North Myrtle Beach May 10, 2012
Chad Williams, a mountain trout guide from Gatlinburg, TN, with a red drum that struck a spoon fly near Little River while he was fishing with Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been a good flounder bite in the Cherry Grove marshes lately, and mud minnows or other small live baits or Gulps will attract plenty of attention from the flatfish.
Flounder fishing has also been solid at nearshore structure like the Jim Caudle Reef. Plenty of gray trout (many 3-5 lbs.) are in the same areas, and both fish will bite spec rigs tipped with live mud minnows or Gulp baits. Big numbers of black sea bass are also feeding at the structure (but must be released until June 1).
Spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent around the Jim Caudle Reef as well, and boats are catching big numbers while trolling Clarkspoons behind planers in the area. Casting Deadly Dicks or weighted Clarkspoons to fish that are feeding on the surface allows anglers to have more fun targeting them on lighter tackle.
Inshore, there’s still a good red drum bite around Sunset Beach Bridge and other structure in the ICW. Live mud minnows and cut crab chunks are both proving very tempting to the reds.
Anglers are also finding reds (including some to 30”) in the shallow areas where they often spend the winter. Low tides around oyster bars in the area creeks and marshes are some of the best times to look for them. Live baits and a variety of artificials will tempt the reds to bite, and anglers have also had good luck with the long rod while casting spoon flies.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the Tubbs Inlet flounder bite has turned back on (with fish up to 7.5 lbs. over the past week). The incoming tides have been producing the best fishing, and live baits or Gulps will tempt the flatfish to bite.
More flounder have been feeding in the Calabash River and around the Little River Crossroads.
The red drum bite remains good around Sunset Beach (with most fish 18-27”), mostly at structure along the ICW. Live mud minnows and pieces of crab are tempting most of the bites from the reds. Lower tides have been more productive with the reds lately.
The speckled trout bite is turning on in Little River Inlet, where live and Gulp shrimp have been producing action with some solid specks (including a 7 lb. fish that ate a live shrimp last week).
Lamar Singletary, Butch Meyers, Shane Wallace, Larry Queen, and Jamie Wallace with a 34 lb. bull dolphin they hooked under some floating debris near the Winyah Scarp. They were attending Capt. Brant's Gulf Stream Fishing School out of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that the black drum bite has been good recently (with anglers landing drum to 7 lbs.). Double-hook bottom rigs baited with shrimp are fooling most of the drum.
Some sea mullet and white perch are also falling for shrimp fished on the bottom.
Anglers are catching some bluefish while working Gotcha plugs from the pier.
The water is 70 degrees.
