North Myrtle Beach – May 24, 2018
Ken, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that flounder remains the name of the game. The flatfish have been present in both quality and quantity, with plenty of keeper fish hitting the deck. The majority have been around 14”, but several have ranged from 15-18”. Mud minnows, along with small pogies, on light jig heads have proved the most successful for the flounder.
The redfish bite, although not as consistent as the flounder, remains steady. Most of these fish can be found along banks and in the grass during higher tides. They are falling for artificial shrimp as well as live bait.
Only a few small trout have been seen, but numbers and sizes should improve in the next month or so as the bigger shrimp move into the creeks.
Patrick, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that the redfish are biting well. Many slot and over-slot fish are being found along ledges and around oyster beds. Light jig heads (1/4 oz.) tipped with mud minnows and Gulp baits have produced best for these fish.
Flounder fishing has continued to improve, with plenty of small fish and some keepers mixed in. Using Gulp or mud minnows on 1/4 oz. jig heads is also fooling the flounder.
Black drum are feeding well, with the most fish being found in holes and on ledges in 10-20’ of water. Fresh shrimp or blue crab on Carolina rigs and jig heads have been the key to landing the black drum.
There are also plenty of bluefish around, mainly in the 2-3 lb. range. Topwater baits are working for the blues.
Ryan Cloninger, of Wilmington, with a redfish that fell for a chartreuse Fathom Pro-select jig head paired with a Fathom rose gold Taddle Tail while fishing around Calabash.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that the recent warm up has really turned on the bite. Flounder are being caught near creek mouths and in deeper holes, with mud minnows the overall best bait, but the flounder are also starting to hit soft plastic baits popped off the bottom.
Redfish are being landed in the same places as the flounder, with similar baits producing, but popping corks on the creek banks at high tide have done especially well for the reds.
Black drum are biting near docks and drop-offs in the creeks, mainly on fresh shrimp.
Trout are still few and far between, but when they’re caught, they have been decent-sized. North Carolina has a mandatory release, and South Carolina, although not mandatory, strongly suggests the release of trout.
Keith, of Low Country Fishing Charters, reports that the black drum are biting well around the ICW. Good numbers of keeper fish are coming off of Carolina-rigged fresh shrimp, mainly in the deeper holes.
There are some nice-sized redfish around, and they’re ranging from 25-36”. Oyster beds and docks have been the prime spots for the reds, with mud minnows on the bottom as well as popping corks doing the trick on finding fish.
Flounder are feeding, although the majority are still smaller fish. Generally, for every 8-10 flounder caught, one has been a keeper, and most of the keepers have been from 15-18”. Carolina rigs tipped with mud minnows are working best.
A few speckled trout have been landed, mostly while targeting flounder or reds with mud minnows.
Jason Santucci, of Roxbury, NJ, with a 28″ redfish caught on a Carolina rig with fresh shrimp near Dunn Sound.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that the Gulf Stream is producing great numbers of fish. Anglers are connecting with vermilion snapper, scamp and gag grouper, grunts, triggerfish, porgies, big sea bass, and a few cobia. Squid and cigar minnows have produced the majority of these fish.
Trolling near the Blackjack has brought in some larger mahi and several wahoo.
Nearshore fishing is producing nice sea bass on the bottom, and trolling Clarkspoons around the 3 mile reef outside of Little River Inlet has brought plenty of spanish mackerel to the deck.
Ronnie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers on the pier are seeing high numbers of bluefish, along with a few spanish mackerel. The majority of the fish have come off of Gotcha plugs, but cut bait has also worked.
A few black drum have been landed, with some undersize as well as keeper fish. Fresh shrimp and cut bait on the bottom have done best for the black drum.
Some whiting, croaker, and the occasional pompano have also been caught on shrimp.
