The Moultrie News

Fishing in October can be a lot fun. You can find the perfect bait in just about every creek and inlet during this cooler month. Plentiful amounts of mullet, mud minnows and shrimp make it easy to catch what you need to be successful. I like to carry a little bit of it all in my live well. Sometimes the fish will be more likely to hit one type of bait over another. I like to throw out at least one of each type and see what the fish are biting that day. After you see which bait is preferred it's easy to target the fish better. This month finger mullet have been producing a real good bite for me.

With the weather starting to cool down, start looking for redfish to get gathered in schools. The last several charters I've run, the redfish have spread themselves out, but I have seen several nice schools of fish in the Intercoastal Waterway and Wando River. I have also seen a lot of tailing redfish on the grass flats. Tailing is a term used to identify a fish that is in shallow water and is actively seeking food on the bottom. Typically you will see just enough of the tail out of the water to identify and know there is a fish in the area. If you are up on a flat or grass-line and see fish moving, take the time to present the bait to them out in front a good distance in order to not spook them away from you. Some days they will spook easily and other days the fish will be scared of nothing. If at first you don't succeed with this type of sight-fishing, don't give up on it. Keep trying new and different approaches until you figure out what works best. For me, the best technique so far this month has been a 3/4 oz weight above a 2-foot leader of 30 pound flourcarbon placed directly in the path of the fish along the grass-line with either shrimp or finger mullet on a 4/0 circle hook. I've also been using a lot of Z-Man StreakZ , Ultra ShrimpZ and MinnowZ plastics on a 3-foot 20 pound fluorocarbon leader, rigged weedless on a H&H Lure Co. 3/0 widegap offset flutter hook. Place it out in front of the fish and work it back slowly to you as the fish comes into sight of the lure. The water has really started to clear up. So, make sure you got your polarized glasses on when out looking for fish on the flats.

Since the beginning of the month, I've found that the sheepshead bite has picked up really well in the last few days. Fiddler crabs are the bait of choice still when targeting them, but it won't be long before I start using oysters and clams now that the season has opened for shellfish. Keep looking for them around dock pilings and bottom structures.

Trout fishing has been outstanding so far this October. I've been catching them around oyster bars, docks and at the grass-line at high tide using a popping cork with live shrimp, mud minnows, or Z-man Ultrashrimp. Focus your attention on catching trout two hours before and after high tide as the water moves in and out of the grass.

Like I always say, just remember that any day on the water fishing in the Charleston area can bring many a smile. Whether you're catching fish or enjoying the beautiful weather, it's always nice to be on the water.

I'd love to get you out on the water to enjoy the great resources we have here in Charleston. You can reach me at 843-200-9795 or 843-388-5093. Don't forget to visit our website at www.reeldealcharters.com for more information or to book your time on the water.