Carolina Fishing Report: Flounder and Redfish Active as Anglers Await Fall

Labor Day is here and the fishing effort is intensifying, with the fish even seeing fit to cooperate a little bit. The end of the summer bite continues to be decent, with flounder and redfish especially making a nice showing. Fishing will only get better as we approach the fall season.

Flounder are falling to those drifting and trolling the inlets, but the bigger fish are orientating themselves to structure like pilings and oyster beds. Finger mullet, mud minnows and small pogies are all good baits. In the coming weeks the mullet are going to become even more numerous in our waters and finger mullet fished on a fishfinder rig near structure will be the go-to flounder bait.

Redfish have been our most consistent species over the summer and they are still hitting everywhere-in the surf, along the marsh grass on the points inside, near the bridges, and out at the jetties. Redfish are responding to any live bait when the tide is running strong.

The surf is also holding whiting (sea mullet) and the action can be very good in the early morning or just after sunset. Anglers using very fresh cut shrimp are catching the most sea mullet. There are no spot to speak of as yet but the yellow butterflies are here so fishermen will be watching for them.

Speckled trout are roaming and there are some nice fish out there but for now it is mostly a morning or evening bite when the tide is moving well and if you get lucky. Live shrimp are the best trout bait although as the mullet run commences anglers should be able to turn to live finger mullet or MirrOlure plugs that imitate mullet.

Black drum and sheepshead are still hitting around pilings as well and black drum fishing is decent after dark when the pinfish are less of a problem.

The piers still have some Spanish mackerel action out on the ends, and the Spanish usually stage a decent run as we move into fall.

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