Here is a 4-pounder caught by our member Terry Dremmel’s friend Tom Mears. It last Thursday (January 18, 2024) in the Intracoastal Waterway in South Brunswick County in 4 ft of water using a coffee-colored paddle tail plastic with darker brown spots on it. Tom and friends have been doing very well with that lure that past several weeks.
By January, redfish in South Carolina’s lowcountry are gathered up in huge schools, where they patrol the skinniest water they can find. They do this for two reasons: to stay away from flipper as much as possible, and to stay in the sunlight for the warmth it offers.
Many anglers troll up and down main waterways, keeping tabs on these schools and offering them lures as they go. But for Capt. Stephen Flook of Unashamed Adventures, this is the time to get off the main channels. Instead, he parks his boat at the mouth of secondary creeks, many of which are blocked from boats by the presence of oyster mounds.
“I’ll just get into the mouth as far as I can, anchor down, then cast back into those tiny, secondary creeks,” he said.
His favorite spots are the creeks that hold a foot or two of water during dead low tide.
“If it’s deep enough at dead low for redfish to stay, that’s what they’d prefer to do. That keeps them safe from dolphins because it’s not deep enough for the dolphins. Plus, the entrances to these tiny creeks are usually blocked, at least partially, by oyster mounds. So even the smallest of boats are locked out,” he said.
But they don’t stop Flook or his clients from firing a variety of Z-Man soft plastics into those creeks.
“When targeting the big schools on the main waterway, you have to be careful and precise where you cast. That’s not a concern in these tiny creeks because if you spook the fish, they don’t really have anywhere to go. They aren’t going to competely leave the creek because it’s their safest spot at low tide,” he said.
Some of these creeks are so small that you may have room for casts in only one or two tiny areas.
“If you put it in front of a redfish, it’s usually going to pick it up. Maybe not on the very first cast, but they’ll pick it up pretty quickly,” said Flook (864-430-8830) or https://fishingcharterschs.com/
And if they don’t, he’ll pull up anchor, find another tiny creek, and try again.
“Sometimes I’ll even get out and walk into these creeks on foot if it’s possible,” he said.
Flook said anglers should make a cast and work the lure back slowly, but not so slowly that your lure hangs up on the bottom. A twitch here and there is often enough to trigger a strike.
Courtsey of Carolina Sportsman … subscribe to their free newsletter at https://www.carolinasportsman.com/newsletter-2/
BTW … Freedom Boat Club has locations in the Charleston area.
Jim started fishing as a young boy with his dad on the lakes in North Jersey. “Dad wasn’t a very good fisherman, but he was persistent, and instilled a love of the water on myself.” Like many of us, his first angling equipment was the classic Zebco spin-cast outfit. Jim and a childhood friend used to spend hours fishing on the lake where he grew up. His friend’s mom would fry up sunfish, bluegill, and crappie for them. As he got older, Jim fished for trout in the streams of north and central NJ. Whether casting a fly or drowning worms, fresh trout were always a welcome treat. His most memorable catch was a 3½ lb rainbow trout that he caught using an ultralight rod he had previously gifted his father, the year after he passed away. The trout was mounted on Jim’s wall for many years, bringing back memories of his dad.
Other fishing excursions that Jim has enjoyed include countless numbers of trips with friends, Roger, Basil, dad, and Gary to Ontario and Quebec in pursuit of elusive walleye and northern pike; tuna fishing off Montauk in a 22’ boat with 4 other guys (only time he ever got seasick… something about the anchored boat bucking the waves; innumerable fluke fishing trips in the Raritan Bay; bottom fishing for bass and tog off the Southern Jersey coast; and surf fishing on his annual pilgrimage to the Outer Banks (Rodanthe is his favorite). Jim also enjoys pier fishing both locally and in the Outer Banks. Jim’s ‘Fishing Bucket List’ includes a trip to Florida’s Lake Okeechobee in search of lunker bass. Recently, Jim was featured with friends Alan Trojan and Clint Morschauser, in an article published in the Brunswick Beacon after a local, very successful, fishing trip with Captain Tripp Hooks. An avid fisherman, Jim’s favorite saying is “The tug is the drug”!
Jim has owned several boats with his current one being a 2019 Boston Whaler Montauk 170 that he keeps at the newly opened Calabash Marina. Jim is still learning the tricks of the trade in fishing the Intracoastal Waterway, but has benefited greatly on several charter trips with other members of the club. Recently, Jim was featured with friends Alan Trojan and Clint Morschauser, in an article published in The Brunswick Beacon after a local, very successful, fishing trip with Captain Tripp Hooks. The team scored big and had to throw back many trout after meeting the limit for the boat. An avid fisherman, Jim’s favorite saying is “The tug is the drug”!
Jim is a retired (Telcom Engineer, AT&T and Lucent, and IT Audit Director, CIT Bank) and moved to Sunset Beach a year and a half year ago with his wife and 3 dogs. He affectionately calls the dogs “boat anchors” because he can’t just up and go somewhere for an overnight stay. Jim and Margaret have one daughter, Brigit, who is a teacher in NJ and is getting married this month to a NYC Paramedic.
May 7, 2024. The cost is $150 per person and includes the tip. Contact Chuck Fisher of Little River, South Carolina by emailing him at captchuckfisher@verizon.net for more information.
In December three of our Sea Trail Fishing Club members went on a very successful charter trip with Captain Tripp Hooks. The adventure started out on a sunny, but chilly morning with temperatures in the mid-30’s. at the Salt Fever Guide Service docks. Fishing along the ICW at Tripp’s handpicked, favorite locations, Alan Trojan, Clint Morschauser, and Jim Baumgartner filled out their bag limit of four speckled trout each. The largest was 22 inches, but they also released several undersized trout. One weakfish or grey trout was also released. In addition to a great day of trout fishing, the group also caught a ‘slot’ red drum and four black drum. Most of the action occurred in Tubbs Inlet and Tubbs Cut areas. Spinning rigs were used with floats and treble hooks baited with live shrimp. Captain Hooks runs ‘Capt’N Hook Outdoor’ charters out of Ocean Isle Marina (https://capthookoutdoors.com).
Case in Point: Besides going fishing with our members, there are many great fishing guide professionals in our area that can put you on to a good fishing experience. Some of these guides will speak at our STFC meetings to impart their expertise on lures, rigs, and the right techniques to improve your odds.
[Photo: Compliments of Captain Hooks]
One of the great opportunities of being in the Sea Trail Fishing Club is being invited to fish with other members. Whether the invitation is to fish a pond, lake, pier or whatever, it is always more fun and satisfying to fish with a friend(s) than to fish alone. In addition, you get to share information about fishing gear, tackle, and angling techniques. And who knows, it is great to have a witness if you hook the ‘big one’ and to get to make or better know a friend!!
If the invitation comes from a member that happens to have a boat, that is a double benefit. You get to fish in places that you can’t normally access without a lot of expense and there is an added measure of safety for both. Fishing alone can be hazardous if the unexpected occurs.
Yesterday, Brian Brumbaugh put out an email invitation to our members to join him on his boat for a fishing trip. It seems that I was the only taker, even though I offered to step aside if there were others that were not anxious to take up Brian’s offer. Yes, it was a late notice and yes, it was a bit chilly. We did go and it was as much fun as expected! I caught and landed my personal best Black Drum and Sheepshead of the year.
So, get your fishing gear together and your hooks sharp. Be ready at all times for that unexpected call or email. Most of the time opportunities come around when you least expect them.
Sea Trail Fishing Club 
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