dying sea trout in SC??

[2182]

As many of you (south fl excluded) know its been pretty cold this past month or so in the south. went out yesterday to try and catch a few fish and show some friends how great a small boat can handle a nasty ocean. after one friend showed up at the landing in flip flops, i knew id have to put him on some fish. instead, he shivered for five hours and didnt catch a thing. was talking to an old timer yesterday afternoon who told me all the trout were gone, and could be gone for two years. apparently last time it was this cold (8 years ago), all the trout disappeared for two years. have any of you heard of this before or seen it firsthand? water temp was 48ish yesterday according to depth finder, 70 according to weather.com, and 35 according to my genius friend who showed up in flip flops and jeans.

[Michael Vezzosi]

We're hearing the same thing down here from our DNR reps. as well. Went out almost 14 days ago, near 50 air and mid 40's water. Couldn't find a bass or trout. May have had a few sheephead bites but were not able to boat them. Local hearsay is if we've lost the trout to temps., we will have lost the grass shrimp as well. Not sounding good.

Local guides are reporting extremely slow retrieves with gold spoons are landing slot and larger bass. Even better results with small red leadheads and Gulp shrimp, on bottom and not moving. Can't get this info on Chas.fish.com! Good luck. Part II.

Know a couple of the flip flop guys. (HA-HA)! I know I ain't gonna be cold, but the Ultras always are! Hey, come to think of it, same guys that show up with a six pack for a 7 hour trip?

[Old'sCool]

There was a post on Chas. Fishing where someone supposedly spoke to DNR and said if the water remained 46 or below for some period that would happen. I dont believe we've seen it quite that cold.

[fishhuntNC]

No need to worry we sometimes cath em in 48 or 50 degree water.Colder that that like in the lower 40s stunns them and will kill them.We had a real bad trout kill here from that same winter blast but the temp was like 35.Its kind of wierd because when they start to die alot of them float upsidedown still kicking like a bottom fish offshore that hasnt been vented.You can ride around in the boat and scoop them up and after there dead they they sink but they stay fresh for a couple of days beacuase the water is so cold.The fishing in these spots(usually deep sheltered creeks) does seem to suffer for the next season.

[uncleboo]

Haven't been down that way lately, but, seen it happen a couple of times up near Hoboken, Aurora, etc. The years I saw this happen, the trout were slim the following year as well.