North Myrtle Beach – June 21, 2018
Ken, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that live bait is now readily available inshore, with finger mullet and shrimp being the easiest to find.
More red drum are feeding in the area. Using live shrimp under corks around the grass in 3-5’ of water has proved effective, especially on the incoming tide. Vudu shrimp (in chartreuse and pink) have also been responsible for some good bites.
Plenty of flounder are still coming in on the inside. The best tactic has been to work finger mullet on Carolina rigs in deep water (or jig heads in shallow water) around creek drains.
Speckled trout are around, but the big ones haven’t really shown up yet.
Nearshore wrecks are holding spadefish and cobia. Jellyballs are the key for the spades. Use 3-4 on a clothes hanger and drop it down 15-20’. Then bring it up slowly to see the school come up with it. Use dime size pieces on #1 hooks and a 15 lb. leader with a small split shot.
Becky, from Michigan, with an 18″ flounder that fell for a mud minnow. She was fishing with Capt. Bob Strange of Strange Magic Fishing Charters.
Patrick, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that the big three inshore summer species are all here and readily biting. Red drum can be found all over the ICW and around the inlet, where live pogies will get their attention. Speckled trout are also starting to show up, and they’re biting best on live shrimp under popping corks. Flounder are taking live mullet and mud minnows, but they also will hit Gulp soft plastics.
Keith, of Low Country Fishing Charters, reports that red drum fishing has been best in the backwaters of the creeks. The fish have been mostly lower-slot fish (20-23”) and are responding most readily to live shrimp under a popping cork. The black drum have been in the same places and feeding on the same shrimp.
The flounder bite has been the most consistent around docks in the ICW, with the majority of the fish right at the 15-16” mark. Live mud minnows on Carolina rigs seem to always produce, as well as 1/4 oz. Blue Water Candy jig heads with 3” Gulp white shrimp.
The speckled trout have been around, but perhaps more concentrated in the backwaters of creeks, particularly around oyster beds. The specks have been mostly in the 15-16” range, but there have already been a few up to 25” landed since the season opened. Throwing out a live shrimp will give the best odds of a speck hookup.
Off the beach, the best action has been spadefish on the nearshore wrecks. Target the spades with jelly balls, and expect the fish to be running 5-7 lbs. Nearshore anglers are also still seeing and hooking a few cobia on bucktails.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that flounder fishing has improved dramatically, with fish coming in from many of the typical inshore flounder haunts. Mud minnows have been the go-to bait, but artificials are working, too (though somewhat less effectively). Creek mouths and deep holes where bait is showing are good spots to cast a line.
Docks and natural structure along the ICW have been producing black drum, and fresh shrimp is the ticket. Redfish are also mixed in around the same areas. Red drum can also be found along creek edges and shelly banks, where the fish will be patrolling. Live minnows and Gulps will work best for reds.
Speckled trout are showing up in small sizes and numbers, but it’s encouraging to see that they’re starting to bite. Try popping corks with minnows or pieces of shrimp to entice a bite.
Aubrey Hunter, of Conway, with a red snapper that fell for cut bait while bottom fishing in 80′ of water. He was fishing with Capt. Bevan Hunter of Chilly Water Fishing.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that the grouper bite has been strong, with both gags and scamps coming over the rails. The best depth has been 120’ and about 50 miles offshore. Mixed in with the grouper has been vermilion snapper, grunts, triggers, porgies, and African pompano. Cut sardines and squid have been generating all of the bottom action.
The king bite has also been on fire, especially in the 20 mile range (60-80’ of water). Most of the kings have been in the 10-15 lb. class, but bigger ones have been mixed in. The action has been best on Drone spoons and strip baits.
Just a little bit closer in has been false albacore and small mahi, and then they’re also still picking up some cobia around the nearshore wrecks.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that the king mackerel bite is on fire, with 22 nice fish caught in the span of 10 days.
Croakers, perch, whiting, black drum, and some nice spanish are also coming over the rails.
