North Myrtle Beach/Little River – June 20, 2019
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 continue to show up, and they’re biting best on live shrimp under popping corks.
Flounder are taking live mullet and mud minnows, but they will also hit Gulp soft plastics.
JT Gore with a 32.15 lb. king mackerel caught while fishing off of Cherry Grove Pier.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that the bite for all inshore species has been a little off because of all the rain. Trout have been around their normal places and will fall for mud minnows and live shrimp, especially under a popping cork. A lot of the bait shops are now carrying live shrimp and, of course, you can catch your own with a casting net; however, the local shrimp are still a little on the small size.
Bluefish are in the same areas as the trout, and though they are not quite as desired a target species, they are still fun to catch. Gulp is producing on the blues, and scented soft plastics will also add a potential flounder or redfish hookup into the mix.
Reds have been a little harder to find, but if you go hunting, look for creek edges and any kind of structure, especially around docks. The black drum will be around the same areas and will fall for fresh shrimp (mostly). A Carolina rig works well for keeping the bait on the bottom.
Spanish mackerel are around the jetties and on out, and they are falling for Clarkspoons trolled around 6-7 mph. Stopping at bait pods with diving birds is a great time to cast to the spanish with Gotcha plugs or any kind of spoon.
Luke Snider with a 34″ red drum caught on live bait while fishing Winyah Bay, SC.
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, amberjack, and cobia. Cut sardines and squid have been generating all of the bottom action.
The king bite has also been on fire, especially in the 30 mile range (70-90’ of water). Most of the kings have been in the 15-20 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 anglers are also still picking up some cobia and sharks around the nearshore wrecks.
Spanish and king mackerel are biting in the 5-20 mile range.
Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that bottom fishing around the Gulf Stream is still really good. Beeliners, large black sea bass, triggerfish, gags, and scamps are being brought in on squid and sardines.
King mackerel are biting 20-40 miles out. Large sea bass, grunts, flounder, and plenty of sharks are being landed in the 20-40 mile range, too, along with triggerfish. The triggers have started to move closer to shore earlier than expected this year.
Nearshore, large sharks are showing up. Spinners and blacktips are being caught on live pogies.
Trolling up to 12 miles out has produced nice spanish mackerel, with a few schoolie kings in the mix. Clarkspoons and Drones have been producing the most fish.
Michael, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that spots, perch, whiting, black drum, and some nice spanish are all coming over the rails.
