[DANtheJDMan]

Well I fished the South Carolina beach for the first time. This is one cool place, it looks sort of like Jurassic Park with the tall pine trees and palms right up to the beach.

I never fished a beach where you had to give so much ground as the tide comes in. The tide comes in almost 100 yards from low to high.

Well here is the report. I got there from Augusta about mid night and went to the fishing pier. I got the surf rods all lined up and ready for the morning. The gate to the beach access opens at 6:00 so I was ready to hit the golden hour.

Took a nap in the car and a raccoon woke me up at 3:00 am standing on the hood looking in the window at me. I was still moving so he went on.

I went through the gate at 6:01 and parked at the first beach access on south beach. Pulled the cart down to the first jetty south and set up on the north side of it. The tide was out and had just started coming in.

Got the bait rods going and caught a couple of little whiting to get the big rods baited. Bombed out a whiting head with the old 12ft Star Stellar and a few minutes later she made deep bend and I was on. I could feel the tail wagging and was waiting for the poink of a shark bite off. But she started going down current and I thought this feels like a drum. She got her belly on the sand and made a couple of more short runs and then she came on in for a picture and a kiss. It was a nice fat 36 inch red drum. Could not catch enough whiting to keep the big rods going. Called it quits at about noon and went back to the pier. There was a guy next to me fishing the rocks of the jetty with fresh dead shrimp and catching nice black drum.

 

[DANtheJDMan]

Well I fished the South Carolina beach for the first time. This is one cool place, it looks sort of like Jurassic Park with the tall pine trees and palms right up to the beach.

I never fished a beach where you had to give so much ground as the tide comes in. The tide comes in almost 100 yards from low to high.

Well here is the report. I got there from Augusta about mid night and went to the fishing pier. I got the surf rods all lined up and ready for the morning. The gate to the beach access opens at 6:00 so I was ready to hit the golden hour.

Took a nap in the car and a raccoon woke me up at 3:00 am standing on the hood looking in the window at me. I was still moving so he went on.

I went through the gate at 6:01 and parked at the first beach access on south beach. Pulled the cart down to the first jetty south and set up on the north side of it. The tide was out and had just started coming in.

Got the bait rods going and caught a couple of little whiting to get the big rods baited. Bombed out a whiting head with the old 12ft Star Stellar and a few minutes later she made deep bend and I was on. I could feel the tail wagging and was waiting for the poink of a shark bite off. But she started going down current and I thought this feels like a drum. She got her belly on the sand and made a couple of more short runs and then she came on in for a picture and a kiss. It was a nice fat 36 inch red drum. Could not catch enough whiting to keep the big rods going. Called it quits at about noon and went back to the pier. There was a guy next to me fishing the rocks of the jetty with fresh dead shrimp and catching nice black drum.

Got back out Sunday morning and went to the jetty that is way down toward the cabins from the bath house on south beach. During high tide there was a heck of an out suck on that one jetty so I set up on it at low tide and was ready for the incoming. Stayed there for a hour and caught a couple of small whiting. I looked south and in the middle between the jetties there was what looked like a nice out suck. the waves were V'ed up and the foam was going way out. I packed up and move a couple of hundred yards and put the long rods out with the whiting that I caught. This time I put a drum rig on the 13ft Tommy Farmer 3-6 I got for Christmas and proceeded to throw that bait into orbit and out past the end of the jetties a good long way. Baited up the 12fter to and chucked it out as far as it would go.

The CPS rod made a big bow. I picked it up and pulled a little drag then thumbed the spool and pulled up hard and she took off. Didn't give her too much drag and went down the beach with her. I thought this feels like a drum too. A guy was out walking down the beach and he came over and held my rod while I got her unhooked and measured. 40 inch nice fat red drum. First good fish with the Tommy Farmer 3-6 plenty of power to pull her up but nice fight all the way. The dude didn't have a phone and my hands were all slimmed up and she needed to get back in the water so no picture this time.

Baited up again and had a big hit on the 12fter. Then it was gone and brought it in and there were big teeth marks on the head but at least the shark didn't get the hook.

The Tommy Farmer went off again and this time she was not happy. She took me all the way down to the next jetty and I was afraid she was going to get the line on the rocks but she finally came in but would not give up in the wash and kept making short runs to the breakers. Then I could see there were more than just red drum fins sticking out of the 2ft deep wash there was a 5-6ft shark after the red fish. I tightened the drag and got a hold of the 50lb shock and dragged her away from the biter. No body was around to help so no pictures but she went 43 inches and was big and fat and heavy.

The Tommy Farmer 13ft 3-6 will flat throw a bait. I was throwing 4 ounces and a mullet head. Not all good news because I did blow up the Akios 666 MM3 that was on the 13fter mags and brakes and everything and still blew it up. First time I fought a fish on the 13fter. It fought really nice. I caught a 44 inch drum on my 40-405 Diawa Saltiga Balistic and it does not compare. You can't feel the fish like the Tommy Farmer. Sure it I was at the point and hooked on to a 50+ I would want the 40-405.

Called it quits at 11:00 am and headed back to Augusta and took a nap.

One heck of a first fishing trip to South Carolina.

For you local guys. Where can you get cob mullet or menhaden? I couldn't catch enough bait. I know I can find a creek and use my own cast net. But somebody has to have some fresh bait for sale around there.

 

[Fatback]

Outstanding report! Landing Reds that big from the surf this time of year is somewhat out of the ordinary, but not unheard of. Well done, great trip. Seeing a feature in the surf, packing up and moving to fish it and then landing quality fish, sweet. Happy for ya.

Bait; I know time is precious when you're visiting, but spend some time with all rods rigged for bait. Say mid-day or when you can, small hooks/fresh shrimp, you know the drill, stock up with bait before prime time. Nothing worse than having a hot bite and not having any bait. All so keep in mind stingrays a excellent bait for the big toothy critters.

Pictures; Man, I would love to see those fish lying on the sand in a bad pic rather than no pic at all. Shoot um' and share, makes great report even better.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[abass105]

Nice report. That CCP 13' 3-6 rod is great. A pleasure to cast and fish. I have 2 and they are hands down the best rods I own.

 

[Jerktherod!]

I have a 12 ft rod and rarely use it. I'm a 9ft guy. I've had more and better luck not heaving to the moon. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[DANtheJDMan]

I have a 12 ft rod and rarely use it. I'm a 9ft guy. I've had more and better luck not heaving to the moon. Am I doing something wrong?

I brought 6 rods with me. 3 9ft, 11ft, 12ft, and 13ft. The 9 ftrs are the work horses feeding the cooler and the big rods. Big rods are just a way to get your bait in different places. I fish short, long and in between. The 11ft is a CPS 2-5 and can throw 3 and a river rig as far as the 13ft can throw 4 and a mullet head. I try to mix it up.

 

[Jerktherod!]

I do surf fish quite a bit... But I fly fish inshore usually. I'm not big into heavers but I see the point. I've seen some good hauls come in.