North Myrtle Beach April 11, 2013
Terry Helms with a red drum that bit a Gulp bait on a Blue Water Candy jighead while he was fishing out of North Myrtle Beach with Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that red and black drum have been providing the lion’s share of the inshore action in the area lately. Anglers are finding them around docks and oysters in Tubbs Inlet, around the Sunset Beach Bridge, and in Bonaparte Creek and Dunn Sound.
Most of the drum are feeding in 2-5’ of water in the creeks and shallows, but deeper areas (>10’) are also holding some fish, too. Fresh cut shrimp and Gulp shrimp on jigheads are both proving effective on the red and black drum.
A few speckled trout are feeding in the same areas and also taking an interest in Gulp baits.
Rumors have the first few flounder of the year showing up in the Cherry Grove marshes, and they’re where to start for anglers looking for a flatfish to invite to dinner. Live mud minnows and other small fish or Gulp baits on jigheads and Carolina rigs will tempt bites from the flatfish.
Not many anglers have been fishing the Little River jetties lately, but they’re typically a good place for larger reds and trout this time of year. Gulp baits and shrimp fished tight to the rocks will let anglers know if the fish are home.
Mark, Cameron (age 8), and Alex (age 7) Wood with a pair of red drum they hooked on live shrimp while fishing inshore of Ocean Isle with Capt. Jacob Frick of J & J Inshore Charters.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are catching solid numbers of black drum (many 4-6 lbs.) in the area right now. Big numbers of red drum are mixed in (though most are smaller at 16-18”). The fish have been feeding around the Sunset Beach Bridge and docks and other structure in the ICW and connecting areas. Whole shrimp with the heads and tails pinched off to release a little scent have been the most productive baits for both drum recently, but Gulp baits have also been tempting some bites.
Speckled trout are still on the feed in Coquina Harbor, where D.O.A. shrimp and suspending hard baits like Rapala X-Raps have been proving effective lately.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers have been catching a few red and black drum from the pier over the past week.
A few keeper flounder have also come over the rails lately, and the sea mullet and pufferfish bite is still going strong.
All the bottom-feeding fish are taking an interest in shrimp on two-hook rigs.
