North Myrtle Beach November 13, 2008
Capt. Patrick Kelly, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters out of North Myrtle Beach, with a 6.5 lb. flounder he caught in Dunn Sound on a Gulp shrimp.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing, reports that red drum (16-30″) and black drum (2-5 lbs.) fishing has been solid in the ICW lately around creek mouths and other structure. A live shrimp pinned to a Carolina rig has been an especially effective bait, and the top strategy is to dead stick 2-3 rods with Carolina rigs, then cast jig/Gulp combos to cover more water.
There’s been a killer speckled trout bite behind Shallotte Inlet over the past few weeks, where double digit numbers of trout per day are commonplace. Live shrimp fished beneath slip floats are the top trout producers.
Speckled trout and some striped bass (most smaller, but some up to 10+ lbs.) are biting live shrimp on float rigs and DOA shrimp in the ICW near Coquina Harbor.
The shallow water red drum bite in the area is turning on, much as it did last winter. The fish are tough to get to, but anglers with flats boats can find the fish feeding in shallow backwaters near low tide, and pushing into the grass as the water rises. Many of the fish are tailing, and all are so shallow they’re easy to see, making for excellent sight casting opportunities.
Gulp baits on Mission Fishin jigheads have been the most productive lure lately. Adding a small snap-on spinner arm to the jig can provide some extra attraction.
Doug Clark, of Lumberton, NC, with a 44” citation red drum he caught on a live mullet while fishing with Capt. Donald Leach out of Cherry Grove on the “Sugg.”
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that fall fishing is just getting good.
Anglers are catching a few flounder these days. There’s not quite as many as summertime, but most are larger fish (up to 6.5 lbs.). Gulp baits and live shrimp have been attracting attention from the flounder.
Some red drum (24-27″) and an unusual number of black drum (14-18″) are feeding in the ICW and Dunn Sound, and live shrimp are drawing bites from both.
Smaller puppy drum are beginning to school up in the creeks, and if last year was any indication, this should be an incredible fishery for much of the winter. However, anglers need very shallow draft boats to get to where the reds are feeding. Without a flats boat, anglers are likely out of luck. Once anglers find some feeding fish in the shallows, a jerkbait or a Gulp on a light jighead should produce action.
Anglers are catching a few trout on live shrimp in the ICW around Sunset Beach Bridge and Coquina Harbor.
Drew, of North Myrtle Beach Offshore Adventures, reports that gag grouper fishing has been good at structure in around 80′ of water lately. Live pinfish are the best baits.
King mackerel are feeding in the same areas, and trolling or light-lining with dead cigar minnows will get their attention.
Wahoo and sailfish are feeding in the Gulf Stream, and the action is still best down south around the Georgetown Hole.
Mike, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers have been catching a good number of spot over the past week on bloodworms, artificial bloodworms, and red wigglers.
Live shrimp have been producing action with over-slot black drum (28-32″) and some slot-sized reds.
A few gray trout are falling for the shrimp and bottom rigs.
The water is 63 degrees.
