Charleston
Inshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Redfin Charters (843-277-5255) report that October fishing should be the best of the whole year. The population of redfish is very strong right now, and around the tide cycle from low tide to the flood and back again fish should be eating mullet, shrimp and more. Trout will be caught on shrimp and mullet around moving water all month, and black drum can be caught around structure on shrimp. As temperatures drop sheepshead catches should get more consistent on fiddler crabs around a variety of inshore structure.
Edisto Island
Inshore: Captain Ron Davis Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that October is an excellent month for inshore fishing in the Edisto area for a range of species. When you locate redfish in the creeks or on the flats they will eat shrimp or mullet, and this month should offer the best tailing action of the year. Trout catches should continue to be excellent numbers-wise, and more and more fish should be above 14 inches. As the month progresses fish will continue to move from the main rivers to creeks and live shrimp will remain effective. Flounder catches should continue to be above-average for the area, and as water temperatures enter the mid-70s the inshore sheepshead bite will be the best of the year on fiddler crabs. Black drum will be mixed in with reds on the flats and also take up residence around structure.
Surf: Whiting, croaker and bluefish should all be feeding in the surf, and eventually the red drum will be too. Tarpon will leave once water temperatures drop a few more degrees.
Nearshore/ offshore: Bull red drum should be found in about 15-22 feet of water, and summer trout will be wide open at the mouths of creeks and the nearshore reefs and rocks once water temperatures drop into the low 70s. Spanish mackerel will continue to bust on the surface until water temperatures fall into the mid-60s. The best bottom fishing will be in 70-90 feet of water, and offshore wahoo, tuna and dolphin will all feed best high in the water column when water temperatures hit around 75 degrees.
Beaufort
Inshore: Captain Tuck Scott with Bay Street Outfitters (843-524-5250) reports that in October fish will eat more and more aggressively, in large part to store up reserves since they are about to lose their bait supply. Shrimp and baitfish will eventually leave and crabs will go into hibernation. Redfish should bite better and better on low tide, and on very high tides they will continue to tail throughout October. Mud minnows, finger mullet, cut mullet and shrimp are all good bait choices. Trout will be caught around the mouths of creeks in moving water, and shrimp under a popping cork should be hard to beat. Flounder fishing should stay strong around structure on mud minnows and finger mullet, and there should also be some tripletail around well into the month. Black drum will also feed up more and more this month on shrimp and crabs.
