North Myrtle Beach July 26, 2012
Dusten Juel (age 11) with a 38", 26 lb. scamp grouper he hooked at some bottom structure off Little River Inlet while fishing with his father, Capt. Danny Juel of Fish Screamer Charters.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the red drum bite at Little River Inlet remains consistent when the weather lets anglers fish there comfortably. Live menhaden are producing most of the action with the reds (many 27-30”). The larger bull reds haven’t shown up in the inlet yet, but bottom fishermen are encountering them in 40-50’ of water, so they’ll likely begin feeding in the inlet around the next full moon.
Drifting menhaden along sandbars on the inshore side of the inlet has produced a solid flounder bite on several recent days (with several 3-4 lb. fish).
Baiting up with live shrimp and drifting along the rocks is producing fast mixed bag action with more reds, gray trout, ladyfish, bonnethead sharks, and more.
Inshore, black drum are feeding at a variety of structures like Tilghman’s Dock and the Sunset Beach Bridge. Live shrimp (and often cut shrimp) will tempt bites from them.
Patrick of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that windy conditions and hot air and water temperatures have conspired to slow the inshore fishing a bit over the past week. Anglers are still catching some fish, however, and what they seem to be lacking in quantity, they’re making up for in quality.
Tubbs Inlet has been producing some action with red and black drum recently (with reds to 26” and black drum to 10 lbs.). Most of the fish have been coming from oyster rocks and docks around the inlet, and live shrimp are tempting bites from both drum. There are plenty of pinfish around and enjoying the shrimp as well, so anglers need to bring plenty of baits to weed through the pins and other unwanted species on their way to the drum.
Dale Hall with a 30", 9 lb. red drum that bit a live finger mullet near Sunset Beach bridge while he was fishing with Ted Salyer.
Speckled trout are feeding in Dunn Sound, where live shrimp are also the ticket to hookups. Fishing the shrimp below floats or on light Carolina rigs is the way to go, and fishing the rising tides along the edges of the main channel through the sound has been the most productive tactic.
Anchoring up near oyster rocks in Bonaparte Creek is producing plenty of action with smaller red and black drum. Drifting live shrimp and mud minnows under popping corks across the flooded rocks is the way to fool the drum.
Michael, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some spot, sea mullet, and spadefish on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Anglers soaking small live baits on the bottom are connecting with some flounder.
Ribbonfish are striking gold hook and mackerel tree rigs worked from the pier.
