Category: Charleston Fishing Charters

Pictures and articles from Charleston fishing guide, Capt. Legare Leland.

First Redfish Experience

Half-day charter – topwater trout at daybreak followed by 10 big reds. Can’t ask for a better introduction to Charleston fishing.

Charleston Double Play – Redfish and Topwater Trout

This morning’s fishing trip was a blast. The client was an experienced angler from the Netherlands who has fished all over the world and this morning was his first experience catching redfish in Charleston. We left Shem Creek around daybreak and spent a few hours catching seatrout with artificial lures – awesome topwater action. When the tide was right we moved to the ICW behind Isle of Palms and prepared for serious redfish action – an experience fishing guide doesn’t take a someone’s first experience catching redfish lightly! After poling around the flats and casting a variety of bait for an hour or so we found the spot. The pictures tell the story best.

Redfish Report

Early April is typically a difficult time to catch redfish. I ran half a dozen trips out Isle of Palms Marina the first week of April. I fished different spots each charter and produced about the same results. The rising water temperatures are breaking up schools of reds found in shallow flats during the winter. Figuring out what they’re eating during seasonal transitions is challenging. Until the menhaden return to the Charleston Harbor (hopefully later this month) daily catches will vary. This time of year catching 6 or more big spottail bass on a half-day chater is a good day.

Early Morning Fishing Charter

Isle of Palms Fishing Charter

Left the Isle of Palms marina before daybreak searching for redfish. Pressure from increased fishing activity this time of year leads to frequent early morning fishing charters depending on tides. We reached the skinny waters of Hamlin Sound in about 10 minutes. I pushed through the flats for a good 15 minutes before spotting some tailing fish. The first few fish were caught sight casting to schooling redfish with artificial lures but, live mullet was easily their preference. The bite turned on around 7:30 AM and the reels screamed until we ran out of bait and headed home for an early lunch.