4 Tips for Successful Fly Fishing in Hilton Head, SC

​December into January brings about significant changes in the fishery of Hilton Head, SC. and Beaufort.  As temperatures drop, baitfish begin to move away or burrow down in the flats. Redfish, on the other hand, start schooling up in larger numbers for safety. This period presents a great opportunity for redfish fishing, but it also comes with its challenges.

As temperatures continue to drop, redfish in the Hilton Head and Beaufort area experience fluctuations in their metabolism, with higher highs and lower lows. While this change may be subtle, it becomes noticeable when you spend a lot of time on the water. Additionally, tides, currents, and temperature have an even greater impact during the winter months.

To increase your chances of success, there are several adjustments you can make in your fishing approach. Here are a few tips to consider when considering the relationship between temperature, tides, and current:
1. Choose the Right Time and Bottom Structures: Not all flats are the same, and they heat up and cool down at different times. By carefully selecting the time of day and the specific bottom structures you fish, you can increase your chances of finding active redfish.
2. Utilize Water Levels with Tides: Redfish tend to be happier and more active in different depths. Take advantage of the water levels during different tide stages to target areas where the fish are more likely to be feeding.
3. Pay Attention to Current Flow: Understanding the behavior of redfish in relation to current flow is a lifelong study. By observing the current and adjusting your fly stripping technique accordingly, you can turn a slow fishing day into a successful one. Example: Stripping a fly up and against current can often look un-natural.
4. Seek Guidance from Experienced Guides: Navigating these changing conditions can be challenging, but an experienced guide can provide valuable insights and help you make the most of your fishing trip. If you find yourself in the Hilton Head Island area, don't hesitate to reach out to us for assistance.
Remember, adapting to the changes in temperature, tides, and current is key to successful redfish fishing during this time of year. With the right knowledge and approach, you can enjoy a rewarding fishing experience in Hilton Head, SC.
If you looking for places to walk in and fish check out our Digital Maps Here.

Fly fishing Hilton Head Island lately has been a blast. Redfishing is in full swing along with our other species of fish. Speaking of which we have been getting into a lot of nice big Jacks.  Here is what you need to know.
The lowcountry is a prime destination for fly fishing enthusiasts seeking the thrill of catching Jacks. These powerful fish, also known as Jack Crevalle, are abundant in the coastal waters of the Hilton Head and Beaufort area from May to October, making it a haven for anglers looking for an exciting and challenging fishing experience.  Jacks are known for their aggressive nature and incredible fighting ability, making them a favorite target for fly fishermen. They can be found in both the ocean, bays, and up our rivers. Their voracious appetite and lightning-fast strikes make them pound for pound one of the strongest fish in our inshore waters.
When targeting Jacks on fly, it is essential to have the right gear. A sturdy 10 to 12-weight fly rod, paired with a reliable saltwater reel, is recommended to handle their powerful runs. A floating or intermediate fly line with a strong leader and tippet is ideal for presenting large streamer patterns effectively. We use at least 40lb test for our tippet when dealing with the big 30 pound jacks.
One of the most effective techniques for catching Jacks on fly is to imitate the baitfish they prey upon. Streamers and popper patterns made to look like menhaden are our go to flies in sizes 2/0 to 3/0. These patterns mimic the natural movement and appearance of the menhaden, enticing the predatory instincts of the Jacks and matching the hatch.
When fly fishing for Jacks in the lowcountry, it is crucial to locate areas with active fish. Look for signs of baitfish activity, such as jumping mullet, menhaden blitzing, or diving birds, as these indicate the presence of feeding Jacks. We also look for the sickle fin just below the surface that looks like a black finger sticking out of the water. The entrance to every major river here in the low country are prime spots to find these fish.
Once you've located a school of jacks, it's time to make your presentation. Cast your fly ahead of the moving school of Jacks and start a fast, erratic retrieve. The key is to provoke a reaction strike, as Jacks are known to chase down and attack their prey with lightning speed.
When a Jack takes your fly, Set the Hook! and hold on tight! These fish are renowned for their blistering runs and acrobatic leaps. Be prepared for a battle, as they will test your gear and angling skills to the limit. Keep your rod tip down to the side to maintain maximum pressure and maintain a steady pressure to tire the fish quickly.
If you have any questions or want to book a trip you can reach us at [email protected] 

I'm often asked "What Redfish flies should I tie for our trip to Hilton Head Island?  There are many that work well.  The key to a great all-around redfish fly around Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Bluffton are ones that have a certain amount of weight, profile, color, weed-guards and size for the season.  Let's look at some of the attributes in a Hilton Head Island redfish fly that work really well.
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We are talking about an all-around fly.   So although some flies that float high in the water column can produce well at certain times of the year,  Redfish have a mouth that is faced down more like a bonefish than a freshwater bass. So a fly with a little weight to get down about 1-2 feet is going to get more eats than a fly that is floating in the water column.  Too much weight and your fly can get hung up too easily and is prone to spooking fish when they land.  So, we use large bead chain eyes, or dumbbell eyes around 1/50 oz -1/30 oz.  

Other than winter time when our water clears up, our waters are generally on the dirty side. Very thin profiles can work great in the winter and select times of the year.  Too much profile and they can be difficult to cast.  With our water, we want some profile so our fish can see the fly easily.  If bonefish flies tend to run thinner than your pinky width when in the water,  Redfish Flies around here would be a little bigger than your thumb width when they are in the water.  Flies that are similar in size and shape to our mudminnows, shrimp, and small crabs that we have in our waters are what we are going for or a hair bigger.

Color? Well if it aint Chartreuse, it aint no use! Just Kidding!  Chartreuse is a great color for redfish flies along with darker shades like Black and Purple. They work well in our dirty water.  A good generalization is the clearer the water, the lighter the color, and the darker the water, the darker the fly.  These are not hard and fast rules but this will serve you well.

Weed guards are very important.  You want your flies  to not get stuck in grass and oysters. I use 20-25lb hard Mason.  

Size of our flies tend to run from 2-5 inches in length with a short shank 1/0 to 2/0 hook.

These are generalizations and are by no means Rules.  The most important part of the redfish equation is Presentation.   So the best fly is the one you believe in.  Good luck out there.

David Aderhold Redfish and Sharks

"I love to spend my birthday in the Low Country...spending quality time with family over Christmas, but also getting   some time on the water. I called my friend and guide, Capt Mark Nutting to see if we could do some sight fishing and to target the awesome redfish...

It was a spectacular morning as we put in at the landing...the sun was just rising above the east horizon, a beautiful vermillion sky, light and gentle breeze flowing in from the sound.. hour and a half before dead low tide....perfect!

We cruised past this large floating dock  owned by one of my longtime high school friends whose family for several generations had hunted and fished along the South Carolina  barrier islands.

Mark turned the boat into the channel flowing out of a large expanse of oyster shoals where the tidal creeks and marsh emptied at the bottom of the tide...he cut the motor, grabbed his pole and climbed up on his platform. I grabbed my 10 weight fly rod and tied on one of Mark's "Mumba" baitfish patterns...stood up on the bow and stripped off about 40ft of line.

Mark stealthily pushed us east on the flats, the sun shimmering on the water ahead...he spotted a small school of reds at 1 O'Clock moving toward us and whispered for me to start casting in front of them...made one false cast and shot the line to about 4 feet in front of the reds. Mark began his cadence...."strip...strip...strip...strip...HIT 'em! I strip set the hook deep into the red's jaw as he took off for deeper water. My adrenaline was pumping as I let the red take line which was "rooster tailing" away...I turned up about 5 lbs of drag on the reel and began to apply rod pressure to gain back line.

What a thrill! I had caught plenty of spot tails in my youth with spinning gear, but never have had a more stimulating challenge than  flyfishing with Mark. Caught 6, with a couple of early releases...best birthday ever....thx, Mark!"

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!!