Little River August 16, 2007
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Guide Service, reports that red drum are feeding in the backwaters in Dunn Sound and Bonaparte Creek. The majority of the fish are over the slot limit (24-31”). Anglers can locate the fish by searching for schools of finger mullet and shrimp, especially with birds working them.
The drum will respond well to small jigheads baited with live shrimp, finger mullet, or Gulp Baits. Some flounder and black drum are falling for the same baits.
Lower tides are producing the best fishing and will enable anglers to see drum tailing in the shallows.
Anglers are catching smaller drum and some speckled trout around the Sunset Beach Bridge and the Little River Crossroads. A few flounder are also coming from the Crossroads. A jig/bait combination will be effective on these fish as well.
The Little River Jetties are still holding some speckled trout, and anglers can cast live shrimp under floats to the rocks at low tides to hook up with them.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that anglers are finding red drum around oyster bars and docks in the ICW. Live baits should get attention from the drum.
Excellent fishing for reds, speckled trout, and flounder is taking place around Little River Inlet. The flounder are feeding on the sandbars and shoals around the inlet, and drift fishing with live finger mullet, peanut pogies, or mud minnows should produce some flatties. Most of the fish anglers are catching are between 16” and 4 lbs.
The reds and trout are cruising the rock jetties, and live shrimp, mullet, or peanut pogies fished on bottom rigs should get attention from them. Anglers can also drift a live shrimp beneath a float near the rocks to draw strikes from the trout. Once anglers locate the fish with live baits, they can switch to Gulp baits and keep getting strikes.
The weather should be a bit cooler over the coming week, and this means that trout should be feeding in the creek mouths. Live or Gulp shrimp fished beneath popping corks should tempt these trout.
Drew, of North Myrtle Beach Offshore Adventures, reports that most of the king mackerel have moved out to deeper, cooler water. The king bite is best in deeper than 75’ of water, and live baits (such as pogies) are the best bet.
Bottom fishing has been excellent over the past week. Boats are landing scamp, gag, and red grouper while fishing structure in 80’ of water or deeper. Live pogies, cigar minnows, and sardines will produce the best results on the grouper.
African Pompano have shown up around Frying Pan Tower, and they should respond well to live baits fished near the legs.
Brendan, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking whiting and pompano on cut shrimp.
Bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs.
The water temperature is 86 degrees.
