North Myrtle Beach August 29, 2013
Chris Forehand with a 27.5″ red drum he caught and released after it fell for a crab chunk on a jighead in Tubbs Inlet.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that last weekend’s northeast winds slowed things down a bit in the area’s inshore fishing, but last week was good and the fishing action should be back on track directly.
Some large red drum are feeding in Little River Inlet, and anglers hooked several last week while drifting through the inlet with live finger mullet and menhaden on the bottom.
More (but smaller) reds are feeding inshore in Bonaparte Creek, Tubbs Inlet, and around Sunset Beach. Targeting oyster beds and grass edges on moving tides is the way to connect with the reds. Finger mullet are prevalent in the area right now and seem to have become the bait of choice for the drum, but anglers are still hooking up on live shrimp as well.
Some speckled trout and flounder are mixed in with the reds and falling for the same baits.
Ladyfish and spanish mackerel are feeding in Little River Inlet and at the shoals just offshore. Both will pounce on live finger mullet free-lined near areas where fish are feeding on the surface.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding action with some healthy spanish mackerel in and just outside Little River Inlet. Bluefish are mixed in, and both are feeding heavily on the surface many days. Casting metal jigs like Deadly Dicks to the surface activity will tempt bites from both, and allows anglers to use lighter tackle than when trolling for the fish. A few jack crevalle have been feeding in the same areas and will also pounce on metal jigs.
Chandler Crean, of Fayetteville, NC, with a 46″ king mackerel he hooked 4.5 miles off Little River Inlet while fishing with the Little River Fishing Fleet.
There’s still a solid flounder bite taking place at nearshore structure like the Jim Caudle Reef (with some fish to 5+ lbs.). Live menhaden are fooling most of the fish, and larger baits seem to weed out some of the undesirable sea bass, pinfish, etc. that are also feeding in the same areas.
There’s also a decent flounder bite going on in Little River Inlet, where live finger mullet and menhaden will fool the flatfish.
Large red drum are looking for meals in the inlet as well, and they will also fall for live menhaden and mullet. Drifting the baits along the bottom during rising tides seems to be the best tactic for the reds.
Sheepshead are looking for meals around the rocks of the Little River jetties. Anglers can fool the sheeps with barnacles or live fiddler crabs fished close to the structure.
Matt, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotcha plugs and mackerel tree rigs near the end of the pier.
Red drum (slot-sized and larger) are taking an interest in live mullet and shrimp fished under the pier.
Anglers are also hooking some spot, sea mullet, and pompano (some 2+ lbs.) on shrimp.
The water is 81 degrees.
