Plan your spring fishing trip to Charleston, SC as April brings warming waters, big redfish, early cobia, and tripletail into the rivers and bays. Experience some of the best inshore fishing the Lowcountry has to offer this season!

Fly Fishing Charleston, SC: Weekly Report, Tides, and Local Fly Life

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Click here to view or download the first half of April Newsletter 2025!

Heavy Winds, Happy Fish!

There’s no secret about it — April came in like a lion, with heavy, consistent winds that made it a challenge to find protection out on the water. Last weekend’s chilly cold front will hopefully be the final breath of winter, setting us up for a stable stretch of warming weather. With water temps getting more consistent, we’re seeing a solid push of finger mullet, menhaden, and good bait starting to flood into the bays and river systems. The fish, however, didn’t seem too bothered by the temporary dip in temps — in fact, they’ve been fired up, especially feeding during those early morning low tides and the better parts of the high outgoing, which has created prime windows for action on artificials

april on the water

April Fishing Report

The go-to setup this past stretch has been a 4″ Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ on a 1/8 oz 3/0 weighted shank hook, working it with a slower, steady retrieve paired with soft, twitchy rod action. This has been the perfect combo to mimic the nervous bait, drawing in those aggressive strikes. With the menhaden now making their seasonal debut, it’s a surefire sign the bite is about to go wide open.

With the consistent winds, spin fishing has been the MVP tactic lately — allowing us to cover a ton of water in a short amount of time. Being able to make quick, accurate casts into wind-protected pockets, current seams, and bait-heavy edges has kept rods bent even on the breezier days when fly fishing just hasn’t been a practical option.

On top of that, we’re starting to see a few of the fabled species making their first appearances — with small numbers of cobia and tripletail already poking around. It won’t be long now before we’re chasing that Lowcountry silver and wrestling with the king of the flats. The season is turning fast, and the next couple of weeks should be electric.

And let’s not forget — flood tide season is officially kicking off too. While the biggest tides are mostly pushing through at night right now, a good daytime tide paired with a steady Eastern wind can give us just enough water to get up in the grass and find plenty of happy fish digging for fiddlers. If you’re hoping to experience some of that classic Lowcountry tailing redfish action, be sure to reach out — even if it’s not on a “proper” flood tide date, these sneaky high tides can offer some of the best, most peaceful grass flat opportunities.

To top it all off, we’re already seeing a few fabled spring species making their way in, with early sightings of cobia and tripletail. It won’t be long before we’re chasing Lowcountry silver and tangling with the king of the flats.

Now’s the time to get on the books — the season’s heating up fast!

he taste of summer is in the air, and with it comes the vision of giant silver fish exploding from crystal-clear water—tarpon season is almost here. There’s nothing quite like the rush of throwing an 11-weight fly rod at a 100+ pound tarpon, watching it inhale the fly, and then launching into a series of acrobatic leaps. As we look ahead, it’s time to start locking in summer fishing plans.

From the beginning of June through the first week of August, I, Capt. Kyle Morella, will be in Apalachicola, FL, guiding anglers through one of the most exhilarating fly-fishing experiences on the planet. Dates are limited, so if you’re looking to chase these legendary fish, reach out via email or phone to check availability. Need recommendations on lodging or travel? We’ve got you covered, with luxurious accommodations that provide the perfect place to unwind after long days on the water. Tarpon season waits for no one—Spots are limited and first come, first serve!

http://www.Saltyslothcharters.com

@capt_rello | kylemorella@gmail.com

have any questions about fishing with us? Give us a call!

Let us get you on the water!