North Myrtle Beach April 29, 2010
Derrick McConlin, from Boston, MA, with a well over-slot red drum he hooked at the Little River Jetties on a live shrimp while fishing with Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters out of North Myrtle Beach.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been a hot bite at the Little River jetties over the past weeks. Anglers drifting baits along the rocks are hooking up with black drum, red drum (some to 36” lately), speckled trout (to 6 lbs.), and some sheepshead. Live shrimp have been the best bait for fooling all four species at the jetties lately.
Inshore, the red drum bite has also been hot around docks in the ICW, especially the T-shaped dock with the boat lifts across from Marker 109. The fish are mixed in size, with some over the slot feeding beneath the docks as well, but the large fish are difficult to land with all the structure.
Live mud minnows and whole or chunked crabs are top baits for the reds inshore.
Fishing near Sunset Beach Bridge is producing a springtime mixed bag of red and black drum, speckled trout, and a few flounder. Live shrimp or Gulp baits fished near the structure should produce some action.
Tom Patterson, of Raleigh, with a 35" red drum he hooked on a chunk of soft shell crab in the ICW near Little River while he was fishing with Capt. Patrick Kelly of Capt. Smiley's Fishing Charters.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of action with red drum at spots along the ICW and in the shallower creeks (with some fish to 35” in the ICW recently). Live mud minnows will fool the reds, but anglers have done even better with soft shell crab baits lately. The crabs are expensive, but cutting each one into three or four pieces will maximize their values.
The drum bite has also been turning on at the Little River jetties.
Speckled trout fishing hasn’t been on fire recently, but anglers are picking up some specks around the Sunset Beach Bridge and other spots along the waterway. Live shrimp are the best baits and are becoming a bit easier to find, but the trout will also take an interest in artificials like D.O.A.’s.
Anglers are catching plenty of flounder in Cherry Grove and some inshore at Little River (most are still on the small side). Live mud minnows and Gulp baits are fooling most of the flatties.
Bryan, of Fish On Outfitters, reports that the flounder bite is on in Cherry Grove (with better numbers of keepers mixed in with the numerous short fish). Live mud minnows are fooling most of the flatties.
Anglers are hooking up with some speckled trout and red drum at ICW spots like Sunset Beach Bridge. Live baits and a variety of lures will fool the reds and specks.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking whiting and some smaller flounder on rigs baited with shrimp.
Bluefish have arrived in force, and plug casters are catching good numbers on Gotchas.
