North Myrtle Beach – June 7, 2018
Ken, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that while fishing is great all around, the main story is flounder. Double digit days are possible if you have the right bait and know where to find the fish. So far, fishing hard banks and grass lines in little feeder creeks has been the most productive, especially during a tide change (incoming tide is preferable). Using a 1/4 oz. Mission Fishin’ jig head with a live mud minnow is hard to beat, but finger mullet are effective as well, and the mullet are out in full force on muddy banks in the creeks.
Slot-sized reds are also starting to show up on the incoming tide (especially in the morning), where live shrimp on a 1/4 oz. jig head will get the best bite. To double the chances of getting a fish, throw out shrimp and mullet to attract a flounder while fishing for reds.
Speckled trout have been found here and there, but almost all of the fish have been small.
Nearshore, pogies are big and cobia are everywhere. Fishing a live pogie with a big bucktail will nearly guarantee a bite if you can find the fish, and the best place to look is around nearshore wrecks or the rock jetty.
Patrick, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that fishing has been slow in the area over the past few weeks, but that doesn’t mean the fish aren’t out there. The majority of the catch has been nice red drum, black drum, bluefish, and the occasional flounder. Speckled trout are around, but it’s apparent that winter has taken its toll and not a lot of big fish are biting.
For the reds, live baits (such as mullet or mud minnows) or artificial baits (such as Gulp Swimming Minnows or Molting Shrimp) are both working.
Black drum are taking hard shell crabs cut into quarter pieces and hooked on 1/4 oz. jig heads.
The blues are fun to catch on topwater baits (MirrOlure Top Pups are a great choice), and casting jigs work as well.
The flounder are biting both artificial and live bait. Keep in mind that the bigger the bait you use, the bigger the flattie you’re likely to catch. Live finger mullet have been the top choice, if you can find them. Overall, bait has been hard to find. Minnow traps are your best bet.
Jason Steorts, of Charleston, WV, with a solid trout that fell for a purple Trout Trick.
Keith, of Low Country Fishing Charters, reports that rain and the resulting dirty water has made fishing a little more challenging these past few weeks. Pogies, which are a great all-around inshore bait this time of year, have been hard to come by in the marsh, and the ones in the ocean have been too big.
Mud minnows can get the job done, though, especially when it comes to catching the 25-30” red drum that are hugging the banks in the ICW. Use a Carolina rig to get in on the action.
Flounder have been found in Tubbs Inlet and Dunn Sound, but most of the fish are still a little small. Once again, mud minnows on Carolina rigs will increase your chances of finding the bigger fish.
Speckled trout are sparse.
The weather has also made spanish fishing difficult, and the fish are few and far between.
Cobia have been found off the beach, and kings can be found in the 8-10 mile range where the water is clean. Drifting with pogies has been the best way to find the kings.
Shark fishing has been productive thanks to a heavy presence of blacktips. Live croaker has been the best bait.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that fishing has been a little challenging due to all the rain that’s been coming through the area. Muddy conditions, combined with stained water, make it tough for the fish to sight feed, so baits with a strong scent tend to outperform everything else.
Mud minnows have been working well with flounder, especially around docks and creek mouths. Red and black drum can be found in the same areas and are responding well to fresh shrimp on a jig head or Carolina rig. Putting a Gulp on a jig head will also work for the reds, especially when fished on a popping cork near creek banks. Look for small runoffs and banks that transition from grass to shell for the best success.
Some trout are being caught, but again, the action has been slow.
Michael, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports a bunch of spots, whiting, croaker, spanish, and bluefish are coming over the rails. A few nice reds have been landed, though most have been over-slot, and pompano are still biting here and there.
