North Myrtle Beach July 2, 2009
Will Palmer, of Little River, SC, with a 29.5", 10.65 lb. flounder he hooked on a live spot on 10 lb. line with a 15 lb. leader behind Capt. Juel's Hurricane Restaurant in Little River.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing, reports that red drum (some to 30”) are feeding in the creeks and deeper holes in the area’s marshy backwaters. Live shrimp fished on 1/8 oz. Mission Fishin’ jigheads are producing most of the fish.
Good numbers of speckled trout (some to 3 lbs.) are feeding in the same areas, and anglers are hooking them on the same jighead/shrimp combos, especially under a popping cork.
Black drum are feeding in many of the same areas, too, and they also have a tough time resisting a live shrimp on a jig.
Good numbers of speckled trout are still at the Little River jetties (though most are smaller fish to 16”). Live shrimp fished under floats are tops for the trout at the jetties.
One angler scored a successful release on a 15 lb. tarpon at the jetties while trout fishing with a live shrimp last week. Another tarpon fell for a live mullet and threw the hooks while jumping.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding just outside the jetties, and anglers caught good numbers of both last week while casting MirrOdines.
Robert Hughes, of Sunset Beach, with an African pompano he hooked on a diamond jig in 110' of water. He was fishing with Todd Helf, Tommy Lytton, and Brian Richard aboard the "Almost There."
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding some excellent mixed bag fishing back in the marshes right now. Live shrimp have been the keys to success, and anglers can cast net the shrimp in area creeks around the higher incoming tides.
Black drum, sheepshead, speckled trout, and red drum are all feeding back in the marshes. Bonaparte Creek, Dunn Sound, and the creeks off the ICW have all been good places to look for the fish. Casting live shrimp on split-shot rigs or under popping corks to deeper holes has been producing bites from all the fish.
Crabs and Gulp baits have been drawing strikes from the fish as well.
Flounder and more speckled trout are feeding around the Sunset Beach Bridge. Live shrimp will draw bites from both, but anglers will have more luck on the flounder while fishing with Carolina-rigged finger mullet or pogies.
Some big red drum have been feeding in Little River Inlet, and anglers caught several (to 18 lbs.) on live pogies last week.
Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that inshore boats are killing the spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons near the inlet and the beaches. The sharpnose shark bite has slowed down a bit, though.
Inshore bottom fishermen are catching some small sea bass and decent numbers of triggerfish on squid and other baits inside of 10 miles off Little River Inlet.
Offshore, boats trolling in the 20-40 mile range are hooking good numbers of king mackerel and dolphin while trolling ballyhoo and spoons.
Gulf Stream bottom fishing trips 40-50 miles out are producing some decent numbers of gag and scamp grouper on cigar minnows. Football beeliners in the 2-4 lb. range and other smaller bottomfish are taking an interest in squid.
Light-lining while bottom fishing is still producing decent numbers of dolphin.
Inshore, divers are reporting big numbers of spadefish and barracuda on the General Sherman.
Brendan, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking up with a few whiting and spot on shrimp.
Some pompano are taking an interest in squid.
Plug casters are hooking some spanish mackerel on Gotchas.
