photo provided

July was a great month despite the dreaded summer heat.

The bite was steady for redfish, trout, sheepshead and flounder.

You can find plenty of bait in and around Charleston Harbor and its tributaries.

Shrimp have really become a target for the redfish and trout.

Flounder have been keying in on mud minnows, and sheepshead are still crunching on fiddler crabs.

The last few weeks have been packed full of great catches.

The Bull Reds have been traveling through the jetties.

Catching some of these oversized reds can really be a memory maker.

Just remember to properly vent and revive the fish before releasing them back into the water.

Another species that I've been targeting in the harbor and around the jetties has been Spanish Mackeral. Birds play an important role in finding Spanish in the harbor.

If you see birds flocking in a certain area this time of year, it usually means the Spanish are nearby.

Stop and take a look. If the Spanish are there it won't be long before you see one come shooting out of the water like a missile.

You can catch Spanish mackerel by either trolling or sight casting for them.

Sight casting can be difficult at times.

If and when you approach the school, busy busting the bait fish it has targeted, they may immediately retreat down into the lower water column.

Try targeting the most aggressive group that doesn't seem to mind your presence while they are feeding.

Once you find that particular group cast over the school of feeding fish and work your lure or bait back through the school.

You can use several different types of lures to do this.

I prefer to use a Got-cha 100 or 151 series lure, or Clarkspoon lure. All of these can be used when trolling for Spanish, as well.

Another set-up that I use to cast to them is a Z-man MinnowZ in Opening Night or Pearl/blue Glimmer rigged on a 1/4 oz jighead with a number two treble hook rigged as a stinger on metal leader.

Once you hookup get ready for a show.

They are a fantastic fish to watch as you fight them, especially when they crash your bait in the water.

Trolling for them is rather simple as you can use the same lures.

Trolling is simply pulling the lures at a slow speed behind the boat.

The lures themselves need to be sitting back behind the boat between 40 and 50 yards.

I like to troll with only two lines out at a time.

This will allow you to go around a school of Spanish and cut your lures back across the school without getting the boat too close. Before you know it, "Fish On"!

Remember, any day out on the waters surrounding Charleston can be an adventure.

I'd love to get you out there to start making some memories for you and your family!

Captain Brian M. Garris

The Reel Deal Charters

www.thereeldealcharters.com (843) 200-9795