Little River August 9, 2007
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that inshore anglers are catching a variety of species throughout area waters, with the fishing especially good on rising tides.
In Dunn Sound, anglers are hooking up with speckled trout and some red drum while casting Gulp Alive baits and live shrimp on light jigheads.
Deep holes in tidal creeks around Sunset Beach have also been producing good numbers of trout and reds. Gulp or live shrimp fished under a popping cork should entice them to bite.
Anglers are catching trout around the tide changes at the Sunset Beach Bridge, and both trout and reds around the Little River Crossroads.
The Little River jetties are holding larger, over-slot sized reds and some big flounder. Target both by drifting a bottom rig baited with a live finger mullet, peanut pogy, or shrimp near the rocks.
Ladyfish are also feeding at the jetties and all over the ICW. They’ll take live shrimp, finger mullet, or Gulp baits.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that most of the best fishing over the past week has taken place around the Little River jetties.
Anglers fishing live finger mullet, peanut pogies, or shrimp on three-way swivel rigs are catching a wide variety of fish in Little River Inlet. Good numbers of flounder, over-slot red drum (most 24-30”), black drum, some nice trout, bluefish, spanish mackerel, and blacktip and bonnethead sharks are all rewarding anglers’ efforts around the rocks.
Anglers can also drift live shrimp under float rigs just over the submerged rocks to hook up with trout, black drum, and sheepshead.
The fishing at the jetties is best when the tide is moving—either rising or falling.
Flounder fishing has been solid over the week at the Three Mile Boxcars out of Shallotte Inlet. Most of the fish are running 2-5 lbs., and they are falling for live baits on three-way swivel rigs.
Inshore, anglers are landing good numbers of trout while casting Gulp baits in creeks off Dunn Sound, but most are smaller fish (in the 12-16” range).
Drew, of North Myrtle Beach Offshore Adventures, reports that the Gulf Stream is still giving up plenty of wahoo for boats making the run. Some big kings are mixed in, and several white marlin have been hooked recently as well. Rigged ballyhoo are the ticket to catching these blue water gamefish.
Anglers targeting wahoo should troll baits behind 1 to 1.5 lb. trolling weights and use wire leaders to avoid cutoffs from the toothy fish.
Bottom fishing has been excellent over the past week, and boats are bringing in gag, scamp, and red grouper along with a variety of other bottom fish. The fishing has been excellent at virtually all the bottom structure in more than 100’ of water lately.
Spots 10+ miles out are holding plenty of barracuda, providing thrilling fights on light tackle.
Inshore, anglers are hooking up with king mackerel and some big (3-5 lb.) spanish while trolling live pogies around nearshore spots such as the General Sherman, 410/510, and the Jungle. The pogies have reappeared on the beaches, so anglers shouldn’t have any trouble catching bait.
Brendan, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking black drum and whiting while baiting up with shrimp.
Those fishing with live baits are landing good numbers of flounder (some up to 4 lbs.).
A few bluefish are falling for Gotcha plugs.
Live baiters hooked several king mackerel over the week, but none were landed.
The water is in the mid-80’s.
