Hogan Brown
08-06-2009, 07:55 AM
Thought I would throw together a short trip report since I am sitting with my lap top and my 14mos old son sleeping on my lap and if I get up, he wakes up, and then the whole operation for the rest of the day falls apart.
Just got back from 2 weeks on the Carolina, Georgia Coast. I have been to this area of the country a number of times and really do love the southern coast and the south for that matter. Charleston and Savannah are two of the coolest towns I have ever hung out in. One of the main reason I travel to this area of the country is the low country fishing, Red fish, sea trout, migratory tarpon, Tripple tail, Blue fish, spanish macs, etc... The big draw is red fish of course.
I am always amazed at how few people talk about or chase these fish. I hosted red fish trips to TX and SC for about 4 years 10 years ago or and these trips were some of the most popular trips I ever put together. If you don't know red fishing is done in the salt marsh areas .... basicly flats fishing but instead of coral it is hard sand, mud, oyster beds. Most of the flats are wadeable (except the soft mud/sand...you learn to spot these once you sink waist deep a few times into muck) or fished from a poling skiff (Flats boat). These fish are no where near as spooky as other flats fish ... permit, tarpon, bones etc... most places I fish casts don't excede 40-60 feet and unless you line the fish or plop the fly right on its head you will not spook the fish...and even if you spook the fish it will start feeding in another spot on the flat.
It is mostly all tailing fish so it is a very visual stocking oriented fishing and most places I have fished on an average day you get 10-25 shots at fish (most of the time it is closer to 25 just depends on how long the tides are right and what not). Most fish average 3-10lbs with bigger ones on occasion. The grab is usually very violent and explosive but at times can be subtle like a bone fish.
Redfishing is a great way to get into salts flats fishing for cheap. Many people talk about wanting to go to exotic locals for flats fishing but the bottom line is if you haven't done that style of fishing there is a serious learning curve and at $5000 a trip unless you are made of money that can be tough. I use to do my TX gulf coast trips for 3days guided fishing, 4 nights, food, lodging, tranportation (minus airfare - southwest flies to Corpus for like $150 rd trip) for $1200 based on double occupancy.
With money tight this is a great salt flats trip that you can do on the cheap. I don't host these trips or put them together anymore so don't think this is a pitch or anything. I have just noticed that not a lot of people talk about this fishing and it is really close (as far as flats fishing goes) and affordable. Check the pics out as well as the link to a Brian O'Keefe trip to the gulf.
http://brianokeefephotos.com/essay_photos.php?fmEssay=25&fmSearch=1
The Stock - swirl is the fish
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll243/hgbtrout/2009_072323JulyTailing0005.jpg
The Grab
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll243/hgbtrout/2009_072323JulyTailing0014.jpg
The Run
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll243/hgbtrout/2009_072323JulyTailing0015.jpg
The fish - notice ankle deep water
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll243/hgbtrout/IMGP1612.jpg
Just got back from 2 weeks on the Carolina, Georgia Coast. I have been to this area of the country a number of times and really do love the southern coast and the south for that matter. Charleston and Savannah are two of the coolest towns I have ever hung out in. One of the main reason I travel to this area of the country is the low country fishing, Red fish, sea trout, migratory tarpon, Tripple tail, Blue fish, spanish macs, etc... The big draw is red fish of course.
I am always amazed at how few people talk about or chase these fish. I hosted red fish trips to TX and SC for about 4 years 10 years ago or and these trips were some of the most popular trips I ever put together. If you don't know red fishing is done in the salt marsh areas .... basicly flats fishing but instead of coral it is hard sand, mud, oyster beds. Most of the flats are wadeable (except the soft mud/sand...you learn to spot these once you sink waist deep a few times into muck) or fished from a poling skiff (Flats boat). These fish are no where near as spooky as other flats fish ... permit, tarpon, bones etc... most places I fish casts don't excede 40-60 feet and unless you line the fish or plop the fly right on its head you will not spook the fish...and even if you spook the fish it will start feeding in another spot on the flat.
It is mostly all tailing fish so it is a very visual stocking oriented fishing and most places I have fished on an average day you get 10-25 shots at fish (most of the time it is closer to 25 just depends on how long the tides are right and what not). Most fish average 3-10lbs with bigger ones on occasion. The grab is usually very violent and explosive but at times can be subtle like a bone fish.
Redfishing is a great way to get into salts flats fishing for cheap. Many people talk about wanting to go to exotic locals for flats fishing but the bottom line is if you haven't done that style of fishing there is a serious learning curve and at $5000 a trip unless you are made of money that can be tough. I use to do my TX gulf coast trips for 3days guided fishing, 4 nights, food, lodging, tranportation (minus airfare - southwest flies to Corpus for like $150 rd trip) for $1200 based on double occupancy.
With money tight this is a great salt flats trip that you can do on the cheap. I don't host these trips or put them together anymore so don't think this is a pitch or anything. I have just noticed that not a lot of people talk about this fishing and it is really close (as far as flats fishing goes) and affordable. Check the pics out as well as the link to a Brian O'Keefe trip to the gulf.
http://brianokeefephotos.com/essay_photos.php?fmEssay=25&fmSearch=1
The Stock - swirl is the fish
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll243/hgbtrout/2009_072323JulyTailing0005.jpg
The Grab
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll243/hgbtrout/2009_072323JulyTailing0014.jpg
The Run
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll243/hgbtrout/2009_072323JulyTailing0015.jpg
The fish - notice ankle deep water
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll243/hgbtrout/IMGP1612.jpg