North Myrtle/Little River – November 2023
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that gray trout fishing at the nearshore reefs has been really good, with fish being found on just about any structure in the 10-20’+ areas. Anglers are having success jigging spoons or fishing with cut shrimp, mud minnows, or mullet. The three-mile reef area is holding plenty of bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Anglers targeting the inlet areas are catching a few big red drum and mixed sharks.
Inshore trips have been finding some steady red drum action. The sizes have been mostly slot and upper-slot fish, and they’re hitting live mullet, cut mullet, or Vudu shrimp. The speckled trout action is slowly getting better, with areas of moving water being the most productive. Artificial shrimp baits and soft plastics work well, with topwater plugs also producing strikes. A decent number of flounder are still around in the backwaters. Most of these flatfish are staged up around creek mouths, and they’re feeding best on the falling tides. Anglers have been catching black drum in these same creek mouths on both rising and falling tides. Cut shrimp is best for targeting the black drum.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that flounder are still being caught with Z-Man and Gulp soft plastics. Target deeper holes in the creeks, and on the higher tide cycles, focus more on the grass lines. Nearby structure is key, with marsh drains or creek intersections seeing the most action. Anglers fishing the ICW are catching a mix of speckled trout, red drum, and black drum. Live shrimp rigged under a popping cork is the best tactic to get attention from all these species. Artificials fished slower with a slight “twitch” action have also worked well. For black drum, fish live shrimp, cut shrimp, or fiddler crabs around ICW docks.
Anita Cantelmo, of Conway, SC, hooked this 26 lb. scamp offshore of Little River in 100′ of water using a live pinfish. She was fishing with Capt. Bevan Hunter of Chilly Water Fishing Charters.
The speckled trout bite has been picking up now that water temperatures are getting closer to the mid-60s. Most of the fall haunts will produce bites, but also look in creeks for areas of shell-to-grass transitions. Be ready to move, as trout tend to feed in an area for 15-20 minutes and then move. Usually, they move in one direction on that same shoreline. A bunch of “bother” fish are still around, such as croakers and pinfish. After a few more cooling patterns, these fish will move on. The jetty fishing has produced black drum, red drum, and speckled trout. Any variety of tactics, such as slip corks, soft plastics, and sub-surface hard lures, can all have success. Target areas you see a natural eddy or cut through.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that speckled trout fishing has been picking up moving into late fall. Anglers have done well targeting some of the deeper ledges in creeks for these early season, 17-21” fish. Anglers can also find some schools pushed up against ICW grass lines and shell banks. A handful of nice-sized flounder (to 24”) are around ICW ledges and larger creek mouths. Red drum of all sizes are mixed in throughout the area. Creek mouths and docks have been some of the more successful areas. There are over-slot reds (to 35”) out in some of the deeper channels.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that water temperatures off the beach are holding in the low to mid-70s until way out on the break, and these cooler waters have really helped the wahoo action take off for anglers looking for trolling action. The fall grouper bite was going along strong in the 70-80’ range right up until the last-minute closure thrown at anglers. Luckily, plenty of tasty bottom species can still be targeted in the 90-110’ range. This includes the “regulars,” such as triggerfish, vermilion snapper, grunts, and porgies. With the cooling waters, some of the larger black sea bass are also showing up. The wind has been relentless offshore over the past weeks, and for many anglers this has left them restricted to targeting Spanish mackerel and king mackerel closer to the beach.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that offshore bottom fishing has been spectacular, though unfavorable winds have been the largest damper to trips. As conditions typically settle more into November, look for the 120’ structured areas to light back up. The mixed bags are including triggerfish, vermilion snapper, big grunts, amberjacks, and a ton of throwback American red snapper. The drift lines in this same area are producing some kings.
Offshore trolling trips are focusing on the wahoo bite that only gets better with the cooling trend. Nearshore bottoms (in the 5-8 mile range) are holding porgies and lots of keeper black sea bass. Callan, of Apache Pier, reports that anglers have had a lot of success catching the Spanish mackerel that are still in pretty good numbers off the beach. Bottom fishing action has been getting better moving into late fall. Anglers are finding mixed bags of spot, croakers, and some bluefish.
