North Myrtle Beach Winter 2010
Brad Ricker with his first gag grouper. He hooked the fish on a live cigar minnow at the Horseshoe while fishing with Capt. Bill Zeron on the "Bottom Line."
Mark, of Shallow Minded Fishing Charters, reports that the area’s red drum bite has been excellent lately. Anglers are finding the fish in the area’s shallow creeks, often in shallow enough water that a small flats skiff is necessary to get to them. Many of the creeks are holding large schools (up to 50 fish) of the reds. They’re ranging from 14-18” rats to over-slot fish 24-30” long.
There are still good numbers of live shrimp in the area, and they’re the most effective bait for the reds right now. Anglers are also catching good numbers of fish on Gulp baits. Rigging both the shrimp and Gulps on 1/4-1/8 oz. Mission Fishin’ jigheads has been the most effective presentation lately.
The speckled trout bite is still good in the area, and anglers are finding the fish at the usual spots off the ICW. Live shrimp are top choices for the specks, as well as the reds.
Bob Caldwell, from Charlotte, with a big red drum he hooked on a live pogy at the Little River jetties while fishing with Capt. Mark Staci of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the area’s shallow winter red drum fishery gets better by the year. The fish are feeding in just about every creek in the area, and anglers are finding them by poling flats skiffs into the creeks with rising water. When the fish sense the boat, they push to deeper 2-10’ holes in the creeks where anglers can hook up with them on live shrimp and Gulp baits. The holed-up fish also present excellent opportunities for fly casters to hook up with a red. Clouser Minnows and shrimp-imitating flies fished on sinking lines have been the most productive.
Speckled trout are on the feed in the ICW, and anglers have been finding them around the Sunset Beach Bridge and other inshore structure. Live shrimp and D.O.A. and Billy Bay artificials are producing most of the action with the specks.
Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that the weather’s been keeping the boats at the dock a lot lately, but when the seas calm, the offshore bottom fishing has been excellent. Anglers dropping cigar minnows to bottom structure in 100-110’ are hauling up American red snapper and gag and scamp grouper. Baiting up with squid has been producing fast action with large black sea bass, grunts, and a host of other tasty bottom fish.
Mike, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with good number of whiting and some black drum while baiting up with shrimp.
A few flounder and bluefish are coming over the rails as well.
