North Myrtle Beach – December 14, 2017
Ken, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that speckled trout fishing has really fired up with the cooler water temperatures. Most trips are yielding double digit numbers of fish in the 18-24” range. The most productive baits have been the Vudu shrimp fished slow or under a popping cork, as well as Trout Trick plastics on a jig head.
Solid numbers of slot redfish are also mixed in with the trout, and they’ve been willing to hit the same lures as the trout.
As the water temperature continues to drop in the coming months, look for the trout and red drum to bunch up tighter.
Striper fishing in area rivers will also start to heat up as we move into winter. Targeting moving water and focusing on the eddies will yield the best results.
Patrick, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that speckled trout have been the name of the game with the cooling weather. A mix of live shrimp and Vudu shrimp under popping corks have produced the best results.
Those targeting dock and bridge structure have found good numbers of black drum and sheepshead still hanging around. Cut shrimp fished on a bottom rig and dropped around pilings has done the trick.
A few redfish are also still feeding inshore. A mix of cut shrimp and cut mullet will tempt these fish to bite.
Adam Tucker with a speckled trout caught on a live shrimp floated under a bobber. He was fishing in the ICW outside of Myrtle Beach Yacht Club with Capt. Patrick Kelly of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that the colder nights have really brought the water temps down and, unfortunately, the flounder seem to have moved out off the flats and into their winter haunts in the ocean.
Black drum are getting a little harder to find, but they are hanging around docks and hitting on fresh shrimp on either a Carolina rig or pinned to a jig head. Look for them at higher tides around the middle of docks and at lower tides closer to the ends of docks.
Redfish are also still around, but the reds are definitely on the smaller side, with their bigger brothers probably moved out to the ocean for the winter. Look for any of the inshore red drum to be in the winter pattern of holding in the shallower back creek areas to stay warm, or you may find schools forming on the flats.
Trout season is in full force, and the specks are hungry and hitting just about anything as they prepare for the colder winter temps. Artificials such as MirrOlures in any color, Gulp plastics pinned to jig heads, and Trout Tricks are all the go-to baits. Look for oyster bars in creeks and along ICW banks where there is deeper water nearby. Remember to slow down your bait speed as the water temps drop.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that at the Gulf Stream the bottom fishing remains solid. Scamp grouper, beeliners, grunts, triggerfish, and amberjacks can all be landed, with a variety of cut baits getting the job done.
Working areas around the 30 mile mark has produced plenty of action with king mackerel. Trolling with dead cigar minnows has been the key to landing limits of fish. Good numbers of false albacore are also in the mix.
The nearshore bite has started to pick up. Black sea bass, porgies, and bluefish have all been feeding well near the bottom. Anglers should see the black sea bass bite improve and move closer in as the water temperature continues to drop.
Bill Martin with a 60 lb. wahoo that fell for a Ilander lure while fishing the 100/400.
Ronnie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers have found good numbers of whiting from the pier. Casting cut shrimp on bottom rigs has been the best way to land strong numbers of fish. Croaker, black drum, and bluefish have also been feeding well.
As winter weather approaches, anglers can expect the whiting bite to remain solid until a really big cold snap. Croaker and dogfish will also hang around the pier through most of the cold months.
