North Myrtle Beach – August 4, 2016
Mark, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that the inshore speckled trout bite has been solid in the early morning, with 4-5 lb. fish being caught with live pogies on Carolina rigs. The flounder are getting bigger, and they will take the same bait. Target both fish around the Tubb’s Inlet area.
The red drum bite has slacked off in the heat, but black drum are in the Calabash area. They are various sizes, but keepers are mixed in and can be caught with live or fresh shrimp.
CJ Harris, of Conway, SC, with an 18 flounder and a 20 red drum caught using live finger mullet on a Carolina rig. He was kayak fishing around docks in the ICW in Holden Beach.
Patrick, of Captain Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the inshore bite has stayed consistent. The black drum in the area are small, although there are a few that are over-sized, and the fish will take live or fresh shrimp. Many of the small, undersized fish are currently in the ICW around Little River.
Small reds are in the area, all under-slot, and they can also be targeted with fresh shrimp.
The speckled trout bite is good in the mornings, and the fish will fall for live shrimp under a popping cork. Expect to also connect with ladyfish while targeting the trout.
Flounder can be found in the Tubb’s Inlet area and around Dunn Sound, as well as the ICW near Little River. Target the fish with live finger mullet on a Carolina rig.
David, of Low Country Fishing Charters, reports that inshore there has been a strong speckled trout bite, with some larger fish mixed in. Target them with live shrimp or peanut menhaden on Carolina rigs or under popping corks.
There’s a decent flounder bite when you can find the deep holes with sandy bottom, and the flatfish are favoring live mullet on a Carolina rig. Sporadic reds can be found around docks, and they will take the same bait as the flounder.
Nearshore, anglers are finding large spanish mackerel (up to 20”) off the beach, and small kings will be mixed in, too. Troll Clarkspoons behind 2 oz. trolling weights or #1 planers.
Bull reds are expected to show up mid-August around the jetties.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that anglers in the Gulf Stream are connecting with grouper, beeliners, grunts, triggerfish, large porgies, and amberjack, all in 120’ of water. The head boats are all coming back in with full stringers, as the bite has been strong.
The sport fishing boats are hooking up with spanish and king mackerel, barracuda, amberjacks, and sharks.
Half-day trips are landing black sea bass, small porgies, and Atlantic sharpnose sharks. With the water as warm as it is, the nearshore bite will improve when temperatures drop off a bit.
Matt, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with flounder ranging in sizes from 18-22”, and most of them are falling for live bait, such as minnows or pogies. Anglers have also hooked up with black drum on shrimp.
Large quantities of bait in the water have brought in speckled trout, and they will fall for live bait such as mullet.
A variety of panfish, such as perch, whiting, and croakers, are in the waters around the pier, and bloodworms are working well to bring them over the rails.
Anglers should fish early mornings to beat the heat as the bite shuts down around 10:30 am. Fishing in the evening and nighttime hours has been yielding sharks and rays.
The water temperature is 85 degrees.
