Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been an excellent red and black drum bite around the Sunset Beach Bridge recently. Live shrimp and mud minnows are producing most of the action. The fish seem to be feeding on one side of the bridge or the other on given days with little rhyme or reason, so anglers should try both sides of the span.
Lower stages of tides have been better for the bite at the bridge, as the fish move off the nearby flats and look for meals around the structure.
Flounder fishing is still solid in Tubbs Inlet (with some 5+ lb. fish in the mix). Live finger mullet, mud or tiger minnows, small menhaden, and Gulp baits will all attract attention from the flatfish.
Some healthy red drum have been feeding at the tips of the Little River jetties, where anglers are hooking them on live finger mullet, menhaden, and other baits.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that speckled trout have been the big news in the area lately (with plenty of small fish but some keepers to 18-20”). Anglers have been hooking up with the specks at a variety of spots inshore, including Tubbs Inlet, the Little River crossroads, Dunn Sound, and Bonaparte and Calabash Creeks. Live shrimp under popping corks and Saltwater Assassin soft plastics on jigheads have been the top trout takers lately.
Black drum are feeding around docks in Tubbs Inlet and oyster bars in Dunn Sound, where live shrimp or soft plastics will tempt them to bite.
More black drum and good numbers of reds (most 18-24”) are feeding around Sunset Beach Bridge. Live shrimp or finger mullet and soft plastics will tempt bites from both the drum.
Flounder fishing has been a bit on the slow side in Tubbs Inlet lately, but anglers are catching a few on Gulp baits and live mud and tiger-side minnows.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some spot, sea mullet, spadefish, and more on bottom rigs baited with shrimp. Some recent days have seen decent numbers of black drum (to 4-5 lbs.) falling for the shrimp as well.
Anglers are picking up some keeper flounder on live mud minnows and shrimp fished under the pier.
Sheepshead are feeding along the pilings, where they’ll take an interest in fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or barnacles.
Plug casters are connecting with some spanish mackerel while working Gotchas.