Fall Fishing 2012

Levi and Belton from GA with a Cast and Blast:
Shot 28 marsh hen, caught 17 redfish, and 15 trout all in 6 hours

    When the leaves are falling, spartina grass is turning brown, water temperature cooling down, and cold weather gear is out of the closet; one thing comes into mind for any fisherman here in the low country; fall fishing! The months of October and November bring some of the best fishing here in Beaufort, SC for Redfish, Trout, and Flounder. It offers amazing sight casting on the fly to tailing redfish going crazy on fiddler crabs, and schooled up redfish on the low tide chasing shrimp to fill up before the winter, giving you the opportunity to land your fly in front of some of the most aggressive redfish of the year. It also brings the opportunity for the light tackle angler to fill his hands with slime from amazingly high numbers of redfish and trout on live shrimp, or artificial's.

Buddy Colt from Charleston angler came down for some
low tide action on the fly 

    The fall is always one of my favorite times of year here not only as a local, but also as a guide. Its a 2-3 month period when all my return customers come down to experience days on the flats of the Broad River like no other, days that can put any angler to the test. Being able to fish through out the whole day working different tides is possible do to the cooler temperatures and happy fish, which can give you a lot of different situations, and in return produces very high numbers of fish. The cooler water pushes all the bait fish out which takes away a lot of the food that the redfish and trout are eating. In return the shrimp move in and the fish go crazy over it trying to fill up for a long winter.
    Another great thing about the fall is Rail Bird season, also known as Marsh Hen. This is a migratory shore bird that we hunt on the big moon tides during the open season which starts in september and usually goes through december. We only get around 12-15 days a year to hunt these birds because of the tides, so it can really provide and excellent hunt do to an immense population in the vast marshes here in the low country. The trip I run as a charter is called "reds and rails", which is your simple cast and blast charter. Shooting marsh hen in the morning and catching redfish in the afternoon. Its a day on the water that can really challenge any sportsman or angler, and is one of my favorite trips to run.

Julie and Allen came down from Aiken, SC for the Cast and Blast

    Tailing redfish here on the flood tides is an incredible way to fly fish for redfish and offers one of the best sight casting situations when it comes to salt water fly fishing. During the fall months it can bring some of the highest numbers for tailers do to the colder water temperature and highly active fish. Whether your wade fishing or poling in the skiff through the short spartina grass, it can be some of the most exciting fishing during the fall. The tailing fish usually last till the beginning to middle of November depending on water temperature. When the water temp drops below 68 the crabs go down which takes away from the fish feeding in the grass, so its important to watch the water temperature to know when to and when not to base your day on tailing redfish.

Local client Art with a nice tailer from the boat

Local client Richard with a nice tailer from the boat

Decided to shoot some marsh hens after catching tailing redfish
for a cast and blast!

   Light tackle fishing can be its best during the fall, producing incredibly high numbers of redfish and trout. Fishing either the dropping tide or the rising tide is key when using live bait. We are working a lot of grass lines and oyster beds with live shrimp or mud minnows under a cajun thunder, so moving water brings moving fish. Then during the slack high or slack low tide we move over to artificial grubs like the gulp shrimp, or minnow. In both situations whether bait fishing, or using artificial's, you are presented with high numbers of fish and its always nice when you lose count 2 hours into the trip!

Alex and Tim from MI with a nice double

Scott and Duke from GA with a nice double! 

Levi from GA with a monster 30incher!

Annie from TN with one of her 14 trout!

Local client Jim with a nice 32incher! 

     I posted a lot more photos in this blog do to the excitement of my new camera! Recently I decided it was time to move into a better camera for not only photos, but also video. The Canon T4i was my long sought after decision and has produced some very high quality photos, and video! I went with the T4i because it has superior quality and auto focus when on video mode which can come in handy when on the water trying to film. I also purchased the Canon 18-135 STM zoom lens for super close up shots. When fishing I believe its important to capture the moment and taking photos, or video, can really provide some great memories of an excellent day on the water. I'm very excitement about this new camera and look forward to getting some sweet photos video footage for all of you in the near future.

Morning sunrise shot of my Maverick 18 HPX-V

Clapper Rail taking off! 

     All in all fall fishing is simply some of the best fishing through out the whole year. Its a time of the year that I recommend anyone who enjoys catching fish to come down to the waters of Beaufort, SC and experience it first hand. Whether your an experienced fly angler or new comer to the sport, you'll be able to experience some the best sigh fishing for redfish on the east coast. Or for any light tackle fisherman who enjoys high number days or simply just want to take your kids out to introduce them to the wonderful world of salt water fishing. The fall is a great way to not only enjoy the salt water fishery of the low country, but to experience some the best red fishing provided in the country.