North Myrtle Beach/Little River – August 2021
Patrick, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that red drum fishing has been good around the inlet for anglers rigged with fresh cut and live bait. Bottom-rigged baits are also getting attention from some of the smaller Atlantic sharpnose and similar sharks, and live shrimp at the jetties is producing speckled trout.
Casting spoons and live baits has been catching ladyfish, bluefish, and spanish mackerel.
Redfish are feeding well in areas along the ICW. A mix of slot and larger reds are being caught with cut mullet.
Black drum are staged up around docks for anglers fishing live and fresh dead shrimp.
Speckled trout are holding in deeper holes throughout the inshore waterways and creeks. A bit of current and presence of bait is very important in locating the action.
Flounder are around in good numbers, with anglers finding Carolina rigs with live mullet are the most productive setup. Soft plastic swimbaits fished on jig heads are also producing strikes when bounced along the bottom.
Hailey Ryder (age 5) displays the 17″ flounder she caught (and released) using a live mullet while fishing in the Little River area.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that flounder have been the most consistent of the inshore species. The flatfish have been caught regularly using a jig head matched with Gulp soft plastics, and white and chartreuse are the best producing colors. In addition, anglers fishing live mud minnows are finding them to work extremely well on either Carolina rigs or jig heads. The key is to notice the Gulp bite is a reaction bite, but with live minnows make sure to feel the initial bite, give slack, count 15-20 seconds, and then raise the rod tip and reel. There is no need to use a hard hook set, as the flounder weight alone will set the hook by itself.
Speckled trout are also in the mix for anglers rigged with Gulp baits and live minnows or shrimp under a popping cork. Free-lining the popping cork is a great technique, in addition to helping cover a lot of ground.
Black drum are being found around deeper holes in creeks on lower tides and around docks on higher tide cycles. Fresh and live shrimp, along with fiddler crabs, are working well in getting bites.
Red drum are still widely scattered. Docks and grassy shorelines are the places to start targeting the reds. A productive technique is to cruise the creeks with your trolling engine and cast ahead along the grass-lines and shell banks. Artificial or live baits rigged with popping corks have been the ticket.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that offshore bottom fishing has been great on recent 12 hour trips. Anglers targeting the 120’+ depth range out around 50 miles are catching a variety of grouper, grunts, triggerfish, and African pompano.
Large numbers of big vermilion snapper are holding on structure in this depth range.
There are some bonus large cobia and amberjack mixed in at the offshore structure, and they’re hitting live baits and jigs.
Trolling trips in the 35 mile range are producing good numbers of king mackerel on Drone spoons and skirted ballyhoo. Some mahi are mixed in the trolling action, though the schools are a bit scattered with all the hot water around.
Nearshore bottom fishing is seeing good numbers of black sea bass, porgies, and small sharks.
Spanish mackerel action has been steady, with trolled Clarkspoons being the most successful setup.
Some big sharks are being caught with live baits around nearshore structure.
Bruce Shackelford, from Aldie, VA, with a 29″ redfish (released) that fell for a fresh piece of shrimp near Sunset Beach in the ICW. He was fishing with Capt. Bob Strange of Strange Magic Fishing Charters.
Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that bluewater trips are catching wahoo and good-sized dolphin (up to 20+ lbs.).
Bottom fishing the deep offshore structure is bringing up strawberry and scamp grouper.
Keeper gag grouper are being found from 15 miles out to offshore reefs in 35+ mile range.
Most king mackerel action is being found in the 15-25 mile range.
Nearshore live bait trolling is producing plenty of blacktip and spinner sharks.
Michael, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that summertime water temperatures are high, and this has the bite very inconsistent.
Bottom fishing has been producing most of the action, with a mix of both croakers and whiting hitting shrimp. Targeting efforts both early and late in the day has been best, as the hottest part of the days have been slower.
Lynn, of Apache Pier, reports that bottom fishing is holding steady for anglers getting out to take advantage of the summertime weather. A good mix of whiting, croakers, and plenty of flounder are in the daily counts.
A few black drum are being caught by anglers rigged with fresh bait shrimp.
Scattered red drum are chewing, and they’re being caught on Carolina-rigged baits.
