North Myrtle Beach April 15, 2005
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Capt. Patrick Kelly, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that flounder improved this week, especially in Cherry Grove Creek. Many of the flounder are measuring in the 13.5 to 14.75 inch range. Go with mud minnows and a Carolina rig. The Jim Caudle Reef also has fish. Look for spiny dogfish, small sea bass, and a few flounder.
For red drum, a good spot to try right now is Bonaparte Creek. Work the creek mouths around oyster beds with live mud minnows. Or you can use jigs on the slack tide.
Capt. Mark Dickson, of Shallow Minded Guide Service, reports that the water temperatures are rising into the low 60’s, and with it the flounder have turned on. Most fish are being caught around Cherry Grove and Tubbs Inlet on mud minnows. You can find bait up in the creeks. Most fish are barely keepers or just below the limit. There are also a few specks to be caught around the Sunset Beach Bridge on grubs and trout killers.
Off the beach, the sea bass and spiny dogfish are still inshore, and some bonito were reported from the 65-Foot Hole. Try your usual spanish mackerel spread to locate them. If you can find the warm water in the gulf stream, the Steeples down to Georgetown Hole has had some good action of yellowfin tuna and wahoo.
Cherry Grove Pier reports a few whiting and spots over the weekend caught on cut shrimp. Black drum and bluefish up to 3 lbs. were also landed earlier in the week. The reported water temperature was around 62 degrees, so the spring fishing should continue to get better.
