North Myrtle Beach April 10, 2014
Capt. Patrick Kelly, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, with a 7 lb. black drum that bit a fresh shrimp on a jighead in Tubbs Inlet.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the area’s inshore fish are transitioning from winter to spring patterns, so it’s a bit tough to stay on the bite lately. The rising water temperatures will ultimately kick off the spring action in the area, but anglers may have to work a little harder than normal to find fish in the interim.
The water is rising into the low-60’s in shallower spots inshore around Little River, and anglers are starting to see the first few flounder of the year in Cherry Grove and Tubbs Inlet. The flatfish action should improve in the traditional early season spots over the coming weeks as the water temperatures continue to rise. Live mud minnows and Gulp baits on Carolina rigs and jigheads are the way to connect with the flatfish.
Anglers are also connecting with some red drum in Chery Grove, and they’re showing up in their spring spots around ICW structure like docks and the Sunset Beach Bridge. Live mud minnows and fresh shrimp pinned to jigheads are producing better results than artificials right now.
Some smaller speckled trout and a few black drum are feeding in Tubbs Inlet. Anglers can hook the specks on live baits or soft plastics, while fresh shrimp and chunks of crab are tough to beat for the black drum.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with some speckled trout in the Ocean Isle canals and Tubbs Inlet while working Vudu Shrimp and other soft plastic shrimp imitations.
Capt. Mark Dickson, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, with a red drum that struck a Clouser Minnow fly near Sunset Beach.
The area’s red drum are transitioning from their wintering spots on the flats to docks and other structure along the ICW, and anglers may find them in either area over the coming weeks. Dock-hopping and casting live mud minnows on jigheads is the best bet for the reds on the structure, and anglers who spot them feeding in the shallows can cast chunks of crab to tempt them to bite. As the area’s crabs molt in the coming weeks, crab chunks will be some of the best drum baits no matter where anglers find them.
Some black drum are mixed in with the reds around ICW structure, and they have a tough time turning down a chunk of crab.
Some larger red drum are feeding around the Little River jetties, where they’ll bite live baits under floats or crab chunks fished on the bottom.
A few small flounder are beginning to bite in Tubbs Inlet, and the action should only improve as the water temperatures continue to climb.
Matt, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that spring fishing is heating up. Anglers bottom fishing with shrimp, cut baits, and squid are connecting with sea mullet, croaker, black drum, undersized red drum, and plenty of sharks and rays. Some small flounder are beginning to show up as well.
The water is 53 degrees.
