JULY
Offshore Waters: Dolphin
Dolphin, dorado, mahi mahi . . . whatever you want to call 'em, these fast-running, high-flying, brightly colored game fish are a load of fun to catch, and during the summer they can be found without having to run quite so far from shore as other times. The best fishing will generally be over 180 to 600 feet of water, but good concentrations can be found as close as 90 feet of water this time of year.

One of the best things about dolphin is that they tend to swim in schools, so when one takes a bait, others are likely nearby. Adding even more excitement, wahoo, tuna and other game fish often can be found with the dolphin and will go after the same baits. Dolphin average 10 to 20 pounds off the South Carolina coast; however, the average size of the fish caught generally will decrease some as summer progresses.

The most popular way to locate and catch dolphin is to troll over reefs with menhaden or mullet pulled with outriggers or downriggers. Once the fish are located, though, anglers often will drop natural baits to them with lighter outfits or work the area by casting big, noisy topwater lures.

AUGUST
Lake Russell: Crappie
As evening fades and most folks begin thinking about heading for home, it's time to slip the boat into Lake Richard B. Russell and begin looking for crappie. Lake Russell supports a fine population of black crappie, and the slabs bite best under the stars during the summer.

The fish hang fairly deep along channel edges and turn somewhat sluggish by day. At night they move shallower to feed. Prime areas offer shallow cover very close to deep water, and some of very best fishing occurs around bridges, both over the main river and over creeks. The best pilings tend to be those that rise closest to channel edges. Standing timber, of which Lake Russell has plenty, can likewise be productive.

Whether under a bridge, among the trees or elsewhere, anglers typically anchor in a potentially productive spot just before dark and shine "crappie lights" into the water. The lights attract minnows, which in turn attract crappie, and the crappie often can be caught quite close to the surface and right next to the boat.

SEPTEMBER
Tidal Creeks: Flounder
While it's true that flounder fishing can be a drag, that doesn't mean that it isn't a lot of fun. Among the most basic ways to get into good summer fishing along the coast is to string a mud minnow onto the business end of a Carolina rig or something similar and drag the bait along for flounder.

Dragging baits along the bottom is especially effective around inlets and in creeks with good tidal flow because the flounder can hold tight to the bottom and ambush prey that gets swept overhead. For the same reason, the best action normally occurs when the tide is moving well.

Bucktail jigs dressed with the same mud minnows or with strips of frozen squid also work well for getting flounder to bite. The jigs can be dragged in the same manner as the mud minnow rigs or they can be cast and worked back slowly across the bottom. Casting bucktails close to jetty rocks can be very productive.

OCTOBER
Edisto River: Flathead Catfish
If you consider October a big-game hunting month, you're already on the right track. Flathead catfish, which feed feverishly during the fall, are definite big game within the freshwater fishing world, and targeting them begins with hunting quality flathead habitat and at times hunting the fish themselves with electronics.