North Myrtle/Little River – October 2024
Greg, of Dave’s Outpost, reports that sheepshead fishing has been really good. Anglers have been catching some nice-sized fish with live fiddler crabs on bottom sweeper jigs.
The inshore red drum action has started to pick up. Plenty of slot-sized fish, and even the occasional over-slot (to 35”), are being caught out at the jetties with live or cut bait.
The speckled trout action has been up or down depending on water quality. As the water continues to clean up and cool down, and weather conditions continue to be more stable, the bite will pick up as we move into their main season.
All the founder you want to catch are on the North Carolina side.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that red drum fishing has in general been good, and it’s been good in a number of the standard spots. Anglers have been finding (at times) 15-20 fish without putting in even a full day.
Anglers are seeing double digit counts of flounder while fishing inshore. The flounder, and the red drum, are mostly being caught on bottom-rigged live mullet. If you want numbers, then look for the 4-6” mullets, but if you want the trophy fish, look for the 7” baits, as they not only produce large flounder but over-slot red drum.
Some speckled trout are starting to show up, with live shrimp under floats producing most of the action.
This same tactic of floating live shrimp will produce black drum that are starting to become more prevalent. In addition, there are now less “trash fish” species competing for bait.
With the heavy rains, anglers will do best focusing inshore efforts closer to the ocean and inlets until conditions completely clean up. These areas will be less affected by any freshwater runoff from mainland rivers.
It’s early, but anglers fishing bigger chunks of mullet out at the jetties have been landing some old drum (to 35”). In addition, anglers will likely also catch some flounder out there if fishing live bait.
Amy Taylor, of North Myrtle Beach, caught this red drum near the Little River jetties using a live mullet.
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that the inshore action has been mostly about the red and black drum bite. With both species, the area is starting to see better numbers and sizes. Anglers are doing best targeting structures such as docks and oyster beds. As for bait, live mullet on Carolina rigs has been best for the reds, with fresh dead shrimp the better option for black drum.
A few speckled trout are mixed in the inshore action. The trout bite will only pick up as water temperatures continue to cool down.
The South Carolina side is seeing a lot of keeper flounder. Anglers have been doing better on falling tides while targeting creek mouths and oyster beds with 3-4” live mullet.
The nearshore action is starting to pick up, with spanish mackerel and bluefish hanging outside the jetties and just off the beaches. Anglers are doing well targeting both species by casting jigs to the surface-feeding schools. Those looking to cast should remember that chumming with live bait can help stir up the action.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that offshore water temperatures are starting to fall. This is great news for anglers, as we are on the brink of seeing the bigger wahoo and blackfin tuna showing up any day.
Bottom fishing anglers will be seeing the larger black sea bass moving closer to the beach, and the sea bass action only gets better moving further into fall.
The deeper bottom areas (in 110-120’) have been producing triggerfish and scamp grouper. The triggerfish are being caught mostly with cut squid, and the scamps are more likely to strike at live pinfish.
Spencer Craven, of Mebane, NC, caught this 24″ red drum fishing in the waterway behind Sunset Beach using a cut mullet on a Carolina rig.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that anglers heading to the break for some trolling action should start seeing some really good wahoo action from now through November.
The bigger class of blackfin tuna also start showing up in the area around October.
King mackerel fishing is picking up, and this fishery really fires up (and moves closer in) with temperatures cooling down.
Nearshore anglers are catching spanish mackerel and doing well bottom fishing for porgies and black sea bass.
The mixed bag when targeting the deeper bottom fishing waters includes, but isn’t limited to, vermilion snapper, grouper, grunts, big porgies, amberjack, and triggerfish.
Bob, of Apache Pier, reports that anglers casting jigs are seeing a lot of bluefish and some spanish mackerel. The pier anticipates this action steadily improving as water quality improves and temperatures continue to drop.
Bottom fishing is producing a couple black drum, whiting, and plenty of croaker.
Bradley, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that the king mackerel action has really fired off, with numerous kings now landed.
Bluefish are plentiful, with some larger fish (to 7 lbs.) in the mix.
Bottom fishing anglers are catching croakers and whiting, and some sheepshead and the occasional spot are also in the daily catches.
