North Myrtle Beach/ Little River – July 2023
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that anglers headed out to the nearshore reefs and wrecks are catching good numbers of spadefish and the occasional cobia.
Spanish mackerel have been plentiful along the beach. Bait balls are all over the place, and the spanish are taking advantage.
Sharks and a few tarpon are also being seen around all this bait.
Inshore anglers have been finding really good numbers of flounder. Finger mullet fished on a moving tide around creek mouths has been a great tactic for targeting the flatfish.
While riding the ICW, keep an eye out on the shallow banks for groups of red drum to be pushing water. The reds are also being caught out at the jetty with bottom-rigged cut menhaden.
Speckled trout action is pretty scattered overall, with most of the trout holding deep and feeding on live shrimp.
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been good along the beaches, more with numbers than with sizes.
A bunch of bait is off the beach, and around these bait pods are cobia and some tarpon.
Inshore anglers have seen a nice push of red drum. The lower tides have provided the better bite, and one of the best tactics has been fishing live mud minnows.
Speckled trout fishing has become a bit sporadic, as the trout have spread out with the water temperatures warming.
Some really nice flounder are being caught on both sides of the state line, with South Carolina waters having the benefit of bringing catches home for dinner.
Black drum are staged up around hard structures in pretty good numbers. A bunch of smaller fish are around, though efforts will provide mixed keepers.
Kelton Brayboy and Brandon Gray, of Saint Paul, NC, caught this gag grouper in 100′ of water offshore of Little River, SC, while fishing with Chilly Water Fishing Charters. They were using cigar minnows.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been seeing a great flounder bite in inshore waters. Lighter jig heads (1/8-1/4 oz.) rigged with Gulp baits or live mud minnows will fool the flatfish. It’s been best to search locations away from the inlets and target deeper holes in creeks or other areas holding bait. These other spots could be creek splits, intersections, or where ICW shell banks transition to grass.
Red drum action has been overall slow (few and far between). The scattered reds (as well as a trout or two) are hitting popping cork setups, live shrimp, or Gulp baits fished up against the grass on higher tide cycles.
Black drum are a part of the inshore action, and they’re feeding on fresh shrimp under docks.
Spanish mackerel are being caught outside the inlet. Deep diver plugs or #0 planers with Clarkspoons are both ideal choices for putting some fish in the boat.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that there are plenty of bait schools moving up and down the coast, and anglers have found some cobia moving with them. Targeting these bait pods anywhere in the 35-75’ range with live menhaden has been the best way to produce the occasional cobia.
Plenty of black sea bass and nice-sized American red snapper are in the 70-80’ range for anglers looking forward to the mini-keeper season coming up in the middle of July.
A bit further out (in the 85-95’ range), there are plenty of porgies and vermilion snapper being caught on bottom-rigged cut squid.
Scattered grouper are in both these areas, but anglers looking to target the bigger fish will do best pushing out to 120-140’. Live pinfish are the preferred bait, though menhaden will also work in a pinch.
While bottom fishing anywhere outside the 50’ depth range, it’s a good idea to run a live bait on a drift line for the chance at kings, small mahi, or cobia now that water temperatures have warmed up.
Amy Taylor, of North Myrtle Beach, caught this spadefish using pieces of jellyfish. She was fishing on a nearshore wreck with Capt. Chris Ossmann, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that offshore bottom fishing has been spectacular, with a wide variety of mixed species including grunts, triggerfish, grouper, and tons of vermilion snapper.
Cobia are being caught as well over these deep structures, and drift lines out in this range have been producing plenty of king mackerel.
American red snapper are being caught regularly, and anglers look forward to the upcoming open season.
Offshore trolling trips are finding nice-sized king mackerel, mahi, some wahoo, and the occasional blackfin tuna.
The king mackerel are holding in the 20-30 mile range, and the nearshore bottoms are seeing catches of black sea bass and porgies (and tons of Atlantic sharpnose sharks).
Lynn, of Apache Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been best, producing a variety of black drum, whiting, flounder, and croaker.
Pompano have been showing up in better numbers.
