Little River November 8, 2007
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of red drum in the shallows of Little River-area creeks. Some of the drum are within the 15-23” S.C. slot limit, but many of the reds are oversized. Gulp shrimp fished on 1/4 oz. jigheads should tempt the drum to strike, and a slow retrieve that allows the bait’s scent to disperse and attract the fish will produce the best results.
Speckled trout are feeding at drains off the ICW and around the Sunset Beach Bridge, along with a few red drum and flounder. Gulp baits will entice these fish to bite as well, but it is hard to beat a live shrimp fished either on a float rig or pinned to a jighead.
Drew, of North Myrtle Beach Offshore Adventures, reports that the cooler temperatures are moving the king mackerel bite off the beach. When the water calms down from the recent storm, anglers should be able to locate the kings around bottom structure and bait concentrations in 50-70’ of water. The Jungle and 65’ Hole are both good places to begin looking for the kings.
Grouper should still be feeding at ledges, wrecks, and other structure in the 70-90’ depths. Anglers pursuing the grouper should go offshore with a variety of baits (live cigar minnows, pinfish, and pogies, and dead cigar minnows, sardines, and squid are all good choices) in order to cater to the grouper’s often picky eating habits.
Wahoo are still abundant in the Gulf Stream, and they should be feeding well when the weather allows boats to make the long run. The Winyah Scarp and Mac Marlen Hole are good places for anglers to begin looking for the wahoos.
Larry, of Voyager Charters, reports that before last week’s big storm, anglers were landing plenty of kings within 15 miles of the beach. The Little River Offshore Reef, 65’ Hole, and the Jungle all produced some nice catches, and they should continue to be productive areas when the water calms down (as long as there is bait nearby). Drone Spoons and Sea Witch/strip bait combos trolled behind #4 planers will fool the kings.
Gulf Stream bottom fishermen have had to contend with strong currents recently, but the fish are biting well. Bottom anglers are filling their fish boxes with beeliners, grunts, hog snappers, African pompano, triggerfish, amberjacks, and red and scamp groupers while fishing with sardine and squid baits.
Brendan, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are decking spot while fishing with bottom rigs baited with bloodworms and artificial bloodworms. Whiting are also hitting the bottom rigs at night and in the early morning hours.
Anglers fishing bottom rigs with a variety of baits in the surf zone are landing plenty of bluefish.
The water temperature is down to 73 degrees.
