How to fish in saltwater?

poadeleted21

poadeleted21

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Aug 18, 2011
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Alright, so I've gone and bought myself a Grady White fishing rig. I live in the heart of the SC lowcountry ( Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah/Tybee are all doable). Not looking to go 100 miles offshore. Just looking to ruin some fishes' day within a mile or two of shore and fart around the islands here. problem is, I have no idea how or where to catch saltwater fish.

Any tips/pointers for my area? Boat is well equipped with all sorts of riggers, Garmin marine GPS, fish finder, marine radio, charts etc... I don't have a damn clue what to do with it.
 
I'm pretty sure ya gotta bait a hook and put it in the water in order to fish in saltwater. Of course that stands a chance of interrupting yer beer drinking so maybe skip the bait part.
 
Find a reef or wreck or something on the bottom that will generate a fish population. Hook up a good sized weight and two hooks running off on about 6" of line from the main line. First one about a foot up from the weight the second another 8-10". Throw her in, let it hit the bottom, two cranks and wait. Bottom fishing in a nutshell.

If you want to get into trolling or more targeted fishing, your best bet is locals.
 
Go to a good tackle store, or your state's F&G website or the area chart nd find where they put the fish habitats.
 
Cheapest thing you can do is hire a local captain for a couple trips!:yes: In Destin it's around $2-300 per day, a good one will,spend time showing you how to rig baits, what tackle you need and take you to some good spots. Just be aware, he won't likely leave his spots in your GPS! ;)
Have fun!! :D
 
Attend a few local fishing seminars,talk with your local bait shop clerks,hire a guide for a trip or two. Also read the local newspaper.
 
Two sticks of dynamite,,, 30 second fuse....... Net um as they float up...:yes:..:D..


Don't laugh..... it works....:)
 
Hiring a good local guide is the most effective way, most won't care if you save the spots on your phone.
 
Nearshore will be late spring to early fall trolling. Water isn't deep enough for bottom fishing until about 70 feet. The ledge, where most of the action is going to be a haul, but as you gain confidence in the boat, won't be an issue. Try going with a buddy boat. Water temp, fronts, currents, bait, rigs will be key. Get in some saltwater fishing forums - lots of good info and friendly folks. After many years offshore and inshore fishing I actually prefer sight casting to reds and trout over anything else. Others would swear otherwise. Enjoy the Grady- they're awesome boats. You may want a 16foot johnboat to go with it if you find yourself cast netting mullet or throwing jigs while trolling small brackish creeks on an incoming tide...gawd I miss Florida!
 
bartmc said:
Alright, so I've gone and bought myself a Grady White fishing rig. I live in the heart of the SC lowcountry ( Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah/Tybee are all doable). Not looking to go 100 miles offshore. Just looking to ruin some fishes' day within a mile or two of shore and fart around the islands here. problem is, I have no idea how or where to catch saltwater fish.

Any tips/pointers for my area? Boat is well equipped with all sorts of riggers, Garmin marine GPS, fish finder, marine radio, charts etc... I don't have a damn clue what to do with it.
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Fishing is no different than anything you do in life...(except for the fact IT IS ALWAYS FUN....even if you get skunked).

Meaning....from this day forward you will learn(just like your pilot cert)...

if you get some good teachers...you might learn a bit faster...but it's not necessary.

Go out have fun...you will meet folks along the way that will help. Fishing circles are usually friendly....no worries mate...hook em n cook em!!
 
Just got back from St. Petersburg, FL. Wehired a boat and the captain took us 15 miles off shore and we caught 103 fish in 3 hours. He Clea ed them up and we took them to a restaurant and they cooked them up for us. Grouper, sea bass, snapper, rock fish, greys. Amazing day.

Hire a local guild and ask them.
 
I'll be out next month to help you out with this...

I was stationed at the Naval Weapons Station for three years. I had, and still have, a 17 foot center console that I used all over the rivers, inter-coastal, and up in the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. I took it 25 miles off shore once, but did not have a great trip.

You will have a ball with that thing!

Jim
 
bartmc said:
Even better. His house is on the market for $3,000,000. The info will come in handy.
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You'll have to find e DN in the fish you catch, between them and lobsters they'll clean a body up pretty quickly. Better to grind them into chum.
 
make some friends at a marina. when I bought my bowrider years ago I spent a day at a friend of a friends marina and by the end of the day the outboard motor was tuned, a few things on the trailer were fixed, and I had learned 2 or 3 good fishing knots.
 
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