Added on Thursday, May 8, 2008  Gary Hurley

North Myrtle Beach May 8, 2008

Mark, of Shallow Minded Guide Fishing, reports that the speckled trout bite has slowed down a bit over the past weeks, but anglers are still boating some nice specks around the Sunset Beach Bridge. Some larger trout (fish up to 8 lbs. were caught last week) are holding and feeding around the Little River Jetties. Live shrimp will produce the best results on the trout, but they can be tough to find. Shrimp imitations like DOA and Billy Bay Halo shrimp are the next best thing, and they should still draw plenty of bites from the trout.

The Sunset Bridge is also holding decent numbers of flounder, with more feeding nearby in Tubbs Inlet. Live mud minnows fished on Carolina rigs should attract plenty of attention from the flounder, but anglers still may have to weed through some undersized fish in order to find the keepers.

Some red drum are feeding along grass banks off the ICW. A live mud minnow or chunk of blue crab pinned to a Carolina rig will attract the attention of any reds in the area in a hurry.

Spanish mackerel are feeding just outside the jetties along the inlet tideline. Trolling Clarkspoons will draw strikes from the spanish.

More spanish mackerel, bluefish, and gray trout are holding at the Jim Caudle Reef. Jigging a spec rig just off the bottom is likely to draw strikes from all three species.

There are also good numbers of cobia cruising around the Caudle Reef.

The water temperature is right and several king mackerel have been decked at local piers, so the nearshore king mackerel bite should be in full effect soon.

 

Drew, of North Myrtle Beach Offshore Adventures, reports that the Gulf Stream action is still a little bit off compared to years past, but it has been improving lately. Boats are starting to catch a handful of dolphin per trip, and many are gaffers. There are still good numbers of wahoo and blackfin tuna around as well. Ballyhoo rigged beneath skirted lures will tempt all the Gulf Stream predators to feed.

Several blue marlin have been reported to the north and south of the Little River area, so there’s always a possibility of a marlin hookup out in the Stream.

Bottom fishing is improving as well, with boats finding gag grouper a bit closer to shore than a month ago. Structure in the 90-110′ depth has been producing good results on the gags for local anglers. Cigar minnows, sardines, squid, and a variety of live and cut baits will tempt the grouper to bite.

Inshore of the gags, bottom fishermen are hooking up with sea bass and beeliners.

King mackerel are following warm water and bait towards the beaches, and it won’t be long until they are feeding in full force nearshore.

Spanish mackerel have arrived around the inlet and beachfronts, and anglers are hooking up with the spaniards while trolling Clarkspoons and casting Gotcha plugs to the breaking fish.

 

Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are landing plenty of bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs and mackerel trees.

Bottom fishermen are catching some whiting, but most are on the small side.

Anglers fishing live mud minnows on the bottom are catching some flounder, but most are undersized. However, some slot-sized red drum are falling for the mud minnows as well.

The pier’s first kings of the year were landed last week, with one weighing 33.8 lbs. Live bluefish have been drawing the king bites.

The water is 71 degrees.