North Myrtle Beach April 24, 2008

Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that fishing for speckled trout and red drum in the area has been superb over the past few weeks. Anglers are also landing scattered bluefish and flounder while fishing for the trout and drum.

Trout action has been best around the Sunset Beach Bridge, Coquina Harbor, and the Little River jetties. Most of the fish are 16+”, and anglers are landing some as large as 4+ lbs. DOA shrimp and live mud minnows are the top baits for the specks.

Anglers are hooking up with most of the reds around grass edges in the ICW. Gulp baits and live mud minnows are getting their attention, and the fish are running from 15-30″.

Mark, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that speckled trout action has been hot, although somewhat inconsistent over the past two weeks. One day the bite will be on fire. On the next day, anglers will have to work much harder to get bites. The bite has been best in the ICW around the Sunset Beach Bridge. There are a smaller number of larger fish (4 lbs. and heavier) feeding around the Little River jetties. D.O.A. and Billy Bay Halo shrimp have been the most productive artificials to cast for the trout.

Flounder action has been steady around Cherry Grove and in Tubbs Inlet. While anglers are landing a solid number of fish, the majority are still undersized. A Carolina-rigged mud minnow is the best bet for the flatfish. Flounder action should continue to get better as the water warms up.

Red drum are feeding at structure and creek drains off the ICW. A live mud minnow or chunk of blue crab pinned to a Carolina rig will attract attention from any drum in the area. Anglers can locate likely spots to try by watching for concentrations of feeding birds (such as egrets and cormorants) to betray the presence of bait and larger fish.

Around the Jim Caudle Reef, bottom jigging with spec rigs and shrimp is producing some gray trout and bluefish. Some Atlantic bonito have been chasing bait in the area as well, and anglers can hook the bonito casting and rapidly retrieving the spec rigs or Stingsilvers near the breaking schools

Drew, of North Myrtle Beach Offshore Adventures, reports that although the Gulf Stream action has been a bit slower than usual this spring, boats are still hooking up with some nice fish in the blue water. Blackfin tuna and wahoo have been making up the majority of the catch, but anglers are starting to see decent numbers of dolphin as well. Yellowfin tuna have yet to make a strong appearance off Little River, but spring isn’t over and they may show up yet. Billfish action should heat up over the coming month.

The bite has been spread out throughout the local Stream hotspots, but the area around and offshore of the Winyah Scarp is a good place to begin searching for these gamefish.

Ballyhoo rigged beneath Ilanders and Blue Water Candy Jag lures have been drawing the most strikes, and color schemes incorporating red, black, purple, and orange seem to be producing the best. Anglers will also get more bites by using a trolling weight or planer to take one or two baits in the spread deep.

Bottom fishing has also been solid lately, with anglers hooking up with some nice red grouper near the Steeples. Cut baits are proving effective on the grouper.

Around the Ennis and BP 25 wrecks, boats are finding some nice sized sea bass, and amberjacks are starting to move onto these structures as well.

Closer to the beach, there are plenty of bluefish feeding at the Caudle Wreck. Boats are also finding some Atlantic bonito chasing bait around the Sherman and the 90/90. Trolling Clarkspoons or casting Gotcha plugs around areas where birds are working the water’s surface will prove effective on the bonito and the blues.

Annie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with some whiting on cut shrimp.

Bluefish have shown up in force, and anglers are catching them on Gotcha plugs.

by Gary Hurley