North Myrtle Beach March 29, 2012
Sonny Kilpatrick landed this 55 lb.w ahoo after it bit a purple/black-skirted ballyhoo near the 100/400 while he was fishing with Capt. Jim Hartley.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Charters, reports that there was an excellent red drum bite around Sunset Beach Bridge last week, but heavy fishing pressure has slowed that action down. Lately, the best bet to connect with the reds has been around docks in the ICW. Live mud minnows on jigheads and Carolina rigs are fooling most of the fish, and they’re also tempting bites from some flounder and speckled trout around the same docks.
The flounder bite’s been getting steadier and steadier in Tubbs Inlet over the past few weeks (with plenty of small and borderline fish, but some keepers in the mix). Gulp baits and live mud minnows will both fool the flatfish.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding some schooling red drum in the creeks around Sunset Beach. Gulp baits are producing some action with the reds, but they’re a little finicky, and live mud minnows often produce better results. When neither will get their attention, chunks of soft shell crabs are nearly irresistible. Light jigheads in the shallows and Carolina rigs in deeper water are the ways to get the baits in front of the reds.
Tubbs Inlet’s spring flounder bite is off to an early start with the unseasonably warm weather and water. Gulp swimming mullet are producing most of the action with the flatfish.
A few speckled trout and red drum are feeding in the ICW around the Little River Crossroads. They’ll bite live baits or Gulps.
Some red drum have been reported from the Little River Jetties, too, so they aren’t a bad place to go looking if anglers are striking out in other spots.
Bodie Watkins, of Chesterfield, SC, hoists a 45 lb. wahoo that struck a ballyhoo behind a black/red skirt near the Winyah Scarp.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that the sea mullet bite is getting better, and anglers are catching decent numbers of the tasty panfish on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Plenty of sharks and skates are also taking an interest in the shrimp.
The water is 63 degrees, and the bluefish haven’t shown up yet, but it shouldn’t be long.
