Hey there Rungeg, it's nice to see you've registered! You won't regret it, this is a great site!
I touched a bit on your question on the SC message board, but i'll go in depth. The tube has given you some good tips, i'll just add a few of my own.
My first question is are you planning on fishing on the ocean side or in the bay? If you plan on surf fishing, i'd make sure and take a two hook dropper rig and buy some sand fleas. Just about everything that roams the surf (including but not limited to: Red drum, whiting, Pompano, etc...) eats sand fleas. They are a great bait, and can be caught wild if you know the trick of the trade. I would explain, but it's best if shown. I'll do my best apon request. Also, fresh cut bait works well for blues and drum in the surf. Live minnows on a carolina rig, either mud or mullet, are a great bait for drum, blues, flounder, and spanish along the shallows of the breakers. I prefer a live mullet over just about anything. I'd have a drop rig with sand fleas on one pole, and a live one on another. Don't expect to get a spanish, even though it's possible. You really need to float a live mullet on a 3 or 4 foot long leader to get a spanish. It doesn't take anything fancy. A small bobber, like a bass bobber, and a small single hook is all it takes. I like a #6 trebble myself. Nothing fancy or flashy, and I also like to use fluorocarbon leader on the rig. I'll only put about 4" of 7 strand on the hook and then attach a 30" piece of fluorocarbon to it for the rest of the leader. All mackerel have great vision, and the use of fluorocarbon will up the chances of getting a strike. The only problem is, if you're beach bound, you can pretty much forget about tossing out a float rig unless the wind is comming strait of the land and the water is very calm.
I know there are some peirs in Charleston, but i'm not sure about HHI or Beaufort. I've fished the bay in Beaufort from a boat and did very well each time with the sheepshead and trout. There are also plenty of flounder and drum in there too. With that said, if you're fishing the bay side, i'd try and find a place that rents boats. We've caught sheepshead on the narrow creek side under an overhanging tree branch. It was CRAZY!!!! No rocks or structure, just an over hanging tree and a few hang caught fiddler crabs. I've also hung some sharks in there, as you mentioned before. Those are always fun, as well as the occasional skate.
Your hook size is more so going to be determined by the size of the bait. If you're using a 6" pogey for flounder, i'd recommend a 5/0 kahle or wide bend hook. LOL, I know that sounds like a big bait, but for a flounder it's not. They've got a huge mouth, and big bait, big fish. [
] I would use circle hooks for drum and trout, and stick with a small 4 strong trebble on the float rig if you are able to deploy one. You're ability to adapt to the fishing conditions will be the factor in regards to your success.
I would definately look into a boat rental though. That is really the key. There is some great fishing in the bay, and it would be ashame for you to be land locked. I'd also look for a peir. I know you said there was a dock you'd be fishing from, what exactly do you mean?
[signature]
