UNICORN HUNTING INSHORE AFTER DARK
navigating peace of mind
THE IMPORTANCE OF BOAT INSURANCE
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Unpredictable waters
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Damage and injury
Accidents on the water can result in damage to other boats, docks, or even injuries to passengers. Boat insurance offers liability coverage, which can pay for damages or injuries you’re liable for while boating, up to specifed limits, and lawsuit costs if you’re sued. This includes damage you cause to another watercraft or if someone on or near your boat is injured and you’re found to be legally responsible.
Theft and vandalism
Unfortunately, boat theft and vandalism are realities that boat owners face. Boat insurance has comprehensive and collision coverage that can protect you against events outside of your control, including theft and vandalism.
Incurred medical payments
Accidents on the water may lead to injuries for you or your passengers. Boat insurance offers a range of optional medical payments coverage limits, helping to cover medical expenses if you are in an accident or someone is hurt on your boat, regardless of fault.
Peace of mind for fnancing
If you fnanced the purchase of your boat, most lenders require insurance coverage to protect their investment. Having boat insurance not only fulflls these requirements but also gives you peace of mind knowing that your fnancial interests are safeguarded.
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THEHIGHS OFUNICOR HUNTING
Throughout chc year, the Florida KC)'S provide excclltnt billlish oppor1unitics.
Bycapt.QulnlynHaddon
Sailfish c.an be foulld year.round and are most reliably targeted in late autumn through the spring when they feast on ballyhoo at the reef.
Swordfishing is grc.1t any time ofthe year. as lcmgasM!3.lhcr accommodal('S!he l<>nsrnn l() the decpwa1cr JcdgcS. Tai:gcting them during tht:: day re<1uii:csdroppingabaitLothebottom.
�fariinfishi11gjsdoableduri11gsummer.butit$ certainlyJess thanreliable. 'Ihey a.-eoftenhooked as bycatch while fisltillg for the mahi or tuna on whichtheyarefeeding.
I recently had the pleasure of taking a trip solely targetingmarlinandswordfish.\Vehadtwo fishermen on board who were firs1 1liners with both.spl't'i<$. It wasintcro:,ting ,vatching them go 1hrough thebipolarswingsofbUlfishing. ·n1eywere
there LQ a$$i:.land learn, and I got lo watch them enjoy nnd suffer through thefull experience. Initially. there was opliini.sm as the su1\ rose a11d wedeployed ail elaboratetrolling spread. 1he setupmust haveseemedfantasticaltoanewcomer, with the giant lures.strange-looking teasers and lines everywhere. like we were captained by a coffoc fuclcdspider.Thedaywas )'Oung.1hcspread ,rasaworko(an,andthenc,,·bieshadnoreasonto doubt ourchances.
Frustrationsoo1lfollowed.Aswewerewtapping up marlin 1rollillg to head for the swordgrouods.
wepa.ss«1agorgeous weed linefull ofhma birds. It looked likeourbestchance... until the right rigger caught grnss. Upon• gentle rc1ricvc10dc.1rtheline,itpopf)OOthe rigger, foll1hroughthespreadam.lauempll-'<ll.Omate with the teaser al the worst time. We packed up inthemiddleof1hegiantflockof birdsthat mockedusforquitting.Ahh,disappointinent It was time co hii Lhe swordgrouncb and beginthecycleagain.Our nextelaboratesetup wo,dd drop to 1,500 feet.and the doe e)eS of optimismmadetheir nextappearance. 1hc dance belwccn doubt. lx)rcdom and forcedoprimismcontinued.a,,;ourfirs1bitedidn1l occuruntilafter4 p.m. It wasaheavyhit.a reelstopping, drag-pulling, set-up-the-harpoon type hit that had us giggling like children. El'eryone was re�1dy to t.1keon dutieswhen, JOO.feet from theweight, the rod tip popped up and everrone experiencedgut.wrenchingheartbreak.
On Lhc nc:ic1 drift, we hooked up again, and cvcrronequietlyheldtheirexcitement untilthetlsh hit the deck. l don't m.�d to cxplah\ the foe-ling in that Jlext moine11t, but with smiles and high fives a1J around > it was the 011e we wereall looking for. We tookhomesati.sfactio11.exhaustio11.andbigbags ofm<.".ll.
Hunting swimming unicorns is hands-down m)' favorite fishing. If youwant toexperiencethe emotional rollcrcoaS1cr of chasing the fish of a lifetime,givemeacallalSwce1 E'nul'Charters.
Capt, Quinl)'u Hmtdcm guides wit/1 Swed E'Nu/Clwrlers, Mnratliot1, Florida Keys. ww1�capt<1inqui11ly11.ccm1; <fi>captai11q11i11/y11; (504) 910�-12.
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TACTICS FOR DOG DAYS BASS 4
It’s hot. Te lakes and reservoirs are covered with jet skis, wake boats and party barges full of sun seekers.
Dog days conditions can be tough for bass fshing, but fsh settle into patterns this time of year that can lead to productive days on the water.
Finding cooler water is the key to catching bass when the surface temperatures reach uncomfortable levels, and there are several ways to do this.
Go Deep: Te huge schools of fsh that concentrate on ofshore ledges and river channel bends at many of our large reservoirs have already been beaten into submission by every angler with sonar by this time of year. You might still be able to pick a few out of the school with deep crankbaits, drop-shots or footballhead jigs, but sometimes it’s worth fnding less obvious fsh to target.
Tere are other areas that hold fsh. Tat 30-footwide shell bed of the main channel might not be covered with bass, but there will be some fsh there if there’s some current, and these bass see much fewer lures and are more willing to bite this time of year. Search with a crankbait, wiggle a football-head on the bottom or drag a big Carolina rigged worm over the shells and see what happens.
Cool-Water Tribs: A tributary stream feeding cooler water into the lake attracts baitfsh and bass. Fish ofen stage on points where a feeder creek enters the main body. Eliminate water quickly with crankbaits or spinnerbaits to see if there’s anyone home before
slowing down with a jig or a worm.
By CAM Staf
Extend the Night Bite: Bass do a lot of their feeding at night this time of year, and anglers can take advantage of this by fshing the frst couple hours of daylight.
Tis pattern will also show you that not every fsh in the lake goes deep. Shallow rocks and grass edges hold bluegill, shad, crayfsh and all sorts of other tasty critters. Start on top at or before dawn with a walking bait or popper and cover as much water as you can before the sun gets up. Tis is not really a numbers game, and the bites will be scattered, but it’s a lot of fun when a big fsh blows up your lure.
Fish the Shade: When the sun gets high and hot, you’ll fnd fsh hunkered down in the shade. Docks, laydowns, overhanging trees or matted vegetation all provide the shade bass and the things they eat look for. Bank shade is also where you’ll fnd bream beds where bass like to feed.
Skip a wacky rig up as far up under a dock as you can get it. Drop a jig into that blowdown. Work a frog over matted grass or punch through it with a heavy Texas rig. Cover water and pick apart those shady areas. It’s a fun style of fshing that can also be productive under less-than-perfect conditions.
For more bass tips, go to coastalanglermag.com.
Coleman Roberts caught his 9-pound, 4-ounce bass in July at Lake Istokpoga, Fla.
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RUN-AND-GUN TROLLING Scout Weed Lines Quickly and Effectively
By Mark Ambert
With summer weed line formation, mahi become a favorite target for the “run and gun” method. A good way to quickly scout if anyone’s home is a modifed version of the troll. I have observed and adopted this method used by professional captains for mahi.
The Setup
Keep a couple of spinning rods rigged and ready with pitch baits that can be trolled. Te rig consists of a 7-foot medium-heavy spinning rod with a 6000-size spinning reel—preferably with a baitrunner setting.
If you’re not familiar with the baitrunner function, it is a free-spool setting that allows line to pull from the spool while the bail is engaged. When a fsh grabs your bait, it can take it without feeling resistance.
My favorite combo is a Penn Carnage III boat rod with a Shimano Tunnus reel. Spool up with 20-lb. mono and add a 40- or 50-lb., 4-foot fuorocarbon leader. Tie on a Gamakatsu 6/0 or 7/0 Octopus hook using a Palomar knot. Insert the hook under the chin of a fresh frozen, small- to medium-sized ballyhoo. Make sure the point of the hook exits directly between the eyes. I like a Squidnation Slammer 3-inch plastic chugger head
with the bait to produce more action.
Cast this behind the boat along a weed line while underway. Position it several yards past the last wakes from the prop wash, and slowly work the bait by twitching the rod tip while holding it above your head. Tis will cause the ballyhoo to skip like a feeing baitfsh. You can work two baits in this manner by staggering the distance. If nothing hits within a few minutes, move on.
Tis method is slower than traditional trolling, and it is deadly for locating feeding fsh on large, scattered weed patches. If you are using a baitrunner reel, allow the fsh to run a few seconds before setting the hook.
The Electric Alternate
An alternate method that’s ideal for long straight weed lines or rips is a more traditional trolling setup. I use the Piscifun Saltfow ofshore rod and a Kraken electric reel with battery pack for this type of trolling.
Te Saltfow is 8-foot, 3-inch rod with a sof tip. It has a unique line guide setup that eliminates rod twist under a load. Te Kraken electric reel is new to me this year and has already paid dividends.
beneft when constantly retrieving lures to clear weeds or move locations. A traditional ballyhoo rig with a teaser and bait spring is my choice for medium-speed trolling. A good premade rig is the Mahi Chaser by Trolling Pro Tackle.
Once you get a hook-up, get some fresh squid, jigs or live baits in the water and hang on. Te Mahi show is about to get started!
Mark Ambert, IG @marksgonefshing_™
Cast Lures in a Mitzi Tournament 17
brooks@coastalanglermagazine.com
Flounder,Flounder, Flounder
by Jiggin’ Jerry, Contributing Writer
Flounder, one of the most sought species of inshore fish in the Lowcountry, known by most connoisseurs of seafood for its light, white, succulent, tender meat, which can be baked, fried or sautéed to make the mouth water of those who love to consume fish. Commercially caught and sold in seafood markets or at restaurants, it can be purchased by those who do not fish, but for the inshore angler, it is a prize that is targeted by any seasoned inshore fisherman.
Most common fishermen do not know how to specifically target Flounder. After all, the average inshore fisherman rarely gets a chance to get out and fish often, and when they do find the chance, they usually grab a fishing rod, a double bottom rig and a tub of frozen Shrimp, head out to the water, put two pieces on their line, cast out into the water and wait and wait for whatever bites. Sometimes a young, unwitting Flounder, hungry enough, decides to give a frozen piece of Shrimp a try.
Flounder have also been a topic of conservation and controversy. North Carolina, for instance, as of the spring and summer of 2024, is not allowing Flounder to be caught by sport fishermen in their state but quietly are still allowing the commercial industry to harvest them. Here in the Lowcountry efforts and discussion of conservation and subjects involving the dwindling numbers of Flounder have been argued and updated rules and regulations have been added.
Fortunately, for the Flounder, I repeat myself by reminding you that the majority of sport fishermen don’t even know how to target a Flounder, and usually catch them by accident, along with whatever bites. This is because most sport fishermen, unless retired or disabled, work 40-hour weeks and have never developed enough experience as a weekend warrior trying to specifically learn how to target certain inshore species of game fish.
So for some of you fishermen that would like to enjoy bringing home your own Flounder let me help by explaining what you first need to know about Flounder. Here in the Lowcountry there are two main targeted species of Flounder, one is a Summer Flounder and the other is the Southern Flounder. The Southern Flounder is here year round, and the Summer Flounder is here during late spring through late fall. The Flounder is a flat fish. The Flounder has two eyes on one side of its body. The Flounder lays flat on a sandy or muddy bottom, fluttering and creating a pit to lie in and waits for its prey to approach. These locations are usually flats or muddier sandy banks along the grass, just outside Oyster beds or structure. Flounder are active during the day but they continue their hunt through the night. Flounder will also move along beaches and lie in wait just outside the break lines for prey.
So what prey are they waiting for? Flounder in the Lowcountry love Croaker, live Shrimp, Mud Minnows and finger-sized Mullet. The problem with fishing for Flounder with a sleeper rod is that unless you cast your line right near a waiting Flounder, you most likely will not catch one. What is a sleeper rod? A sleeper rod is when you cast out a line, let it sit on the bottom, put the rod in a rod holder or up on a railing and wait for a bite. This is because like I have said above a Flounder is an ambush predator and lies in wait. If a Flounder is on the move, it is usually to find a new laying position in another location. Now I am not saying that a Flounder will not take the opportunity while on the move to attack prey but anticipating that movement would mean you would have to know for certain the Flounder was there and on the move.
So how does one target Flounder? Whether fishing from a boat, pier, dock or surf, the technique is the same, it only changes by which rig you would decide to use when using live bait. The rig would differ, depending on if you were dropping your line down into the water or casting out long distance. The two main rigs I would recommend would be either a Carolina rig or a drop shot rig. The drop shot rig could be used in deeper water, casting out at longer distances, and the Carolina rig works great in shallower water but still has a great effect in deeper water as well.
Let me explain how I cast and fish for Flounder using these rigs with live bait. From my standing position in the location I am fishing, I will look out into the water and observe obstacles, nearby structure, Oyster beds, grass line, etc. My objective is to see where I can cast out safely to work my line back to myself by slowly dragging my bait across the bottom after casting out. I will usually either start casting from my left or from my right, either clockwise or counterclockwise. If it is clockwise, I will look to my left and start my first cast at 10 o’clock and slowly drag the bait along the
WFolly Beach Pier
by Noah O’Brien, Contributing Writer
ell folks, August is here and with it comes the peak of the Summer heat. Water temperatures out at Folly Beach are typically in the 90+ degrees range, creating the perfect environment for those bottom feeding surf fish. We will also see a steady ocean breeze, which helps to create the mudlines predatory fish ambush from. It also typically signifies the peak of our Florida pompano season. The pompano is a cousin to the jack crevalle and is often mistaken for smaller jacks. One major key to distinguishing a pompano from a jack is the spot on and above the pectoral fins on the jack, which a pompano lacks. Pompanos are fast swimmers with small mouths and teeth, making them more difficult to catch than your typical whiting. We typically recommend a size 1 or 2 shank on a double drop rig with a 1 or 2 ounce sinker. Make sure to keep your bait small as well, as larger chunks of bait will make it more difficult for the pompano to take your hook. While they are smaller, they are delicious fish to eat and can be made into almost any dish you could think of, but my personal favorite is a simple grilled pompano recipe.
We’ve had two amazing fishing tournaments so far, but just wait for our September and October ones where we are in peak fishing season on the pier! We will have a ton of awesome prizes and raffles to give out and hope to see your wonderful smiling faces there. If you can’t bear to wait for those to come out, we will also have another Moonlight Mixer on August 16th from 7-10pm! We hope we see you out here for some more dancing and adult beverages (responsibly of course)!
Noah O’Brien, Operations Manager II Folly Beach Pier 101 E Arctic Ave, Folly Beach, SC 29439 Office: 843-762-9516 / Mobile: 843-814-7344
Noah O’Brien@ccprc.com / CharlestonCountyParks.com
TFISHING FORECAST
Mount Pleasant Pier
by Chris Pounder, Contributing Writer
here’s a lot of variety to what anglers are seeing out here and we expect that to continue into August and September. A good bet for this time of year is to be ready to throw a couple of different baits depending on what’s going on in the water. It’s also a good idea to bring an umbrella for shade since the few covered structures on the pier fill up quickly.
The River Watch Café and Gift shop on the pier sells frozen shrimp, squid, finger mullet, and sand fleas, or you can grab some live bait on your way out. Lately we’ve seen groups of anglers do very well for whiting and croaker with cut shrimp and squid from the freezer. One group of three left with more than 30 whiting using that method. Mud minnows or mullet are commonly used to target flounder, sea trout, red drum, and Spanish mackerel. For flounder you’ll want to fish on the bottom; however, the other species can be targeted at various depts within the water column.
A great way to easily search different depths is to use a slip bobber setup. Basically this setup involves a slip knot that is tied with a piece of floss (or similar material) to your mainline and a bobber underneath it. To adjust the depth of your bait, simply slide the knot up or down, leaving a desired length of line. This is a popular method when targeting freshwater catfish, but the basic principle works great in saltwater as well.
Fishing tournaments will be back in September and October. The next Cast-Off Fishing Tournament will be Saturday, September 21, from 7am – 2pm. Entry is just $5 plus the daily fishing fee. Prizes will be awarded for the 3 biggest catches by weight as well as prizes for best 5 fish aggregate and youth catch. Registration is available on site the day of the tournament beginning at 7am. Mark your calendars for the October 26 tournament with the same hours as well.
Would you like to see your catch featured here in next month’s article? Be sure to stop by the café on the pier or flag down one of our staff to
share your fish story. We’re always looking to share what you’re catching and it doesn’t have to be a record breaker. Fish does need to be caught from the Mount Pleasant Pier to be featured. Be sure to check out charlestoncountyparks. com for the latest information and dates for special events on the pier and around the county. See you on the pier.
For any additional information about the pier or what’s biting this week feel free to call the River Watch Cafe & Gift Shop on the pier at 843-762-9946
Chris Pounder, CPRP Manager Mount Pleasant Pier
Summertime Sand Fleas
Oh, Sweet Summertime… The weather is hot, the bait is plentiful and man oh man is the fishing good. But with all that bait around, A lot of people often aren’t aware or forget about the subtle delicacy of bait that lives right under your feet often going unnoticed buried in the sand. And that is the Mole crab, more commonly called the Sand flea. And I know what you’re thinking with that name… but trust me they don’t bite; they only get the fish biting. Lol
And since they are true crustaceans who make their homes on the sandy shorelines here in the Lowcountry. It’s a no brainer that they are a great choice for bait when deciding to go surf fishing here on our beautiful beaches. Species such as Redfish, Trout, Whiting, Flounder and even Black drum all love sand fleas! And especially if you get lucky here on our South Carolina coast or happen to make your way to Florida. They are the most excellent choice when it comes to targeting Pompano as they are huge fans of the sand fleas. And I am a huge fan of Pompano as they are delicious!
So, if you find yourself wanting to try sand fleas as bait for the first time, you may ask yourself… How do I find them? And you should know, they’re not like most bait where you can catch them with a cast net or some sort of trap in the creeks. Rather Sand fleas bury themselves in the sand almost right where the waves caress the shoreline as they crash onto land. And if you’ve ever noticed a “V” shaped formation almost atop the sand as those waves make their way back out to sea. Well then, you have found yourself some sand fleas! And with a small shovel, rake or honestly just your hands. You can “quickly” scoop up the sand
By Katie Jo, Pluff Mud Princess Outdoors
fleas before they bury themselves deep into the sand or swim swiftly back out to sea and out of reach.
And once you have collected your sand fleas, you can keep them alive in a bait bucket or Tupperware with some fresh sea water and light sand. Or if you chose to store your Sand fleas and want to fish at another time, then poaching and freezing them is always a great option! Just like you would do streamed shrimp on the stove, you will poach them in the same manner and then toss them into an ice cube bath to completely cool before patting them dry and bagging them up to freeze. And if you happen to collect those Sand fleas when they’re spawning during late spring and early summer then you’ll find your bait will be filled with roe, ready to catch any angler some stud fish and often a great time to poach/freeze them for later.
And once it’s time to fish, ensure you’re hooking your sand flea correctly to keep them alive. You want to go from the “belly” / underside up, through the back of the shell avoiding the side with their antennas as this is their head and will leave you with unalive bait. Popular rigs used just for Sand fleas include the pompano rig or double drop bottom rig, utilized with a triangular weight to keep your sand flea’s stationary in the surf. Or even tossing them on a 2/0 circle hook with the ole faithful Carolina rig. Whatever way you choose to go, you can’t go wrong with a sand flea for bait.
So, the next time you hit the surf or even your first time. Make sure to look for that distinctive “V” on the shoreline and collect yourself some of the most underrated, but in my opinion, one of the best baits the Lowcountry has to offer.
21 OCTOBER 26
14 OCTOBER 12
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MT. PLEASANT
Mt. Pleasant Pier Pitt St. Bridge
FOLLY BEACH Folly Beach Pier Folly River Park
JAMES ISLAND Bowens Island Sol Legare Sunset/Demetre Park
WEST ASHLEY
Higgins Pier
West Ashley Greenway West Ashley Park Northbridge Park
DOWNTOWN
Waterfront Park Pier
Colonial Lake
Alberta Sottile Lake Brittlebank Park
FLOUNDER, FLOUNDER, FLOUNDER
bottom back to myself. I will then continue to cast 11 o’clock, 12, 1 and 2 o’clock. When doing so, this ensures that you have covered a lot of the area in front of you along the bottom.
If you are fishing where Flounder are residing and you cross a Flounder while slowly dragging, you will feel a stall in your line as you are pulling. It will feel like you got stuck, a snag, but don’t rip your line back checking, slowly pull your line tighter to see if you are snagged. If it is a Flounder, as you tighten the line, the Flounder will pull back a couple of small pulls trying to wrestle with your bait. This lets you know you are not snagged. The goal would be to wait a few moments and let the Flounder finish pulling the bait into its mouth before setting your hook. Flounder have a habit of grabbing your bait from behind and pulling into their mouths, but in my experience, most Flounder I have caught have always grabbed the fish from behind the tail up through the mid-body and since I bait my Mullet or Mud Minnows through the nose, I have to wait until the head of the fish has entered the mouth so I can get a hook set. Like anything, it can be a guessing game on the timing and that’s where the fun begins. After all, that’s why they call it fishing and that’s why I’m trying to help you with an upper hand so that you may turn your next fishing adventure into a catching adventure.
I hope this helps with your next or first fishing adventure. Like I always say good luck out there and have fun fishing! To view some fishing adventures, go to my YouTube Channel Fishing With Jiggin Jerry or follow me on Facebook @fwjigginjerry.
YouTube Channel
Fishing With Jiggin Jerry or follow me on Facebook @fwjigginjerry
OFFSHORE REPORT
by Capt. Mike Able, Contributing Writer
August is HOT, so is the FISHING!
One of the more common topics of discussion over the last few months has been the heat. Seemingly it got very warm, very quick this summer! And August will be no exception. The one thing to accommodate the heat is a “hot” fishing report! The offshore billfish bite has been another phenomenal year! Several reports of blue marlin and sailfish in outstanding numbers continue each week from charter boats, private boats, and recreational anglers alike! Most are trolling ballyhoo in three hundred to six hundred feet of water. In order to be more effective and see results on the billfish side of things it’s highly encouraged to troll teasers and dredges. It’s another way to draw fish in to your spread aside from just the ballyhoo you're trolling. A simple yet effective teaser can be a squid chain followed by an Islander Express. You can put either a ballyhoo or spanish mackerel behind the chain or you can utilize the Moldcraft Tuff Mac, which is a rubber mackerel. It requires less rigging the night before, and it’s hard for a blue marlin to rip it off, keeping it in your spread longer. I usually rig five squids in a row and then do an Express with the TuffMac behind it. I like having several chain color options in the pink, green, purple, or blue and usually match my Islanders to color squids when possible. Dredges can be more of a in-depth conversation, and dependent on how your boat is setup or how you plan to set it up. The bottom line would be, that the more teasers and dredges you can pull comfortably the better your chances are of catching any pelagic species.
The nearshore bite has also been phenomenal this year, with excellent catches of grouper, snapper, king mackerel, and especially cobia. A lot of these fish can be caught using vertical jigs like Shimano Current Snipers or Jyg Semy or Stryke Series in their appropriate weights according to depth you are fishing. Live menhaden is another guarantee for cobia and king mackerel. It can be fished on the surface free lined, or on a heavier geared carolina rig. Four to six ounces of lead is typical, with sixty to eighty pound leader material, and somewhere between a 7-8/0 circle hook. Inshore fishing cannot be beat right now. Many factors come in to play with how productive it can be and/or the species you should target to make it a successful day on the water. Because of the heat, one of the main things I preach in the shop to customers is fishing early in the day. Early in the day to me, means being on the water by 5:00am and off by nine or ten am. I start off fishing shallower water areas and creeks with topwater plugs. It is one of my favorite ways to catch inshore species. As the sun continues to rise I will start to drop my baits in the water column. Switching from topwater then I will usually go to live or artificial baits fished three feet under a float. For me a live mud minnow or DOA and Vudu shrimps under the float are unbeatable. As the sun continues to get higher in the sky I have usually switched over to baits that are fished much closer to and on the bottom. I have also considered making a move from the shallower creeks to slightly deeper water. A minnow on a carolina rig or a bait typically fished on a jighead will produce more when it gets too hot. I also consider making a change of target species towards the hotter parts of the day. Sharks, tarpon, spanish mackerel, and jack crevelle are typically targeted in deeper water and the temperature does not effect them as much as fish in your shallower creeks and estuaries. Don’t forget to take care of yourselves in this heat! Drinking lots of water and making sure to wear sunscreen is a must! I always soak a buff(sunmask) in the cooler for a bit and then put it on to keep cool. Sometimes jumping in the water even helps too!
We love to share information and the knowledge that we have accumulated over the last 40 plus years in business! We even built a website with some informative videos and written tips to better help you. The employees are passionate about fishing and are often fishing on their days off from the shop! This is just one of the many reasons that separates us from other businesses and online sales. When you can and where you can, try and support local mom and pops businesses in any industry! Come see us at either location so we can talk fishing and better serve you for your next hunting or fishing endeavor.
Capt Mike Able
Haddrell’s Point Tackle & Supply • Since 1983 843-881-3644(Mt Pleasant) • 843-573-3474(West Ashley)
UPCOMING COASTAL EVENTS
August 8-10
Holy City Tarpon Tournament sponsored by Marshwear Sign up at: marshwearclorhing.com
September 14
Folly Beach Pier
Cast Off Tournament
7am-2pm.. More info at 843-762-9516
September 19-21
2nd Annual Lady Red Tournament
Entry for women only but may include a male captain or guide Register at: marshwearclothing.com
September 21
Mt. Pleasant Pier
Cast Off Tournament
7am-2pm. More info at 843-762-9946
September 28
Carolina Lady Anglers
26th Annual Fishing For The Cure (Captain’s Meeting September 25)
October 12
Palmetto Society Redfish Tournament
Details to come
October 12
Folly Beach Pier
Cast Off Tournament
7am-2pm.. More info at 843-762-9516
Submit your upcoming events or tournament Info to: brooks@coastalanglermagazine.com
SHARKS!
It’s getting hot out here! The near shore reefs are getting more Barracuda around them and I’m beginning to get into my summer routine of big Jacks and sharks.
I feel like most folks around here aren’t interested in sharks and it kind of confuses me because it’s so much fun! Not to mention the variety in the Lowcountry is very cool as well. If you have fished for as long as I have and with just as many different people; you get to know a lot of different personalities of the trade. You have your self-appointed pros, as well as your actual pros. The way I usually can tell the difference between those two is one will talk a lot; the other not so much. There are the meat eaters who rate the day based solely on how full the cooler is when you get back to the landing. You have your folks who are completely satisfied just being out on the water and if we happen to catch some fish as well then that’s awesome and if not then it was still a great time out on there. Next is the angler that just wants to catch fish. It doesn’t matter if its trout, whiting or sail cats they are happy to just see what they are capable of out there! Then there is my personal favorite; the families. Being as how I myself am a Father of two beautiful twin girls and I try and take as many kids fishing as I possibly can. To see a family working together and having fun really makes me think that I am doing something worthwhile out here.
With all that being said let’s talk about an attainable goal you can accomplish with your loved ones out here in the summer sun. Warm water means lots of bait. Lots of bait means lots of predators. The biggest thing you need to focus on, even more than tackle or location is bait. You can catch something on just about any kind of cut bait on the bottom around here this time of year but if you are really trying to up your chances then you need the freshest bait possible. When it comes to sharks you have three main options for bait. Menhaden, Mullet or live blue crab. Yes you can catch sharks on blue fish and other little fish but those three baits are the easiest to consistently catch and keep alive.
Speaking of keeping alive, the menhaden are the toughest and honestly these guys are mostly for those of us with a boat. You’ll find these fish under diving pelicans anywhere from the creeks to the surf.
Mullet are great because almost anyone can find and catch them with a cast net. Low tide is the time to find them. Look anywhere from the drainage ditch on the side of the road to around oyster beds and sand bars in the rivers and creeks. You’ll have to be the judge of the size container you use to keep them in but no matter what you need to have a bubbler on them. You can buy a
by Capt. Justin Ravenel, Contributing Writer
battery powered bubbler at your local tackle store like Haddrell’s Point in Charleston.
Finally the ole blue crab. As long as its legal size and isn’t a female with row eggs or a softshell then you can use it. These things are basically the T-1000 of baits. Keep them out of the sun and they stay feisty for hours.
OK, with the menhaden and mullet you have two options. Live whole baits or cut up chunks on the bottom. If you are trying to bring home dinner I recommend targeting Atlantic Sharpnose. They are a relatively small shark but they fight like hell! You’ll find these in 20-40ft of water out in the rivers and bays. You can brine the meat from these babies overnight then either grill shark steaks or chunk it up and fry it. Most folks won’t know the difference between that and grouper I assure you. Bonnet head sharks and small Black Tip are good as well. You’ll find the Bonnet Heads in the creeks and rivers and Black Tip out in the surf.
I use the Ugly Stik Tiger Elite rod paired with a Penn Pursuit IV 6000 spinning reel. You can use 40-60lb braided line and 200lb monofilament leader and a 6/0 circle hook. You can use wire leader is you choose but the 200lb leader is nice and soft on your hands and on the fish as well. Yes they will occasionally chew through them but normally you can tell when it’s time to fix a frayed leader before rebaiting the hook and sending it out there again. For the sharp nose and the bonnet heads I have a lot of luck with FRESH cut bait on the bottom. For this I prefer a six ounce weight. I know that’s heavy but it works no matter the current flow in most areas around here.
That covers the meat eaters. Now let’s talk about sea monsters; for large sharks I like to float a whole mullet or menhaden back behind the boat on a free line. That just my braided line going to a barrel swivel and the swivel to the monofilament leader. No need to put a weight on it, just open the bail and let that thing swim on out there. I find this is what brings in the big boys and you better be ready for a fight. You can do this at almost any beach along the coast line and get results. I don’t recommend trying to eat any large sharks and there are a number of reasons you can look up but put quite simply, we have tons of small eatable sharks in the Lowcountry so why not eat them instead?
Go out there and give these warriors a shot and you won’t regret it; it’s a great way to get a kid to fall in love with the sport and it’s a fun way to feed the family as well!
Captain Justin Ravenel
Ravenel Fishing Charters
843-864-5056
Facebook: ravenelfishingcharters.com
Instagram: justin_ravenel
STATE RECORD AMBERJACK
On May 23, 2024, we set out from Murrells Inlet, SC, at the crack of dawn, heading offshore to the Winyah Scarp area, about 60 miles out. Our goal was to catch some Mahi or Wahoo. After a few hours of trolling along a weed line and the ledge without success, we decided to move closer in and try bottom fishing.
We relocated to a spot about 50 miles offshore in 100 feet of water. I switched to a Connley Fishing King Rod paired with a Penn Fathom 40, rigged with 80lb Momoi Diamond Braid and a two-hook bottom setup.
At this location, we caught vermilion snapper, black sea bass, grunts, and porgies, sometimes two at a time. It was a productive day. I began waiting after getting a bite, hoping to hook a second fish. While doing this, something big hit the line without getting hooked.
Finally, I hooked a monster fish. After about 45 minutes of fighting, I told my great friend and captain of the Liberty Call, Gordon Jobe, to put the boat in gear to help bring the fish up in the water column. Around the one-hour mark, we landed what turned out to be a South Carolina state record greater amberjack.
Using a Garmin InReach, we contacted friends onshore to check the state record weight for South Carolina. They replied with 123 lbs. We knew we had surpassed that mark but had to wait a few hours to confirm.
Back at the dock, we went to Seven Seas Seafood Market in Murrells Inlet, SC, to weigh the fish on their certified scales. The fish weighed in at 129 lbs and measured 69 inches in length. After certification by Kris Reynolds of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the crew at Seven Seas processed the fish for me.
Best Regards.
Jim Carroll, Angler of Record
Dillon caught this 30” red at the Mt Pleasant Pier
Old village resident, Molly catching bass while away at school in Brunswick, GA
Gunnar was able to land this bull red on a Penn 2000 light spinning reel and 10 lb braid
Ryan McManus with a nice slot red in the ICW
Photo courtesy of FourSons Charters Capt Johnston McCurry
Commercial Gear for Anglers!
on high alert, and the noises of the day silenced, the bites can be startling and give the impression that the fsh is larger than it is. Tat’s part of the excitement of a topwater bite! I only use this tactic in areas I know well, for safety reasons, of course.
I know wading isn’t for everyone, and night wading is for even fewer anglers, but there are other methods. Fishing from a dock, boat or kayak are all good options. Focusing on dock lights, causeway lights and lighted piers can provide excellent fshing. Many canal homes have lights, both underwater and above the surface, that attract baitfsh, which attract the gamefsh we target. I’d say trout are the most prolifc, but reds and snook can be found mixed in with trout if you have them in your area. I like to target these areas with smaller lures, either a sof-plastic rattling paddletail or a small, hard, lipped bait with or without rattles. I prefer natural colors in some shade of white or clear with some silver mixed in.
I also enjoy fshing granite jetties at night. Setting up for this is a little more work but can yield terrifc results. When jetty fshing, I bring a generator and two 1,500-watt stage lights. Tese areas typically have more current, so my hard-lipped lures may be slightly larger, but I still go with the smallest lure I can work properly in the current. I stick with the same colors as mentioned earlier. Te channel and surf side of the rocks can both be productive depending on the tide, water clarity and bait. I recommend pointing one light in each direction until you determine which area has the best conditions.
Fishing at night brings new challenges, but it can ofer some of the best catches of the summer. If you decide to give one of these three methods a try, remember safety frst and don’t fsh alone. Enjoy some cooler times on the water and be safe.
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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STUD AJ IS A SOUTH CAROLINA RECORD!
Fishing out of Murrells Inlet on May 23, angler James Carroll battled in a 129-pound amberjack that is a new South Carolina state record. Here is the story in Carroll’s own words:
We set out from Murrells Inlet, S.C. at the crack of dawn, heading ofshore to the Winyah Scarp area, about 60 miles out. Our goal was to catch some mahi or wahoo. Afer a few hours of trolling along a weed line and the ledge without success, we decided to move closer in and try bottom fshing.
We relocated to a spot about 50 miles ofshore in 100 feet of water. I switched to a Connley Fishing kingfsh rod paired with a Penn Fathom 40, rigged with 80-lb. Momoi Diamond Braid and a two-hook bottom setup.
At this location, we caught vermilion snapper, black sea bass, grunts and porgies, sometimes two at a time. It was a productive day. I began waiting afer getting a bite, hoping to hook a second fsh. While doing this, something big hit the line without getting hooked.
Finally, I hooked a monster fsh. Afer about 45 minutes of fghting, I told my great friend and captain of the Liberty Call, Gordon Jobe, to put the boat in gear to help bring the fsh up in the water column. Around the one-hour mark, we landed what turned out to be a South Carolina state record greater amberjack.
Using a Garmin InReach, we contacted friends onshore to check the state record weight for South Carolina. Tey replied with 123 lbs. We knew we had surpassed that mark but had to wait a few hours to confrm.
Back at the dock, we went to Seven Seas Seafood Market in Murrells Inlet, S.C., to weigh the fsh on their certifed scales. Te fsh weighed in at 129 lbs. and measured 69 inches in length. Afer certifcation by Kris Reynolds, of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the crew at Seven Seas processed the fsh for me.
For more giant fsh, go to coastalanglermag.com
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