Sheeps are on the move!

Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly **hidden content**) reports that June is an excellent month in Beaufort for a number of species, and even as air temperatures get hotter the fish typically still bite very well. A good year for cobia means the fishing is likely to extend into June in the Broad River, and fish should continue to be caught sight-casting with flies, lures, and live bait. Redfish can be found tailing at high tide on the main river grass flats where they are eating fiddler crabs, and at lower stages of the tide you can find them in deep holes surrounded by shallow water in the smaller creeks or around docks. Redfish will eat a wide variety of baits and lures. Trout can be caught this month fishing along grass lines at higher stages of the tide with live shrimp or mud minnows under a popping cork, and you will also pick up other species this way including bluefish, aerially exciting ladyfish, and more. Also, don’t overlook an early topwater bite for trout, reds, and sometimes other species. On the bottom around structure and creek mouths you can catch flounder with mud minnows, finger mullet, or artificial baits, while fishing fiddler crabs around docks and downed trees is a great way to pick up sheepshead and sometimes black drum. Finally, the inlets have delicious whiting that will take small pieces of shrimp and abundant sharks that will take cut bait.

Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly **hidden content**) reports that as temperatures rise and even more bait starts to return in May the redfish should feed more regularly. The tailing activity at high tide should pick up as reds devour consistently available fiddler crabs, and fish should also eat better around the tide table in the creeks. If you can get live shrimp they are hard to beat, but finger mullet, small menhaden, mud minnows, and more will also catch redfish. Trout fishing should also pick up in the creeks and rivers, and both jigs and shrimp will catch fish – as well as finfish baits. Big roe trout will be in the main rivers to spawn. But the most exciting development in May is usually that the cobia return in numbers to the Broad River. Some were already caught in late April, and people will catch them both sight-fishing and anchoring baits on the bottom. Tripletail, bluefish, ladyfish, and other migratory species will also be around in ever-greater numbers during May, and the bigger flounder should continue to show up after starting to trickle back inshore during April. Finally, don’t overlook the sheepshead bite on fiddler crabs – especially before it gets very hot and patterns change.

Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly **hidden content**) reports that in April redfish will be almost completely broken out of their tight winter schools on the flats, although there will continue to be docks that hold good numbers of fish. While they can be a little finicky, cut mullet will be a good bait for reds this month as will live shrimp. As temperatures continue to rise they will feed more and more on fiddler crabs, and tailing activity should get better and better on high water. Trout fishing will also improve in April in moving water, with small live shrimp, mud minnows, and grubs all working. Topwater activity for trout and reds should also start this month during low light periods. This month many of the larger sheepshead that have moved offshore will return inshore, where they can be caught around docks and other structure on fiddler crabs. By the latter part of the month some cobia should arrive and perhaps other migratory species such as bluefish, ladyfish and more.