North Myrtle Beach March 7, 2013
Pat Prince with a 43 lb. wahoo he hooked while trolling 70 miles off Myrtle Beach on the “Outrageous” with Terry Clifton, Brad Faulk, and Robert Ward.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that although the area’s red drum headed for some of their shallow-water haunts back in December, the relatively warm winter pushed them into a pre-spring pattern early, and anglers plying the skinny-water aren’t seeing many.
Instead of the shallows, the reds, along with some black drum, are hanging around inshore structure like the Sunset Beach Bridge and docks in Tubbs Inlet and along the ICW. Most any dock between Ocean Isle and Little River has the potential to be holding some fish right now, so anglers who do a little searching shouldn’t have trouble finding the drum.
The fish are lethargic and not chasing lures regularly, but they have trouble resisting the scent of a fresh shrimp. Buying local shrimp that still have the heads on is the best bet, and dead-sticking the shrimp on a jighead or split shot rig will entice the drum to bite when anglers find the fish.
There’s been a decent speckled trout bite going on for much of the winter in Coquina Harbor, where anglers are hooking most of the fish on chartreuse D.O.A. shrimp.
The trout bite should turn on further as the water temperatures begin to creep up with the arrival of spring.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that anglers seeking action would do well to look around docks in Tubbs Inlet and the ICW along with structure like the Sunset Beach Bridge. There have also been some fish feeding in 8-10’ holes along the wide-open ICW and in Bonaparte Creek. Cut shrimp on bottom rigs or live mud minnows pinned to jigheads are top choices for the reds right now as they’re not chasing baits actively yet this season. Some black drum are in many of the same areas and will also take an interest in shrimp.
Capt. Steele Park, of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, swings a 43.8 lb. wahoo over the gunnel of the “OIFC World Cat” while trolling near the Winyah Scarp with Capt. Chris Dew and John Richardson.
A few speckled trout should be around Coquina Harbor and Sunset Beach, and the trout bite will pick up as the water warms up with the arrival of spring. Gulp and D.O.A. shrimp imitations are some of the best trout tempters.
The Little River jetties are also a good place to look for trout and reds in March, and casting live mud minnows or Gulp baits on jigheads and working them down the rocks will let anglers know if the fish are present.
Ronnie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are primarily catching stingrays, dogfish, and smaller sea mullet at present. Some black drum and larger sea mullet were in the mix a few weeks back as well.
The water’s around 52 degrees right now, and as it approaches 60, anglers can expect to see the larger sea mullet return along with some pufferfish. Shrimp and other baits on two-hook bottom rigs will tempt bites from both the tasty panfish.
