January started slow due to inconsistent weather but wrapped up with consistent fishing. Average air temperatures stayed between 45–55°F, with water temperatures ranging from 50–55°F. Early in the month, fishing was tough to pattern because temperatures were constantly changing and we were dealing with some very large tides. It went from unusually warm to very cold in a short period of time, which made consistency hard to find. Once cooler temperatures settled in toward the end of the month, fishing improved noticeably.
Water clarity was one of the biggest positives this month. Visibility was very good throughout January, with some days reaching close to four feet of visibility. In areas around four feet deep, you could clearly see the bottom, which made sight fishing much more manageable.
Fishing Behavior
With clearer water and much less bait around, lighter colors and smaller fly profiles produced better results. Darker flies, especially black, didn’t look as realistic in these conditions. Most of the fish were found in large schools, which is typical for winter fishing. While I’m still trying to fully understand why redfish school up so tightly during colder months, it made targeting them more efficient once you located the right group.
Species caught this month included redfish, a couple of trout, and one flounder.
The most memorable catch came on January 31st, when we landed a fish during a snowstorm, which is definitely not something you see often in Beaufort.
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