water clarity is best. The most productive days have been under bluebird skies and light winds which is ideal for sight fishing to redfish in the Winter months. Subtle presentations are key to getting the bites this time of year which makes fly fishing for redfish challenging yet very rewarding. Look for redfish to continue to be a great option through late Winter and early Spring.
Speckled trout action has been particularly good this year and we’re seeing a lot of “keeper” sized fish that average between 17-18 inches. You’ll find the trout stacked up in 6-12 feet of water, fishing soft plastics slowly along the bottom. I tend to catch some of the largest trout of the year in March and April and so it looks like 2020 will be another excellent year for speckled trout fishing in South Carolina.
We’ve also been able to slip out to the nearshore reefs to target sheepshead. While the majority of sheepshead we’ve been catching lately are barely meeting the legal size limit of 14in, I tend to catch the larger spawning fish in February and March. Using fiddler crabs under a Carolina rig and a short leader is very effective on the wrecks.
If you plan on visiting Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, or Pawleys Island this Winter please contact me directly to book your Winter fishing charter.
Capt. Jordan Pate
843.814.7900
