North Myrtle Beach/Little River – September 2023
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that red drum action has really picked up, and the reds are being joined by speckled trout and black drum. All three species are feeding well on live shrimp rigged under a popping cork. The fish are scattered just about everywhere, but some of the shallower creek mouths have been better target areas, and having some nearby oyster structure is only a bonus when picking a spot to start any fishing efforts.
Speckled trout have been the most hit or miss of these inshore species.
Flounder have been regularly in the inshore trip counts, though keeper-sized fish have been a bit spotty. Crossing into North Carolina waters has made it easier to find some larger fish.
The nearshore waters have been a little churned up and dirty. Spanish mackerel were around in good numbers before the windy weather, and local anglers anticipate the bite firing right back up as conditions settle. Trolling spoons behind #1 or #2 sized planers has been the top tactic, with opportunities to sight cast at surface-feeding schools always a possibility.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are looking forward to the flounder season kicking off in North Carolina waters. With so much bait around, anglers have had a bunch of success fishing soft plastics, as it presents something a little different to the flatfish. Both Gulp and Z-Man baits are working well, with a jigging motion enticing most of the strikes. For color patterns, look to use dark colors in the early mornings, on cloudy days, or during any low light conditions, and then use bright colors when it’s sunny.
Both red drum and trout are hitting these same artificials. For the trout, being on the water early and targeting areas of moving water is a must.
For both the trout and reds, focus on the area’s creeks and along the ICW banks. These spots have been more productive on the higher tide cycles. As the tide falls out, target deeper holes. Structure is key, especially in the ICW and around the creek mouths.
Carolyn Floyd, of Shallotte, doubled up on flounder using live pogies. She was fishing in Tubbs Inlet.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that flounder fishing has been strong in the area, especially with all the finger mullet showing up. Anglers can have success in a variety of areas along the ICW, around the jetties, and in creek mouths. Most of the flatfish have been easily enticed with a 4-5” mullet dragged along the bottom.
Some speckled trout are still around, even in all this heat, and they’re feeding on live shrimp fished under a cork. Getting baits down in the water column and just above some of the deeper shell bottoms has been best. Anglers can also find some trout with topwater plugs if out on the water early.
Red drum action has been steady, with fish both up in the flooded grass and along the ICW shell bottoms. Keep an eye on bait moving around, and you should be able to see the reds pushing and blowing up on them as they run the shallow edges of the ICW.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that the heat has been challenging but the quality of the bite has made up for all the sweating. Plenty of bottom fish are being caught, with the best action moved out a little deeper (90-120’ range). Mixed in with the typical catches of vermilion snapper and gag grouper are some nice-sized scamp grouper. Anglers have also been finding a ton of American red snapper, and with their aggressive feeding and numbers, if you start catching them, it’s time to move on.
Plenty of tasty porgies and white grunts are in these mixed bags, and they’re preferring cut bait over squid.
Triggerfish have been in the 100-120’ areas, with squid being the go-to bait choice.
Action out in the Stream is pretty scattered with these mid-summer conditions, but anglers look forward to a break in the heat and then the corresponding arrival of tuna and wahoo.
Ashley Smith, of Charleston, SC, caught this over-slot red drum using live finger mullet. She was fishing in the Little River area with Capt. Chris Ossmann, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that offshore bottom fishing trips continue to see strong action. The most productive runs have been out to the deeper structures in the 50-mile range. Big grunts, vermilion snapper, grouper, triggerfish, and nice-sized cobia are all a part of the mixed bag of catches.
Drift lines while fishing out deep have enticed strikes from a lot of large king mackerel, and trolling over structure in the 25-30 mile range is also producing a bunch of kings.
When closer to the beach, anglers have been catching black sea bass, sharks, and plenty of porgies.
Right along the beach are schools of spanish mackerel, sharks, and scattered cobia.
Norma, of Apache Pier, reports that bottom fishing efforts have produced good numbers of croakers and whiting.
A bunch of flounder have been caught, and black drum bites have been sprinkled in the bottom fishing action.
Anglers sight-casting plugs are catching a smaller class of spanish mackerel.
