North Myrtle Beach/Little River – July 2022
Patrick, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that spanish mackerel action has been really good. Anglers are having a lot of success with the go-to method of trolling Clarkspoons behind #1 sized planers.
Out on the nearshore reefs, anglers are catching flounder while bottom fishing with Carolina-rigged live finger mullet or menhaden. The smaller black sea bass are plentiful around these same structures, too.
Fishing at the jetties has anglers catching both speckled trout and red drum while drifting live shrimp under corks just off the rocks. The best bites have come during times with a slight moving tide.
Inshore, red drum are pushed into shallow holes throughout the mainland creeks. Also, look for reds around creek docks and docks out in the ICW. The lower and rising tide cycles have been best for this red drum action, and both live mullet fished on the bottom and Gulp soft plastics will provide strikes.
Speckled trout are staged up around oyster beds and creek mouths. Gulp soft plastics have been producing a few of these trout. The trout bite has been best early, with many of these fish sliding into deeper holes around the mid-day period.
There are plenty of flounder around (to 16”+), and anglers are having success while drifting live baits or casting heavier 3/8 oz. jig heads rigged with soft plastics.
Laura Sales, her family, and a friend hooked this 21″ flounder while jigging Gulp bait near Sunset Beach. They were fishing with Capt. Bob Strange of Strange Magic Fishing Charters.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that flounder fishing has been really good, with anglers having success fishing bottom-rigged live minnows as well as soft plastics on heavier 1/4 oz. jig heads. Target areas of structure and bait presence.
Most of these same structured areas will also be holding speckled trout and some redfish. For the reds and trout, lightweight jig heads in the 1/16-1/8 oz. weight will keep baits up in the strike zone. On higher tides, the fish will be up in the grass and near shorelines, with lower tide cycles having the schools drifted into nearby deep holes.
Nearshore anglers are finding good numbers of spanish mackerel while trolling off the beach.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that anglers targeting the nearshore reefs (3-12 miles) have been finding cobia hanging around. Live bait has been key around nearshore structure, with both pinfish or pogies rigged under balloons or on Carolina rigs getting strikes.
Spadefish are staged up around these bigger structures as well. Target them with small cannon ball jellyfish or fresh cut shrimp rigged on a #4 circle hook and 15 lb. fluorocarbon leader with a small BB split shot.
Fishing live finger mullet or smaller pogies (in the 3-5” range) on Carolina rigs around structure has been producing some nice-sized flounder.
Spanish mackerel have been schooled up in good numbers along the beaches. Trolling mackerel trees under #1 planers is a great tactic. With the spanish, the key is to find bait balls, and then you will find fish.
Anglers at the jetties are seeing speckled trout and black drum being caught with live shrimp fished on floats and drifted down the rocks in the 5-10’ depth range, and sheepshead and some red drum are hitting fiddler crabs fished on 1/4-1/2 oz. jig heads tight to the rocks.
Some large bull red drum are feeding just off the rocks on the tops or bottoms of tide cycles. Cut baits (bluefish, pogies, or mullet) or live pogies on Carolina rigs are enticing these reds to strike.
Inshore anglers are finding redfish holding up in deeper holes way back in mainland creeks, with most bites coming on artificials such as Vudu shrimp or Gulp soft plastics. Live baits also work well in the backwaters, with mud minnows, mullet, and shrimp all getting strikes.
These same holes are also holding flounder and black drum, and both species will go for the same baits.
Throughout the main creeks are groups of speckled trout. There haven’t been great numbers around, but most fish holding in these deeper channels have been larger (17-24” class) fish. Some trout are also out in the ICW around the scattered shell bottom areas and creek mouths.
Red drum are out along mud flats and docks along the waterway. The lower tide cycles have been best to target the reds with live pogies or mullet.
Flounder are staged up around creek mouths and deeper holes in the ICW. Pitching mud minnows, finger mullet, or artificial Gulp and Vudu shrimp works great in these areas.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that large schools of cigar minnows and sardines are starting to hang out around the nearshore structure.
Good-sized black sea bass are being caught in the 70-80’ range, with vermilion snapper mixed in more consistently after getting out past 100’.
Triggerfish, white grunts, pinkies, and grouper are being caught in the 120-140’ range.
This time of year, it is a good idea for anglers to always keep a rod with a bucktail or jig within reach. Scattered cobia and mahi can show up anytime out of nowhere at these deeper structures and will disappear just as quickly if anglers aren’t ready.
Shon Smith, of Pikeville, TN, with a 29″ scamp that fell for a cigar minnow offshore of Myrtle Beach. He was fishing with Capt. Bevan Hunter of Chilly Water Fishing.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that bottom fishing out in the Gulf Stream has been spectacular. Targeting the 130’ depth range, which is out around 60 miles, has been the hot spot. Anglers are catching great mixed bags of vermilion snapper, porgies, grunts, grouper, and good-sized triggerfish.
Drifting lines out on these trips have produced some cobia and king mackerel.
Trolling trips out to the break are returning with gaffer-sized dolphin and blackfin tuna.
Closer to the beach, bottom fishing in the 8-10 mile range is producing some keeper black sea bass, porgies, and plenty of small sharks, and anglers trolling just off the beach are landing nice-sized spanish mackerel.
Ed, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing whiting, croaker, and some flounder.
Spanish mackerel are around for anglers casting Gotcha plugs off the pier, and a few kings have been caught on live baits fished off the end.
Scott, of Apache Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been generating scattered whiting, croaker, and some pinfish.
Fresh shrimp or live crabs have produced black drum and a few sheepshead around the pilings.
Flounder have also shown up in decent numbers, with a few keepers in the mix.
A few speckled trout are being caught, too, with most action being early in the morning.
