Even with slot limits in place and releasing large fish a must, bull redfish remain an incredibly popular target for anglers in the Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic region. And considering how exciting landing one of these big fish can be, it’s no wonder why. No redfish may be caught in federally protected waters. There is a limit of 3 fish per person per day. Finally, state law puts size limits on redfish, as they do with other game fish. Redfish must have a minimum total length of 15 inches and a maximum length of 23 inches to keep. This is commonly referred to as a ‘slot Redfish’ by locals.
No limit Min Length: 8 inches Max Length: No limit Red. Daily Bag: 4 Min Length: 15 - No limit. Red snapper may be taken using pole and line, but it is unlawful to use any kind of hook other than a circle hook when using natural bait. Daily Bag: No limit Min Length: 10 inches Max Length: No limit.
Redfish (also known as red drum) are one of the area’s several most popular game fish. They can be caught near the shore, inshore and near shore using live bait or a variety of lures and relatively lightweight tackle. If you are interested in trying to catch redfish in Myrtle Beach, our guide shows you an overview of where and how to hook them.
Tips For Catching Redfish
As with any game fish, it helps to understand the diet and habits of redfish. Adults and juveniles feed on or near the bottom. Inshore, juveniles tend to forage near the edge of marsh grasses. Juveniles tend to eat small crabs, minnows, and juvenile spot. Adults mainly feed on small fish, like adult spot, and crabs. Adults tend to congregate on sandy bottoms near beaches, in tidal creeks, and in oyster beds. Juveniles tend to congregate in estuaries, at the edges of marshes, and in shallow tidal creeks.
Rig For Success To Catch Redfish
Redfish Slot Limit Scale
These aren’t big fish, so serious deep-sea fishing gear is unnecessary and might even make fishing harder. A spinning rod and reel filled with 20-pound test line is good enough. You will also want medium-sized hooks, if using live bait, and an 18-inch wire leader. In live bait, menhaden, mud minnows, pinfish, and anchovies make good live bait. Lures that simulate the look or motion of those common bait fish are also good choices. A 1/4 ounce spoon or a specialty redfish lure like the Rapala Skitter Walk, are good options.
Spots To Fish In Myrtle Beach For Redfish
Several locations and techniques are worth trying out. Sport Fishing Magazine recommends going to a jetty and looking for a drop-off in depth, if you are on a boat with a depth finder. Otherwise trying casting along the jetty. The tops of sandbars also seem to attract redfish. If you can cast to one from the shore or from a boat, the other rules about baits or lures apply. You can also wade in grass flats or drift across them in a shallow boat and wait until you see a redfish in the water. In the grass, go for a soft-body lure rigged to make it snag resistant. Casting around potholes in the seabed or around the edges of marsh grass can work too.
Recommended Tides To Target Redfish
The tides are the most important consideration when going for redfish in Myrtle Beach. We recommend studying local tide tables and planning your fishing accordingly. Otherwise, the fishing is better in spring and summer. Mornings might be better for catching young redfish.
Rules & Regulations On Keeping Redfish In Myrtle Beach
Photo credit: Reel Action Fishing Charters – Captain John Schuchman
Sc Redfish Slot Limit
As with many fish species, a number of federal and state rules govern the taking of redfish. Anyone who wants to go saltwater fishing in South Carolina must have a saltwater license. No redfish may be caught in federally protected waters. There is a limit of 3 fish per person per day. Finally, state law puts size limits on redfish, as they do with other game fish. Redfish must have a minimum total length of 15 inches and a maximum length of 23 inches to keep. This is commonly referred to as a ‘slot Redfish’ by locals. The larger Redfish over 39″ are referred to as ‘bull Redfish’.
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The beaches of South Carolina’s Hunting Island State Park are a surf angler’s dream-come-true when bull redfish take up residence in the suds.
Phillip Gentry November 01, 2016 at 7:00 am | Mobile Reader | Print
Phillip Gentry
Many fishermen look forward to fall, when the crowds are gone and bull redfish begin showing up.
Surf-fishing for bull redfish has a long and storied history and tradition along the North Carolina coast. Anglers outfit their trucks with brush guards featuring integrated rod racks and fill the beds with coolers, chairs and tackle to drive out on the beach to where giant redfish roll in the waves.
Despite regulation changes that have hampered beach access and restricted vehicular traffic, surf-fishing remains immensely popular in the Tarheel State. A few hundred miles down the beach in South Carolina, anglers can’t drive on the beach, but in certain locations in the Palmetto State, you’re likely to have the whole beach to yourself.
Ken Swartley has it made. He lives on Lady’s Island, just inland from Hunting Island in Beaufort County, S.C., and he spends as much time as he can surf-fishing on the deserted end of Hunting Island State Park. He fishes throughout the summer, and he really looks forward to fall, when the crowds are gone and bull redfish begin showing up.
“I’ve caught them all over Hunting Island, just out off the beach,” he said. “There is really no specific things to look for, other than you have to get your bait out past the second sand bar; that’s where they seem to be.”
Like any good surf angler, Swartley uses the tide to his advantage. He can pick out what little sandbar cover may be available, even though the fish don’t seem to care.
“I like fishing the incoming tide,” Hartley said. “Actually, more like an hour before is when I like to be set up. So I actually start fishing the dead low, right off the beach, which is kind of strange, because there’s no real structure. The fish just seem to wander behind the surf line this time of year.”
From September through October and into November, mullet runs will occur around most mid-sized to larger inlets along the South Carolina coast, often wrapping around to the front beaches, and bull redfish definitely key on this bait.
Swartley is a bit unconventional when it comes to terminal tackle. Many anglers prefer a Carolina rig with a big circle hook, but he chooses to use a more-common, commercially made rig.
“It’s the same sort of two-hook rig you can buy at K-Mart or any of the local tackle shops,” he said. “It has two dropper lines about 6 inches long to which I attach simple, J-style hooks. I use about a 4-ounce pyramid sinker to weigh it down.”
Swartley is just as practical when it comes to his tackle. He said he likes to keep the “surf” in surf fishing so he only uses rods of moderate length, at least by surf-fishing standards.
Redfish Slot Limits Florida
“My surf rods are 12-footers, medium to medium-heavy action spinning rods, and I usually spool the reels with 15 to 20-pound test line. I recently made the move from 15 to 20 because of the late-season sharks and the fact the pyramid often gets buried deep in the sand when the baits sit a while.”
Swartley is a big fan of cut mullet for bait and prefers fresh mullet, although he has used frozen mullet with some success. Fortunately, mullet aren’t too hard to come by.
Kicks 66 casino santa fe. “I have a couple of different holes I go to before I head to the beach where I cast-net bait,” said Swartley. “My preferred mullet range anywhere from 8 inches or bigger. What I’ll do is cut two pieces out of the mullet so I have one mullet per rig. I don’t use the head, and I don’t use the tail. I cut the head off and the tail off, cut the body through the middle, and there are my two pieces of bait.”
At the same time, whiting — common along beaches, near inlets, and the mouths of larger coastal sounds throughout the fall — become more active. A piece of cut whiting is the another good bait.
Although Swartley fishes from the beach most of the year, he said it’s the fall that seems to be most attractive to the bull redfish. At most any other time of the year, he explained — with the exception of winter — sharks are pretty thick and will not allow a piece of cut bait to soak very long.
“Those sharpnoses, they’ll just tear you up” Swartley said. “When the reds start coming around, the sharpnoses seem to be on their way out. You might run into a blacktip or something like that, but for the most part, your bait is just going to sit out there or you’re going to get a redfish.”
DESTINATION INFORMATION
HOW TO GET THERE — Hunting Island State Park is on Hunting Island in Beaufort County; it encompasses all of the land mass east of US 21, including the beach areas. I-95 and US 21 are the main access routes. Most surf fishermen prefer the south end of the island, which get less beach traffic.
Redfish Slot Limit Screen
WHEN TO GO — Redfish, especially mature bull reds, start to make their way out of inlets into the nearshore ocean in October; they’ll stay there through November, offering a solid six weeks of great surf-fishing action.
BEST TECHNIQUES — Surf anglers fare best using fresh cut bait like mullet, whiting, spot or croaker fished on a single- or double-hook rig outside the surf line. Incoming tide is typically best for finding adult redfish cruising outside the breakers. Anglers can keep three reds per day, but they must fall within the 15- to 23-inch slot limit. Most reds caught in the surf will be exceed 23 inches, so take care to release these fish unharmed.
FISHING INFO/GUIDES — Hunting Island State Park, Hunting Island, S.C., 843-838-2011, www.southcarolinaparks.com/huntingisland. A South Carolina saltwater fishing license is required.
ACCOMMODATIONS — Camping is available at the northern end of the park. Each site has water and electrical hookups. Some sites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet, others up to 28 feet. Hot showers and restroom facilities are on site. For reservations, call 866-345-7275. Reservations must be for a minimum of two nights.