North Myrtle Beach – July 20, 2017
Ken, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that redfish have been the best target for anglers during these warm water temperatures. Casting a 4” live finger mullet on a Carolina rig with a 1/2 oz. egg sinker and a 1/0 hook has been the best recipe for catching slot reds (mostly 23-27”). When the fish have been picky, scaling down leader size to 12 lb. fluorocarbon has been the trick to increasing hook-ups.
Flounder have been mixed in some of the same areas as the reds, and focusing on deeper holes and pockets in area creeks has produced the most action. Most of the flatfish have been in the 14-18” range, with the occasional 20” fish. The flounder have also been falling for Carolina-rigged finger mullet.
Jeramiah Wofford with a speckled trout that fell for a live shrimp. He was fishing with Capt. Ken Salos of Shallow Minded Inshore Guide Service.
Patrick, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that anglers fishing around Tubbs Inlet, Sunset Beach, and Dunn Sound areas are finding speckled trout in the 16-20” range. Most trout have been willing to take a live shrimp under a popping cork, and a few fish landed have been citations. The low rising tide has been the best bet for targeting specks.
Black drum have been feeding well around area docks and in the deeper holes. Most fish have bit on fresh shrimp pinned to a 1/4 oz. jig head and have been in the 10-18” range.
Dead sticking pogies around docks has been the best way to get the red drum to bite. Pinning the baits to jig heads and letting them sit has produced fish in the 20-27” range. A few flounder have been mixed in the same areas, but most of the flatfish have been short.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that the overall bite has improved dramatically now that the July 4th crowds have thinned out. Early in the morning and late in the evening, speckled trout are hitting topwater plugs, minnows of all kinds, and live shrimp.
Flounder have been feeding well, too, and the best way to target them has been using live mud minnows on Carolina rigs near structure.
Redfish have been holding around marsh banks at high tide and then easing back into deeper holes at low tide. Live minnows and shrimp have worked best to get the redfish to eat.
David, of Low Country Fishing Charters, reports that inshore fishing has provided steady action with red and black drum. Most of the reds have bit live finger mullet fished on the bottom and have been between 20-25”. The black drum have been holding in deep holes, and fresh shrimp has been the ticket for them. Most of the black drum have been in the 17-20” range.
Speckled trout are feeding in the area marshes, and live shrimp under a float rig has been the key to landing limits. The trout have been averaging 16-20”.
The nearshore spanish action continues to be steady, and anglers fishing close to the beach are catching fish between 18-20”. A few miles further off the beach, good numbers of spanish in the 4-5 lb. range have been landed.
Live trolling with menhaden has produced solid numbers of kings in the 8-12 lb. range, with the occasional 20 lb. fish. When the kings won’t hit menhaden, dead cigar minnows have worked.
Mike Rigo caught this king mackerel while trolling a live pogie 35 miles offshore of Cherry Grove.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that 50 miles out from Little River Inlet, bottom fishing has produced a variety of species. Anglers have landed beeliners, scamp grouper, grunts, triggerfish, amberjacks, and African pompano. A few kings and dolphin have been hooked and landed on the drift lines.
In the 25-30 mile range, trolling Drone spoons and Blue Water Candy sea witches have been the best way to hook up with kings. Many anglers have had double digit days while trolling.
Nearshore, fishing for sharks and spanish has stayed steady. Most spanish landed have come from the 6-8 mile range and have been between 2-5 lbs. Sharks have been willing to take large cut baits casted near bait pods and around nearshore structure.
Scott, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that black and red drum have been feeding well in the morning hours. Black drum are mostly being caught while fishing fresh shrimp on the bottom and have been between 14-16”. The reds have been caught on cut bait, and most fish have been around the 20” mark.
Those bottom fishing have landed spadefish, pompano, sea mullet, croaker, and flounder on fresh shrimp and live minnows.
