Beaufort SC Fishing Charters: Mid-Trip Update
Thanksgiving – Mid-December
This winter, I’m part-time chartering in Louisiana from Thanksgiving through Christmas. The the first half of the trip has already delivered some incredible fishing and completely new experiences compared to Beaufort. Here’s a recap of how things have been so far.
The weather has been pretty solid, with air temps running between 45–65°F and water temps staying around 55–65°F. I’ve only had one real cold front come through. The start of my trip was super rainy, which apparently isn’t super common here. Wind has been manageable most days, averaging about 5–15 mph, so fishability hasn’t really been an issue. One of the biggest changes compared to Beaufort is the tide. Louisiana only swings about 1 foot, which definitely affects how the fish move and set up throughout the day.
Redfish have been the main target and by far the most consistent bite, but I’m still getting daily shots at black drum and the occasional sheepshead. Since the fish are way bigger out here, I’m throwing 5–6 inch black flies, and most of the reds we’re sight-fishing for are in that 30–45 inch range. The coolest moment of the trip so far was doubling up on two 36-inch redfish at the exact same time: one on fly and one on spin.
The biggest difference between Beaufort and Louisiana has got to be the size of the redfish. Everyone has their own theory about why they get so much bigger out here, but honestly, I still haven’t figured it out.
If you’re planning on fishing Louisiana, the number one thing you should do beforehand is practice casting, both fly and spin. Accuracy matters a ton here. If you can put the cast where it needs to be the first time, you’re already halfway to landing a giant.
Tight Lines,
Zach Markow