North Myrtle Beach September 17, 2009
Atlas Warwick, of Lumberton/Sunset Beach, with a 6 lb., 14 oz. flounder that fell for a live finger mullet in the ICW near Ocean Isle.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Fishing Charters, reports that the weather’s cooling off, the water temperature’s down into the mid-70’s, and the area’s fall fishing is in full swing.
Drifting through Little River Inlet has been producing some solid catches of gray trout (many 3-4 lbs.), some red drum (to 30-40”), some flounder, and big numbers of bluefish.
Live shrimp and finger mullet on Carolina rigs are producing most of the action in the inlet.
Big numbers of spanish mackerel (up to 3-4 lbs.) are feeding on the numerous mullet pouring out of the inlet as well, and anglers are hooking them while casting mullet imitation lures like MirrOlure Catch 2000’s and MirrOmullets.
Inshore, anglers are finding solid speckled trout fishing around marker 19 and the Sunset Beach Bridge in the ICW. Live shrimp and Billy Bay shrimp are attracting bites from the specks (most 16-18” and fat).
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the spanish mackerel bite at Little River Inlet has been on fire lately. Light-lining live finger mullet in the inlet has been attracting attention from the spanish and some big bluefish.
Red drum are feeding in the inlet as well, and anglers are hooking the reds while fishing finger mullet on the bottom, or by letting baits the bluefish have chopped in half sink down to the reds’ level.
Live finger mullet fished on the bottom at the inlet have also been producing action with flounder recently.
Inshore, the speckled trout, flounder, and red drum are feeding around the Little River Crossroads, and Gulp baits are drawing bites from all three.
Speckled trout are feeding around the Sunset Beach Bridge, and anglers are hooking them on chartreuse D.O.A. shrimp, live shrimp, and Gulp baits.
The flounder bite’s been on in Dunn Sound as well lately, and Gulp baits are producing plenty of action with the flatties.
Justin Privette, Kevin Starnes, Claude Williamson, and Gene Mosely with king mackerel (the largest 28 lbs.) and a large spanish mackerel they hooked while trolling live baits in 45' near the Cape Fear River Channel. They were fishing with Capt. Keith Logan of Stand'N Down Charters out of Holden Beach.
Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that offshore bottom fishermen have been finding better action with legal to large scamp grouper lately, mostly on cigar minnows. The bite’s been best at structure in 85-100’ of water.
Some fat sea bass, triggerfish, beeliners, and other bottom dwellers are feeding in the same areas, and squid baits will appeal to the smaller bottomfish.
Inshore, bottom fishermen are finding plenty of action with black sea bass.
Trolling near the beaches produced some excellent catches of spanish mackerel last week. Clarkspoons are attracting most of the attention from the spanish.
Ronnie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs and mackerel trees.
Live baiters landed a 15.15 lb. king mackerel last week.
Some bluefish are also falling for baits fished on the bottom, and anglers are hooking up with some whiting and pompano on shrimp-baited bottom rigs as well.
Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom are catching decent numbers of flounder.
The water temperature has fallen to 78 degrees.
