Santee Cooper
According to information provided by S.C. DNR, these are the top three fish being hooked in the Santee Cooper lake and freshwater systems.
Bass: Captain Brett Mitchell (803-379-7029) reports that the spawn is pretty much over by May, although a few straggler fish will still get on beds. This month the topwater bite should come on early and late, while during the day fishing gets tougher but bass can still be caught dragging soft plastics around trees.
Crappie: Captain Steve English (843-729-4044) reports that some white crappie will spawn this month, but the black crappie spawn is finished. The best pattern for catching fish is to target mid-depth brush with minnows.
Catfish: Captain Stevie English (843-709-8138) reports that in May he usually fishes a pretty straight-forward pattern – anchor in shallow water early and late, and then drift mid-depths during the day. Cut bait will work but chicken can also be effective in May. Dip baits will catch more small fish.
Lake Murray
According to information provided by S.C. DNR, these are the top three fish likely to be hooked by anglers in Lake Murray.
Bass: Tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria and Stan Gunter of Saluda report that this May things are running a little behind normal, and there could even be some fish on beds particularly at the beginning of this month. However, the herring spawn is likely to be the main deal for most of this month and fish should be caught on topwater lures, flukes and soft plastics/ jigs fished on the bottom around spawning herring. As the month progresses more fish will also start to key on bream and a buzzbait should work well.
Striped bass: Captain Brad Taylor (803-331-1354) reports that in May there should be a couple of different ways to catch bass, and fish should key on spawning herring especially early in the day. They can be caught on free lines and planer boards by anglers simply covering water, and there should also be a lot of smaller fish caught on down lines. Cut bait should also generate some big bites.
Crappie: Captain Brad Taylor reports that in April the fish should start to get out of their post-spawn feeding slump, and fish should start to feed up around docks, bridges and brush. They will be eating young of the year fry as well as baitfish and small minnows and jigs will work.
Catfish: Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that May is usually a good month for channel catfish on Lake Murray, and typically they will be caught in areas with depth changes from the bank out to about 25 feet. Put out baits including dip baits, cut herring and worms at a variety of depths. Sometimes night fishing will outperform fishing during the day, particularly as the water gets hot.
SALTWATER FISHING TRENDS Charleston
According to captains who provide fishing trends to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, here is what we are seeing in nearby saltwater.
Inshore: Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) reports that May should continue to be an excellent month for catching trout on live shrimp with lots of big spawning females around, and the redfish should continue to be caught around docks and tailing on high tide. At the jetties and in the harbor bull red drum will continue to arrive in better and better numbers this month. As bait returns to the area sharks are also showing up in droves.
Nearshore/offshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) reports that May will be a phenomenal month for fishing at the nearshore reefs, and this month cobia, spadefish, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and more will all be biting. This will also be the peak month for dolphin fishing. Edisto Island
Inshore: Captain Ron Davis Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that by the end of April the redfish action had recovered on the flats, and he expects it to stay decent through May. Fish will still be caught in the creeks at low tide on mud minnows. Big spawning trout will be caught in the main rivers on shrimp, and for both species there will be a topwater bite first thing. Flounder have flooded back into the area and will take mud minnows, and this is some of the best sheepshead fishing of the year before it gets very hot. In the surf whiting fishing will stay very strong.
Nearshore/ offshore: Captain Ron Davis Jr. reports that at the nearshore reefs black drum, weakfish, blues, Spanish mackerel, bull red drum and more will be caught this month, while in 60-90 feet the bottom fishing will be strong through the month. The dolphin were a little slow to arrive this year and so May should be the peak fishing, and wahoo and tuna should hang around.
Beaufort
Inshore: Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that a cool spring coincided with a pretty tough April around Beaufort, with redfish in particular more finicky than usual. However, as temperatures rise and bait starts to return in May the fish should feed more regularly and the tailing activity at high tide should pick up. Fish should also eat better at low tides and moving tides in the creeks. If you can get live shrimp they are hard to beat. Trout fishing should also pick up in moving water over shell bars, and both jigs and shrimp will catch fish. The most exciting development in May is that the cobia should return in numbers to the Broad River, and people will catch them both sight-fishing and anchoring baits on the bottom.
