Spottail bass, or redfish, are frequently caught along the edge of saltwater marshes and will hit live bait or lures. Photo by Walt Rhodes

Darting through the water with the speed and agility of Navy fighter jets, the dark shadows slashed at the brightly colored bait awash in a swirling splash of water.

Everybody on board peered over the edge of the gunwale watching the action unfold. Nerves tensed, sensing that any moment a hookup was going to occur with one of the hungry predators.

Around in a figure-8 pattern, the angler kept the bait moving just under the surface. Through the commotion of the washing machine-like water, you could momentarily see the bait pause before it was whipped 10 feet back across the pattern. You figured one of the frustrated fish would make a grab when the bait halted briefly.

Wham!

The pink bait, which imitated a squid, barely completed another figure-8 pattern when a hungry fish inhaled it.

The drag screamed in retaliation as the angler leaned back into the fish's pressure. It was a maddening run of powerful proportions, but there were no jumps to identify the hooked critter.

Like two teams of NFL linemen playing tug of war, the fish and the angler gained and lost ground on each other. It appeared a stalemate was brewing.

Ultimately, the fish, while powerful, was not strong enough to overcome the angler, at least not this fisherman. The 30-pound amberjack came to the surface with the appearance of a worn-out marathon runner. It was unhooked and released to go back to its lair to regain its strength.

Amberjacks are only one of myriad species that are available to anglers wishing to try their luck in the salt water of the Palmetto State. Inshore, offshore or even from shore with no boat, there is a fish in the water that will pull your line right now and more than likely will make the foundation of a fine meal, too.

Here are profiles of five species and the techniques to land them that should cover every saltwater angler in the state, no matter whether you have a boat or not.

SPOTTAIL BASS
As the most admired inshore saltwater game fish, spottail bass are like the cheerleaders of the high school football team. The fish is naturally popular. It features a simple but intoxicating color scheme of coppers and blues that is overlaid on a sleek and chiseled frame. The fish speaks of power, both figuratively and literally.

Another attraction of spottails, also known as channel bass, redfish or puppy drum, is that the fish is found in as many types of environments as it has names. This widespread distribution makes the fish available to all sorts of anglers. It can be easily caught from a boat or by the shore-bound fisherman.

"I try to sight-fish for redfish year-round," said Charleston-based Capt. Chad Ferris of Tall Tail Charters, who operates charters primarily north of the city in the Isle of Palms/Sullivan's Island and Sewee Bay areas. "The springtime is a transitional period. The large schools of the colder months are beginning to break up and some live bait is beginning to arrive in the creeks.

"Even though you know warmer temperatures are coming, you have to keep in mind that the water is still cool, and a late cold front can still send a ripple through the normal pattern," he cautioned.

Capt. Ferris has found that spottails tend to bite best once the water temperature begins to reach around 65 degrees or above. This contrasts to spotted seatrout, which he finds feed better than spottails when water temperatures are in the high 50s.