North Myrtle Beach March 28, 2013
Didi Holden, of Supply, NC, with a speckeld trout she hooked while fishing with her father.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the recent cold spells have spring fishing in something of a holding pattern, but anglers are connecting with a few fish, and with warmer days on the horizon, things should be back on track soon.
Some black drum have been feeding around Sunset Beach Bridge and other nearby structure in the ICW. Fresh shrimp are tough to beat for the crustacean-loving fish, and they will also attract the attention of any reds in the area.
A few red drum are feeding in Dunn Sound, and anglers can tempt them to bite fresh shrimp, crab chunks, live mud minnows, and a variety of other baits and lures. Split-shot rigs, jigheads, and lightly-weighted Carolina rigs are the best ways to present the baits.
Anglers are also connecting with some speckled trout in Coquina Harbor, with the best action towards the back of the marina. D.O.A. shrimp and MR17 MirrOlures are producing most of the bites, and anglers should fish them very slowly with long pauses, as there’s little current in the area.
As the water temperatures climb over the coming weeks, the reds and trout should return to more familiar spring patterns, feed more actively, and spread out a bit throughout the area.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the area’s inshore water temperatures flirted with the 60 degree mark before falling back into the low-50’s this week, stalling the onset of the usual inshore spring bite.
There are still some fish feeding in the area, but anglers have to work harder to find them than is typical for this time of year.
Some red and black drum are feeding around docks and other structure in Tubbs Inlet and around Sunset Beach Bridge. There have also been some black drum looking for meals in Dunn Sound. Fresh shrimp, Gulp baits, and live mud minnows are tempting bites from both of the drum species.
Anglers can expect a warm weekend and warmer week ahead to bring up the water temps, which should turn on the drum and lead to some spring speckled trout action.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers were catching some fat sea mullet last week, but they’ve thinned out over the past few days. Plenty of pufferfish, sharks, and skates are providing anglers with action, however, and the sea mullet should return after a few more warm days.
Some smaller black drum may well be in the mix in coming weeks as well.
All the bottom feeders will take an interest in cut shrimp on bottom rigs.
The water is 56 degrees. As the mercury pushes past 60, bluefish should make their spring arrival.
