North Myrtle Beach – April 23, 2015
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding fast action with flounder in the marshes of Cherry Grove (most on the small side). The flatfish will be growing more numerous and larger by the week. Anglers can target them with Gulp baits or live mud minnows pinned to 1/8 and 1/4 oz. jigheads.
Ted Young with a blackfin tuna that struck a cedar plug near the Mac Marlen Ledge while he participating in Gulf Stream School with Capt. Brant McMullan of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
Red drum are still feeding well up the shallow creeks where they spent the winter. Approaching quietly in a shallow-draft skiff or kayak will offer anglers the best odds of connecting with the reds instead of spooking them. Gulp swimming mullet baits on light jigheads or split-shot rigs are the best bets to draw strikes from the reds.
Out in the ocean, there’s been some solid sheepshead action on nearshore structure within a few miles of the beaches. Fiddler crabs are key to success with the sheeps; however, they can be a bit tough to come by this time of year. Fishing the fiddlers on small-hooked jigheads is the way to go for the small-mouthed fish, and anglers can add additional weight above the jig via large split-shots if it’s tough to get down to the structure.
Brad Faulk and Elle Lewis (age 3), with a black drum that they landed in Shallotte Inlet after it struck a shrimp.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with red and black drum in Salt Boiler and other local creeks. Most are falling for live mud minnows and chunks of blue crab fished on jigheads.
Some speckled trout are looking for meals around the Little River Crossroads. Anglers are tempting the specks to bite Vudu and D.O.A. shrimp imitiations.
Flounder action is going strong in Cherry Grove and Hog Inlet (but most of the fish are on the small side). Gulp baits and live mud minnows on jigheads and Carolina rigs will fool the flatfish, and the larger the minnows that anglers can find, the better their odds of connecting with some keeper flatfish.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with good numbers of sea mullet while bottom fishing with shrimp.
Some flounder are feeding under the pier and biting small live and strip baits.
Anglers working gold hook rigs further out on the pier are catching decent numbers of bluefish and have also seen some of the first spanish mackerel of the year.
The water is 67 degrees.
