Myrtle Beach March 2007
Mark, at Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that March is typically a transition month for area fishing. On warm, sunny days, fishermen can find red drum in skinny water back in the creeks. Both Slurp and Gulp baits fished on weighted hooks will draw strikes from the drum; however, the fish are very skittish in the shallow water, so anglers must be stealthy to avoid spooking them.
Schoolie striped bass are holding around the Little River Swing Bridge, and white bucktails will get their attention.
At the Sunset Beach Bridge, anglers can enjoy consistent action with black drum in the 1-2 lb. range. A simple bottom rig baited with shrimp is all that’s needed to score with the pan-sized drum.
With water temperatures rising, the full on spring fishing is only a short time away. The red drum will begin separating into schools based on year class instead of the mixed size winter schools. The smaller 16-18” fish will remain in the marshes for much of the year, but the 22-24” and larger drum will begin patrolling ICW docks, grass edges, and creek mouths looking for food.
Last year was phenomenal for large speckled trout in early April, and this year should be great as well. Look for big trout around the Little River Jetties, the canal parallel to the Sunset Beach Bridge, and around creek mouths in the waterway. Mirrolures, Bass Assassins, and Trout Killers will all catch the sow trout, but one of the most effective methods is fishing a mud minnow beneath a float.
Flounder should also begin appearing in April, with fish showing up in the shallow inlets first. Unfortunately, most of the early season flounder will be small.
Patrick, at Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the speckled trout bit well through January, but for the most part they have slowed down since. Red drum are around, and anglers can find some active fish feeding in the shallow water of area creeks. A Gulp jerkbait rigged on an offset weighted hook is an excellent bait for the drum, and New Penny seems to be the hottest color.
As the water, which is now around 54 degrees, warms up over the coming weeks, big speckled trout will be the main angling draw in the area. Last year, early spring hosted very good fishing for the big trout. Since there haven’t been any hard freezes over the winter to kill fish, this year should be as good or better.
The big specks will be holding in deeper holes of the creeks, particularly around oyster bars. A New Penny Gulp! will catch the trout as well as the drum, and these early trout run large, with some fish going 6-8 lbs.
Larry, at Voyager Charters, reports that the offshore bottom fishing has been excellent. Anglers are filling the fish boxes with grouper, big sea bass, grunts, and rudderfish.
The bottom fishing should get even better as the water warms up. Beeliners, grunts, triggerfish, grouper, and amberjack will all be feeding on ledges and live bottoms in the 30-40 mile range over the next month.
Blue water trolling season is here, and fishermen making the long run to the Gulf Stream will be rewarded with blackfin and yellowfin tuna, wahoo, dolphin, and king mackerel. The key to finding the fish is finding good water, ideally 70-74 degrees and blue/purple in color. Begin looking for fish around the Steeples, Blackjack Hole, 100/400, and the Scarp.
Trolling cedar plugs and ballyhoo rigged with Islander lures is the best way to target the tuna and wahoo. Wise anglers will include at least one deep running lure in the spread.
