South Carolina saltwater report 2-17

Little River – Grand Strand – Charleston – Beaufort – Tides – S.C. marine recreational fishing regulations (PDF file). Saltwater Fishing License site.

Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.

***Note winter fishing conditions will make for sporadic reports***

Little River

* Cherry Grove Pier reports that cold weather has kept most fishermen off the pier, but occasional whiting have been caught by anglers braving the wind and cold.

Grand Strand

* Inshore: On warmer days anglers report that sight fishing for redfish can be strong. Fish are grouped up in large schools, and they will take live mud minnows or Gulp! artificials. Fish the lower stages of the tide and maneuver towards the skittish fish quietly. A few trout have also been reported caught.

Charleston

* Sheepshead and Black drum: Very good. Haddrell’s Point reports that sheepshead fishing around bridges and hard structure is in full swing, and catching large numbers of good sized sheepshead is very possible. Fish fiddler crabs vertically on a Carolina rig.
* Spottail Bass: Fair to good. Haddrell’s Point reports that redfish are still grouped up in big schools, and they are starting to bite more consistently with slightly warmer temperatures. It is not impossible to catch 15-30 redfish on a single low tide. Gulp! Jerkshad, Mirrolures, Zman Rain MinnowZ and cut bait have all been productive the past week or two.

Beaufort

* Spottail Bass: Good to very good. Captain Dan "Fishin’ Coach" Utley in Hilton Head reports that fish are grouped up in big schools on the flats, and they are very willing to take a jighead tipped with Gulp! shrimp. On lower stages of the tide sight fishing has been productive, and fish should get more and more active as the spring approaches.