Weakfish are members of the drum family, making them cousins with the popular redfish and spotted seatrout. Weakfish resemble spotted seatrout in shape, but the weakfish’s olive-green back flecked with many dark blotches distinguishes it from its cousin. Two large canine teeth in the upper jaw is a trademark of both species.

Weakfish get their name because their flesh is very tender and easily torn. You may also hear the fish called gray trout or summer trout.

Weakfish are actually fairly widespread locally. The fish tends to inhabit waters deeper than where the majority of anglers routinely fish, such as shipping channel edges and inlet mouths. A study by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources revealed an abundance of larvae in some inlets, indicating a large spawning population.

While weakfish seem to be available in all seasons, it’s during the winter when you can really get on top of them -- literally.

“When the water temperature drops, weakfish school up real big on all of the nearshore structure,” Olsen said. “There are some fish on the reefs all year but not as many during the warmer months.”

Olsen finds weakfish stacked up on any structure from about 45 feet deep or shallower. He concentrates most of his fishing in water measuring from 30 to 45 feet.

At those depths, the fish are in range of many small-boat anglers.

“I’ve never caught the fish farther than five miles offshore,” Olsen said. “The Charleston Nearshore, 4KI and R8 will all hold weakfish during the winter.”

Olsen said that any rod used for inshore fishing is suitable for winter weakfish. He uses rods 6 to 7 feet long spooled with 10- to 12-pound-test monofilament line and a Carolina rig, which should be tipped with any live bait, such as mud minnows.

“When the fish are really biting, all you really need is a grub,” Olsen said.

To find fish that are really hungry, Olsen starts his search at the biggest piece of structure, and works his way out toward smaller pieces if he’s not finding any fish.

“Weakfish will form big schools,” Olsen said, “so big that they can fill up the screen of a depthfinder.

“If you aren’t finding the fish, then move around some. Weakfish hold on structure, but they will move around it. Sometimes they could be as close as only 100 yards away.”