North Myrtle Beach April 10, 2008

Mark, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that last week’s wind and rains slowed fishing a bit, but anglers are still finding decent catches of speckled trout, red drum, and an increasing number of flounder.

The trout are feeding in Bonaparte Creek, around Sunset Beach Bridge, and near the light house on the ICW at Little River. Most of the fish are 14″ and larger, with a good number of 4+ lb. specks thrown in. Billy Bay Halo Shrimp and live mud minnows are top baits for the trout, and they are best fished under a popping or rattling float.

Anglers are hooking up with the reds around Tillman’s Dock and in the shallows of area creeks and sounds. Most of the reds are 14-20″, and live mud minnows or lightly-weighted soft plastics should get their attention.

A few flounder are feeding along with the reds and trout, and anglers are also landing a number of flatfish around Cherry Grove. Surprisingly, decent numbers of these early season fish have been keepers. Live mud minnows fished on Carolina rigs should draw strikes from the flounder.

In the ocean, cool water around the jetties has limited most of the action to dog sharks, but boats have begun to encounter a few bonito around 5 miles offshore.

Drew, of Crowd Pleaser Charters, reports that the weather has severely limited offshore fishing opportunities lately, but anglers should be prepared for some excellent fishing when the wind lays down.

April is right in the heart of prime Carolina Gulf Stream season, and boats can expect to find action with yellowfin and blackfin tuna, wahoo, and dolphin around blue water hotspots like the Winyah Scarp, Blackjack Hole, Georgetown Hole, and others when they can comfortably make the run. Skirted ballyhoo will draw strikes from any of these offshore predators, and they might even attract the attention of a billfish.

Inshore of the Stream, anglers targeting bottom fish would do well to begin their search in 100-120′ of water, where most of the gag, red, and scamp groupers will be holding. A variety of baits such as cigar minnows, squid, Boston mackerel, and cut baits on bottom rigs should get the grouper interested.

King mackerel are also likely holding in around 100′ wherever they can find water around 68 degrees.

Inshore, bottom fishermen are catching some nice sea bass around structure 3-15 miles off the beach.

Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding some speckled trout in Bonaparte Creek, around Coquina Harbor, and in the ICW, especially around Sunset Beach Bridge. D.O.A. Shrimp and 1/32 and 1/16 oz. jigs with tiny soft plastic bodies are attracting attention from the trout, and the small jigs are fooling some surprisingly large fish.

Some 15-19″ red drum and a few flounder are mixed in with the trout.

Shallow flats in the area are also holding some large schools of red drum, but the fish are extremely selective, often refusing to bite anything anglers cast at them.

Brendan, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that sharks and stingrays are still making up the majority of the catch from the pier, although a few whiting are also showing up.

Once the water, which is back down to around 60 degrees due to the recent cold front, warms up a few degrees, anglers should begin to see more whiting and some black drum.

Bottom rigs baited with shrimp are the best bet for both species.

by Gary Hurley