North Myrtle – September 11, 2014
David Campbell with a stringer of flounder and a black drum he hooked in the ICW near North Myrtle Beach.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some solid action around Little River right now, with some explosive topwater fishing headlining the list.
Red drum are feeding in shallow water around Dunn Sound, Bonaparte Creek, and other backwaters in the area. Anglers are hooking the reds while casting MirrOlure and Rapala topwaters, and just about anywhere anglers see large schools of mullet working along a bank is a good place to toss the topwaters at present.
Some speckled trout are feeding in the same areas and also taking an interest in topwaters.
When the fish are reluctant to bite on top, live finger mullet and shrimp fished under popping corks are the way to tempt strikes.
Anglers are hooking a few flounder in the same areas as the reds and specks, and the flatfish are also feeding at most of the usual spots from Tubbs Inlet to Little River. Live, Carolina-rigged finger mullet are tough to beat for the flatfish.
Teak Salmons with a 27″ red drum that inhaled a live mud minnow while she was fishing from a Shalotte River dock.
Other inshore predators like ladyfish and jacks have been looking for meals in the local waters as well and providing some sporty fights for anglers casting artificials and live baits on light tackle.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still seeing some action with red drum (many upper and over-slot fish with some much larger) around Little River Inlet. Live and cut mullet and menhaden fished on the bottom are attracting attention from the reds.
More reds are feeding inshore in the marshes and around ICW structure like docks and bridges, and live and cut baits will get their attention inshore as well.
Some speckled trout are looking for meals around the rock jetties at the inlet and flooded grass and oyster banks inshore. Anglers can fool the specks with live shrimp or a variety of soft plastics and other artificials.
Makala Hall (age 12), of Archdale, NC, with her first red drum, a 25″ fish that bit a live finger mullet while she was fishing Davis Creek on her borther’s boat.
Flounder are looking for meals just inshore of the inlet and around inshore structure along the ICW. The flatfish have a tough time turning down live finger mullet and peanut menhaden fished on Carolina rigs.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet and croaker while bottom fishing with shrimp.
A few bluefish are falling for bottom rigs and casting lures that anglers are working.
The water is 83 degrees.
