North Myrtle Beach June 16, 2011
Jan Oliver with a healthy red drum she hooked on a Gulp bait while fishing some flooded marsh grass near Little River with Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the flounder bite continues to be excellent in Tubbs Inlet and the Cherry Grove marshes (with big numbers of fish, plenty of keepers). Drifting the sandbars and around the jetties of Little River Inlet has also been producing a decent number of fish (including a 7 lb. doormat last week).
Live mud minnows and Gulp baits will both attract plenty of attention from the flatfish anywhere they’re feeding.
Black and red drum are feeding in Little River Inlet and around ICW structure like Sunset Beach Bridge and the docks. Live shrimp will appeal to both, and there have been plenty of shrimp for the catching in local creeks recently.
Anglers are still finding action with some spanish mackerel and bluefish around Little River Inlet and along the beachfront, and both can be hooked while trolling Clarkspoons or casting metal lures like Deadly Dicks and Maria jigs to surface activity they spot.
Spadefish are schooled up on structure within a few miles of land (like the General Sherman Reef). Anglers can chum them to the surface with cannonball jellyfish, and then tempt them to bite pieces of the jellies on small hooks.
Some cobia are cruising along the beaches and holding around nearshore structure, and live baits or bucktails with soft plastic trailers will get their attention.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the flounder fishing is still going strong in Tubbs Inlet. Live mud minnows and Gulp swimming mullet and mud minnow/croaker baits are producing plenty of action with keeper flatfish in the inlet. The best bite is still taking place during the rising tides.
Anglers have also found some solid red drum fishing in Dunn Sound and Bonaparte Creek. The reds have been feeding in shallow water on the flats and around oyster rocks and other structure. Anglers are hooking them on live shrimp, mud minnows, chunks of crab, and Gulp baits.
Some black drum and sheepshead are feeding in the same areas and around ICW structure like dock and bridge pilings. Live shrimp will tempt bites from both.
Pompano, sea mullet, and bonnethead sharks are moving through the surf in the area, and now’s a good time to target them by surf fishing with sand fleas.
Capt. Patrick Kelly, of Capt. Smiley's Fishing Charters, with a flounder that fell for a white Gulp swimming mullet near Tubbs Inlet.
Tyler, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that the water’s been a bit dirty lately, but that hasn’t stopped bottom fishermen from connecting with decent numbers of sea mullet on shrimp.
The early mornings have been producing some action with flounder and red and black drum. All three are falling for live shrimp.
The water is 83 degrees.
