North Myrtle Beach July 8, 2010
Chase Carnes (age 9), from Monroe, NC, with a 20.36 lb. dolphin caught trolling a ballyhoo. He was fishing with "D" and Missy Carnes, Darrell Carnes, and Capt. Jimmy Moore on the "Island Girl."
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that falling water temperatures over the past week have the inshore bite going strong.
Some large red drum have taken up residence at the Little River jetties (most 10-15 lbs. with a few up to 20 lbs.). Both live shrimp and pogies have been fooling the reds.
Fishing live shrimp on the bottom at the jetties has been producing a solid mix of action with bonnethead sharks, ladyfish, pompano, big whiting (some 2+ lbs.), black drum, flounder, bluefish, and speckled and gray trout.
When the tide and wind aren’t right for fishing the inlet, anglers are finding steady action with some smaller drum in the backwaters around docks and creeks. Live shrimp and mud minnows pinned to 1/8 oz. Mission Fishin’ jigheads are producing most of the action inshore.
The flounder bite is hot around Sunset Beach Bridge, but the fish aren’t huge (most right around legal). Live mud minnows and shrimp are also attracting attention from the flatties.
Eian King, from Ash, NC, with a large red drum he hooked on a live pogy at the Little River jetties while fishing with Capt. Mark Stacy of Shallow Minded Inshore Charters.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that inshore anglers are finding action with some red and black drum around shell beds in the area’s creeks and Dunn Sound. Live shrimp under popping cork rigs are attracting attention from them.
A few speckled trout (some to 5 lbs.) are feeding in the same areas and have a tough time resisting a live shrimp as well.
Fishing the inlet this week has been very productive. Drifting near the jetties with live shrimp on the bottom has been producing most of the action with a variety of fish including bonnethead sharks, bluefish, whiting, flounder, and more.
Anglers baiting up with live pogies are finding more success on the large red drum also feeding in the inlet.
Brian, of Fish On Outfitters, reports that anglers are still finding a solid flounder bite in Cherry Grove, with most of the fish falling for live mud minnows. More than half the fish have been keepers lately.
Anglers are also finding some action with red drum in Cherry Grove and the other inshore marshes in the area. Live mud minnows will get their attention as well.
There’s been a good spot run in the surf and for anglers on the piers lately.
The shark bite has been excellent around structure and shrimp boats just off the inlet. Dead and cut baits will attract attention from the sharks.
Anglers are still putting together some solid catches of spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons outside the inlet and along the beaches.
The kings have been a bit further offshore, but anglers are catching good numbers between the beaches and structure well offshore, with some dolphin mixed in toward the offshore end of the range. Live pogies are fooling both.
Patrick, Matthew, and Dan McDonough, of Davidson, NC, with 28 spanish mackerel they hooked while trolling Clarkspoons off Oak Island with Capt. Randy Lingerfelt of Feedin' Frenzy Charters.
Mike, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers landed some fat sheepshead last week (to 6.5 lbs.) while dangling barnacles next to the pier’s pilings.
Anglers hooked several large red drum last week, but most were too big to land.
The flounder bite has been decent, and most anglers are hooking them on live mud minnows or finger mullet.
Bottom fishermen are decking whiting and a few pompano on shrimp.
Plug casters had action during a few bluefish runs last week, but the fish are on the small side.
