Added on Thursday, May 22, 2008  Gary Hurley

North Myrtle Beach May 22, 2008

Mark, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that anglers are starting to catch flounder in decent numbers in the Cherry Grove area. Flounder are also feeding in creek mouths off the ICW. Live mud minnows on jigheads or Carolina rigs are excellent baits, and anglers are also hooking up with the flatties on peanut pogies and Gulp baits.

Speckled trout fishing has been good at the Little River Jetties when the winds are calm enough to fish them. The best baits by far are live shrimp fished under float rigs and allowed to drift along the rocks. Anglers may also have luck with shrimp imitations or Gulp baits.

Spanish mackerel are feeding all over between the Little River sea buoy and the Jim Caudle Reef. Trolling Clarkspoons or casting small lures to the schools of spanish should produce strikes.

A number of cobia have also been seen cruising around the Caudle.

 

Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the Sunset Beach Bridge has played host to some good fishing recently. Anglers are hooking up with red drum, bluefish, flounder, and speckled trout around the swinging bridge.

Live mud minnows fished on Carolina rigs have been fooling most of the reds and flounder.

As for the blues, they’re eating almost anything.

And DOA and Gulp shrimp have proven effective on the specks lately.

Anglers are also finding good fishing for the reds throughout the ICW and around Dunn Sound.

 

Drew, of Crowd Pleaser Sportfishing, reports that there are big numbers of dolphin feeding in the Gulf Stream right now. Most of the dolphin are gaffers, and there are also still plenty of wahoo in the mix. The areas around the 100/400, Blackjack Hole, and Winyah Scarp are good places to begin searching for these pelagic speedsters. Ballyhoo trolled beneath skirted lures are the top baits for both the wahoo and dolphin, and sending one or two baits deep with trolling leads or planers will increase the odds of a wahoo strike.

The yellowfin tuna never made a strong showing off Little River this year, but they have been feeding to the south around the Georgetown Hole, along with a few billfish. Boats seeking the tuna may consider making the 70 mile run south in hopes of finding the action.

Bottom fishing should be hot around structure in 100+’ now, and anglers can expect to see red, gag, and scamp grouper along with an assortment of other bottom feeders. The bottomfish will bite a variety of baits, and many anglers are also having success while working butterfly jigs near the structure.

King mackerel are feeding strong at areas in 70-90′ of water. The Atlantic Ledge, Long Bay Terrace, and Horseshoe are all good spots to begin looking for the kings. Dead cigar minnows will draw bites from the mackerel, but anglers can also jig up live baits for a different presentation. It shouldn’t be long before the pogies arrive in the ICW, making for easy hunting for king baits.

 

Mike, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are decking a lot of bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs and mackerel trees.

A few flounder are coming over the rails. Most are falling for live mud minnows.

Anglers bottom fishing with shrimp are hooking up with some whiting.

The water temperature is 74 degrees.