Little River June 21, 2007
Mark, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of flounder in Tubbs Inlet and Coquina Harbor on Carolina-rigged mud minnows, tiger side minnows, finger mullet, and peanut pogies.
Red drum are feeding in the ICW behind Sunset and Ocean Isle Beaches. Chunks of blue crab, finger mullet, mud minnows, and dead shrimp will all attract interest from hungry drum, and the best spots to look are where marsh grass is adjacent to waterway docks. The fish are feeding most actively from two hours before to two hours after the high tide.
Speckled trout are still hanging around the Little River Jetties. Anglers using live shrimp will get more trout bites than those fishing other baits, and shrimp are starting to make a good showing in the backs of creeks where they can be cast netted.
Spanish mackerel are feeding just outside the inlet, but it’s been hit or miss over the last week.
Spadefish are schooled up on the Jim Caudle Reef and the Sherman. Anglers who can get their hands on cannonball jellyfish will have the best luck with the spades.
Not many cobia have been reported over the week, but boats are finding king mackerel at the 90/90 and 390/390.
Dolphin are chewing out at the Atlantic Ledge.
Larry, of Voyager Charters, reports that anglers are reeling in beeliners, grunts, triggerfish, pinkies, jolt head porgies, and some gag and scamp groupers.
While bottom fishing, light lines have attracted the interest of 40+ lb. cobia and plenty of dolphin.
Offshore trolling 30-50 miles from the beach has been very productive, with boats landing dolphin, kings, amberjack, false albacore, and a few cobia.
Some kings, cobia, and dolphin are feeding closer to shore on structure in the 15-25 mile range.
Nearshore anglers are boating lots of spanish mackerel and some big blacktip sharks.
Drew, of North Myrtle Beach Offshore Adventures, reports that boats are finding dolphin in the 10-20 lb. class at a variety of spots 25+ miles offshore. The dolphin are mixed in with similar-sized kings, and good bites have taken place at the Horseshoe, Jungle, 65’ Hole, 90/90, and the Atlantic Ledge over the past week. Anglers are hooking up with the kings and dolphin by trolling dead cigar minnows and live menhaden.
A few sailfish have been caught at the 65’ Hole and the Jungle as well.
Further offshore, bigger dolphin (up to 40 lbs.) are feeding at the Blackjack Hole, MacMarlen Hole, 100/400, and the Winyah Scarp. Some wahoo are mixed in with the big dolphin, and both will pounce on skirted ballyhoo.
King mackerel are feeding on the beach and at nearshore structure. The Myrtle Beach Rocks hosted a good king bite last week, with anglers catching kings up to 30 lbs. Live menhaden will fool the inshore kings into striking, and there are pods of menhaden along the beach from Ocean Crest Pier down to Cherry Grove Pier.
Spanish mackerel are all over the place nearshore, and they will readily strike trolled Clarkspoons and small live baits.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing are biting at virtually every creek draining into the ICW between Sunset Beach and Little River.
Live shrimp fished under floats are the top trout producers, but anglers are also hooking up by casting Gulp and D.O.A. shrimp. The trout have been running 2-5+ lbs.
Anglers fishing float-rigged shrimp at the Little River Jetties are hooking up with more speckled trout and some red drum. Fishing at the jetties has been best within an hour either way of high tide.
Flounder fishing has been excellent in the ICW, particularly around the mouth of Coquina Harbor. Carolina-rigged live baits are drawing strikes from the flatfish (up to 5.5 lbs.) over the past week.
Teresa, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with spadefish and black drum while fishing with cut shrimp.
Bluefish are also taking an interest in the bottom rigs and hitting Gotcha Plugs.
Anglers baiting up with live shrimp are getting bites from speckled trout and flounder.
Live baiters have caught several king mackerel over the week, with the largest weighing 31 lbs. Bluefish have been the top live baits.
