Added on Thursday, July 10, 2008  Gary Hurley

North Myrtle Beach July 10, 2008

Mark, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that Little River Inlet is hosting some hot mixed bag fishing right now. Anglers are landing flounder, red drum, speckled trout, bluefish, spanish mackerel and other species while fishing in the inlet, especially along the jetties.

The best strategy has been to drift along the jetties, casting towards the rocks, to locate the fish. Once anglers get a few bites in an area, they can anchor up to fish it more thoroughly.

Covering the water column by fishing live shrimp on float rigs and finger mullet on Carolina rigs will give anglers the best shot at hooking up with the flounder, drum, and trout. A finger mullet fished weightless behind a rattling float and allowed to drift behind the boat should attract attention from the spanish and blues.

There has also been a decent speckled trout and drum bite around the Sunset Beach Bridge lately, and a live shrimp under a float is tough to beat there.

Anglers are still catching flounder while drifting Tubbs Inlet with Carolina-rigged live baits.

 

Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are catching a lot of red drum and some speckled trout around the Sunset Beach Bridge. Most of the reds are healthy 18-22″ slot fish, and schools of them have been hanging very close to the bridge pilings.

There are also some reds feeding at the jetties, along with better numbers of trout. Casting live shrimp or Gulp jerkbaits towards the rocks and working them back to the boat like a baitfish fleeing the cover has been very productive lately, and it seems like most of the bites are coming from just off the rocks.

Bonaparte Creek has also been holding some trout and reds, and live or Gulp shrimp under popping corks have been producing the most action. Trout fishing has been particularly good at the shell banks near the mouth of the creek.

Black drum are feeding in Mullet Creek, and the popping cork/live shrimp rig will get their attention as well.

 

Drew, of Crowd Pleaser Sportfishing, reports that the king mackerel bite has been excellent in the morning recently, but it tapers off in the afternoons. Boats have been catching the kings all over the place, but the 65′ and 70′ Holes have been particularly good lately. Most of the fish have been in the 10-20 lb. range, with boats landing a decent number into the 30’s this week.

A few smaller dolphin are mixed in with the kings, and a good number of sailfish have begun making an appearance lately. Several sails were released at the Jungle and spots offshore last week.

There are plenty of pogies around Little River Inlet for anglers looking for live baits to troll.

Amberjacks have taken up residence on many of the area reefs and wrecks, and boats have been wearing them out at wrecks like Gary Ennis.

The grouper and snapper bite should still be solid at ledges, live bottoms, and other structure in 100+’ of water.

 

Brendan, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with some whiting, pompano, and black drum on cut shrimp.

A few flounder are falling for live mud minnows.

Anglers jigging mackerel trees are landing some bluefish and spanish mackerel.

The water is 83 degrees.