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tight lines: lowcountry fishing

Words of Wisdom

By Matt Winter

FILE/RON MENCHACA

You’ll never know all you need to know about fishing.

But a few tips from the pros can go a long way to upping your angling IQ. Luckily, a few seasoned Lowcountry captains were willing to share some of their hard-won knowledge this spring during an inshore seminar at The Charleston Angler. Capt. Ralph Phillips, a longtime inshore expert, advised anglers to fish slow and light. Capt. Jeff Yates, a Wando River specialist, gave some tips on chasing trout and redfish. Capt. John Irwin, who concentrates on sight-fishing, provided some great tips on stalking the shallows. Capt. Chuck Griffin, a big-red and tarpon specialist, coached the crowd on how to tangle with the big fish. And Capt. Rich Harris, a flounder fanatic, described the best ways to outsmart the tasty flat fish.

Here are a few of their pearls of wisdom:

A redfish secret

Look for little feeder creeks, the kind that appear to hold no water at low tide. Often, if you pole your way into these creeks before low tide, you’ll find deeper, hidden pools further back in the grass.“You’ll find channels 8 feet deep, even when the creek is dry at its mouth.” It’s a risky technique that can be hard on a boat, considering you can get stuck high and dry until the tide returns. But you can also find schools of two dozen 10-pound redfish trapped in these land-locked channels. And when you hook one, hang on. Often, the fish will have nowhere to run in the narrow creek but under your boat. “We call it ‘catching one in the hallway.’ It’s a blast. .. It’s a whole fishery that nobody really knows about.”

— Capt. Jeff Yates

No Bill Dance moves

When a fish hits a topwater plug, “don’t move. He’s either got it or he doesn’t. And if he doesn’t, he’ll come back.” “Set” the hook after the fish is on.

— Capt. Ralph Phillips

Jig colors for trout and reds

Whites, reds and hot pinks seem to work best in areas closer to the ocean, such as the Intracoastal Waterway. Farther inland, especially in the Wando River, try slow-working a copper-penny grub on a 1/8-oz. jig head. During the warmer months, when the marsh grass becomes a brilliant green, switch to a chartreuse grub with silver flecks. Silvery bait fish often reflect their surroundings, and this color scheme mimics that natural scenario.

— Capt. Jeff Yates

Shallow means shallow

“In the summertime, these big reds go into places you would not believe.” Sometimes they’ll even do “mud slides,” where they throw themselves onto the mud bank while chasing prey, then slowly slide back into the water. “… Those redfish get a lot braver on a rising tide. They’ll be right up against the bank.”

— Capt. Jeff Yates

Get out and wade

You can sight-cast for redfish up in the flooded marsh. “Big-moon high tides” in May through October are best. During these astronomical high tides, water floods into marsh areas far behind the high grass that fronts creeks and rivers. The mud is also firmer in these areas, so wading is easier. Don’t go barefoot or wear sandals when wading. The best foot attire is an old pair of tennis shoes, with socks. Redfish follow the tides into extremely shallow areas. Don’t hesitate to present your lure in only a foot of water, and don’t think your presence will automatically spook the reds. “Fish in the grass are much more forgiving. They’re thinking about just one thing.” Food.

— Capt. John Irwin

When and where for tarpon

Tarpon start showing up here in the heat of the summer, typically when the water temperature breaks 80 degrees. The season typically runs from June through October. Try the deep channels at the jetties, especially the area at the south jetty known as Dynamite Hole. Another relatively well-known hot spot is at Bull’s Bay, just outside the breakers.

— Capt. Chuck Griffin

Keep quiet when you’re shallow

Don’t run a motor within 100 yards of where you see or expect redfish.

“Trolling motors are good, as long as you don’t change the speed. The change in pitch will spook them.” Avoid making noise inside the boat. Keep your feet planted, and don’t let anything knock against the deck.

— Capt. John Irwin

Etiquette on the flats

If another boat is working a flat when you get there, make sure to stay at least 100 yards away, preferably farther. Pay attention to which way the boat is working, and don’t get ahead of it.

— Capt. John Irwin

Baits for shallow-water reds

If you want to use an artificial bait to catch a redfish in the grass, try a soft-plastic lure called the Gulp Jerk Shad. Rig it weedless, with an offset hook, and you’ll be able to work it through the flooded marsh. If you’re using bait, don’t overlook blue crabs, one of the redfish’s natural prey items. Tear the hard shell off a legal-size blue crab and cut it into halves or fourths. Use a circle hook, but make sure the point is fully exposed. The smell of a blue crab will quickly turn on a hungry red. “If you get it within 15 feet, the fish will immediately change behavior and zero in on it.”

— Capt. John Irwin

Flat fish in deep water

When you’re looking for big flounder, remember that they migrate offshore in the cooler months. You can find truly big flat fish at nearshore reefs such as the Charleston 60. “I can’t tell you how many door-mat flounder we’ve caught while fishing for sea bass.”

— Capt. Rich Harris

Structure, structure, structure

Flounder hang out at the mouths of feeder creeks and at docks and any other type of structure that extends into deeper water. Because of security concerns, anglers should be careful about approaching too closely to certain structures. “It’s a shame we can’t go up into the Navy yards anymore.”

— Capt. Rich Harris

Work the tides

Knowing which spots work best at which tide is key when hunting big redfish and tarpon. During slacks tides, work deep-water spots like Dynamite Hole and The Grillage near Sullivan’s Island. During an outgoing tide, try the inside of the south jetty. During an incoming, try the outside of the south jetty, near Dynamite Hole, or the outside of the north jetty near Sullivan’s Island. “There’s a nice channel there now.”

— Capt. Chuck Griffin

When and where for big reds

“October and November is outstanding for reds. It’s the easiest time to catch them.” Hoping to fatten up before winter, massive schools of reds will gorge on bait fish and spawning shrimp in the still-warm shallows. “I’ve seen schools of up to 30 fish — and I’m talking 6-, 7-, 8-pound fish — shoulder to shoulder with their eyes up against the bank. It’s amazing.”

— Capt. Jeff Yates

June through October is best for monster reds.

For 40-pounders, look for sharp drop-offs right along the jetties, but make sure to anchor on precise spots. “A boat length here or there makes all the difference.” Also concentrate on sandbars and channels at the Lowcountry’s many inlets. “The fish like to run right on the outside of the waves.”

— Capt. Chuck Griffin

Matching the hatch

When you’re cleaning fish, don’t be afraid to cut open its stomach and examine the contents. Knowing what your target fish eats will help you pick lures and bait.

— Capt. Ralph Phillips