April Fishing Report

 April has been a strong transitional month for inshore fishing around Folly Beach, and Captain John of Folly Beach Fishing Charters has been staying on fish as water temperatures continue to climb.

Redfish have been one of the most reliable targets, especially on the afternoon flood tides. As the grass starts to green up, schools are pushing shallow and tailing more consistently. Sight fishing opportunities are improving by the week, with fish eager to eat mud minnows, cut mullet, and soft plastics worked slowly through the grass. On lower tides, slot reds are holding along oyster edges and in deeper holes, where they’ve been feeding aggressively.

Speckled trout action has picked up nicely, particularly in moving water around creek mouths and points. Live shrimp under a popping cork has been the top producer when available, but artificials like paddle tails and jerk baits are also getting solid strikes during warmer parts of the day. Early mornings have been especially productive on cleaner water tides.

Flounder are starting to show up more consistently as well, with a noticeable uptick compared to March. Most are being caught around structure—dock pilings, creek mouths, and sandy drop-offs—on live bait or slow-worked soft plastics. While not yet at peak numbers, the trend is promising heading into late spring.

Black drum are still in the mix, particularly around oyster beds and deeper creeks. Fiddler crabs and fresh shrimp have been the go-to baits, with some oversized fish making for memorable fights.

Overall, April is shaping up exactly how anglers hope this time of year will—warming water, active fish, and a variety of species all feeding well. As conditions continue to stabilize, the bite should only get better heading into May. Captain John is finding success by staying flexible with the tides and dialing in on clean water, making for consistent and productive trips.

Visit www.follybeachfishingcharters.com for more information or to book a trip.