Fishing in the August heat can be difficult for anyone.

Don't turn away, however, as the fish are still biting and there are certainly plenty to go around.

This time of the year is great for catching spotted sea trout, especially at sunrise at high or low tide. If you are looking for great topwater bite, try early in the morning.

Utilizing a topwater plug with the walk-the-dog action along the grass line or around oyster bars can produce a good bite. You can also try using a popping cork around the grass line at the high tide or oyster bars at low tide to improve your chances of success.

Using live shrimp, mud minnows, or plastic lures like the Z-man Ultra Shrimp can produce great results, as well.

The Redfish bite can also be hot this time of year.

You can increase your likelihood of success by fishing structures such as docks, rock groins, and oyster bars when the tide is moving. It's best to use a Carolina rig with live shrimp, mud minnows, and cut-bait around such structures. Sometimes redfish can be picky eaters, so make sure to try different baits on the line to see what they prefer on their menu that day. Set your bait for about twenty minutes and if you haven't gotten a bite, move on to a new spot.

Sheepshead are another great August catch. Fishing around dock pilings and bottom structures with a good relief is the best way to start. Fiddler crabs are the bait of choice for sheepshead in August, but sometimes you can catch them by "free lining" live shrimp at the docks if you see them feeding at the top of the water column.

Typically, you want to be using a 3/4 oz weight atop an 18" to 24" fluorocarbon leader with an Owner 1/0 SSW hook. The fluorocarbon leader will help you bring them out of the pilings with greater success.

If you want to try for some flounder in August, try drifting the entrances to creeks and around sandbars while using a Carolina Rig with finger mullet and mud minnows.

Whether you are enjoying the scenery or the fishing, any day on the water in The Lowcountry can be one to remember.

Capt. Patrick Crawford and I run inshore charters in the beautiful Charleston area operating as Allure Fishing Charters. We'd love to get you out on the water to enjoy the wonderful resources we have here in the waters around Charleston.

For more information, contact Captain Brian M. Garris at Allure Fishing Charters, by calling 843-200-9795 or via e-mail at allurecharters@aol.com. Visit the website at www.teamallurefishing.com.