North Myrtle Beach August 27, 2009
Scott Whitesell with a 4 lb., 2 oz. spanish mackerel he hooked on a live pogy off of Springmaid Pier in Myrtle Beach. Mark, of Shallow Minded Fishing Charters, reports that the flounder bite has been excellent lately, due to a high tide phenomenon that happened last in 2004. It’s been lowering oxygen levels in the water and driving the flatfish to feed with abandon.Live (and even dead) finger mullet on Carolina rigs have been drawing bites from double digit numbers of the flatfish around the Little River jetties (with approximately half keepers and some fish into the 5 lb. class). The bite has been either incredible or not happening, though, so if anglers fish an area for 30 minutes without strikes, they should move on to look for the active fish.In addition, rising tides have been producing a good red drum bite around the jetties, and the reds are also falling for live finger mullet.The red drum action has also been hot in the marshes and backwater flats. The fish are feeding around flooded grass at higher tides. When the water’s falling out, anglers who can find gaps in the grass and other funnel points (that the reds use to get on and off the flats) stand the best chances of hooking up with the reds. Live finger mullet and Gulp baits will draw strikes from the reds. Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are hooking up with a mixed bag including flounder, pompano, whiting, bonnethead sharks, and more in Little River Inlet. Live shrimp have been producing most of the action with the whiting and pompano (some 4 lbs.). Finger mullet are attracting attention from the flounder.The speckled trout bite has been good recently around Calabash in Mullet Creek. Live shrimp are the best baits for the specks, and they can be fished under floats or on jigheads with good results.Anglers are finding some good action with red drum in Bonaparte Creek, where Gulp baits on jigheads are fooling the fish. Jake Scantz, of Greensboro, NC, with a dolphin he hooked on his first trip offshore. The 'phin fell for a cigar minnow under a Pirate Plug while Jake was trolling with Capt. Keith Logan of Stand N' Down Charters out of Holden Beach.
Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that the spanish mackerel bite has slowed down due to the dirty water, but anglers still caught a few spaniards and some peanut dolphin while trolling Clarkspoons just offshore earlier in the week. A few king mackerel have been feeding in the same areas and falling for the spoons as well.
The large swells from Hurricane Bill kept offshore charters at the dock over the week, but inshore bottom fishermen found some action with black sea bass, ringtails, and tomtates last week.
Divers report that the inshore visibility is down to merely 1-2’ right now.
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Ronnie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have been decking a few black drum and whiting lately.
The flounder bite was solid last week (with a decent number of keepers in the mix). Live finger mullet and shrimp have been producing most of the action with the flatfish.
Anglers fishing barnacles close to the pilings found some action with sheepshead (up to 6 lbs.) last week as well.
