THE LOWCOUNTRY’S
:]VVQVO WN \PM *]TT[ BY CAPT. JASON DuBOSE
Ken Kroupa Jr. with a bull red caught while fishing with Capt. Jason DuBose
8 enough to live in southern climates hile fishermen not fortunate
are already thinking about putting their boats away for the winter, here in the Lowcountry we are full swing into some of the best fishing of the year! Although it’s true that we have great year round fishing opportunities in the Hilton Head area, ask any local angler their opinion about the best season to wet a line and the vast majority will answer “fall!” without even having to think about it. “What makes fall fishing so great?” you ask. The short answer is beautiful weather, an abundance of bait, a tremendous diversity of fishing options, and red hot action born of the instinctual need for gamefish to feed heavily in anticipation of the approaching winter. When you put these factors together the result is world class saltwater fishing that will blow the mind of even the most seasoned and well traveled angler. With the action raging from tailing redfish on the flats to sailfish balling bait in the Gulf Stream one of the most difficult tasks involved in fishing this time of year is deciding what species to target. I truly enjoy every type of fall fishing imaginable, but if forced to choose my favorites I’d have to say bull redfishing and offshore bottom fishing. Bull or stag redfish are the adult segment of our local redfish population and have much different behavioral patterns than the juvenile redfish found year round in our inshore waters. Bull redfish are typically well over 30 inches in length and weigh any where from 15 to over 50 lbs. They spend the majority of the year living around
8
shoals, live bottom areas and artificial reefs in our offshore waters. During mid to late summer the bull red’s spawning migration brings them to the waters just off our beaches. Post spawn, a large percentage of the population moves into Port Royal Sound and the surrounding inshore waters to take advantage of the large influx of bait that early fall brings to the area. Targeting and catching bull redfish
in inshore waters with consistency is something that is unique to this time of year. Success targeting these bruisers is dependent on many factors and varies from day to day; however, racking up double digit catch numbers during the months of September, October, and November is not uncommon. While bulls are far over the upper end of the legal slot size for redfish (15 to
DUDE PROFILE: Capt. Jason DuBose, Head River Pro at Oldfield Club, runs inshore, nearshore, and offshore fishing charters. Aside from his duties as a charter fishing captain, Jason conducts a number of monthly educational seminars at Oldfield Club covering topics ranging from fishing techniques to local navigation and boat handling skills. Capt. Jason has worked as a professional sportfishing captain, mate and angler for the better part of the last ten years and has fished extensively throughout the Florida Keys, Bahamas, and North and South Carolina. To contact Capt. Jason with questions and charter request please email him at: jdubose@hamptongolfclubs.com or call him at 843-304-4834.
23 inches) and must be released, they provide great sport and a lot of action for those wanting to catch big fish in inshore waters. If you’re not only looking for action but also some fillets for the grill or frying pan, fall offshore bottom fishing can not be beat. During the fall months live bottom areas located 30 to 50 miles offshore teem with life. Live bottom areas are characterized by rocky or hard bottom outcrops on the otherwise barren sand of the ocean floor. The hard surface provided by the rocky bottom allows for the growth of soft corals, sponges, sea fans etc., essentially creating an underwater oasis. Gamefish such as grouper, snapper, black sea bass, trigger fish, porgies, cobia, amberjack, and king mackerel are attracted to these areas due to the tremendous amount of bait fish that inhabit them and the structure the hard bottom ledges provide. While you can vary your fishing techniques and baits to specifically target certain species you really never know what you might hook into next.. When you send a bait down on a live bottom area it’s not a question of whether you’re going to get a bite, but rather what’s it going to be and how big! Bottom line. if you’re not getting out on the water this time of year you are missing out on some of the best fishing of the year. If you’ve got a boat get out there and give it a try. If not give me a call and I’ll be happy to introduce you to our great fall fishery or hook you up with a guide specializing in the type of fishing you want to do!
Fall/Winter 2010-2011