How-To: Tarpon Fishing with Hogy Lures in Charleston, South Carolina

We spent 15 minutes on the phone with Capt. Tucker Blythe to discuss Tarpon fishing in Charleston, South Carolina with the Hogy Original Series. Here's what we learned... 

Capt. Tucker Blythe
Website: www.greyghostcharters.com

Location: Charleston, SC

Season: The Mullet Run. Mid September thru Early October

Approach:  Run and gun approach searching for large schools of mullet. Higher water brings tarpon inside inlets and up deep rivers. Lower tides force fish into the ocean. Focus efforts around outer sand bars that form rips. These rips disorient bait fish making easier prey. Running the beach front is effective for locating fish as well. Once a school of mullet is in sight, stay off the school and watch closely. Look for tarpon rolling or feeding in the school. After a tarpon sighting, try and ease in front of the school with a trolling motor or by drifting. Cast along the edges of the mullet school.

Rigging Selection: Soft Circle (Gamakatsu 8/0 Octopus Circle) with Hogy XL Bait Keeper Screw Keeper to attach soft bait to hook.

Bait Selection: The Hogy 14-inch Original

Why This Bait? These tarpon are after very large mullet similar in size. I like the 14″ for its extra weight that allows for a very long cast. This also helps the bait get down deeper in the water column and provides extra action to entice the tarpon.

Colors: Bubblegum and Bone.

Retrieve:  A slow retrieve with short twitches is great to get feeding tarpon interested.

OUTFIT

Rod - St. Croix 7’6″ Heavy Fast Action 15-30#

Reel - Shimano Baitrunner 8000

Line – 30# PowerPro