What We’ve Been Seeing on the Water

Late winter is holding steady along the South Carolina coast, and the Lowcountry is still very much in its “winter pattern.” Water temperatures have stabilized in the upper 40s into the mid-50s on warmer afternoons. The marsh is quiet, and bait is still limited. Water clarity has been excellent, especially on afternoon low tides. Those lower tides are giving us some of the best sight-fishing opportunities of the season.

Most Active Species

Redfish

Winter schools are still the main event.

We’re consistently finding redfish grouped up on mud flats, along creek bends, and on shell points where the sun has had time to warm the bottom. These fish are often tightly packed and can be very cooperative—if approached correctly.

They’re also extremely aware. Clear water and shallow depths mean long casts, soft presentations, and slow movements are mandatory. Quick false casts or heavy fly landings will push a school off the flat in a heartbeat.

Retrieve speed has been critical. Slower strips with subtle movement are outproducing anything aggressive. Let the fly settle, make it look natural, and resist the urge to overwork it.

As we move toward early spring, we’re beginning to see a few smaller groups and pairs breaking off from the larger schools—a good sign of what’s coming.

Speckled Trout

Trout are still holding in classic winter structure.

Deeper holes, creek mouths, and soft mud-to-shell transitions have been the most consistent zones. The bite window has been narrow, typically improving late morning into early afternoon once water temperatures bump up a degree or two.

Subsurface presentations are doing the heavy lifting. While an occasional topwater eat isn’t impossible on a warm, calm afternoon, this is still primarily a slow-sink, controlled-strip game.

Focus on depth control and maintaining contact with your fly. Many eats have been subtle.

Migratory Species

Check back in April…

Shop Tips – What’s Working

Flies

Redfish:

  • Small to medium shrimp patterns

  • Muted colors: tan, olive, brown, rusty orange

  • Weighted but not heavy—soft entries are key

Top picks right now: Ascension Bay Mantis Shrimp and Olive Fuzzle Shrimp.

Speckled Trout:

  • Game Changers – Black/Purple

Gear

Rods: 8 wt is the workhorse; Adjust up or down based on wind conditions

Lines: Floating lines dominate for redfish on the flats; sink tip lines can be helpful for deeper trout scenarios

Leaders: 12 lb fluorocarbon is standard; consider longer leaders (10–12 ft) in clear water

Extras: We are chasing those clear, sunny conditions. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean it’s time to leave your sunglasses and sun protection at home.

Pro Tip

It’s easy, especially this time of year, to get locked into the rhythm of winter. But while we’re layering up and watching the tides, the next season is already lining up behind it. And along the South Carolina coast, seasonal shifts don’t wait around for anyone. Now’s the time to start thinking ahead. That means tying flies and organizing boxes with intention. Flood tide season will be here before we know it, and those fish will demand flashy crab patterns that land soft and get noticed in the grass. Low tide sessions will soon call for larger, darker flies that push a little more profile across mud and oyster edges. And it won’t be long before the first waves of migratory fish start sliding back onto our coast—bringing with them the need for big, bright, attention-grabbing patterns. Preparation is part of the season, too. Tie now. Stock up now. Because when the water warms and things change overnight, you’ll want to be ready—not scrambling.