North Myrtle Beach May 23, 2013
Berk Sullivan, of Greensboro, NC, with a speckled trout that fell for a live shrimp under a popping cork near Little River while he was fishing with Capt. Patrick Kelly of Capt. Smiley Charters.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been a solid red drum bite in flooded grass from Little River to Sunset Beach recently. Nosing the boat into the grass at higher tides has been the best bet for the reds (most have been running large—25-30”). Fan-casting with chunks of crab and waiting for the reds to sniff the baits out is producing most of the bites in the grass. Anglers are also hooking a few while casting spinner-spoons and working them like buzzbaits on the surface.
Some black drum have been mixed in with the reds, and they’re also taking an interest in the crab pieces.
More (but smaller) red and black drum are feeding in deeper holes in the creeks at lower tides and around docks and other structure in the ICW. They’ll strike shrimp as well as crab chunks and sometimes live mud minnows.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing flounder fishing finally heat up in Tubbs Inlet. There are still plenty of small fish in the mix, but around 1/3 are keepers. The fish have been biting well, so anglers should be able to muster up a few for the table. Live mud minnows are producing most of the flatfish action.
Phil Petty with a red drum that bit a Gulp shrimp near the Sunset Beach bridge while he was fishing with Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.
Red drum and bluefish are also feeding in the inlet and taking an interest in anglers’ baits.
More red and black drum are feeding around ICW structure and in the shallows of Bonaparte Creek, Dunn Sound, and other local backwaters. Mud minnows, fresh shrimp, chunks of crab, and scented soft lures like Gulp baits are fooling both drum.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that there’s been some solid bluefish action off the planks lately, both for anglers casting bottom rigs and those working lures like Gotchas and mackerel tree rigs. Some spanish mackerel have been mixed in, and anglers should see more of the spaniards as the water warms further.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with some sea mullet, pompano, and black drum while baiting up with shrimp.
One cobia was landed last week, but it fell an inch short of being legal and was released.
The water is 70 degrees.
