![]() Not only are flounder ambush feeders, but they are inherently lazy and will always face the current, waiting for a easy meal to swim within their strike zone. You will get many more bites when the baits are presented in their natural form or with the current,” Stevens said. Never forget that flounder are ambush feeders - their coloration and pancake shape suggesting their feeding behavior. #FLATOUT FISHING CHARTERS FULL#Find the bait within cooler waters, and the flounder will be there,” he said.įinding good holding areas for flounder is a great starting point to a cooler full of flatties, but fish will not always eat - even when presented with a plump, juicy mud minnow on the dinner plate. Flounder congregate in areas with pods of bait. “It’s all about the food source almost any time of year, and August is no different. Just as the hot water discourages flounder, baitfish quickly become affected as well, seeking out cooler areas for refuge. Murrells Inlet is relatively small compared to the Georgetown or Charleston areas, but the abundance of tidal creeks and oyster flats host a myriad of baitfish and a thriving flounder population. “Although fish can still be scattered somewhat during summer, good holding areas will have fish stacked up, ready to eat, producing a quick flurry of aggressive bites and fish to the boat,” Stevens said. Good summer spots for Stevens offer non-stop action when a bite is on. He’ll keep moving until a place produces results. He’ll drop anchor, fan-cast an area for 20 or 25 minutes, then move if the fish are not cooperating. Look for creek mouths with deep cuts and other areas with sandy bottoms.”Īs summer’s heat peaks, Stevens likes to run and gun. “Flounder fishing just gets easier during the heat of summer, but stay away from mucky bottoms. “Sandy bottoms cool quicker than mucky bottoms and hold more fish in summer. Jonathan Stevens of Reel Broke Charters, who cut his teeth in Murrells Inlet’s super-salty water chasing flounder as a kid. “Flounder look for cool water during the summer, and they might be in deeper areas or areas with mostly sandy bottoms,” said Capt. Finding the right recipe of water depth, bottom composition, and current will send flags to the mast quickly. While flounder generally are spread throughout the estuaries the rest of the year, their living quarters are compressed by August’s heat. Just as people head for shelter during a storm, flounder and other gamefish hunt for refuge from the sweltering heat. ![]() ![]() The darkness of night throughout those coastal estuaries has little effect on the water temperature or the dazzling sun during the peak of summer. ![]() Natural camouflage allows flounder to lie stationary in seclusion in just a few inches of water, waiting for an unsuspecting shrimp or fish to make its last, fatal move. They rely on the ambush, just as the colonists fought the British in 1775. The numerous tidal creeks, broad oyster/spartina flats and nutrient-rich waters of the “inlet” support numerous juvenile marine species, an ideal setup for an ambush feeder laying motionless on the estuarine floor.Įven though flounder are not considered voracious predators like bluefish and king mackerel, they are very effective predators. While the fall spot run helped put Murrells Inlet on the map, the excellent flounder fishing boosts the area’s popularity as an angling destination. While only remnants of the rice plantations exist today, Murrells Inlet continues to be known for its sinful cuisine and fabulous inshore fishing. The spread of that cuisine boosted the importance of the inlet’s unique, rich fishery to fuel the menus of the thriving restaurants. Famous Lowcountry cuisine was favored by locals and travelers alike. As more people moved into the area, other businesses began to thrive, especially restaurants. Murrells Inlet, nestled within the heart of the Waccamaw Neck, first became well-known for the successful cultivation of rice within its marshes through the 19th and into the early 20th centuries.Īs a commodity and catalyst, rice quickly brought a flood of wealth into the region, with vacation cottages suddenly peppering the landscape. ![]()
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