North Myrtle Beach/Little River – August 2020
Patrick, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing has been good despite the hot water. The trout are feeding on live shrimp in deeper creek holes, preferably with oysters nearby. The incoming tide cycle (and its slight cooling temperature change) has been the best time to fish.
Red drum are being found on the flats off the ICW up into inland creeks. The higher tides have fish feeding along grass banks, where low tide has them schooled up around deeper docks. Similar to trout, live baits (mullet and shrimp) have been best.
Black drum are being caught around docks and ICW shallows with shrimp.
Anglers are finding flounder staged up in deeper holes and along docks. Gulp soft plastics or live mullet on 1/4 oz. jig heads are both drawing attention.
Around the jetties, Carolina-rigged cut bait and crabs have been getting big bites from sharks and over-slot red drum.
Nearshore fishing has seen the king mackerel bite scattered (along with the bait) after the recent heat wave. Look for these fish to be staged up around structure.
Spanish mackerel are schooled up just off the beaches and around tidelines.
Brady Carroll, of Smithfield, NC, with a king mackerel caught 15 miles off Little River Inlet. He was fishing with his grandfather, Capt. Kay Carroll, aboard PharmaSea.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that excessive rain, hot air, and water temperatures have made the fishing tough.
Flounder have been the best bite. They’re falling for Gulp baits on jig heads, as well as live minnows dragged on the bottom. Look for these fish holding along grass lines of the smaller creeks during the hours just before and after high tide, and then deeper holes around low tide.
Speckled trout have been biting the similar baits fished for flounder. Target the trout along oyster shell banks that transition to grass in creeks and the ICW.
Redfish have been staged around the deeper areas of the ICW. Popping corks rigged with mud minnows or Gulp baits are a good way to fool the reds, especially during the higher tide cycles.
Black drum are being caught in the smaller creeks off the ICW. Target them in deeper holes and nearby docks.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that king mackerel fishing has been good in the 25-30 mile range. Popular spots such as The Jungle and nearby ledges are producing fish on Drone spoons behind planers and skirted ballyhoo.
Drifting live baits in this range has landed some of the larger kings (up to 30 lbs.) and big dolphin.
Bottom fishing around the offshore structure and ledges has seen a great variety of fish being landed. Cut and live baits have produced vermilion snapper, scamps, gag grouper, triggerfish, African pompano, cobia, and amberjack.
Nearshore anglers have been landing spanish mackerel from around the rocks to just outside Little River Inlet. The go-to Clarkspoons and deep diving plugs, as well as casting metal jigs, are all getting the schooled up fish to bite.
Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that the nearshore anglers have been catching spanish mackerel and large barracuda around the wrecks. A good number of keeper black sea bass, which is tough to do nearshore this time of year, have been feeding on cut bait offerings.
Large live baits have had anglers battling it out with blacktip and spinner sharks.
Bottom structure in the 15-30 mile range is holding keeper black sea bass and gray snapper, and drifting live bait in this range is producing strikes from king mackerel and cobia.
Trips to the Gulf Stream are filling bags with triggerfish, jumbo black sea bass, scamps, and gray snapper, while the drift rigs are catching dolphin, kings, cobia, and scattered sailfish.
Michael, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that the recent heat wave and warm water temperatures have the fish and anglers slowed down.
Bottom fishing with shrimp and sand fleas has been producing whiting and a few spadefish.
Sheepshead are being caught on the same bottom-rigged baits worked up against the pilings.
Schools of spanish mackerel are feeding on the surface, with casting jigs and Gotcha plugs producing most of the strikes.
Kylie Petrovich, from Cherry Grove, SC, with an 18″ bluefish caught in Hog Inlet using a live mud minnow on a bottom rig. Photo by TJ Spivey.
Lynn, of Apache Pier, reports that large numbers of flounder have been caught in recent days. Carolina-rigged live baits have been best in getting action.
Bottom rigs with shrimp have been catching sea mullet in the 1.5 lb. range.
Anglers at the end are reporting a scattered king mackerel bite on live baits. Only one fish was caught last week, but any slight drop in water temperature should bring the bait (and kings) back closer to the beach.
Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs have been hooking up with good numbers of spanish mackerel.
