North Myrtle/Little River – November 2024
Greg, of Dave’s Outpost, reports that inshore anglers have been finding some big speckled trout now that temperatures are cooling down in the area. Live shrimp is outproducing everything else, and the shrimp work best when they are fished under popping corks or on slip cork setups.
Red drum are scattered throughout the area, with a few big fish still hanging around. The bull drum are very close to moving on, but anglers will continue to find scattered slot and under-slot red drum until the really cold water pushes them back into their winter holes.
Flounder, of course, are all over the place, and they are striking at any live bait fished on the bottom.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that the speckled trout fishing is starting to really fire off. Anglers looking to get in on the action have been doing best with live shrimp. The live shrimp will outproduce artificials by about a 4:1 ratio. Slip cork fishing also allows anglers to work the whole water column and really home in on the correct depth when trying to find the bite. Start at the bottom, and then work your way back up. These trout are holding in a large variety of areas, such as on grass edges, over scattered shell bottoms along the ICW, and around creek mouths. A rising tide with cleaner water has produced more action.
Red drum and flounder are holding in the same trout areas. These species have bit better on the falling tide.
Speckled trout are starting to move up around the swing bridges, too, where some striped bass and redfish will be mixed in.
Black drum are showing better for anglers fishing shrimp in creek channels. Targeting a spot around oysters will only add to the opportunity for success.
Off the beach, king mackerel are both in shallow and out over the nearshore structures.
Amy Taylor, of North Myrtle Beach, caught this 74″, 88 lb. wahoo slow trolling a pogie while 20 miles offshore of Southport. She was fishing with Capt. Jessey Vereen of Fish Myrtle Beach.
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that the speckled trout action in the area has fired up. Live shrimp under a slip cork has outperformed anything else, and it’s best to target area creek banks and shell bottoms along the waterway. The rising tides have been better, but this can fluctuate week to week.
Red drum of mixed sizes are hitting the live shrimp fished in the trout areas.
Flounder are cooperating for those fishing live mullet on the bottom.
Anglers out at the jetties have still been finding some of the big red drum while bottom fishing on the outgoing tide.
Anglers that fish off the beach will likely find some spotty schools of false albacore and a bunch of gray trout over the nearshore structures.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that red drum are being found in large numbers. The reds are moving into the creeks and holding out along the ICW, and they’re hitting everything from soft plastics to live minnows and live shrimp.
Black drum are hanging out in many of the same areas, with fresh shrimp being the top producing bait. For black drum, it’s a good idea to fish around docks.
The speckled trout action is starting to fire up at the jetties and at some of their favorite fall-time spots along the ICW or in deeper holes in the creeks. The trout have been responding especially well to live shrimp rigged under popping corks. When water temperatures get to and stay between 55-65 degrees, this will be the optimal time to focus on the trout.
Flounder remain very active. The flatfish are striking both soft plastics and live shrimp. Target efforts along creek banks at the higher tides and in creek holes at the lower end of the tide.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that anglers getting offshore have found bottom fishing action strong out in the 90-100’ areas. A bunch of nice-sized vermilion snapper are hitting squid and other cut baits.
Triggerfish are mixed in with the vermilions, with the larger fish holding a little deeper (110-120’).
The keeper black sea bass have started showing up in the 70-80’ areas.
One species that has been difficult to pin down is the scamp grouper bite, but anglers are catching a few in the 100’ area using a variety of live baits (from pogies and grunts to pinfish).
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that starting the bottom fishing efforts out in the 120’ areas has been key to locating the bigger triggerfish, vermilion snapper, grouper, and some amberjacks.
These areas also provide a great opportunity to throw out a free-lined bait for the shot at some of the big king mackerel hanging around.
With water temperatures cooling down, the nearshore bottom fishing (5-8 mile range) has really started to fire off. Anglers have already seen a good push of the bigger black sea bass, grunts, and porgies moving in over the nearshore structures.
The weather windows are few, but Gulf Stream trips are catching wahoo and blackfin tuna.
Scott, of Apache Pier, reports that bottom fishing efforts are producing whiting, flounder, some red drum, and a few black drum.
Some spanish mackerel are still being caught by anglers casting jigs around bait balls.
Ed, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishing is producing a bunch of croakers, whiting, red drum, and some bluefish.
Anglers are also catching spanish mackerel and bluefish using Gotcha plugs and casting jigs.
