January 25

Morning surface water temperatures in Debordieu Creek were about 54 degrees this morning.  

It’s been a slow couple of weeks around Georgetown, and Captain Greg Holmes with Fish Skinny Charters (843-241-0594) reports that he hasn’t been on the water this week. We will try to get a new report next week. 

January 4

Morning surface water temperatures in Debordieu Creek were about 47 degrees this morning.  

It’s been cold and the wind has been blowing most days, but (or because of that) Captain Greg Holmes with Fish Skinny Charters (843-241-0594) reports that especially in areas like North Inlet redfish can be found in shallow places staying away from dolphins and looking for some temperature relief when the shallows warm.  They are in tight schools back up in the creeks and drains.

In general the trout are deeper, even in the creeks. They head for deeper holes and bends, although there are times where they will sun just like the redfish – even if they won’t eat. In general creek trout like a good section of live oysters or even dead shells with some depth behind them, and when there is current they will sit downstream of it and wait for bait to wash over them.  Don’t overlook trout at the jetties, either.

In general the best pattern for trout is slowing down, and then slowing down some more. DOA or Vudu shrimp worked very slowly will get bites, which often feel more like a subtle “tick” in the winter, and some scent like Pro-Cure will improve your chances of hooking up.

A unique fishery around Georgetown is the striped bass, and while Captain Greg has not fished for them this week striper can be found around deep ledges, eddies and bridge pilings.  They like a dug-out channel which has been dredged for navigation. 

Finally, there should also continue to be plenty of black drum up to about 18 or 19 inches inshore. Soaking pieces of shrimp on the bottom at the edges of oyster mounds or in creek holes will both work. 

December 21

Morning surface water temperatures in Debordieu Creek were down to 47 degrees this morning.  

The 10-14 inches of rain over the week blew out the area creeks, rivers and Winyah Bay, and to put it mildly this has not created “optimal” fishing conditions. While he has not been on the water since Sunday, Captain Greg Holmes with Fish Skinny Charters (843-241-0594) reports that this should push fish closer to the ocean where there is a higher salt content, and it may also cause fish to hold a little deeper as saltwater is heavier than freshwater.

For a time this may make for some tougher trout fishing, but there has been a good population of slot-sized redfisharound and they should continue to eat. Scented baits like Gulp! will help in the lower visibility conditions.   

There should also continue to be plenty of black drum up to about 18 or 19 inches caught as they don’t mind dirty water. Soaking pieces of shrimp on the bottom at the edges of oyster mounds or in creek holes will both work. 

December 14

Morning surface water temperatures in Debordieu Creek were down to 52 degrees this morning.

Fishing conditions haven’t been especially inviting recently, but Captain Greg Holmes with Fish Skinny Charters (843-241-0594) reports that they have still been able to catch a decent number of smaller redfish back in the creeks. The best time to target them has been on lower tides, and they are still catching them on Vudu Shrimp under a popping cork around oyster beds.  The redfish should be starting to group up tighter. 

While wind has limited the trout fishing, Captain Greg reports that the best places to look are in or near deep water in 6-10 feet. Sinking plugs, jigheads or baits set well under a slip float are the best bet along deeper edges close to shell banks. 

For now the creeks are still loaded with black drum up to about 18 or 19 inches, while bigger ones are out at the jetties or off shell banks. Inshore soaking pieces of shrimp on the bottom at the edges of oyster mounds or in tighter, shallower creeks will both work. 

November 29

Morning surface water temperatures in Debordieu Creek were down to 54 degrees this morning.

While he hasn’t fished since the last two cold nights, Captain Greg Holmes with Fish Skinny Charters (843-241-0594) reports that prior to that the trout bite had not taken off. There have been a ton of people in the creeks fishing (and duck hunting, and oystering) around the holiday but success has been limited, and it seems that the fish have just not really grouped up yet. That usually happens when water temperatures stay below 55 degrees so it should be coming.  But for now artificial lures nor live shrimp have been working – and if people aren’t catching trout on shrimp you know they either aren’t there or aren’t eating!  

Meanwhile the slot-sized redfish have been eating very well, especially on lower tides. They are catching them on Vudu Shrimp under a popping cork around oyster beds, and they will also take a variety of baits.

Finally, the creeks are loaded with black drum up to about 18 or 19 inches, while bigger ones are out at the jetties or off shell banks. Inshore soaking pieces of shirmp on the bottom at the edges of oyster mounds or in tighter, shallower creeks will both work. 

November 16

Morning surface water temperatures in Debordieu Creek are around 60 degrees.

The trout bite is getting better and better around Georgetown, and Captain Greg Holmes with Fish Skinny Charters (843-241-0594) reports that in the midst of a cold front they may slow down slightly but immediately afterwards the action picks up again. 

The best way to catch fish is still targeting current rips, points, eddies, creek mouths, pockets of slower moving water, or most any other area where the current changes. Sometimes the trout are in the fastest moving water, but often they are looking for a pocket of slower-moving water. On higher tides fish are often shallower, while as the tides gets lower he is more likely to fish out into deeper water 6-7 or more feet deep. 

There are still plenty of bull red drum off the beaches, and inshore there are lots of juveniles 30 inches or less. This week the best action has again been on lower water, and on higher tides they are still getting up in the grass. They can also be found running the grass lines on middle and higher tides.  A variety of baits will work. 

While the bigger black drum are mostly out at the jetties, where they can be caught soaking baits by the rocks, inshore the juvenile fish are still biting well on shrimp. Look in holes, around the edges of deeper channels, and shelves near drop-offs. The bite is generally better on lower tides.

November 9

Morning surface water temperatures in Debordieu Creek are back to about 65 degrees.

The trout are trying to get right around Georgetown, but Captain Greg Holmes with Fish Skinny Charters (843-241-0594) reports that with a rise in water temperatures again this week it has been a little tougher fishing. They have caught decent numbers of trout – as well as a few weakfish – throwing artificials in the creeks, but water temperatures really need to get back closer to 60 for the bite to take off again.  

The best bet is targeting current rips, points, eddies, creek mouths, and pockets of slower moving water, and more generally Captain Greg is looking for some type of current change. Sometimes the trout are in the fastest moving water, but often they are looking for a pocket of slower-moving water. On higher tides fish are often shallower, while as the tides gets lower he is more likely to fish out into deeper water 6-7 or more feet deep. 

There are still plenty of bull red drum off the beaches, and inshore there are lots of juveniles 30 inches or less. This week the best action has been on lower water, and on higher tides they are still getting up in the grass. They can also be found running the grass lines on middle and higher tides.

While the bigger black drum are mostly out at the jetties, where they can be caught soaking baits by the rocks, inshore the juvenile fish are also biting well on shrimp. Look in holes, around the edges of deeper channels, and shelves near drop-offs. The bite is generally better on lower tides.

November 2

Inshore surface water temperatures in Debordieu Creek bottomed out at about 58 degrees early this morning, but they are rising into the mid-60s during the day. 

With cold weather comes a drop in the numbers of big red drum caught inshore, but Captain Greg Holmes with Fish Skinny Charters (843-241-0594) reports that at the same time the trout fishing is taking off. The trout bite only gets better as temperatures get to around 60 degrees and below, and you don’t need live shrimp to catch them. Even before the cold snap they were already catching good numbers of trout on artificials, but as the shrimp disappear they will be even less necessary (and harder to get, unless you look in deep holes). Greg is targeting current rips, points, eddies, creek mouths, and pockets of slower moving water, and more generally he is looking for some type of current change.  Sometimes the trout are in the fastest moving water, but often they are looking for a pocket of slower-moving water. On higher tides fish are often shallower, while as the tides gets lower he is more likely to fish out into deeper water 6-7 or more feet deep. 

Curly tail grubs are hard to beat, but right now on gray, overcast days topwater lures can be very effective.

There are still plenty of bull red drum off the beaches, but inshore fish are more likely to be juveniles 30 inches or less. They are not grouped up as much as they will be later in the winter, but already they are feeding in tighter schools. Like the trout they are also getting more receptive to artificial lures as crabs migrate out, fiddlers hunker down, and mullet numbers drop. However, mud minnows and cut shrimp can both work – especially as there are less picker fish around. 

Fish can be found anywhere in the creeks depending on the height of the tide, but they are likely to be running grass lines and on shallower edges.  They will still go in the grass on high tide, and in general low tide is better for redfish while higher tides are usually the best time to target trout. 

October 26

Inshore surface water temperatures in the morning are about 68 degrees around Georgetown.

The large, inshore redfish that have been so prolific are slowing down a little inside the bays, well up the rivers, and in the creeks, but Captain Greg Holmes with Fish Skinny Charters (843-241-0594) reports that off the beaches or in the surf the fishing is still great for bigger reds. They are also thick at the rocks. He’s not sure how much longer they will be found on the inside, but for now you can still catch them in both areas on cut mullet. 

But at the same time the trout fishing has really come on with the dropping water temperatures, and Captain Greg reports that they are catching very good numbers of fish up to about 20 inches – with a substantial portion of them in the 17-inch range. The best fishing has been at creek mouths on the dropping tide when bait is being funneled back out into open water, or around points that have extended mud shelves. Trout are such visual feeders that clearer water is important, and while brown water is okay having a foot or two of visibility is important.

While you could certainly catch fish on live bait or suspending twitch baits, they have been catching everything on jigs with paddle or curly tails. White-bellied baits with a green or chartreuse back have been working the best.

While they are not actively targeting them, they have picked up some flounder fishing this way, and Greg notes that the better flounder will not leave until water temperatures hit about 60. They are also picking up some smaller black drumand little red drum on bait. Like the bigger reds, the bigger black drum seem to be making their way out to deeper water. 

October 13

Inshore surface water temperatures in the morning are about 70 degrees around Georgetown and more cooling is about to take place.

We are still in the “magical” period that inshore coastal fishermen wait for all year, and Captain Greg Holmes with Fish Skinny Charters (843-241-0594) reports that they are still finding a really good bite for big red drum in the 35-42 plus inch range. This week I wanted to focus on the types of areas where Greg finds these monsters (without asking him to divulge his spots), and he says that he is generally fishing shallow water off the edge of grass banks. There might be a shoal, an area of dead shells, or something else that creates a current break, and it could be a shallow shelf beside deeper water. Anything that funnels the bait through a certain area where reds can ambush them is especially good, and at the jetties it could be a big rock that forces all the baitfish to swim around it. While he’s not doing much surf fishing he also notes that it’s the prime time to catch big drum there, too, especially around the sand bars that – again – corral baitfish. 

Speaking of big reds, Greg reminds anglers that they need to be treated with care. Going after the big ones it’s not fair to use inadequate tackle which means the breeding stock is fighting for hours, and at the minimum he recommends 4000 series reels, preferably 5000 series, spooled with at least 30-40 pound test. They live in a zero gravity environment so it’s not good to hold them up with something like a BogaGrip and compress their organs, and when you release them make sure they are breathing again or else they have a low chance of survival. 

While the peak trout fishing won’t come until temperatures drop a few degrees, they continue to pick off some nice trout on live baits and they also caught one 19-inch weakfish this week!  The key to catching trout is clean, moving water. 

Black drum and flounder are also still around, but to target black drum you need to be fishing some sort of crustacean. Flounder are most likely to be found at creek mouths on the dropping tide.   

October 6

Inshore surface water temperatures in the morning are about 74 degrees around Georgetown and with big tides the water has been dirty.   

This is the magical time that inshore coastal fishermen wait for all year, and Captain Greg Holmes with Fish Skinny Charters (843-241-0594) reports that – barring a major tropical storm or some other significant weather event – he expects the fishing from now until about Thanksgiving to be the best of the year. 

Even with the northeast wind they had a really good day for large redfish yesterday, and Greg reports that they caught six fish from 27-39 inches. All of them were inshore in about 3 feet of water, and they all took big baits. With smaller selections of mullet (or shrimp) you can catch all the smaller “bluetail” redfish you want. 

There are also plenty of big redfish out at the jetties, but with the windy conditions fortunately you don’t need to go out there to catch them. On the big moon the larger fish moved inside.  

While most trout specialists agree that the best trout fishing in the area comes when water temperatures get below 70 and maybe even 65 degrees, on the rising tide yesterday Greg’s boat caught about a dozen trout including an 18-inch fish. At first they were catching them on live shrimp under a cork, but they soon realized the fish would also hit a suspending twitch bait. Clean, moving water at the mouths of creeks is the best place to look. 

Often fishing muddy water they haven’t picked up any flounder in the last few days, but there are plenty of black drumaround. Live or cut shrimp are both working for them.