Post Irma Fishing

**sftull** · 09-07-2017, 08:11 AM

Assuming the storm doesn't do too much damage, the forecast for the weekend after Irma looks good. Have any of you ever fished a few days post hurricane and if so how was it?

**Jozie & Me** · 09-07-2017, 08:16 AM

**YoungBuckTX** · 09-07-2017, 08:21 AM

they still gotta eat

**Hogg** · 09-07-2017, 08:40 AM

Never done it. Too busy cleaning shit up.

**jasonw** · 09-07-2017, 09:00 AM

You talking bottom fishing?

If so, here are a couple of observations.

1) Hurricanes can definitely displace fish. One of the arguments against MPAs in the South East Atlantic is that, even if an MPA is untouched for 10 years, the first hurricane can come along and displace those fish. Those fish find other areas habitable and eventually get caught by fishermen. So, it's a catalyst that can cause fish to "move". Maybe they come back, maybe they don't. Red snapper are an example of this. They can show a high fidelity for a specific site for years and then one day a storm comes and they set up shop somewhere else. That being said, certain species tend to move seasonally as well, and can find their way back from great distances. Gag grouper for instance move a lot. They show a one way migration to the south, but also can show seasonal movements from deeper to shallower water (east/west). I have spot where you would see 50-75 legal Gag Grouper in October, but if you go back there in the peak of July, you would be lucky to see anything but shorts.

2) Depth of water probably influences this. A few years ago, I was fishing in West End. We like to freedive on the reef up by Memory Rock. On a weekend trip, we hit the usual spots\grounds on day 1. We were spearing in about 10-30' of water - easy stuff. Life was all over. A storm rolled in that night, but we fished the next day anyway. It was a little windier, temperature drop, more overcast, and some rain... Nowhere near the life. We literally searched for hours to find the occasional fish here and there. That being said, this was shallow water very close to deep water which means the fish don't have to travel as far.

So, what am I trying to say? I would speculate that in areas like Charleston, you will see mixed results. If you fish shallow you could experience anything (less fish, more fish, same fish). I would expect that if you fish deeper (i.e. 30 fathom ledge), things would be more consistent...

One other note... I don't know this to be for 100% certain, but I was told that we did not have African Pompanos until Hugo... And no lionfish until Andrew... Maybe we get something else cool again this time around...

**justpracticin** · 09-07-2017, 09:10 AM

A friend used to catch African Pampano in the 70's down below Charleston. We caught them at Garden City in the early 80's.

**sftull** · 09-07-2017, 09:17 AM

Cool info Jason.....thanks.

Yes I'm thinking about bottom fishing. We have had a trip planned for weeks, hotel room booked, the whole 9 and now Irma shows up. The weather looks good afterwards but I've never fished post hurricane, so I don't have anything to go on. We will probably will be in 100'+.

**jasonw** · 09-07-2017, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by sftull

Cool info Jason.....thanks.

Yes I'm thinking about bottom fishing. We have had a trip planned for weeks, hotel room booked, the whole 9 and now Irma shows up. The weather looks good afterwards but I've never fished post hurricane, so I don't have anything to go on. We will probably will be in 100'+.

If the weather is good, I would go. The biggest thing you have to worry about it hitting some flotsam. I have no issues leaving in the pitch black dark under radar, but on the tail end of the storm I would take the extra precaution to have plenty of daylight and some proper lookouts. Many times when I am behind the wheel, my crew is laying around on bean bags talking about their glory days, but for post hurricane fishing, I would ask for an extra set or two of eyes to be on watch when we are underway. This is when you really have to watch out for telephone poles, large trees just at the surface, etc.

Don't forget to take some spinning rods. Chances are, you are going to see some dolphin, tripletail, etc under some hurricane debris.

**jasonw** · 09-07-2017, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by justpracticin

A friend used to catch African Pampano in the 70's down below Charleston. We caught them at Garden City in the early 80's.

That's good to know. I can't remember where I heard it from, so I have no hesitation believing what you are saying... That being said, we got 5 of them one day spearing. 4 of those were over the state record at that time. Pretty cool fish.

**Saltydog235** · 09-07-2017, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by jasonw

You talking bottom fishing?

If so, here are a couple of observations.

1) Hurricanes can definitely displace fish. One of the arguments against MPAs in the South East Atlantic is that, even if an MPA is untouched for 10 years, the first hurricane can come along and displace those fish. Those fish find other areas habitable and eventually get caught by fishermen. So, it's a catalyst that can cause fish to "move". Maybe they come back, maybe they don't. Red snapper are an example of this. They can show a high fidelity for a specific site for years and then one day a storm comes and they set up shop somewhere else. That being said, certain species tend to move seasonally as well, and can find their way back from great distances. Gag grouper for instance move a lot. They show a one way migration to the south, but also can show seasonal movements from deeper to shallower water (east/west). I have spot where you would see 50-75 legal Gag Grouper in October, but if you go back there in the peak of July, you would be lucky to see anything but shorts.

2) Depth of water probably influences this. A few years ago, I was fishing in West End. We like to freedive on the reef up by Memory Rock. On a weekend trip, we hit the usual spots\grounds on day 1. We were spearing in about 10-30' of water - easy stuff. Life was all over. A storm rolled in that night, but we fished the next day anyway. It was a little windier, temperature drop, more overcast, and some rain... Nowhere near the life. We literally searched for hours to find the occasional fish here and there. That being said, this was shallow water very close to deep water which means the fish don't have to travel as far.

So, what am I trying to say? I would speculate that in areas like Charleston, you will see mixed results. If you fish shallow you could experience anything (less fish, more fish, same fish). I would expect that if you fish deeper (i.e. 30 fathom ledge), things would be more consistent...

One other note... I don't know this to be for 100% certain, but I was told that we did not have African Pompanos until Hugo... And no lionfish until Andrew... Maybe we get something else cool again this time around...

Maybe it'll bring the YFT back.

**BigBrother** · 09-07-2017, 12:14 PM

Every time I have fished after storms, its been a pretty fukkin awesome bite.

I started seeing African Pompano being caught in the early 90's. Didnt fish 70's and 80's.

**Jscrapmetal** · 09-07-2017, 12:49 PM

Fished after a storm one and the water was grey and fish were not where they should have been. Backed up to the leg of R6 and limited out on some of the biggest b liners I have ever seen. Guess the ledge got wiped out and that's the only structure they could find.

**Air Raid** · 09-07-2017, 01:19 PM

If here is a storm surge the inshore bite can be magnificent when it's safe to go. Brings a ton of bait in along with some bigger than your average inshore fish.

**DRDUCK** · 09-07-2017, 02:29 PM

We fished after HUGO and it was iffy and the water was murky till you got way offshore. Some of the bottom structure got tore up in the shallow waters out to 60'. If IRMA is anything like HUGO look out for washing machines, TV's, fridge and freezers and anthing else not tied down in the inlets. Ask me how I know.