The Livelier The Bait, The Better The Bite
The old saying “the early bird catches the worm” really comes into play in August, the month that separates the true fishermen from those that claim to be. It’s best to fish early and you have to pull out all the stops because when the sun gets straight up, the fisherman frying process begins.
Redfish, spotted sea trout, flounder, whiting, and sharks can be caught just about anywhere by anglers fishing the sounds and beachfronts. The best baits are going to be the lively ones such as shrimp, mud minnows, finger mullet, and small yellow tail. Their movement, while rigged up, gets the fishes’ attention; essentially you are letting them do all the work for you. All you have to do is cast rigged bait into the considered strike zone and possibly re-adjust the float’s depth, but only if no hits occur after “the float by” takes place. A lot of fishermen like float fishing and as a fisherman myself I can tell you, we all just love to see the sinking of the cork!
The best news about these baits is most of them you can catch yourself, and you might just have enough left over for supper. The secret to casting and catching shrimp, which could also turn into an afternoon shrimp cocktail, is a simple one. I suggest working the grass line as the shrimp first come out on the falling tide and when they start heading back to the safety of the marsh on the rising tide. I also suggest making sure that the grass line that you are working has a mud bottom around it not oyster rakes!
For those who prefer to use “artificial only,” bites can also happen. I always like using DOA Shrimp patterns during this time. You can use them as rigged, straight out of the package. Best method here is to tie a three to four foot leader of 12 to 20 pound test to a popping cork and cast into place. Let the tide take the float, and come up with your own popping the float sequence. For instance: single pop of the cork, pause, double pop of the cork, pause, and then repeat. Once you trigger the fishes’ interest with your sequence of pops, not only can bites happen, but you might just be able to call the ball. This means to know just about when and where a solid hit might occur. It’s best to fish this rig in five to six feet of water. When fishing in more than six feet of water, try using a small adjustable float rig with a 2/0 Kahle hook. Remove the DOA weight and hook from artificial shrimp pattern and balance the bait on your hook. Believe me, when this bait starts waving in the current it looks just like the real deal! Offshore fishing report
Trolling options near shore. Ocean menhaden have arrived and can be caught while you cast your net around beachfronts and as far out as three miles into the ocean. The secret to finding pogies (also known as menhaden) is to keep an eye to the sky for diving pelicans. Menhaden are called “Pelican candy!” This is the one bait that works when used live or dead. It also works when used as chum, meaning cut up or smashed up.
For using live menhaden as bait, I suggest light tackle rigs made with stinger hooks fished around the beach and the shipping channels. Big kings are known for migrating into these areas during the month of August. Steep drops such as those located in shipping channels (Savannah River Channel) hold lots of bait standing opportunities, and slow trolling in these areas usually yields big king mackerel bites. If you see Spanish mackerel on the surface it’s very likely that large kings are holding in the outskirts. Another good baiting option is to catch Spanish mackerel, rig it up quick, and let it swim.
Bottom fishing offshore report
The bottom bite at the Savannah Snapper Banks is good during this time. However, to catch big fish you have to use the right big bait. Larger fish such as grouper, red snapper, cubera snapper, amberjack, and cobia want live bait. Menhaden, sand perch, rock bass, scup, pin fish, and ruby red lips are best. It’s important to make sure that your live well circulation pump is working properly and that the filter is clean. You want your bait lively and not shocked (stressed with a white milky appearance). I suggest lip hooking any of these baits with a 13/0 circle hook rigged up on a Carolina style rig. I always use a three to eight-ounce egg weight and an eight to 30-foot 100 pound test monofilament leader. I also suggest sending this rig to the bottom, which anchors the line on the bottom. This type of rig, sometimes referred to as a “Carolina Style Rig,” allows the bait to seem to swim free, putting it right in the big fish’s strike zone. As far as where to put your bait, well, at this point it’s all about Location, Location, Location!
Capt. Judy Helmey has written for ALL AT SEA since 2012.
Worth your time?
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