North Myrtle Beach April 28, 2011
Ashley McLamb, of Little River, with a 5.34 lb. flounder he hooked on a live mud minnow near Cherry Grove Inlet.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the fishing has been a little up-and-down over the past week, but it’s all been tide related. Early last week, higher tides had the area’s red drum feeding on flooded grass flats, but it takes a skinny-water flats boat to get to where the reds are chewing. Chunks of blue crab, cut baits, and Cape Lookout Flatsmaster and Johnson spoons are all drawing bites from the reds in the grass.
At lower tides, there’s been a consistent red drum bite in Dunn sound, where crab chunks and live mud minnows are producing the most action.
Flounder are feeding in Tubbs Inlet and even more actively in Cherry Grove (many small fish, but decent numbers of keepers mixed in). Anglers are hooking them on live mud minnows and Gulp baits near both inlets.
Joseph McDowell, from Conway, SC, with an over-slot red drum he hooked on chunk of blue crab while fishing the backwaters near Little River with Capt. Patrick Kelly of Capt. Smiley's Fishing Charters.
Some keeper flounder are also coming from Sunset Beach Bridge, and anglers are connecting with a few speckled trout while working Billy Bay and D.O.A. shrimp under popping corks near the bridge.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are catching increasing numbers of flounder in and around Tubbs Inlet. Casting Gulp curlytails on jigheads has been producing most of the flatfish action. Many of the fish are small, but anglers who are willing to put in some time should be able to weed through the smaller fish and find some keepers.
Red drum fishing has produced the most consistent action lately, and anglers are finding some of the best fishing in Bonaparte Creek. Casting to the grass edges at higher tides and creek drains and structure on lower water is the best strategy, and most of the fish have been falling for Gulp baits, live mud minnows, and chunks of blue crab.
Some black drum are in the same areas and also taking an interest in the crab chunks.
Speckled trout are starting to show up in the ICW around Little River, and anglers are hooking a few while casting paddletail grubs.
Aaron and Isaac Murray, of Little Rock, AR, with a pair of red drum that fell for Gulp baits in some flooded marsh grass near Little River while they were fishing with Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of bluefish from the pier while working Gotcha plugs and gold hook rigs from the planks. Spanish mackerel are starting to show up as well, and it won’t be long until they arrive in full force.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some sea mullet and a few smaller flounder. An oversized red drum also fell for a shrimp-baited bottom rig and was released last week.
The water is 70 degrees.
