North Myrtle Beach July 11, 2013
Mark Karnes with a 33″ red drum that bit a menhaden near the Little River Jetties while he was fishing with Capt. Keith Pyle.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with red and black drum in Bonaparte Creek and other shallow backwater spots in the area. Live shrimp fished on light jigheads are producing most of the action with the drum. They’ve been a bit tough to come by due to the influx of fresh water in the area lately, but anglers who put in the time to catch some shrimp will up their odds of catching some good fish.
Speckled trout and more red and black drum are feeding around structure like docks and bridges in the ICW. Live shrimp are the go-to baits in the waterway, too, and both float and Carolina rigs can be effective depending on how deep the fish are feeding.
There’s also been a good bite of specks, larger red drum, and some sheepshead around the Little River jetties. Drifting float-rigged live shrimp past the rocks is tempting bites from all the fish feeding around the jetties.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the area’s fishing is recovering after the huge amount of rainfall a few weeks back.
Anglers are finding action with red drum and speckled trout in the Calabash River, Bonaparte Creek, Tubbs Inlet, and around ICW structure like Sunset Beach Bridge.
Frank Harrington, of Ocean Isle Beach, with a citation speckled trout that bit a live menhaden near a local ICW dock.
Live shrimp fished under popping corks are fooling the trout and drum.
Some larger reds are feeding around the rock jetties at Little River Inlet. They’ll bite live shrimp or menhaden fished on the bottom or under floats.
Flounder are feeding in many of the same areas, particularly in Tubbs Inlet. Finding some clean water will up anglers’ odds of hooking up with the flatfish, and they’ll bite live shrimp or mud minnows on jigheads or Carolina rigs. Gulp baits are also solid choices for the flounder.
Ronnie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that the action has been up-and-down over the past week, but anglers are bringing some good fish over the rails on many days.
Bottom fishing is producing a mixed back of spot, sea mullet, and other panfish, with shrimp and bloodworms the best baits.
Some black and red drum are also biting bottom rigs baited with shrimp and other offerings.
Flounder are feeding under the pier and biting small live baits fished on the bottom.
The water’s been a bit dirty for spanish mackerel and bluefish action recently, but both should be feeding around the pier when it clears up.
The water is 82 degrees.
