Little River July 12, 2007
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still landing good numbers of speckled trout, particularly around Sunset Beach Bridge and Mullet Creek. Light (8 lb. class) tackle and 1/8 ounce jigheads baited with live shrimp have been fooling most of the trout.
Red drum and flounder are striking the jighead/shrimp combination in many of the same spots. Dunn Sound has been hosting solid flounder and drum fishing, with some trout mixed in.
Anglers who can’t get live shrimp or who prefer to fish artificials can hook up with these inshore species by casting New Penny Gulp Shrimp on jigheads under popping corks.
Over the past week, inshore fishing has been much more consistent in the morning hours than the afternoons.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that fishing has been somewhat sporadic, with great days mixed in with slower ones. Anglers are hooking up with speckled trout, drum, and flounder around the Little River Jetties. Live shrimp, peanut pogies, and finger mullet are getting bites from all three species. The jetty fishing is best when there is moving water, and it slows down around the slack tides.
Flounder are feeding in Coquina Harbor, and anglers have landed some nice flatfish in the 5 lb. range recently. Carolina-rigged live baits will get their attention.
Drew, of North Myrtle Beach Offshore Adventures, reports that boats finding weed lines 40+ miles offshore should also find good dolphin catches.
The Horseshoe has been holding a few dolphin and kings, and both are falling for live pogies. Some sailfish are also feeding near the Horseshoe.
Spots further inshore are surrendering some kings and smaller dolphin, but over most of the week there’s been too much scattered grass to fish the inshore spots.
Gulf Stream bottom fishing has been solid, with anglers landing good catches of red and gag groupers, along with a few scamps. Cut baits have been getting plenty of bites from the grouper, and spots in around 150’ of water have been holding the most fish.
Brendan, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are landing mostly whiting and black drum. Anglers fishing with shrimp have had the best catches.
Flounder (mostly keepers) are biting live mud minnows fished on Carolina rigs. Several fish in the 3-4 lb. class were caught over the past week.
Plug casters are hooking up with a few spanish mackerel.
Live bait fishermen caught a decent number of kings over the week, with most falling for pogy baits.
The water temperature is 79 degrees.
