Paddle the waters of Charleston, South Carolina, and you follow in the wake of a thousand years of anglers. From the Walpole Indians prowling the pre-historic backwaters to modern kayak warriors battling it out in high-stakes fishing tournaments, the tidal waters of South Carolina’s lowlands hold treasures that have attracted anglers for ages. RIC BURNLEY
Planner:
OUTFITTER
Time Out Sports and Ski, 843-388-2660, www.timeoutsports.net
BAIT AND TACKLE
Haddrell’s Point Tackle and Supply,
843-881-3644, www.haddrellspoint.com
EAT
Wreck of the Richard and Charlene, 843-884-0052,
GUIDE
Tommy Samuels, 843-725-8784,
www.kayakfishsc.com
Charleston Outdoor
Adventures, 843-795-0330, charlestonoutdooradventures.comadventures.com
DON’T MISS
East Coast Paddlesports and Outdoor Festival,
April 17 to 19, 2015
Charleston Trident Tournament, Year Round
Scoop
GUIDE
Tommy Samuels, professional guide, Wilderness Systems pro staff
FISHING HOLE
Paradise Boat Landing on the Wando River
WHAT’S BITING
Redfish
TOURIST SEASON
Spring when the water temperature hits 60 degrees.
RIGGED UP
7.5-foot medium-heavy rod and Okuma Trio spinning reel, 20-pound braid.
TACKLE BOX
Z-Man ShrimpZ and CrabZ on a 4/0 Trigger hook.
KAYAK
Shallow draft and stand-up friendly for short paddle expeditions and skinny-water stalking.
GEAR
Fishfinder to identify oyster bars and drop-offs.
GAME PLAN
Launch at the public boat ramp and hit the first set of dock pilings. Find the oysters and you’ll find bait and redfish. The next few miles of river offer several feeder creeks, plenty of oyster bars and lots of great fishing. Every oyster mound is a micro-environment, but some are better than others.
Find oysters near a creek mouth and deep water to find feeding reds. Drift downstream keeping an eye out for jumping bait, the V wake of a foraging red or a bright blue tail sticking out of the water and waving seductively.
This article was first published in the Spring 2015 issue of Kayak Angler. Subscribe to Kayak Angler Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
