As Winter has come and gone, we are making our way through Spring. It has been a blast this

year and one of my favorite times of year for redfish. As fish have spread out, it makes for some

very cool shots at individual fish.   Even with some heavy winds we have been doing well on both

fly and spin.  As temps are rising we are starting to see our seasonal fish come in.  We caught our

first Ladyfish yesterday and had some shots at Cobia.  

As one of the only full-time Hilton Head and Beaufort Fly Fishing guides, we are always

blazing our own trails and running that ragged edge.  Every trip is unique with plenty of shots at

huge fish in shallow water. Check out our Gallery or Testimonials to catch a glimpse.

     Hilton Head is ever increasing the amount of guides.  Here at Locoflycharters we don't need to

talk bad about any guides. No digs. With over twenty-five years of saltwater fly fishing experience

and guiding in three different countries, we have been in the game long enough.  Besides, You

have to be "behind" someone to talk behind their back. We don't need to.  The best way I can

help you pick a Hilton Head Fly Fishing guide is to look at their websites and ask yourself.  Which

Hilton Head guide's pictures and experiences do you want to be a part of? How does theirfishing

reports look year round? Is it on fly? or bait? offshore away from the flats?

     A high quality flats boat, although not a direct correlation, is a good indicator that a guide

takes his flats job seriously and uses the right tool for the job.  It's just another indication he's in it

for the long haul and not part-time.  Google ranking, unfortunately, is not structured based on

ability or quality of trips. I'm sure there are many fine guides on that first page, but one is not a

reflection of the other.  As we move up those rankings I hope people choose to fish with us not

because we were the first website they found, but rather, on other qualities; like word of mouth

from one of our clients, etc.  Many of the guides I have always looked up to and aspire to be like

(i.e. Steve Huff and Rob Fordyce) don't even own a website.  I hope one day I can take mine

down.
      
     We are proud to say, as one of the only full time Hilton Head Fly Fishing guides, we are always

blazing our own trails and running that ragged edge.  Every trip is unique with plenty of shots at

huge fish in shallow water. Check out our Gallery or Testimonials to catch a glimpse.

     I am not a big fan of the sunglass retainers that are made of cotton because they soak in sweat and dirt.  Maybe if I only fished in cold weather I might be more inclined to wear this type of lanyard. I am a fly fishing guide in the Hilton Head, South Carolina area and spending a ton of time in the heat makes them get nasty quickly. I wash them all the time and they fall apart quickly for me.  I have been using heavy mono and fly line for a long time and tie nail knots on unto each leg of the sunglasses.  This does do the trick, and have seen many other ways to do this including drilling a hole. Not that long ago I found this company that has a pretty cool idea and environmentally friendly.
Disclaimer:  "I am not endorsed or affiliated with this company in any way."
 I have seen them around for awhile now and thought they had a great idea.  When I stopped in the Rivers&Glen fly shop in Savannah the other day I had a chance to pick up a couple pairs.  Fly Vines is a company that makes retainers for sunglasses.  They recycle old fly lines and weave the lines together to form the eyewear retainers.  Not only do they look great and not soak up sweat but the recycling aspect is always an appeal seeing I do prefer greener products.  After putting them on my sunglasses I pulled hard and they did release from the sunglasses, but did not break the integrity of lanyard.  I am excited to be rocking these green products this summer and will keep you posted if there are any changes to my recommendations. 

Can't believe the weather here lately.  It has been so warm with only a few cold days keeping the fishing almost like it was November.  We have had tailers in the grass all the way into january.  Even the roses in my yard tried blooming this month. With the wind and cold picking up here winter is gonna really start setting in shortly. 

It's 10:45 pm as I sit down and write this blog.  Boat's been washed and just finished a late supper. My friends keep telling me I have to spend more time on my website so I can move up the google ratings...lol, who has time?  Who wants a guide who spends more time online than on the water?  I'm one of the only full time fly and artificial guides in the entire Hilton Head area. Poling shallow waters for 8 hours a day is a minimum to keep track of whats what.  So here's whats up...  water clarity around Hilton Head is getting better and shrimp and bait seem to be on every redfish's mind.  If a school of fish hasn't been beaten up too much, they will pretty much hit anything. I'm talking  about  some wine corks as poppers and a strip of clothing for streamers, bet that would make a fun video :)  As the cool temps keep coming the fishing seems to get better and better.  Weather seems to be our only downfall to a LoCo fishing charter. For all my repeat clients who are getting ready to saddle up in the boat these next couple months, get ready!  We are gonna have a blast! If you haven't booked a trip yet, send me an email so i can get u in!!

We left the Low Country for a trip down the Florida Coast with my buddy Mike.  Stopped in Jupiter to fish with another buddy Martin Bowers ( a die hard snook and tarpon fisherman). Last time I fished with Martin we fished around the clock.. Well this time was no different.  We started packing the boat the minute we hit Jupiter.  Mike's goal was to catch his first snook on the fly.  What better way than to fish the Dock lights to start him off.  Dock light fishing can be outstanding and allow for closer shots and lots of action.. We launched the boat shortly after arriving at the community boat landing and where sliding through the mangrove canals towards a city of dock lights.  After checking a couple docks with no luck we came upon one that was loaded with snook, jacks, and moonfish.. Mike was looking for his first snook on fly and crushed a Jupiter Dock Light Slam!!  If you have never done this kind of fishing before you def. need to check it out.  

We have been having some fun fishing here lately.  Cooler temps are coming and fishing is just getting better and better.  This has to be the start of my favorite time of year to fly fish for redfish.  As water temps drop the redfish just get hungrier and more active.  Between the Birds, Fishing, and comfortable weather. This is truly a great time to be in the Hilton Head area...

Sharks are cool. It’s irrefutable. As a kid I remember what seemed like mass hysteria anytime someone surf fishing dragged a blood thirsty killer up onto the beach. As I got older days spent anchored up catching dozens of small sharks are now fond memories. The Jaws movies captured my imagination and only fueled my curiosity and fascination.

Last Saturday I caught my first Bonnet Head Shark on fly. To say the experience was exhilarating doesn’t even come close to describing how I feel five days later. I can’t get it out of my head. Watching that dorsal fin break the waters surface instantly increases my heart rate in some primal response that tells me I’m in the presence of an apex predator. Even though they don’t get large and aren’t a threat to humans, I still get the same feeling every time. Nate poled me slowly down the bank as the tide was starting to drop and the water was receding to the edge of the grass. I spotted a shark weaving in and out of the grass line. When he was in range I placed the fly a few feet ahead to allow it time to get down a bit. When the shark was mere inches from it I stripped it short and quick. It fired him up. He wheeled 90 degrees and began chasing the the fly as I frantically stripped it imitating prey attempting to escape. I kept the fly darting just in front of the sharks face until he finally opened wide and the fly disappeared. I strip set and then brought the rod up hard and to the side. I was unprepared for what happened next. I have bass fished most of my life. Rarely if ever have I had a fish pull drag or even needed to put a fish on the reel. The sound of drag is foreign to me. The sight of my bowed rod, spinning spool, and disappearing fly line jolted me to my senses and I put heavy pressure on the fish as he attempted to leave the flat.

That shark never gave up. Even as we were getting a few quick photos I could feel his muscles rippling under my fingers. For just a few moments I had been connected to a raw, primal power that was as nearly as old as the world itself.

Of Backing and Teeth Published on May 20, 2015 by Jscoggin



Nice work FlyLineMedia and J. Scoggin!!

Fly and light tackle here in the low country has been picking up.  Weather has been hit or miss, but the fishing is sure heating up....   Serene mornings and blustery afternoons is bringing us back to the norm for this time of year.  Cobia being caught and redfish fattening up, along with plenty of other fish looking for that fly or artificial. Bluefish/cobia/tripletail/trout/redfish/flounder/ladyfish/and gar are all on the menu these days. If you haven't gotten out lately it might be time :)  Stay tuned for a #golocofly season.