North Myrtle Beach July 22, 2010
Victor McBryde, of Raleigh, NC, with his first spadefish, which fell for a piece of jelly ball at some structure just off Sunset Beach while he was fishing on the "Lil' Bro Bro."
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing, reports that the winds, heat, and rain have conspired to make the inshore bite a bit tough over the past week, but anglers who put in the time are still catching some fish. The bright spot is that live shrimp have been easy to come by in the creeks and marshes, so anglers shouldn’t have to look too hard for baits.
Inshore hotspots like Bonaparte Creek and Dunn Sound are holding some red and black drum and flounder. Live shrimp on float rigs and light Mission Fishin’ jigheads are attracting attention from all three.
The flounder bite has also been decent around Sunset Beach Bridge, and drifting with live shrimp has been the most productive tactic for the flatfish lately.
It’s been a little rough to fish the inlet most of the week, but when boats can get out there, drifting with live shrimp is attracting attention from some red drum, gray trout, whiting, and more. When the wind calms and the water clears up, anglers should see more of the pompano, ladyfish, and other species that have been biting in the inlet over the past weeks.
Boats that are shark fishing just off the inlet have had plenty of action with blacktips lately. Large cut baits are proving tempting to the sharks.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that fishing’s been a little harder than usual lately, but the weather is to blame and things should return to normal soon.
Speckled trout have provided some of the most consistent action recently, with anglers finding the fish in Dunn Sound, around Sunset Beach Bridge, and in some of the creeks. Live shrimp under popping corks are fooling the specks and some black drum that are also mixed in.
Fishing live shrimp on jigheads and bottom rigs in Dunn Sound and at spots like the crossroads in the ICW has been producing action with some red drum, croaker, and other bottom feeders.
When boats can make it out to the inlet, red drum and whiting are falling for live shrimp on the bottom.
Brian, of Fish On Outfitters, reports that anglers are still finding some action with flounder in the Cherry Grove creeks and marshes, but the bite’s a bit slower than it has been. Live mud minnows are fooling the lion’s share of the flatties.
Mike, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are catching a few flounder and red drum on live shrimp, mud minnows, and other baits fished close to the pilings.
Some sheepshead are also feeding along the pier’s pilings, and anglers can hook them on barnacles, fiddler crabs, and other baits fished tight to the structure.
Bottom fishermen are decking some whiting, bluefish, skates, sharks, and a mixed bag of other species, primarily while baiting up with shrimp.
The water is 83 degrees.
