North Myrtle Beach June 3, 2010
Dan Burk with a 5 lb. flounder he hooked on a live pogy while fishing the ICW between Little River and North Myrtle Beach with Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing, reports that the red drum and flounder bite in the area’s backwaters is still going strong. Most of the redfish action is taking place in the marshy creeks and flats and along the ICW at creek drains, docks, and other structure. Live mud minnows, chunks of blue crab, and Gulp baits will all get the attention of any reds in the vicinity.
There are good numbers of small flounder mixed in with the reds, and anglers are also putting together big flatfish catches near Cherry Grove and Tubbs Inlet (though many of the fish are on the small side). Some larger flatties are coming from deeper holes and structure along the ICW. Live mud minnows and pogies are top flounder foolers, either on Carolina rigs or Mission Fishin’ jigheads (with the larger fish showing a preference for pogies).
Some speckled trout are still coming from the Little River jetties, Sunset Beach Bridge, and other well-known spots. Live shrimp are the top trout baits, but anglers can also fool them with D.O.A. and Halo soft plastic imitations.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding around the inlet and just past the jetties when the water’s clean, and anglers can hook them by casting a variety of lures around surface activity in the area.
Bryan, of Fish-On Outfitters, reports that the flounder bite is still excellent in the Cherry Grove marshes. Anglers are picking up big numbers of the flatties (some to 26”) on live mud minnows and any other small live baits they can get their hands on.
Spanish mackerel have moved in to the beaches, and anglers are catching good numbers (along with plenty of bluefish) while trolling Clarkspoons in around 30’ of water just offshore.
Offshore, the dolphin bite is still hot along the break, and trolling in 120’-150’ produced some solid dolphin catches last week. Some wahoo are still out there as well, along with some big false albacore and amberjacks. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures will fool all the Gulf Stream predators, and anglers should look for temperature breaks and weedlines to find likely areas to troll.
James Wemyss with his first king mackerel. It fell for a naked pogy at the 390's.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are catching big numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish on Gotcha plugs and mackerel tree rigs.
The flounder bite has really turned on over the past week, and anglers are decking excellent numbers of keepers now, mostly on live mud minnows.
Anglers bottom fishing with shrimp have found action with some puppy drum, pompano, whiting, and a few lookdowns, spadefish, and other species.
Live-baiters landed a 16 lb. king mackerel from the end of the pier last week.
The water is 78 degrees.
