Added on Thursday, June 19, 2008  Gary Hurley

North Myrtle Beach June 19, 2008

Mark, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that anglers are still finding big schools of spadefish on the nearshore wrecks. Jelly balls make the ideal bait and chum for the spades, and they’ve been incredibly plentiful along the beach and near Little River Inlet lately.

Spanish mackerel are feeding with abandon along the beach and near the inlet, especially around the tideline. Many charter boats are catching limits of the spaniards on Clarkspoons on their half day trips. Anglers can enjoy fighting the fish on lighter tackle by casting Deadly Dicks, weighted Clarkspoons, or other heavy lures to breaking schools of the spanish.

The Little River jetties are holding good numbers of speckled trout (most in the 2-4 lb. class) and some red drum. A live shrimp fished beneath a float rig is a prime bait to target both species, and some sheepshead are also falling for live shrimp fished near the rocks.

There are also some schooling reds feeding in Bonaparte Creek

Good numbers of speckled trout and some flounder are holding at the Sunset Beach Bridge, and float-rigged live shrimp will get attention from both fish.

Flounder remains excellent in Tubbs Inlet, with over half the fish now meeting the 14″ legal minimum size. Finger mullet, mud minnows, or small pogies fished on Carolina-rigs are the most effective flatfish baits, and the bite has been best on the rising tides.

 

Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are hooking up with red drum and a few trout and flounder in Bonaparte Creek. The best action has been on rising tides along shell beds and grass edges. Live shrimp fished under popping corks will attract attention from the specks, reds, or flounder, but if the pinfish are problematic, a 2″ Gulp shrimp under the cork will also produce.

Anglers are also hooking into plenty of keeper specks near the Sunset Beach Bridge on float-rigged live shrimp and Gulps.

Fishing live shrimp in Dunn Sound has been producing good numbers of flounder and some black drum.

Red drum (from 18-30+”) and trout are feeding along the Little River jetties, too. The live shrimp will also prove effective at the rocks, but Gulp baits and Billy Bay and Halo shrimp imitations are also proving effective.

Spanish mackerel fishing has been good just outside the jetties.

 

Drew, of Crowd Pleaser Sportfishing, reports that the dolphin bite has gotten good inside the Gulf Stream in 100-120′ of water. There are also still plenty of larger dolphin feeding in the Stream around the 100/400, Blackjack Hole, and other areas. Rigged ballyhoo will produce action with the dolphin. The past few weeks have also seen an excellent billfish bite in the area, and boats are still landing some wahoo as well.

Anglers jigging bottom ledges in 100-120′ are hooking up with some gag, red, and scamp groupers. Putting a light-line out with a dead cigar minnow has been producing some kings and good numbers of dolphin in the same areas.

At bottom structure closer to shore, anglers are jigging up plenty of amberjacks.

The king bite has been a little slow inshore of 100′, but there are some fish around.

Spanish mackerel are feeding heavily right along the beaches, and Clarkspoons will draw strikes from them.

 

Annie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers working Gotcha plugs from the pier are hooking up with spanish mackerel and bluefish.

Bottom fishermen are landing some whiting on shrimp.