Dockside pickup is available
for half, 3/4 and full day charters year
round. Avid Angling provides an
exceptional guide service with many options
for any level angler at any age. Large
groups can be accommodated and multiple
boats are available, just ask!
Transportation can also be arranged if
needed. We will even pick up drinks
and lunch for a small charge if you don’t
want to bother with a trip to the grocery
store.Last weekend I got to be part of a true “win-win.” Myself & a client of mine (RenergyCafe.com) hooked up with Capt. Mike Illig of Avid Angling in Charleston, SC. Not only did he put us on the fish in less than desirable conditions, proceeds of the trip go help get disabled folks out on the water for free!
We
had planned to try the tail end of the
Tarpon season out there, and had some big
questions about the weather as the remnants
of tropical storm Fay were just clearing
out. We started out shark fishing for bonnet
heads off of Shutes Folly during the morning
slack tide and James (of Renergy) hooked up
with a nice bonnet around 4 1/2 feet.
I hit the first of two snags, and was looking for to get goose-egged until 11:00 when we moved out to some jetties near the mouth of Charleston Harbor. Within minutes a nice redfish (thus far my personal best) tore through some line and ended up in the boat after about a 15 minutes fight. It was a 32″ red, and was actually my first tagged fish so supposedly I’ll be getting some free swag from the SC DNR in the mail soon.
Next up, James hooked into something very large.
We can’t prove it was a silver king, but the amount of line it took, lack of head thrashing that might indicate a shark, and the obvious size of whatever was on the line makes me want to believe it. However, about ten minutes in, the fish ran for a ledge and got off clean.
My turn again, and it would be the luck of the draw.
After a brief lull in the action, something snapped up a live mullet and ran strong and hard, but not too far. It felt like I had a Volkswagon mini bus on, but without the big initial run we thought it might be a large shark or enormous sting ray. On and on the battle went as we locked into a thirty minute tug of war with me gaining a few feet, and it taking a few right back. Not even a hint was to be garnered until the leader was in sight.
When you’re guide is jumping up and down with excitement, you know it’s something epic.
It was the second biggest Mike had ever had in his boat, and 13″ larger than I’ve ever landed. And that’s the story of my (new) best red drum, at 43 inches, it will be a while if ever before I top it.
I just wanted to thank James and Mike, who were exceptional hosts and fishing partners - and I look forward to doing it again real soon. PS- Kudos to Mike for having exceptional taste in Rock n Roll (it appears that Redfish love The Band).
Click here for a testimonial from the Great Outsmores Blog - Atlanta, GA
Avid Angling Fishing Charters
offers Inshore Fishing Charters,
Nearshore Fishing Charters, Fly
Fishing, Fly casting Lessons,
Nearshore Sight Fishing Trips, Surf
Fishing, Cobia Trips, and Tarpon
trips. Please Contact Capt. Mike for
details such as cost and time of
year for these specialty trips. Avid
Angling Fishing Charters is also
proud to offer trips geared toward
families or younger kids with
shorter duration and added
activities such as crabbing or
sharks teeth hunting. A true love
for fishing and the outdoors is
developed at a young age!
The Charleston area is bordered by
two of the most pristine watersheds
on the east coast. To the south of
us near Kiawah Island is the ACE
Basin...These feeder creeks and
giant marshes provide a nursery for
an outstanding abundance of fish.
Just north of Charleston and Isle of
Palms is the Cape Romain National
Wildlife Refuge and Bulls Bay. As
the ocean tides flood these areas
the water visibility clears and
provides an excellent area to sight
fish for redfish or catch spotted
seatrout that rely on their sharp
vision to prey on baitfish.
Charleston Harbor also has great
fishing opportunities. Aside from
reds, trout, flounder, black drum
and sheepshead, our jetties
(including dynamite hole and the
grillage) hold sharks, huge bull red
drum and even tarpon! Record sized
Jack Crevalle show up in the harbor
when the water gets warm and provide
all the challenge an avid angler
could want. Bluefish, Spanish
mackerel, larger flounder and
ladyfish also show up in the warmer
months and are a blast to catch on
light tackle.
Nearshore trolling and reef fishing
off the coast of South Carolina is a
great way to fish and enjoy the open
ocean without the much higher fuel
costs of fishing the gulf stream.
Mahi-Mahi, King Mackerel and
Barracuda can be taken by trolling
over bottom structure that attracts
all sorts of fish. At certain times
of the year cobia, jacks and
barracuda hide and feed near buoys
and provide a unique sight fishing
experience. If you want to reel
non-stop, come out and reef
fish...Bottom rigs can be dropped to
catch one fish after another such as
black sea bass, triggerfish,
grouper, snapper, amberjacks and
many different species of sharks
such as spinners, black tips, nurse,
and bonnet heads(check out the photo
pages to see what YOU can catch)!
