North Myrtle Beach April 25, 2013
Holly Douglas, of North Myrtle Beach, SC, with a red drum that bit a fresh shrimp in the shallows near Sunset Beach while she was fishing with Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of red drum (most on the smaller side, but some to 25-27”) in the local shallows. Fishing mouths and deeper depressions in the shallow creeks has been the best bet lately, and lower tides are concentrating the fish and making for the best action. Live mud minnows on jigheads have been the most productive baits lately, as the fish are still a bit hesitant to bite artificials.
Fresh shrimp are also appealing to the reds’ sense of smell and drawing plenty of bites, and black drum in the same areas have been pouncing on the shrimp as well.
Bonaparte Creek and all the backwaters behind Sunset Beach have been the most productive areas for both drum lately, and the black drum bite has also been on around Sunset Beach Bridge.
Flounder are beginning to become more numerous in Tubbs Inlet and the Cherry Grove marshes. Most are still on the small side, but there are a few keepers around. Anglers will see more legal fish (and more flatfish overall) as the spring progresses and the water continues to warm.
Live mud minnows, tiger-side minnows, and other small baitfish are tough to beat for the flounder, but anglers can also tempt them to bite scented soft plastic baits like Gulps. The green “winter moss” is still a bit of a headache to anglers seeking the flatfish, particularly when the current’s running, but it’s dying off and will be less of a problem shortly.
Stephen Lamm with a 28″ red drum he caught and released in an Oak Island creek.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that fishing’s been a bit up-and-down lately, but most days are producing some solid catches.
Red and black drum have been the main targets lately, and anglers are finding them at a variety of spots in Bonaparte Creek, around Tubbs Inlet, and near the Sunset Beach Bridge.
Fresh shrimp are fooling both drum species, but anglers can also tempt them to bite Gulp baits, and live mud minnows will also fool the reds.
Flounder are making their spring appearance in the Cherry Grove marshes. The majority of the fish are sublegal, but keepers are in the mix and they’ll be growing as the water continues to warm and bait becomes more abundant. Live mud minnows and scented baits like Gulps will tempt bites from the flatfish.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that things are coming around on the fishing front.
Sea mullet and pufferfish are still taking an interest in shrimp and other baits on double-drop bottom rigs.
Several keeper flounder were caught over the past weekend, primarily by anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom. The flatfish action should only improve over the coming weeks.
Bluefish (from small ones to 8-9 lb. choppers) are also feeding around the pier. Both baited bottom rigs and casting lures like Gotcha plugs are tempting bites from the blues.
